Something that has become blatantly apparent to me as I go on foodie adventures around North Carolina: Cary’s restaurant scene is massively underrated. Cities like Raleigh and Durham receive much attention for their food options, but I’d put Cary with them. 

Cary is a vibrant town just outside of the Research Triangle with a very family-friendly and culturally-diverse atmosphere. According to the Town of Cary’s site, nineteen percent of the community was born in another country, with Asians making up the biggest minority group.

Cary has no shortage of delicious and authentic restaurants, and we have enjoyed tasting as many as we can!

Harrison and I lived in Morrisville for a few years and ventured into neighboring Cary often to grab a bite. If you’re also interested in checking out Morrisville’s restaurants, I wrote a blog about my favorites! 

Here is a list of our favorite Cary restaurants and our go-to orders. It’s a long list, and I’m confident you will find more than a few new favorites on this blog! 

Bakeries + Specialty Shops 

La Farm Bakery 

La Farm Bakery is one of the most famous bakeries in the state and the nation. Cary is lucky to have a master breadmaker, Lionel Vatinet, in their town. The bread, pastries, and cafe items are all outstanding, but the real show-stopper is the white chocolate baguette.

I am utterly and irreversibly obsessed, and so is everyone I’ve introduced to them! If you don’t live close to Cary, you can also find them in many Whole Foods locations. 

The Butcher’s Market 

The Butcher’s Market is an excellent shop with premium meats and specialty grocery items, including many local artisan goods. Some don’t realize that they also do made-to-order sandwiches that are excellent! We love the steak & cheese, Korean spicy pork, roast beef & cheddar. 

Annelore’s German Bakery 

Annelore’s German Bakery is a hidden gem in Cary! The owners are from Germany and use traditional recipes and imported ingredients to bake their creations. We absolutely love their Whoopie pies and soft pretzels! 

Big Dom’s Bagel Shop 

Big Dom’s is an excellent bagel shop with amazing bagel sandwiches. I love the hot ham & Swiss, and Harrison loves the beautifully stacked BLT! 

Asali Desserts & Cafe 

Asali stands out in the Triangle as one of the only Mediterranean bakeries. They specialize in Mediterranean desserts, cakes, snacks, tea, coffee, and more. We loved the slice of strawberry cake we tried and have heard that the baklava cheesecake is something special! 

Cinnaholic 

Full disclaimer: Cinnaholic is a small national franchise, but I think it’s worth including here for a few reasons. It is locally owned and one of the few Cary restaurants where Vegans can indulge in dessert! Cinnaholic is 100% plant-based, but you’d never know! Build your dream cinnamon roll and enjoy!

Ice-Cream 

FRESH Local Ice Cream 

FRESH. Local Ice Cream is unbelievably delicious with its locally sourced ingredients and creamy texture. Harrison tells everyone how delicious their ice cream is and is their biggest fan! The monthly rotating flavors are the best, but the permanent midnight brownie flavor is our go-to. 

Andia’s Ice Cream

Andia’s has two charming locations in Cary that are so cute and filled with unique flavors. Something that Andia’s does really well is their flavor creation. I love seeing what unique varieties they come up with. They also specialize in fun treats like over-the-top shakes. 

Goodberry’s Frozen Custard 

Goodberry’s has the best-frozen custard in the world. You cannot change my mind. They have a few locations in the Triangle, and we frequented the Cary location often in the summer. They have a rotating “flavor of the day,” and many are incredible. My favorite mix-ins are brownie pieces and marshmallow cream! 

Vida Dulce 

Vida Dulce is bringing Mexican desserts to Cary. You can find popsicles, ice cream, slushees, fruit cups, and more on the menu. One of our favorite indulgent summertime treats is the churro funnel cake sundae!

We can’t discuss Cary Restaurants without highlighting the impressive Asian food scene! 

H Mart

H Mart is a large Korean grocery store, and we are so lucky to have one of their locations in Cary. They provide endless Asian ingredients, produce, prepared meals, and more.

My favorite part? The food court! Yep, they have their own food court filled with local, Asian-owned restaurants serving authentic cuisine. I think this is one of the biggest gems in Cary. We always return to Love Bao Taiwanese Kitchen for the basil popcorn chicken and bao buns, Thai Koon Nine for the drunken noodles, and Mat Jib for Korean corndogs. 

Kababish

Kababish is a favorite hidden gem among Cary locals. They specialize in Pakistani and Indian Cuisine using authentic yet modern recipes. We loved the garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, and karahi. They also have family meals that are a great deal!  

Miso Ramen Bar 

My favorite ramen I’ve ever had is the chicken curry ramen from Miso Ramen Bar. In my eyes, it is perfect. Their entire menu is thoughtfully crafted and immensely flavorful. I could eat here every week! 

Cilantro Indian Cafe

Cilantro Indian Cafe may just be my favorite Indian restaurant in the Triangle for a few reasons. First, the food is incredible. The chicken tikka masala blows me away every time. Second, it’s a fast-casual eatery, which is very rare for Indian cuisine. We have two little children with us and love that we don’t have to take them to a fancy sit-down restaurant to get Indian food together! 

So Hot

So Hot is one of my favorite places for a fun dining experience. They specialize in traditional Chinese hot pot, a concept where a boiling, flavored broth is on the table in front of you for you to cook your food in. It’s a great time and perfect for a date night or outing with friends. The food is delicious! 

MC Restaurant

Coming in hot with a bold statement for you: MC Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in NC. There, I said it. Located in a historic cottage, MC features modern Asian cuisine that changes weekly. Chef Michael Chuong is a genius and creates beautifully plated and intricately flavored dishes. I recommend dining on the porch during the springtime. 

Sushi at the Park

Sushi at the Park was one of our favorite sushi spots in Cary because they have plenty of delicious rolls on the menu, and they’re all BOGO every day! They also have a surprisingly great Japanese curry as well. 

Seol Grille

Seol Grille is another fun dining experience in Cary. It’s an all-you-can-eat table-top Korean BBQ restaurant that impresses in flavor, portions, service, and atmosphere. We loved all of the meats and the cheesy corn side. 

Biryani Maxx 

Biryani Maxx is another one of our favorite Indian restaurants in Cary. We love all of their food but are always especially satisfied with their biryani, which they excel in (hence their name!). 

Oiso Sushi & Korean

Oiso is one of the more popular sushi spots in Cary, and it’s not hard to see why when you try it. The rolls are big, fresh, and delicious! 

GET TO KNOW THE OUTER BANKS – Take a trip for Fresh Off The Boat Seafood in the Outer Banks.

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Sometimes, you need some FRESH off-the-boat seafood.

Lucky for you, The Outer Banks has numerous quality establishments that will give you just that. Here are a few fabulous ones!

• O’Neal’s Sea Harvest gives homey vibes with its porch & retail store. It serves up seafood, sandwiches & more in a simple setting.
• Risky Business Seafood is a fresh retail seafood market. They sell local seafood, spicy steamed shrimp, crab cakes, and steamed crabs.
• Diamond Shoals Restaurant is a casual seafood eatery with seafood and more, plus a salad bar. It is attached to a retail fish market.

Have you tried any of these? Add them to your list for your next coastal visit!

Pizza & Italian: Numerous options, each with their own style

V Pizza

You know I’m going to include our partners over at V Pizza in my list of favorite Cary restaurants! I’m a huge fan of V Pizza’s Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, with my favorites being the Flyin’ Hawaiian and the Mac Attack. They also make my favorite wings in the Triangle. Don’t doubt me here–just order them and thank me later. 

Pizzeria Veritas 

Pizzeria Veritas has crispy little pepperoni cups on their NY-style pizza, and it makes me happier than it should. Their garlic knots are also some of the best around! 

Di Fara Pizza Tavern 

Di Fara Pizza Tavern’s owners have a machine they brought with them from New York that replicates NY water! As someone who’s never been to NY, I am entirely unqualified to speak to the difference this machine makes. However, I am qualified to say that the calzones are outrageously huge, and the white pizza is one of my favorites ever!

Salvios

I love it when pizza spots let you do half-and-half, especially with their gourmet flavors. Salvios always let me have both worlds, and I thank them for it! 

The Cary restaurant scene has plenty of comforting American options! 

Corbett’s Burgers & Soda Bar

Corbett’s is a neat spot in Cary that makes delicious hamburgers and milkshakes. The coolest part? Their soda wall! They have over 250 soda bottles, and we loved picking out a new one every time. Although one of us always had to get a Cheerwine, too! 

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles is a must-eat, especially when introducing out-of-town visitors to classic southern food. Dame’s isn’t your typical chicken & waffle joint. They pick up a few notches with clever combinations, unique spreads, and flavored waffles! 

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom

Scratch is a unique restaurant that fuses southern favorites with notes of Asian cuisine. Sounds a little crazy, right? Trust me, they succeed. Their BBQ egg rolls with sriracha orange-ginger aioli are among my favorite appetizers in the Triangle. They’re also known for their skillet mac & cheese options! 

Tazza Kitchen 

Tazza Kitchen is a warm, modern restaurant that specializes in wood-fired cooking. You can find some of everything there, and it’s all good. This is one of my favorite Cary restaurants for meeting friends and colleagues. We love their spicy sausage and honey pizza, crab cakes, kale salad, and cast iron goat cheese dip. 

Brigs

Brigs is an iconic breakfast restaurant with locations throughout the Triangle. My favorite things to order are the seasonal pancakes and waffles. It’s a perfect spot for a classic, casual breakfast with big portions and great flavors! 

Mexican cuisine for any palate and budget

Burrito Shak 

Burrito Shak is my favorite fast-casual Mexican restaurant in the area. It follows the familiar concept of customizing your meal as you walk along the counter filled with ingredients and toppings. However, it stands head and shoulders above others because of its fresh ingredients and incredible coastal flavors. I love their burritos, fish tacos, and bowls. I highly recommend the Aloha bowl with your favorite protein. 

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila 

Gonza is just delicious. I love many menu items, but my top favorites are the Mexican flag enchiladas, el platano, and nachos. I could never get sick of eating here! 

Totopos 

Totopos is a festive restaurant in Cary with a design themed after Mexico City and a menu that follows suit. The food is excellent, and they make some of the best chilaquiles around! 

Esmeralda Grill 

Esmeralda Grill is a fantastic little restaurant in a strip mall where we loved to get our authentic street taco fix. A no-frills-style Mexican restaurant that makes plain good food! 

Mediterranean favorites in Cary

Bosphorus

Bosphorus is a fantastic little restaurant serving authentic Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine and is always one of my top recommendations for people when they move to the area.

The complimentary Turkish flatbread, pide, is outstanding, and we never ever skip ordering the Cigar Bourek. This appetizer consists of fried filo dough filled with feta, parsley, and onions and served with marinara sauce. 

Sassool 

Sassool is a neat, fast-casual restaurant serving hot and cold Lebanese and Mediterranean food. Choose from made-to-order entrees, or stick with the variety of delicious deli sides on display. Their food is so flavorful, and there are plenty of options for customers with various dietary restrictions. 

Yes, you can even find Caribbean food in Cary! 

Taste of Jamaica 

Taste of Jamaica is one of the best-kept secrets among Cary restaurants. A small family-owned restaurant treating the public to their authentic recipes! I loved their jerk chicken, curried goat, and rice. 

Clearly, Cary restaurants are next level! 

This list will constantly grow as I try more delicious spots. Did I miss your favorite? Be sure to leave a comment letting me know so I can try it out!