Find some of the best restaurants and food in the area by cuisine and amenity! If you’re willing to travel a bit, here are some of the best in the RDU, across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, and beyond. As a full-blown foodie, I think the drive is always worth it when you’re hungry! Organized by cuisine type, click on the link for full reviews or the website.
Best Bakeries, Bread
Best Bakeries, Sweets
Best NC Barbeque Joints
Best Southern Barbeque Restaurants
Best Brunch Restaurants
Best Burgers (Cary)
Best Burgers (Durham)
Best Burgers (Raleigh)
Best Chicken, Fried and Otherwise- Durham
Best Chicken, Fried and Otherwise- Raleigh
Best Chinese Restaurants
- Super Wok (Sichuan)- Cary
- Flavors Kitchen – Morrisville
- Gourmet Kingdom- Carrboro
Best Date Spots, Inexpensive- Durham
Best Date Spots, Basic- Durham
Best Dates Spots, More Expensive- Durham
Best Date Spots, Inexpensive- Raleigh
Best Date Spots, Basic- Raleigh
Best Date Spots, More Expensive- Raleigh
Best Donut Shops
- FlipSide Donuts- Cary
- Baker’s Dozen- Raleigh
- Monuts Donuts- Durham
Best Eastern European Restaurants
Best Farm to Table Restaurants (Raleigh)
Best French Restaurants
- Vin Rouge- Durham
- Jolie- Raleigh
- The Kitchen- Chapel Hill
Best Ice Cream
- Two Roosters- Raleigh
- The Parlour- Durham
- Maple View Dairy- Hillsborough
Best Indian-Nepali Restaurants
Best Italian Restaurants
Best Latin-S. American Restaurants
Best Mediterranean-Middle Eastern Restaurants
Best Mexican Restaurants (Raleigh)
Best Neapolitan Pizza Places
Best NY Pizza Places
Best Standard Pizza Places
Best Patios (Durham)
Best Patios (Raleigh)
Best Ramen
Best Sandwich Spots (Durham)
Best Sandwich Spots (Raleigh)
- Carroll’s Kitchen- Raleigh
- Union Special- Raleigh
- Publix- Raleigh
Best Seafood Restaurants
Best Small Plates Restaurants (Chapel Hill)
- Hawkers Asian Street Fare- Chapel Hill
- Glasshalfull- Carrboro
- Jujube- Chapel Hill
Best Small Plates Restaurants (Durham)
- Mateo- Durham
- Dashi- Durham
- Juju- Durham
Best Small Plates Restaurants (Raleigh)
Best Soul Food Restaurants
- Dame’s Chicken & Waffles- Durham
- Jack’s Seafood and Soul Food- Raleigh
- Mama Dips- Chapel Hill
Best Spanish – Tapas Restaurants
Best Sushi-Japanese Restaurants (Raleigh)
Best Thai Restaurants
- Thai Station- Chapel Hill
- Koon Nine- Cary
- Thai 55- Durham