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I can be the first to tell you as an avid eater, that Raleigh is KEY for a foodie! For any foodie in Raleigh, NC, you’ll find that there’s a variation of things to eat and try, and if you have a favorite food, at least three restaurants will serve it WELL. Though some of these are chains, the ambience and the feel of them are uniquely Raleigh. Here are 9 of my favorite places to eat in my hometown, which is an excerpt from my book, Greater Than A Tourist: Raleigh NC, 50 Tips From A Local
1..Grab Brunch at Tupelo Honey
There’s no better way to start your day in Raleigh than grabbing brunch somewhere. Tupelo Honey is the perfect place to experience high-quality Southern comfort foods that leave you in happiness. The first time I went, I was so overwhelmed by the options, the staff was happy and excited to help me narrow down my choices. The dishes all came out so beautiful and aesthetic, but also tasted so much better than imagined. I highly recommend this place for a well-deserved brunch. Located on Oberlin Rd, it’s right next to coffee shops, which I need to continue my day and not take a post-brunch nap!
2. Taste a Bit of Everything With Carolina Gourmet Food Tours
As you’ll guess by the end of this book, Raleigh is a foodie city! But let’s say you only have so little time to try everything on your list? Join this amazing food tour that will give you the experience to say “you tried it all” with visits to the best downtown restaurants and food shops. Book a tour in the afternoon or evening one weekend, or if you are a true foodie, book a private tour too! Led by a local, you’ll meet different chefs and have amazing insights into what makes the dish so wonderful, but also why Raleigh is a food destination! You’ll try signature dishes, and taste amazing drinks along the way, and if you decide to stick around, discover your favorite new restaurants just like I did!
3. Sweeten Your Sweet Tooth With Videri Chocolate Factor
If you know me, you know I can eat all the chocolate money can buy. That’s why one of my favorite places has to be this amazing chocolate factory that operates from the Raleigh Depot, a historical industrial building that gives you a true factory feeling. Stick around to watch the chocolate making process and taste test amazing results. If you want to experience something totally cool and cure that sweet tooth, this is the place to go! Their chocolate is organic and pure with an amazing taste you’ll remember forever.
4. Turn Around and Grab a Gelato at Amorino’s
How would you like to feel like you’re in Italy while you’re enjoying Raleigh? If you got down to Sir Walters Coffee, turn around and right there is a beautiful authentic gelato shop serving the most amazing flavors in the gelato world! The customer service is amazing and will let you try different flavors before you decide, and trust me I’ve almost tried all! They also serve sweet treats such as macaroons, crepes, and waffles. This is the most ideal place if you are having a unique sweet tooth and feeling a little Italian in the heart of Raleigh.
5. Grab a Bite at a Food Truck
Raleigh has various types of foods and sometimes its overwhelming, so it’s always a great joy to find food trucks. Located constantly downtown, and during First Fridays, you ‘ll find everything local that will blow your mind. I love strolling along and building an appetite that has me craving Jamaican dishes alongside seafood dishes, all while smelling tacos the whole way. My trick is to order a ton of different appetizers than picking one food truck to give my whole meal into unless I’m that devoted to the meal!
6. Sip on Tea at Tin Roof Teas
I’m not a huge drinker as I mentioned before, but when it comes to tea, I’m right up there with a tea connoisseur! I drink about 2-3 cups a day, and when I discovered Tin Roof Teas, I was over the moon! A great place if you love high-quality teas and love to taste different ones and discuss with locals about favorites, different methods of tea making, and more! I never discovered such a bigger selection to which made me return over and over, with such patient and knowledgeable staff! Everything is well organized and managed and you can have a great time learning and drinking the day away. You’ll always return home with a great tea to last you a while too!
7. Break for a Drink at Sir Walter Coffee
If this was a 50 coffee or food places in Raleigh, I would still have more suggestions to fill. Raleigh is a foodie capital, and no less, coffee central! At the State Capitol (mentioned previously above), you will learn that we devote our city name to one of the sponsors of Roanoke County, Sir Walter Raleigh. So what better way to show our pride by naming this new and amazing coffee house to him! This coffee house not only has an amazing buzzing vibe in the midst of downtown but also serves as a tea house and bottle service. Can’t decide between a cool latte, a morning Earl Grey, or a cold beer? This unique and meaningful shop will help you! Also, worth mentioning they also now serve bubble tea (my favorite) and also, mocktails for anyone who doesn’t drink but loves feeling fancy!
8. Learn the Story of Cowfish
This is a sushi place with the interesting name of Cowfish. This is because this place not only serves sushi but also burgers (including a burgersushi mixing both)! If you are with a large party, or indecisive date, this is the best place to figure it all out! I tend to always come here because I love sushi more than anything, while one of my closest friends is a burger lover. In this way, we both enjoy our favorite foods, while spending time together. They even have sushi burgers and steak sushi for those in between, but above all, this place is really amazing and delicious! At the pickup area, they have books on how the name came to be via children’s book! I highly recommend this to any sushi lover, especially because their work is one of kind!
9. Get Spicy with Garland
I know I mentioned that sushi is my favorite food, but my favorite cuisine is actually Indian! They have such an amazing and vast menu with different dishes that you can try. My favorite meal has to be the butter chicken (to die for!) and I love to pair it with a fresh mango lassi drink. They had a take-out window during the summer one year and it boosted in popularity, so reserve ahead of time, since it’s definitely popular for a reason!
If you want to read 41 more tips of things to do, eat, and see in Raleigh, check out my book, Greater Than A Tourist: Raleigh NC, now available on Amazon! Also, if you want to find out how I wrote this book in two weeks as a new blogger, check it out here!
Before you go! Check out more foodie posts for some delicious ideas of where you should eat next!
I absolutely love Food trucks! Have you tried any of the indian fast food in Raleigh? I had some when i visited a long time ago and simply loved it!
I haven’t but thanks for letting me know! Definitely will check it out!
I haven’t been to Raleigh in years but I’m ready to go now! I love Tupelo Honey (been to the Asheville one) and Videri Chocolate is to die for.
Great post! I was looking at popping down to Raleigh when I was recently in the states visiting family (I’m from VA). Such a bummer I didn’t make it- these places look awesome.
Do it!!! You’ll enjoy it!
I haven’t been to Raleigh in about 20 years. I have been dying to go back and now I know where to eat when I do.
Love learning about new places. I’ve never been to NC. Food trucks are a huge thing here in So Cal so I’m sure I’d be checking those out!
Oh wow, you live nextdoor. Honestly, I had no clue about some of the places you mentioned. I will definitely check it out. The Gelato place I am definitely going to check out, this weekend,
Yes do it! Let me know how it goes!
Now I’m starving! This food all looks amazing and I’ve never been to Raleigh but would like to visit for sure
A chocolate factory?? That sounds amazing and I would totally be there! Oh gosh the tea shop sounds awesome too! I hope they have a lovely seating area too with that name!
Oh no. Raleigh wasn’t on my food list until now! Thanks for sharing all the goodness and for making another entry on my bucket list!
Yess! Let me know how it goes!
Love North Carolina! My cousin lives in the Fayetville area, and they travel to the Raleigh/Durham area quite often, I’m gonna share this with her!
Yes do that! And then you come visit too!
I love visiting family in NC and we are always looking for new places to eat. Bookmarking this list for future trips!!
Yay! Definitely do that and let me know how it goes!
Tupelo Honey is a delicious restaurant! I think they have one in Asheville, right? I went to one there.
I still need to go explore Asheville but I’ll be on the lookout!
Wow all of that food looks amazing, I love checking out new places to eat and drink when I visit a new place x
Yesssss same here!
As a certified foodie, this post makes me so happy! I love finding out where the good food is when you’re in a specific place. One of the things that I enjoy when I travel is the local food!
Yay!! I’m so glad you liked it! Local food is always the best kind of food, am I right!
Looking forward to sisiting these places, First post i ran into for Raleigh area restaurants
I’m so glad I could be of help! Maybe I’ll make a part two for you!
All those places sound darling. I’m such a foodie. I will say Tupelo Honey definitely caught my eye. I have family that live in NC and really have been wanting to visit. Will be visiting that place.
You should come visit! Tupelo is definitely a great place to eat!
Oh, the Tea Roof Teas sounds like music to my ears. I looove tea and I want to sit down with people who share the same love as I in one place. I think I would be visiting the place every week if I lived in Raleigh.
YES! Tea is amazing (I’m drinking tea as I type) and you definitely should come down and try it, and convince yourself to move if you have to!
I am all about the local cuisine of a city! I would thoroughly enjoy the gourmet food tour to get a taste of it all!
Do it!!
I have never been to any of the Carolinas. I love trying new foods when out traveling and this food looks amazing! I’d love to add this to my list of travel.
Like the sound of the chocolate factory. I have never heard of bubble tea, would like to try this. Thanks for your post!!
Omg, bubble tea is the greatest joy of all! You must find your local bubble tea shop and try it!!
I had no idea Raleigh was such a foodie town. I new Charleston, S.C. had great choices, but it’s great to see both of the Carolinas have top food destinations.
Yayy for foodie capitals!! I want to visit SC!
If I ever go to Raleigh, I’ll have to check some of these places out! The food looks delicious.
I got curious to try the swet from Amorino, and the sandwiches from Tupelo Honey (does includes honey in it?). These seems a great place and no wonder you seems a regular here.
Hahaha, you know it!
North Carolina has always been on my bucket list of places to go in the States!!! Mostly because One Tree Hill was filmed there haha but also because I’ve heard the food is amazing!! Can’t wait to try out all of these spots when I finally get to visit!
Yessss! You have to come and visit Wilmington where it’s filmed, and then come drive up to Raleigh for dinner!!
Those gelatos look yummy. My tummy was already rumbling but the drool appeal of this post has got it protesting loudly, Now I have to look for a snack. Pity I am not in Raleigh!
Oh, I so agree. I have been to Raleigh in one of my NC visits and the food joints are just too good. As you correctly stated, the food trucks are one of the best things in NC. I miss visiting so much 🙁
The food trucks miss you too!!
I have always wanted to grab a bite at a food truck. We have a few around where I live but would love to visit Raleigh, NC and check it all out!
Gelato is my favourite. I could eat one with every meal! The varieties here look so stunning!
Chocolate factory in a historical building? Sign me up, I’m going!
Everything looks so tasty, but Wow – that gelato! Not only does it sound delicious, but it looks beautiful too!
Everything looks absolutely delicious! I’d definitely have no trouble finding something to eat in Raleigh 🙂
Louise x
I agree! It looks like a wonderful place. I’ve never been to Raleigh, but if I get there I know where to go now!
I’d love to try the gelatos at Amorino, they look delicious! What is your favorite flavor?
The mango!
Wow, your food photography is amazing! Hmmmm… out of all places, I think I would go to where the food trucks are 😀 I love to sample tons of little things 🙂 Though the sushi restaurant sounds incredible, too!
Thank you!!! Come try it!
What a great comprehensive food guide of Raleigh! I’d love to visit Sir Walter Coffee and explore those amazing food trucks by locals!
The sushi roll and the fries look ridonculous!! I wish I lived closer.