10 Best North Carolina Restaurants

North Carolina is famous for its distinctive style of barbecue, fresh seafood from the coast, and classic Southern side dishes. The state's food identity is defined by its two primary styles of barbecue: Lexington-style in the west and Eastern-style. For food tourism, the "Historic Barbecue Trail" is a major draw, featuring classic, wood-smoking pits that have been in operation for decades. A unique local creation is the "red slaw" or "barbecue slaw" found with Lexington-style barbecue, which is vinegar-based and tinted red with ketchup. Other local specialties include Calabash-style fried seafood, Moravian chicken pie, and the soft drink Cheerwine.

The average cost of a meal in North Carolina at an inexpensive restaurant is $16. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs an average of $70. Prices for meals at fine dining establishments in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, or Asheville start at $75 per person and vary based on the specific restaurant and menu selections.

The most popular fast food in North Carolina includes major national brands and a very strong presence of beloved Southern chains. Bojangles, a chain founded in Charlotte, is a state icon. Cook Out is another North Carolina-based chain with a massive following. These restaurants are listed below.

• Bojangles: A North Carolina-based chain famous for its Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and "Bo-Rounds."
• Cook Out: A North Carolina-based chain known for its extensive menu of char-grilled burgers, barbecue plates, and over 40 flavors of milkshakes.
• Chick-fil-A: A Southern favorite specializing in chicken sandwiches and waffle fries.
• McDonald's: A global chain serving its classic menu of burgers, fries, and breakfast items.
• Wendy's: Known for its square burgers, chili, and Frosty desserts.
• Taco Bell: Serves a menu of Mexican-inspired fast food.
• Zaxby's: A fast-casual chain specializing in chicken fingers, wings, and salads.
• Hardee's: A chain with a strong presence in the South, known for its "Made from Scratch" biscuits and charbroiled "Thickburgers."
• Biscuitville: A North Carolina-based chain that specializes in breakfast, with a focus on fresh-baked biscuits made every 15 minutes.

North Carolina's new restaurants offer fresh concepts and flavors across the state, particularly in the Triangle area. Recent openings include Aaktun, offering Latin-Asian fusion, and Brodeto, a Croatian-Italian restaurant. These best new North Carolina restaurants are listed below:

• Aaktun: A multi-concept establishment that functions as a coffee shop, restaurant, and tiki bar, serving a menu of Latin-Asian fusion cuisine. Located at 704 Ramseur St, Durham, NC 27701.
• Atomic Clock Brewing: A brewery and casual eatery that serves a menu of elevated bar food, including empanadas and corn ribs. Located at 501 Washington St # A, Durham, NC 27701.
• Brodeto: A Croatian-Italian restaurant from Chef Scott Crawford that features a seafood-heavy menu in a modern, Adriatic-inspired space. Located at 2201 Iron Works Dr Suite 137, Raleigh, NC 27604.
• Crawford Brothers Steakhouse: An upscale, modern steakhouse at Fenton in Cary, serving a menu of classic American dishes and prime aged beef. Located at 401 Fenton Gtwy Dr, Cary, NC 27511.
• Daijobu: A modern Japanese restaurant that specializes in ramen and hand rolls in a sleek, dark setting. Located at 170 E Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601.
• Emmy Squared: A restaurant specializing in Detroit-style pizza, also serving a menu of burgers, salads, and pastas. Located at 905 W Main St #25A, Durham, NC 27701.

Yes, there are lunch spots in North Carolina worth trying, including Lexington Barbecue, Biscuit Head, and Parker & Otis. Lexington Barbecue is a historic, James Beard Award-winning institution that serves a classic, no-frills lunch of wood-smoked pork shoulders and red slaw. For a more modern take on Southern food, Biscuit Head in Asheville is a popular spot known for its giant "cathead" biscuits, a variety of gravies, and a fresh jam and butter bar. In Durham, Parker & Otis is a gourmet market and cafe that serves a menu of creative sandwiches, salads, and coffee in a bustling, eclectic space.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in North Carolina, such as The Angus Barn, Chai Pani, and Stanbury. These restaurants provide distinct dinner experiences, from classic fine dining to innovative casual fare. The Angus Barn in Raleigh is a landmark fine dining steakhouse in a massive red barn, known for its prime cuts of beef and an award-winning wine cellar. In Asheville, Chai Pani offers a vibrant and casual dinner of Indian street food and won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in America. For a more chef-driven experience, Stanbury in Raleigh is a neighborhood restaurant with a daily changing menu of creative New American dishes and a focus on whole-animal butchery.

North Carolina offers a selection of restaurants serving vegan food, such as Plant, The Fiction Kitchen, and Living Kitchen. Plant in Asheville is an upscale, fine dining restaurant that serves an entirely plant-based menu of creative, chef-driven dishes. The Fiction Kitchen in Raleigh offers innovative vegan and vegetarian cuisine with a Southern flair in a funky, art-filled space. Living Kitchen, with locations in Charlotte and Raleigh, is a casual cafe that serves a 100% organic, plant-based menu of juices, salads, bowls, and burgers. In Charlotte, Oh My Soul is a fully vegan restaurant and bar with a large patio, serving comfort food classics.

The restaurants in North Carolina that serve gluten-free food are Posana, BimBeriBon, and Fresh Levant Bistro. Posana in Asheville is a contemporary American fine dining restaurant with a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, ensuring that 100% of its menu is safe for celiac diners. BimBeriBon, also in Asheville, is a globally inspired cafe and bakery that is entirely gluten-free, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In Raleigh, Fresh Levant Bistro is a Mediterranean-inspired cafe and bakery with a completely gluten-free menu of flatbreads, sandwiches, and pastries.

North Carolina's most famous cuisines are barbecue and Southern. The state's food identity is deeply rooted in its agricultural history and its distinct regional traditions. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in North Carolina.

• Barbecue: This is the most defining cuisine of the state. It is divided into two main styles: Eastern-style, which uses the whole hog and a vinegar-pepper sauce, and Lexington-style (or Piedmont-style), which uses only pork shoulder and a vinegar-based sauce with ketchup.
• Southern/Soul Food: This broad category encompasses the traditional comfort foods of the region. It includes dishes like fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, and cornbread.
• Seafood: With a long coastline, North Carolina is known for its fresh seafood. Calabash-style, which means lightly battered and deep-fried, is a famous local preparation. Oysters, shrimp, and various types of fish are staples.
• Farm-to-Table: This modern approach is particularly strong in cities like Asheville and the Triangle region. It focuses on using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from North Carolina's farms to create contemporary American dishes.
• Appalachian: In the western part of the state, this cuisine reflects the food traditions of the mountains. It is characterized by ingredients like corn, beans, squash, foraged foods, and preserved goods, with a focus on simple, resourceful cooking.