167 Best Restaurants in North Carolina, USA

Breakfast is the champ at this bright and airy in-demand spot for biscuits, smashed avocado toast, and frittatas, but it's also worth a visit later in the day for delicious bites like fried halloumi with honey and capers.

Flavorful house drinks like the spicy Inca Mocha and the pistachio-and-cinnamon Lebanese Blonde set this bustling coffee shop apart from competitors. Pair your latte with a spinach ricotta croissant and stick around to appreciate the local art and crafts on display and for sale.

The best place to eat in Bryson City, this wood-paneled bistro serves hearty dinner entrées like mountain trout with quinoa and brown rice or meatloaf made from four different locally sourced specialty meats. The dining room is a rustic yet elegant space in a 1908 building that formerly housed Bryson City Bank. If you're not staying at the hotel, make reservations at least a week in advance. 

What was once a beloved local eatery in a strip mall grew into impressive new-build stand-alone digs in 2023 with a wraparound porch, a spacious backyard with hammocks and cornhole, and inside, surfboards and taxidermied marlin sharing airspace under the vaulted ceiling. The lively scene at a wraparound bar and live musicians playing beside the oyster-shell-adorned fireplace set the scene for generously portioned fresh seafood and Southern comfort food. First-timers feel at home and regulars keep returning for perfect flounder filets, mahi tacos, and the Truckstop, a pan-fried pork loin with potatoes and gravy.

French cuisine meets coastal Carolina at this charming bistro—refurbished by new owners in 2022—that melds fine dining with a casual lack of pretension. An excellent wine list—mostly France and California—pairs well with entrées like crab cakes served with pickled red onions and remoulade (among the North Carolina coast's best) and a confit duck quarter with mushroom risotto and microgreens. Don't overlook the cinnamon maple beignets for dessert. 

The Outer Banks' first farm-to-table restaurant, this upscale foodie haven marries Southern roots with contemporary flair and Currituck Sound views. During its three decades of existence, the Blue Point has maintained a sustainably sourced menu with seafood, beef, and other dishes prepared to highlight their texture and flavor. Try the seared Outer Banks scallops with quinoa and turnips or the fish of the day. Next to the restaurant, the Back Bar (no reservation needed) offers a short menu, creative craft cocktails, and waterfront sitting areas.

Stepping into this artisanal patisserie with attached wine bar feels like being in Europe, save for the Southern hospitality. Hungry customers line up for plump Valrhona chocolate croissants, slabs of burrata-dotted focaccia, and sandwiches made on fresh bread with locally milled grains. Bobby Boy exists in perfect harmony with Caviste Wine Bar; bakery customers enjoy sandwiches and coffee at the bar by day, then fancy bar snacks are made to pair with the natural wines at Caviste at night. 

The Bull and Beggar is decidedly warehouse hip, with brick walls, old wood floors, and high ceilings. The French-inspired menu plays like an upscale steak house, and the surf-and-turf theme extends to the mollusks, which include raw oysters and escargot. Their 30-seat nearby spinoff, Baby Bull, now hosts their popular Burger Monday, with deals on fabulous double-patty burgers.

Overlooking Pamlico Sound, this upscale bistro focuses squarely on locally sourced seafood, vegetables from the accompanying inn's garden, and friendly service by local staff. Among the favorites are shrimp and grits, grilled catch of the day, tuna ceviche, and crab cakes. There's a dedicated vegan menu, live music at least two nights a week, and a popular Sunday brunch.

Cocktails and burgers achieve sublimity at this temple of ground meat, be it locally raised bison, the game of the month, or a 50/50 blend of emu and chorizo. Infusions like beet vodka and bacon fat bourbon ensure that the creations from behind the bar rival those from the kitchen. A log cabin interior packed with curios (and classic Pac-Man on the back porch) sets a friendly tone that's matched by the good-humored service. 

In 2022, this unassuming storefront Indian street food eatery stunned the culinary world by winning the James Beard Award for Most Outstanding Restaurant in the country. Fortunately, the accolade hasn't changed the laid-back delightful experience of dining here. Chef-owner Meherwan Irani draws inspiration from his hometown near Mumbai in dishes like bhel puri (crispy puffed rice with a tamarind sauce) or chicken pakoras (savory fritters).

If you have the blahs, Cúrate, with its extraordinary authentic tapas and fun atmosphere (they won the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Hospitality in the country) is the cure. The kitchen showcases the flavors of Spain over two dozen snacks and small plates, with special attention to cured Iberian ham dishes and seafood such as octopus and calamari.

Chef Ashley Moser's open kitchen at this magnificent, brick-walled, fine-dining hall (it's arguably the best restaurant in a 100-mile radius) generates intensely pleasant flavors, from smoked deviled eggs adorned with a fried oyster to the local striped bass over succotash and mushroom puree. The wine list is excellent, but don't overlook cocktails like a margarita that's crowned with sea-salt foam.

An Old North Durham mainstay for more than a dozen years alongside Fullsteam, Motorco, Cocoa Cinnamon, and King’s Sandwiches, this neighborhood gastropub is becoming more dwarfed by big buildings by the day as construction of mixed-use apartment buildings transforms the city. Always reliable, friendly, and unpretentious, diners can enjoy a variety of burgers and sandwiches, salads, and simple Southern-style plates at communal picnic tables on the covered patio or inside in a converted garage with exposed brick walls and bold local artwork (some of it by the artistic staff). Chef-owner Andy Magowan regularly pays homage to classic Chinese dishes and Mexican cuisine with menu specials and theme weeks. Sunday brunch is less inspired but still popular.

Don't tell anyone else, but Ilda may be North Carolina's best restaurant west of Asheville. Owners Santiago and Crystal defected from New York to Crystal's hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving behind Michelin stars to chase their dream of a community-driven Italian restaurant without pretension. House-made pastas are divine, and the cocktail program—highlighted by a series of infused limoncellos—is world-class. The team also owns the adjacent Santé wine bar and a quietly wonderful pizza joint across the street, Meatballs. 

This charming intimate space features handmade shadow-box art from the 1950s, a collection of mirrors, and retro lava lamps above the bar. The menu is equally eclectic, with small and large plates, including deep-fried deviled eggs, calamari in a garlic marinara sauce, roasted octopus with fava beans, duck and andouille gumbo, elk meatballs, and trout with fennel.

Winston's hippest coffee joint is known for its biscuits and burgers (the chef behind Heff's Burger Club started out at Krankies) as much as its espresso. A warehouselike interior offers plenty of room to spread out, and ample outdoor tables fill with locals relaxing or working on sunny days.

The most cutting-edge restaurant in the region, if not the whole state, MACHETE grew out of monthly underground supper club dinners and dining with them still has a feeling of being a culinary insider. Food and cocktails here are not just prepared, but curated and presented as edible works of art, yet feel effortless and unassuming. The menu, divided into Snacks and Plates, has sparse descriptions ("flank steak: black garlic. potato. mushroom") but dishes arrive with evocative descriptions from the well-informed servers. Drinks have fun, poppy names like Disco Stu Likes Disco Music (a Simpsons reference), with surprises like a popcorn garnish or a splash of squid ink.

Business executives and bohemians alike make their way to Mert's, an old-school gem that hides out under one of the city's many nondescript office buildings. Owners James and Reneé Bazzelle serve large portions of soul food and Lowcountry and Gullah staples, like fried chicken with greens, mac and cheese, and red beans and rice. Buckwheat and sweet-potato pancakes draw a weekend brunch crowd.

A place to please both pizza purists and just plain enthusiasts, Mission Pizza serves authentic Neapolitan pizza with a perfect crust char and simple toppings, along with a few pasta dishes and starters. Those who are serious about their pie might opt for the five-course pizza prix-fixe menu ($50 per person, served family style) or give themselves over completely to the pizzaiolo with Pizzakase ($65, based on the Japanese tradition of "I leave it up to you"). Tongue-in-cheek notes on the menu note that pizza should be eaten hot out of the oven (takeout is discouraged), with hands, without devices on the table, and without ranch dressing for crust-dipping (see: $100 "ranchage" fee). Reservations are only taken for the multi-course experiences, but there are plenty of nearby spots for a drink or a browse while you wait for a table. 

House-made pasta, innovative bruschetta with 'nduja (spreadable pork sausage), and roasted vegetables and meats are the stars of this sophisticated Italian spot. By day, the Alimentari side serves lunch and brunch, as well as pasta and provisions to go. Chef Josh DeCarolis brings his passion for his Sicilian heritage and expertise in Italian cooking, while his partner Matt Kelly has contributed significantly to Durham's culinary scene next door at Mateo tapas, French classics at Vin Rouge, and the highly anticipated reopening of Nana's Rockwood.

The small plates and seafood that emerge from the open kitchen at this bold and bright waterfront eatery are a lot more creative than the name, although it is fitting—sunsets from the dining room or the outdoor tables along the deck are truly stunning. If there's a long wait or you'd like more of a great experience, the same chef owns Red Sky Cafe across the street.

Chef Sunny Gerhart helms one of the state's best oyster bars (St. Roch, in Raleigh), but for his signature restaurant melding Spanish and Italian cuisine, he chose an old brick former dry cleaning building in Wilmington, now outfitted with leather booths, gold-top bars, and upscale psychedelia. Its 2023 opening elevated the city's dining scene, raising the bar with an open-fire grill that roasts nduja (spreadable pork sausage)-stuffed dates, charred Brussels sprouts with pancetta and pecorino, and filets of vermilion snapper with sofrito (a sauce made from sweet peppers, onions, and garlic). The menu is broken into four parts: tapas, salads, pasta (all house-made), and heartier protein dishes. You'll be too full for dessert, but order the budino (Italian-style pudding) topped with toasted marshmallow cream anyway. 

Charlotte's most impressive food hall is the state's biggest and best, with plenty of exposed brick painted in striking colors, multiple outdoor areas, and stall after stall of fresh-pressed juices, gourmet grilled cheese, ramen bowls, gelato, and craft cocktails.

Located in a century-old farmhouse with a rusty metal roof, in an old apple orchard, the Orchard's short but sweet menu highlights local produce and trout, plus seafood and steaks. The decor is comfortable rather than fancy, with a few kitschy Southern touches.

Don't let the pig statue out front fool you—this is sophisticated vegan dining with a menu of frequently changing dishes from different cultures and cuisines. A typical menu might include seitan chili with cheese, lasagna with raw vegetables, smoked portobello mushrooms, and delicious coconut milk ice cream for dessert.

Open since 1984, there is often a long line at the rear of this downtown Manteo institution serving gourmet classics like BLTs, Reubens, tuna melts, and pimento cheese sandwiches. Enjoy your snacks up front in the friendly, honey-blond wood bar or on the waterfront deck around back. Poor Richard's After Hours bar serves pub food in the evening, and live music rocks the house on some weekends.

Make reservations far in advance for this sublime dining experience broken into three courses, sourced daily from local farmers. This is fine dining—pate and a delightful escargot are the only menu constants—but it's not at all stuffy: approachable servers and the soaring views of the valley below ensure a relaxed sense of wonder. The always-changing farmers' salad is a must before a third course that could include venison tenderloin over truffle creamed spinach or a confit duck breast served with oyster mushroom risotto.