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FOOD & DINING

Hungry in the Tar Heel State? This page explores North Carolina’s dining scene from every angle – spotlighting fast-food favorites, North Carolina-based chains, classic pizza and coffee stops, as well as steakhouses and more upmarket eateries. Whether you’re craving a quick bite on the go or a sit-down meal with a touch of Southern flair, you’ll find plenty of options to dig into here.

Did you know North Carolina is the birthplace of several iconic food chains – from Bojangles’ fried chicken and Biscuitville to Cook Out, Krispy Kreme, and Hardee’s – serving everything from biscuits and barbecue to burgers and donuts?

Burgers & American Classics

  • Cook Out

  • Hardee’s

  • Hwy 55

  • Whataburger

  • Chick-fil-A

  • Zaxby’s

  • Waffle House

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Coffee & Pastry

  • Starbucks

  • Dunkin’

  • Panera Bread

  • Biscuitville

  • Krispy Kreme

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Mexican & Tex-Mex

  • Taco Bell

  • Del Taco

  • Chipotle

  • Three Amigos

  • Mi Cancun

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Pizza

  • Domino’s Pizza

  • Pizza Hut

  • Marco’s Pizza

  • Hungry Howie’s

  • Mellow Mushroom

  • Mod Pizza

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Fried Chicken & BBQ

  • Chick-fil-A

  • Bojangles

  • Smithfield’s

  • Beasley’s Fried Chicken

  • Lexington Barbecue

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Sandwiches & Subs

  • Subway

  • Jersey Mike’s

  • Arby’s

  • Waveriders

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Seafood

  • Captain D’s

  • Captain Nance’s

  • Long John Silver’s

  • Oceanic

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Steakhouses

  • Outback Steakhouse

  • Texas Roadhouse

  • Longhorn Steakhouse

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Casual Upmarket Eateries

  • Applebee’s

  • Chili’s

  • Olive Garden

  • Logan’s Roadhouse

  • Red Lobster

  • Buffalo Wild Wings

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Healthy Food Stops

  • Farmside Kitchen

  • La Farm Bakery

  • Happy + Hale

  • Raleigh Raw

  • Lovegrass Kitchen

  • Nils Mediterranean

  • Tru Food

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Local Coffee Roasters

  • Black & White Coffee Roasters

  • Carrboro Coffee Roasters

  • Counter Culture Coffee

  • Pisgah Coffee Roasters

  • Asheville Coffee Roasters

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Microbreweries

  • Highland Brewing Company

  • Wicked Weed Brewing

  • Green Man Brewery

  • Zillicoah Beer Company

  • Burial Beer Co.

  • Hillman Beer

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Drink Spots

  • Whiskey Kitchen

  • Foxcroft Wine

  • Postino WineCafe

  • Urban Oak Rooftop Bar and Lounge

  • Coupe & Stein Champagne Bar

  • Glasshalfull

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About Gotta Be NC

Gotta Be NC helps South African refugees feel at home in North Carolina with resources, community connections, and local opportunities to start fresh.

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