When it comes to dining in the Triangle, Durham has stolen the spotlight for nearly the past decade. Dubbed “America’s Foodiest Small Town” in 2008 by Bon Appetit, Durham takes its restaurant scene seriously. Far from being a staid bastion of steakhouses and chain restaurants, Durham’s food scene runs the gamut of both cuisines and styles. Where else could one find a bakery-slash-noodle shop-slash-dumpling joint?
Drawing from an international pool of residents thanks to both Duke University and Medical Center and nearby Research Triangle Park, Durham’s restaurants offer such a wide array of cuisines that diners could quite literally eat their way around the world without ever leaving the city. Indian, Thai, Cuban, Japanese, Zimbabwean, Salvadoran —the list could go on. These international offerings get along just fine with long-standing local institutions, making for a dining scene where lunch can easily be some comforting Carolina barbecue before moving onto a shared plate of Ethiopian doro wat and awaze tibs for dinner.
New additions, December 2021: Pizzeria Toro, Dame’s Chicken & Waffles, Lime & Lemon
Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.
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