Cheap Eats Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

December 14, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: PiePushers in Durham Dishing Out Affordable NY Pizza Slices

Pizza signage at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Pizza signage at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to pizza, I can never get enough! And it’s always great to see food trucks take the next step and move to a bricks and mortar location. So I was wondering what Pie Pushers had up their sleeve when they added a storefront to their food truck. Pie Pushers is one of the longer standing food trucks in the area so congrats to them! And their downtown Durham location had me even more curious, fellow foodie…

Front of Pie Pushers sitting over the Pinhook in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Pie Pushers sitting over the Pinhook in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

So if you’re looking for some pizza that’s not from Pizzeria Toro or Pompieri, you’ve now got another option. Located above the Pinhook Bar in a slate grey building with red trim, you’ll see Pie Pushers’ neon sign overhead. Up the stairs and you end up in a tidy little space with cool touches all around including a light bulb “PIZZA” sign on the climb up. Pie Pushers space feels like a modern, urban pizzeria with faux wood formica tables and the requisite stainless steel napkin dispenser with cheese and pepper shakers perched on top. Seating is scattered about the space ranging from two-tops, four-tops and some stools at the bar. It all feels, warm, cozy and well put-together.

Counter area at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Counter area at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Menu at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Menu at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

Over at the counter, I peruse the menu. It’s pretty basic with pizza by the slice (nice!), 10 specialty pies and you can do the standard thin-crust or a Sicilian style pie. There’s also a small list of appetizers, salads and wings to add to your pizza order. Several nice touches is that Pie Pushers allows you to order a half-pie and the base cheese pie is only $12. Quite the deal in this pricey downtown Durham neighborhood! And Pie Pushers also offers several beers on tap along with a decent bottled selection to enjoy with your pizza.

1243 half-pie at Pie Pushers in Durham - NC Triangle Dining — Jerry half-pie at Pie Pushers in Durham – NC Triangle Dining

I order up the Jerry pie which comes with pepperoni and sausage. It takes about 15 minutes and a beautiful half-moon pizza is placed in front of me. I dive in but of course check the crust first, taking a peak underneath. It’s slightly speckled with a black char, great job done here in the oven! Pie Pushers pizza is best classified as NY thin-crust and it’s quite good. Tender crust that still has some structural stiffness to carry all the toppings. There’s a good smattering of meat and the cheese-sauce coverage goes nicely to the edge. Pie Pushers pies are about 15″ or so in diameter, the half-pie is plenty to eat for one person!

Over the course of my two visits, I’ve found the service to be quite good, they’ve got a very lively staff here. The feel is a bit hipster but helpful and casual, I likes it a lot! As a bonus, Pie Pushers is also doing a Saturday brunch, check out the menu here. All I can say is that I’m really glad to have a basic type of pizzeria in Durham. While I do love my Neapolitan pies, there’s something to be said for an affordable and tasty, NY slice. After a night out at DPAC, I could see myself sliding in for a slice before hitting the highway back home. So congrats Pie Pushers on your new space! You’re doing an awesome job with your pizza and thanks for keeping it affordable for the locals…

Pie Pushers

117 W Main Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.294.8408

Pie Pushers menu

Pie Pushers brunch menu

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August 26, 2013 by Ron Wen 5 Comments

First Take: Snoopy’s for a Classic Chili-Dog and Grill Experience!

Outside of Snoopy's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Outside of Snoopy’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Snoopy’s is about as much about old-school Raleigh as its next-door neighbor, Char-Grill. But while both are known for their late-night grill munchies, Snoopy’s does it hot doggie-style! With several locations in the Raleigh area, my local favorite is out on the corner of Hillsborough and Glenwood Avenue, perfect after a night out on the town…

Service window at Snoopy's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Service window at Snoopy’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Parking at this little red building can be a bit tight but thankfully, Snoopy’s is walkable from a lot of the activity on S. Glenwood. Small overhang with two service windows, Snoopy’s does a lot of basic grill items ranging from burgers, dogs and chicken tenders along with barbeque and chicken salad sandwiches. My usual order is a couple of dogs with everything on it and their popular crinkle cut fries. Unlike Char-Grill, the service here at Snoopy’s is fast, you’ll usually get your order within 5 or so minutes in a little paper bag.

Wrapped dogs at Snoopy's in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining — Wrapped dogs at Snoopy’s in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

The dogs at Snoopy are wrapped up in white butcher paper and given the buns are steamed, it’ll sometimes stick to the paper as you’re unwrapping your meal! Two long-ish dogs slathered with meaty chili, covering some mustard, yum. Take a bite and you’ll get hit with a lot of savoriness and the underlying tang of mustard. They’re pretty filling so I’m guessing two or three will fill most people up. The fries here are probably frozen but well-cooked with just the right amount of crinkle crispness and potato. The onion rings at Snoopy’s are also really tasty and worth sharing between two people.

When most people visit Snoopy’s, they do the $6.44 special of two dogs, fries and drinks which is reasonable but not a fan-tastic deal compared to say, Cook Out. But if you hit up Snoopy’s on Tuesday’s for Dollar Dog days, you’ll do much better. While the food at Snoopy’s is really basic, it satisfies some odd and weird underlying food cravings in me. I mean I know the food isn’t good for you but who wants to live forever? So don’t miss out on this little red hot dog stand at the end of Glenwood. You may not feel great in the morning but you’ll be thankful you stopped by for at least 15 minutes…

Snoopy’s

600 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.839.2176

Snoopy’s menu

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May 31, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: It’s Krystal Clear Who Has the Best Sliders!

Front of Krystal in Brunswick, GA- NC Triangle Dining

I have it as tradition that a couple of things always happen when I visit Florida for the holidays. One, I visit my relatives down in Florida and offer to cook. Very important. Second and nearly as an important, is a stop by the local Krystal Burger in Georgia. Why? Well for some odd reason while Krystal is a fixture in the South, there are NONE in North Carolina! What up? We’re surrounded by neighboring states enjoying Krystal deliciousness and us poor Tarheels go without?! Not fair Krystal. And what’s so special about these mini-burgers?! Well sit down my friend and let me tell you!

Krystal is to the South what White Castle is to the North, a purveyor of delicious mini-burgers (or sliders) that you can eat by the handful. Located off I-95 in Georgia are two Krystal locations in Pooler and Brunswick, a quick pit stop on my trip down South. I’m usually in a hurry to get to Florida so I do my order to go but have always found the service and cleanliness at Krystal to be excellent. I order up their #3 combo, five cheese Krystals along with chili-cheese fries and a drink for about $7+. Not cheap but if you ever get addicted to these little burgers you won’t think so.

You get five little cardboard encased sliders, perfect for eating on the run. Pull out that Krystal and you’ll have a little square, 2″ by 2″ fluffy bun with a thin slice of meat, onion bits, mustard and a single pickle. Krystals are grilled along with the onions and the buns are steamed so it becomes a soft, mix of bread, meat and condiments, yum! Three or four bites later, your Krystal is done and you’re on to the next one. And the next one… Krystal sells their burgers in sacks of 12 but I don’t recommend going THAT far.

In addition to the burger, I also received a small styrofoam container full of crispy fries slathered in meat chili and melty cheese. Krystal provides you with a fork which you’ll need to eat these fries properly. And it’s quite good, Krystal has nice meaty, potatoey fries and the chili has a nice cumin kick. A forkful of fry, cheese and chili makes for a messy mouthful, especially when you’re rolling down the highway. But what can I say, it would be Thanksgiving for me without some sliders and fries. And I have to confess, Krystal burgers are probably a step up from my old slider favorite, White Castle. So don’t miss out on grabbing a Krystal the next time you’re in the Southeast. Unless you happen to be in NC, booo!

Krystal Burger

65 Tourist Drive

Brunswick, GA 31520

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May 22, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

La Cocina in Cary: For Fast and Filling Mexican Fare

Front of La Cocina, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Ahh, the ubiquitous Mexican-American restaurant! Get some salsa and chips, choose a lunch combo and then stumble out in a carbo-filled haze. Sounds like my kind of a meal. But with so many Mexican options in the Triangle, it sometimes gets hard distinguishing the good ones from the meh. La Cocina is a small regional chain of Mexican restaurants that was quite the pleasant surprise for me. I stopped in for a quick lunch with co-workers and was really happy about the visit!

Dining area of La Cocina, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Inside, La Cocina has some space to spread out in with three separate dining rooms. As soon as we sit down a basket of warm chips are put down at the table along with salsa and the chips are great! Thin, crisp with just the right amount of salt, the feasting begins. I put in an order for lunch special #4: beef taco, chicken quesadilla along with beans. And it’s not a long wait but that’s ok since I’m happy with my tortilla chips! Maybe 5 – 10 minutes later I get my meal and it’s a LOT of food for $6. One crunchy taco with shredded beef covered with cotija cheese, one large plate with plump quesadilla and re-fried beans. The taco is decent, maybe a bit under-spiced but a decent quality. The large quesadilla is plump and full of chicken chunks, less cheese and well-browned, a nice choice. And the beans are fried, nothing specially good or bad here.

Chicken quesadilla at La Cocina, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Smothered carnitas burrito at La Cocina in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Smothered carnitas burrito at La Cocina in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Overall La Cocina delivers decent Mexican food for not much dinero. They look like they have some more authentic Mexican specialties which would be great if I lived in the area. And from what I’ve heard, the bar can get pretty lively after work. But for now, La Cocina is perfect for a quick lunch! Fast, tasty and filling Mexican eats right around the corner from me, keep up the great work La Cocina! I’m pretty sure I’ll be in your kitchen again, sometime soon…

La Cocina Mexican Restaurant

100 Macgregor Pines Drive

Apex, NC 27523

919.467.0780

Menu at La Cocina

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April 12, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Tasty Mexican for the Family at Tijuana Flats in Cary

Bright interior at Tijuana Flats in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

When you think of Mexican food, what comes to your mind? It can range from tacos to tamales, empanadas, burritos and more! The wide range of Mexican food is also reflected in the types of Mexican restaurants out there. Go fast food-style with Taco Bell, do it more real with El Rodeo, move on to Chubby’s and finally end up at an authentic taqueria like Los Comales or Los Cuates. Tijuana Flats is a nice, family-friendly Mexican restaurant that fits more on the Taco Bell side of the world but in a good way.

Inside, Tijuana Flats is brightly decorated, open and sunny, perfect for lunch. Service here is very good, you’ll be asked if you need a menu or help before you even get to the counter. I’ve been here twice and done the burrito along with a taco. Don’t miss Tijuana Flats specials like Taco Tuesdaze (2 tacos, chips and drink for $5) where you can save some money.

Salsa bar at Tijuana Flats in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

After you get your order in, head on over to the hot sauce bar where Tijuana Flats has eight or so spicy, sweet, fruity options depending on your mood. While this place can get busy, food service is pretty fast, your food is brought out to your table. My Mexican eats here has been consistently solid if not authentic, we’re talking Tex-Mex here. Good-sized burritos, a large taco, decent queso and very nice salsa makes for an excellent lunch. The food quality is decent, you’ll end up with more standard Mexican fare, i.e meals covered with shredded cheese. You won’t find barracoa, lengua or el pastor tacos, just your basic chicken, beef, carnitas, fish and beans. But what Tijuana Flats does really well is service. Staff will stop by to check in on your meal, refill your drink and clear your table, stat. So while Tijuana Flats is counter-service, it’s head and shoulders above most other places once your food arrives, especially compared to Moe’s which can be a mess at times. Perfect for a busy family that doesn’t want to spend too much but still get treated decently.

So if I compare Tijuana Flats to Taco Bell it’s not in a bad way because sometimes I do get cravings for that style of American-Mexican. And in all honesty, I prefer Tijuana Flats to other places that claim to be authentic but end up doing a shoddy job at it. You can definitely do far worse than Tijuana Flats for lunch and in some cases, you really can’t do better! Enjoy this Mexican chain eatery and afterwards, you can can go shopping at Trader Joe’s Cary!

Tijuana Flats

151 SE Cary Parkway

Cary, NC 27511

919.468.6328

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First Take: PiePushers in Durham Dishing Out Affordable NY Pizza Slices