Pump Social, a sandwich shop housed in a former gas station near downtown Concord, earned a spot in the 2026 Michelin Guide American South, making it the only Cabarrus County restaurant on the list.

The Michelin Guide announced its selections Wednesday, Oct. 21, during a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, as first reported by WSOC-TV. Pump Social received a "Recommended" designation, which the guide defines as a restaurant where diners can expect an above-average meal with quality ingredients.

Husband-and-wife duo AJ and Rachael Donner opened Pump Social in August 2025, according to Axios Charlotte. AJ Donner told Axios at the time that they wanted to create a space where families could bring their kids and dine outside, something the area lacked. The restaurant features a large patio, handcrafted sandwiches, salads and bowls, and most of the ingredients are made in-house.

The recognition puts Pump Social alongside 17 Charlotte-area restaurants that earned Michelin honors. Counter-, a West Charlotte tasting restaurant, retained its Michelin Star. Two restaurants, Lang Van and The Story of Mi Cariño, earned Bib Gourmand designations. Other Charlotte-area newcomers to the guide included Albertine, L'Ostrica and Spaghett, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The second-year guide expanded its reach beyond North Carolina's major cities. The News & Observer reported that North Carolina and tourism offices in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte and Asheville paid $1 million over a three-year contract to be included in the American South guide. Until this year, Michelin had only considered restaurants from those cities.

Scott Peacock, marketing director for Visit NC, told the News & Observer that the guide is bringing attention to the state's restaurant scene. Restaurants in Wilmington and Greenville also earned Recommended status for the first time.

The full 2026 guide now covers 265 restaurants across seven Southern states, up from 228 in its inaugural edition, according to The Adventurist. Three restaurants earned first-time stars, 14 joined the Bib Gourmand ranks and 31 were added as Recommended.

Pump Social's menu and hours are listed at pumpsocialnc.com.