These 20 Restaurants In North Carolina Will Make Your Mouth Explode (2024)

Open May-November, this rustic yet elegant restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients with a farm-to-table approach.

You'll be in hog heaven at this casual, cozy, and traditional BBQ joint. A must-stop on your way to the beach, this joint has been dined at by some pretty famous people, including several presidents.

Located unassumingly in Kinston, Chef and the Farmer is the perfect mix of subtle southern cuisine with a uniquely elegant approach.

A delicious steakhouse, that won't break your budget, this intimate dining experience is great for date night.

The velveeta cheeseburger is guaranteed to melt in your mouth. The chili is top-notch and the quality of beef is indisputable.

You know what goes great with fresh-caught seafood? An array of melted, delicious goodness to dip it right into. A unique, bold, and fun dining experience, its a must-stop at least once!

Simple ingredients and slow-roasted pork make for the perfect beach BBQ.

Indulge a little and experience fine-dining at the elegant Biltmore Estate. All meat is farm-raised and the vegetables come fresh from the garden.

If Andy mentioned this restaurant to Barney on The Andy Griffith Show, then you know it's traditional NC cuisine at its best. Griffith dined here as a young boy, adding to the memorabilia and relic-experience of this diner. Casual, delicious, and 'snappy' this southern food is unbeatable.

Exotic, creative, and unique cuisine awaits your taste buds in this rustic yet cozy farmhouse restaurant outside of Chapel Hill.

Durham is quickly becoming the south's unique food capital. With that being said, Pizzeria Toro is a slice of heaven that puts all other pizza joints to shame.

A steak with a view, this beautiful, rustic wood-paneled restaurant mixes traditional steakhouse dishes with fabulous wine-pairings. Ryan's is perfect for a cozy date or for a celebration with family and friends.

You haven't experienced the high country until you've dined at The Gamekeeper. Serving, yes you guessed it, a wide selection of game, this rustic mountain eatery is a mingling of elegance and Appalachian charm.

You haven't tasted mac-n-cheese until you dip your spoon into the baked, delicious, cheesy-goodness of Poole's Diner in Raleigh.

As one of few AAA five-diamond restaurants, Herons has been noted as a "culinary gem." With an extensive wine list this dining experience is well worth a little saving up to savor something delicious.

Located in one of the oldest towns in NC, On the Square serves fresh, sustainable, and ever-changing ingredients to delight diners in a comfortable southern experience.

As close as you'll get to France in North Carolina, Saint Jacques is owned and operated by french native Lil Lacassagne.

Known as the "honeymonk" by locals and straight from the birthplace of Lexington BBQ, this is a must-stop joint.

Consistently ranked as the number one dining spot on the Outer Banks, the Colington Cafe is nesteld beneath three-hundred year old oak trees on the sound side village. Serving elegant dishes without sacrificing traditional, comfortable roots, order up some fresh seafood and experience the best OBX has to offer.

The former owners of the famous Penguin flocked next door to bring southern dining cuisine to The Diamond. This little diner makes one mean veggie plate, and in NC, veggies include gooey and delicious mac-n-cheese and gravy adorned mashed potatoes.