One of the few Zimbabwean restaurants in the entire country, Zweli’s has built a loyal following in its few short years of operating. Chef Zwelibanzi (Zwe for short) Williams turned a successful catering operation into a brick and mortar location offering samosas, piri piri chicken, jollof rice, and more. Many diners order a side of chakalaka, a spicy tomato and bean relish that Williams says is one of the most popular items on the menu.

Head down 15-501 for Guatemalan cuisine like pupusas, grilled meats, and caldos. The cuchitos de pollo are traditional corn flour cakes filled with chicken, and the carne guisada is a beef filet served with special sauce and accompanied by a beet and cabbage salad. Other offerings include ceviche, tamales, and atol de elote, a sweet corn and milk drink commonly sold by street and market vendors in Guatemala. Part of the restaurant is also a market for those looking to stock up on Latin American pantry staples.

“Just drive down the road, and look for the cow” is how most people explain how to get to La Vaquita. Arguably the most famous of Durham’s many taquerias, La Vaquita serves a variety of traditional tacos on homemade corn tortillas. Think barbacoa, carnitas, lengua, al pastor, and more. There are platos tradicionales like mole poblano, ceviche, or polla a la crema, as well as tortas.

Sometimes all life needs is a classic steak frites. Or maybe moules mariniere? Cassoulet? Vin Rouge’s menu reads like a classic French bistro greatest hits list. As the weather warms, a table at weekend brunch in the walled patio is a coveted reservation. The wine list is an oenophilic Francophile’s dream.

Goorsha is the place to bring friends and family and gather around generous helpings of expertly prepared Ethiopian food. Doro wat, timatim salad, awaze tibs, and more grace the menu, all waiting to be scooped up with hand-torn bits of injera, the tangy Ethiopian flatbread that serves as your utensil. Also worth checking out is Gojo by Goorsha, a cafe and sandwich shop right behind the restaurant.

Perhaps nothing represents the inexorable march of development in Durham than the loss of the original Parker & Otis space. Owner Jennings Brody created one of the Bull City’s most beloved eateries (cum-cafe-cum-wine shop-cum-gift shop) in Brightleaf Square and luckily was able to relocate the business to the American Tobacco Campus when a developer bought the original building. The new Parker & Otis is quite a bit smaller but still has all of the expertly hand-selected gifts, books, wines, stationary, and more. Longtime customer favorites like the grilled pimento cheese, turkey and pepper jelly sandwich, and green goddess tuna salad are still available at the deli counter, with the added bonus of now being able to dine al fresco amongst the meandering streams and lawns of American Tobacco.

The sister restaurant of the legendary (and now-closed) Nana’s, NanaSteak has charted its own path as Durham’s go-to steakhouse. Traditional steakhouse fare gets a modern facelift with main courses like the charcoal-grilled filet mignon with Wagyu beef fat french fries and roasted Brussels sprouts or the crispy pork ribs with quick kimchi Napa cabbage slaw and a miso-ginger glaze. An extensive wine list and expertly crafted cocktails round out the experience, and the restaurant’s location right next to the Durham Performing Arts Center make it the perfect spot for a dinner-and-a-show date night.

With the exception of a year or two, King’s Sandwich Shop has been open since 1942 — long enough that it’s not unusual to find grandparents bringing their grandchildren for the same burgers and hot dogs they enjoyed when they were young. Griddled burgers with King’s sauce, hot dogs with all the toppings, piping hot fries, and ice cold shakes round out the menu. There are often specials, but it’s the classics that have brought people back for decades.

Chef Mike Lee has created a mini empire (M-pire?) in Durham (M Kokko, M Tempura, M Pocha), but M Sushi is the original flagship. A few steps down into the semi-subterranean space transports diners to a world of expertly crafted sushi and luxurious Japanese cuisine. The rolls and other items are available a la carte, but the full M Sushi experience is the omakase menu — the smaller version is six courses, while the grand selection is eight.

At first glance, Copa might just look like another a high-end dining option on Main Street, but closer inspection will reveal a menu full of expert takes on Cuban cuisine, combined with a dedication to North Carolina’s local foodways and a commitment to bettering the restaurant industry for all. Co-owners Elizabeth Turnbull and Robert Copa Matos fought for servers, bartenders, kitchen staff, and more during the pandemic, advocating for local, state, and federal assistance, and taking a lead in organizing downtown Durham restaurants in an effort to survive Covid-19. That work continues today, and diners can support it by tucking in to plates of Cuban tapas, crab cake croquetas, and ropa vieja.

Luna offers classic South American fare like handmade empanadas, Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, and tacos, but what makes it really stand out from the downtown restaurant crowd are the extensive vegan and vegetarian offerings. Try the vegan chili-braised jackfruit in a grain bowl (quinoa, pearled rice, black beans, and kale) or in a patacon pisao, which comes with jack cheese, jicama kale slaw, and chile-lime mayo and is sandwiched between two fried plantain discs. Luna also does a bustling business in takeaway, and those empanadas travel well.

Mixologist Shannon Healy teamed up with chef Carrie Schleiffer for a craft cocktail and food combination that is as unique as it is tasty. Healy’s cocktails are legendary and rotate seasonally, while Schleiffer’s menu includes blistered shisitos, cornmeal-fried oysters, and crispy pork belly. The famous Alley burger (a half-pound patty, truffle cheddar, bourbon bacon jam, chipotle aioli, and arugula) is always available, and those in the know ask for it to be foie’d (a generous chunk of foie gras stuffed right in the middle). A selfie with a burger and a cocktail in the actual alley is a downtown Durham bucket list item.

Backyard BBQ Joint was named one of the South’s most legendary barbecue spots in 2021 by Southern Living magazine and it’s easy to see why. The family-owned joint has served smoked pork, turkey, brisket, ribs, chicken, and fish in all of the classic combinations to legions of Durhamites. There are platters, sandwiches, and pints to go. Don’t forget the sides of Brunswick stew, green beans, collard greens, and crave-able mac and cheese. Always get a gallon of the pineapple lemonade to take home.