TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Featured Restaurant News

• The News & Observer shared the news that JP’s Pastry’s Durham location opened a few weeks ago but will host a grand opening event March 14. Visitors can enjoy free samples all day, but the first 25 people in line when the doors open at 10 a.m. get a tote bag filled with treats. JP’s will also give away a $100 gift card at 10:30 a.m. and $50 gift cards every 30 minutes from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. JP’s Pastry’s Durham location is at 7072 Highway 751, Suite 108. They now have four shops across Benson, Greenville, Raleigh and Durham and will soon open a fifth location in Wilmington later this year. Visit them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Learned this week that Gym Tacos will soon open a location in downtown Wake Forest in the former Hardee’s location at 216 E Roosevelt Ave. Based on a recent Instagram post, it doesn’t look like it will be long before they open that location, which will be their seventh location. Stay tuned for an announcement coming soon. Check it out on Instagram here.

• In North Raleigh’s Quail Corners shopping center, Triangle Business Journal reported that a Japanese restaurant called Shinmai Moku has received permits to build out space at 1200 E. Millbrook Road, Suite 126. The suite is located in phase 2 of Quail Corners. Shinmai Moku is a sister restaurant to Cary’s Shinmai Shokudo and Shinmai Kumo. Visit them here.

• Also in North Raleigh, we learned we will soon have the newest New York transplant….Anchor Bar, home of the original Buffalo chicken wing, will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 10 at 3 p.m. at 6615 Falls of the Neuse Road. The original location is located on Main Street in Buffalo, NY — home to the original Buffalo chicken wing invented in 1964 by Frank and Teressa Bellissimo. This is their first location in North Carolina. Visit them here.

• Up in Rolesville, Jeff’s Bagel Run will officially open the doors of its newest location TODAY, Friday, March 6th at 101 Rolesville Ctr Rd., Suite 115. Known for their hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels and house-made cream cheese spreads in both classic and creative flavors. And they’re not stopping there. Raleigh is up next this spring, so stay tuned for even more bagel news! Get familiar with them here.

• Thanks to a tip from Chris Creighton, we learned that the Chick-fil-A on Walnut Street (1815 Walnut St.) in Cary (Crossroads Plaza) has reopened after a complete demolition and rebuild. Check it out here.

• Saw on Instagram that there will soon be a Dawn & Dusk Cantina opening at 7810 Target Cir #101 in Raleigh just off Triangle Town Blvd. Looks like they’ll be serving up everything from chilaquiles to craft cocktails. They also appear related to El Patio Bar And Grill, just adjacent to the soon-to-open spot. Keep up with them on Instagram here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Out in RTP at Boxyard at RTP, La Taqueria by Katsuji has opened where you can experience Mexico City-style tacos from Anthony Rapillo and Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe, who gained popularity with appearances on Bravo’s Top Chef and winning Food Network’s Chopped. Visit them on Instagram here.

• And Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook Group founder Carrie Brogren shared that the newest bar to hit downtown Durham, Eve, is now open at 108 E. Parrish Street. Eve is a woman-owned lounge and gathering space. Get to know them here.

, Closings

• Was very bummed to learn late last week that Matt Fern will close his (ish) delicatessen at 702 N. Person Street after 5 (ish) years. Can’t wait to see what the super-talented Fern does next. Their last day of service will be March 29th. Pro tip: since the announcement, they’ve been selling out on a daily basis, so get by early!

• And directly across the street, The Station, part of the Hibernian Company family, announced they would be closing their doors for a major renovation beginning March 9. They will reopen as a brand new concept designed with the neighborhood in mind. So get by this weekend for one more round.

• And just months after opening, Hillsborough Street’s Barley and Burger, founded in Rocky Mount, has closed. They were in the former David’s Dumplings & Noodle Bar spot and before that Darryl’s restaurant next to Players Retreat. The locations in Rocky Mount, Smithfield and Charlotte remain open.

Food Trucks

• The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo continues in 2026 on these dates from noon to 4 p.m. – April 12, May 31, and September 27. At each event, you’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. The rodeos are hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar for all three. Get all the details here.

• Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Events

• This is pretty cool. Heading to an event in downtown Raleigh? If so, stop by and see my friends at Whiskey Kitchen (201 W. Martin St.) where they have just launched a “Pre-Game with Whiskey.” What is that? It’s pretty simple. If you show them a same-day Raleigh event ticket or pass (for any event like concerts, game or any downtown event) you get 10% off your meal. Told you it was cool. Check out Whiskey here.

• Saif Rahman, chef and co-owner of JBF’s 2026 “Best New Restaurant” semifinalist, Peregrine, will celebrate his sacred food tradition with guests by offering a special $75 three-course Iftar menu throughout Ramadan, February 17th through March 19th. This Muslim tradition represents the meal served at sundown to break the daily fast. Rahman’s Iftar menu will offer his personal perspective on “first generation American food,” weaving in his Bangladeshi heritage. Reservations are required for the Iftar experience and can be reserved here.

• Tickets are on sale now for the 2026 Dinner in the Meadow event on September 13th in Louisburg. The biennial event will be held at the beautiful and bucolic Meadow Lane Farm and is a fundraiser that supports the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a non-profit organization that helps small farms in North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Did you know that in North Carolina, 1 in 4 households led by single women live below the poverty line? That’s nearly twice as many as the households led by single men with children. Hunger hits different for women. Economic challenges — from pay disparity to the rising cost of childcare — make it harder to keep growing kids fed. Our heart goes out to the moms of North Carolina who are wondering what to do as SNAP cuts loom. This International Women’s Month, let’s show them that they can count on their community. Some good friends have stepped forward with a $50,000 matching challenge gift, so any amount you give to the Food Bank by March 31 has the power to DOUBLE! It’s a terrific chance to stretch every dollar of your support while helping parents, seniors, and veterans stretch their budgets. In fact, if you’re able, this is a good time to make an especially generous gift, perhaps to honor a mom, grandma, auntie, or another woman who’s stood in a mother’s place in your life. It’s simple to do when you donate.

Featured Restaurant News

• Chocolate lovers and film fans alike are invited to experience the magic as Trugalug Chocolate celebrates its grand opening on March 10th at 7:30 p.m. in Raleigh. The evening will feature a special screening of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) with special guest Paris Themmen— who portrayed Mike Teevee in the beloved 1971 classic — appearing live for a meet-and-greet, audience Q&A, and official ribbon cutting. The event begins at Trugalug’s next-door neighbor, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, with the 7:30 p.m. screening. Following the film and Q&A, guests will walk next door to Trugalug Chocolate for an after-party celebration at the shop. Trugalug Chocolate features on-site cacao bean roasting and a handcrafted selection of chocolate bars and small batch bonbons. Trugalug offers customers a rare opportunity to see and learn the entire chocolate-making process—from raw bean to finished bar—under one roof. Check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• According to the News & Observer, Wake County’s first Whataburger location will open Thursday, March 26 in Wake Forest near Wegmans, and the Raleigh location will open Thursday, April 9 on Six Forks Road near Costco. Not to be confused with What-A-Burger, NC’s first Whataburger location opened in Charlotte last year, and 12 are now open across the state. Expect Texas-sized burgers, fries, patty melts, and more fast food faves. Plus, it’s open 24/7 for late-night cravings. Get to know them here.

• Raleigh’s Smash will host a ribbon cutting and check presentation at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3rd. Smash is the latest restaurant and bar from LM Restaurants, the Raleigh-based, family-owned hospitality company that operates more than two dozen Carolina Ale Houses across the Southeast as well as Taverna Agora, Vidrio and Birdie’s Barroom and Kitchen in Raleigh. Smash combines creative cocktails, elevated bar bites and hospitality with interactive games, including table tennis and electric shuffleboard and darts. Smash opened back in December in downtown Raleigh at 500 Glenwood Avenue. Visit them here.

• Located in the Smoky Hollow development, downtown Raleigh’s newest hotspot, The Crunkleton, just rolled out some new menu options to get you in the mood for warmer weather! Known for their handcrafted cocktails and legendary 42-ounce Tomahawk steak, the new additions include items like: Wagyu Skewers, Duck Flautas, Tuna Tartare, Blackened Shrimp Fettuccini, and North Carolina Fresh Mahi. If you haven’t been by yet, you have about 10 great new reasons to do so! If you are a regular, here are some mouth-watering reasons to change things up a bit! Visit them here.

• Up in Rolesville, we learned this week that Jeff’s Bagel Run is opening a second Triangle-area location (the first is in Wake Forest) this March at 101 Rolesville Center Drive. Known for their hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels and house-made cream cheese spreads in both classic and creative flavors. And they’re not stopping there. Raleigh is up next this spring, so stay tuned for even more bagel news! Get familiar with them here.

• Also in Rolesville, there is a El Jefe Modern Mex opening soon in the Wallbrook shopping center (think Publix) at 831 S. Main Street. No word on an open date. Looks like they are most active on Facebook here. Thanks to reader Hans Kerekes for bringing that to our attention.

• And down in Holly Springs, Shake Shack opened at 153 Grand Hill Place on February 25th. The restaurant offers signature burgers, shakes, and fries, and is open until 10 p.m. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• And then there were three. Following up on the recent announcement that they would open a second Raleigh location in the Greystone Village shopping center, downtown Raleigh’s Longleaf Swine announced this week that they would open a third location in Carrboro later this year. They are taking over the former Luna Rotisserie & Taproom, which will hold their final service on Sunday, March 8th. Keep up with all their upcoming announcements on Instagram here.

• Snooze A.M. Eatery is having their grand re-opening this Sunday, March 1st from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill’s Eastgate Crossing shopping center (1800 E Franklin St., Ste. 003). They originally opened in November 2023. This falls closely on the heels of last week’s reopening of Giorgios Bakatsias’ Kipos Greek Taverna in the same shopping center. The first 50 people to make a purchase get a special Snooze Chapel Hill gift pack which includes a $50 Snooze Gift Card, a Snooze Tote, and a Snooze Chapel Hill Mug. Even better, 10 of those lucky guests will randomly find $300 Snooze gift cards in their totes! Snooze has been closed since the building suffered extensive water damage from summer flooding in July. On the menu, expect their favorites along with a few newer additions. Visit Snooze here.

Closings

• Luna Rotisserie & Taproom in Carrboro made the announcement this week that their final service will be Sunday, March 8th. The Durham location remains open. See the announcement above for who is moving into the space.

• The News & Observer reported this week that after less than two years, Fare & Fellow coffee shop is closing their location at Park Point in Research Triangle Park. Their Durham location remains.

Food Trucks

• The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo continues in 2026 on these dates from noon to 4 p.m. – April 12, May 31, and September 27. At each event, you’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. The rodeos are hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar for all three. Get all the details here.

• Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Events

• This is pretty cool. Heading to an event in downtown Raleigh? If so, stop by and see my friends at Whiskey Kitchen (201 W. Martin St.) where they have just launched a “Pre-Game with Whiskey.” What is that? It’s pretty simple. If you show them a same-day Raleigh event ticket or pass (for any event like concerts, game or any downtown event) you get 10% off your meal. Told you it was cool. Check out Whiskey here.

• This Sunday, March 1, Cheeni’s location at Horseshoe RTP at 3151 Elion Drive will host a Holi celebration. The three-hour events begins at noon and your ticket includes access to the Mela and Market featuring: Holi colors and a clean-up kit for each guest, a DJ Rang dance party, access to lunch, a collaboration between Viceroy and Cheeni RTP, local vendors (retail shopping, henna artistry, spices). Tickets are $15 per person. Get all the details and tickets here.

• Saif Rahman, chef and co-owner of JBF’s 2026 “Best New Restaurant” semifinalist, Peregrine, will celebrate his sacred food tradition with guests by offering a special $75 three-course Iftar menu throughout Ramadan, February 17th through March 19th. This Muslim tradition represents the meal served at sundown to break the daily fast. Rahman’s Iftar menu will offer his personal perspective on “first generation American food,” weaving in his Bangladeshi heritage. Reservations are required for the Iftar experience and can be reserved here.

Food Bank Corner

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is looking for caring friends to become Monthly Sustainers of the Food Bank to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: $25 can provide 75 meals per month; $35 can provide 105 meals per month; $50 can provide 150 meals per month; $100 can provide 300 meals per month. Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they’ll send a special tote bag your way. And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! Become a Monthly Sustainer here.