Friday Fun Food Facts – July 10, 2026

Featured Restaurant News

• Next month will bring us the opening of one of the most anticipated additions to downtown Cary, Lloyd’s Full Service. The neighborhood eatery is set inside a restored 1950s service station at downtown Cary’s most vibrant corner: Chatham and Academy streets. It is being brought to us by the local hospitality group Early Bird Night Owl, the operating team behind The Durham and The Mayton boutique hotels as well as upcoming The Gables. Lloyd’s kitchen will be helmed by chef Dennis Bernard and will offer a menu featuring linguine with clams, a hot dog in honor of the now-closed Ashworth Drugs, a fried fish plate and an all-day breakfast plate. The restaurant will initially open with limited dinner service. The plan is to expand to lunch and weekend brunch this fall. The restaurant will have space to seat 75 guests in its dining room and up to 100 on its covered outdoor patio. The patio will also have a vintage-style van that has been retrofitted to serve food and drinks. Start getting familiar with Lloyd’s here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Next door in Apex, things just got a lot more groovy in the “Peak of Good Living.” The heart of downtown Apex is now home to the newest location of Groovy Duck Bakery which opened this week to a long line of customers at 101 North Salem Street. While they’re famous for their muffins, their skilled bakers also create delicious cakes, chunky cookies, cupcakes, bars, pies, and pastries—all made in small batches throughout the day. Stop by for a delicious pastry and coffee. They also have a location in Raleigh on Edwards Mill Road. Get Groovy today.

• In Downtown Raleigh, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance informed us that Kokoro Ramen & Izakaya is now open in City Market at the corner of corner of Blount and Martin streets. The Japanese restaurant and pub is now serving up unique shareable plates and ramen bowls. Follow along on Instagram.

• We first told you about this back in May, but Michael Longo posted on his social media that his newest venture – Mikey’s Pizza – will hold their grand opening this Saturday, July 11th. Longo of Vic’s fame is opening the shop in the former Pizza & Pints spot next to Chido Taco and near Mami Nora’s at 2320 Bale Street at the intersection with Wake Forest Road. Expect this to be the first one, but certainly not the last. The focus will be very kid friendly where kids (and adults too) can make their own pizza and eat it right there. Visit Mikey’s here.

• Over at North Hills, we got word this week that South Block, the fast-growing acai bowl, smoothie, and juice concept, will open a new location in the Main District of North Hills. The new location will be located next door to bartaco and is expected to open in the first quarter of next year. Founded in Arlington, V.A., South Block has built a loyal following for its handcrafted acai bowls, fresh smoothies, and cold-pressed juices made from real, high-quality ingredients. Since its founding in 2011, the brand has expanded across the Mid-Atlantic and into North Carolina. With two locations in Charlotte and a third on the way, this is their first venture into the Triangle. Get to know them here.

• Up in North Raleigh, reader Kathy Powell noticed signage up for Koi Sushi & Hibachi in the Celebration at Six Forks shopping center. Looks like their original location is over in Durham and no word yet on an open date for the Raleigh location. Visit their Durham location here.

• With the World Cup capturing everyone’s attention, and following up on France’s convincing win over Morocco yesterday, The Cary Report shared more good news this week for fans of all things French. They reported that La Pause Parisienne is setting up shop at 160 NE Maynard Road, bringing an authentic French bakery and café to town. The bakery says its croissants and pastries are made on site by French-trained artisans! No word on an open date. Get to know them here.

• Got word this week that the folks behind Shinmai Shokudo and Shinmai Kumo in Cary are getting ready to open their third concept, Shinmai Moku, in the new section of Quail Corners shopping center later this July (corner of Millbrook and Falls of the Neuse roads). Moku is an intimate Japanese yakitori and izakaya inspired by the evenings found throughout Japan, where people gather around charcoal grills to share skewers, small plates, and drinks with friends. Their goal isn’t just to open another restaurant, but to bring a more authentic yakitori experience to North Carolina through craftsmanship, atmosphere, and hospitality. Best to follow along on Instagram here.

• We first told you about this last week, but I learned from my buddy Sachin Patel that Super Chix is now open in Morrisville at 1125 Hatches Pond Lane (right next to Wegmans). Based out of Texas, they have a couple other locations in North Carolina, but this is the first in the Triangle. Go in and ask for Anesh and tell him that Coach Sean sent you. Go ahead and get familiar with them here.

• Up in Wake Forest, reader Jan Delory informed us that Bruma Brunch & Social Taco, featuring modern Mexican flavor, is now open at 1898 S Franklin Street in the heart of downtown. Visit them here.

• Down at 213 Fayetteville Street in Fuquay-Varina, signage is now up on the building for Sully’s Misfits Kitchen which will soon (any day now) be serving up good eats and drinks. Self-described as a Massachusetts-inspired dive bar kitchen serving North Shore roast beef, South Shore bar pies, wings, and comfort food from everywhere. Best to keep up with their progress and the pending announcement on their Facebook page here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• We first told you about this back in January, but they just announced on Instagram that they will open next month! Winston-Salem-based restaurant East of Texas, celebrated for its Tex-Mex house-smoked BBQ and outdoor dining experience, will open at American Tobacco Campus  in the historic Reed Building, it will feature a private event area, garage doors opening to outdoor seating near the Lucky Strike water tower, and a market with grab-and-go meals and retail offerings. Get familiar with them here. Congrats and welcome to the Triangle to founder Claire Calvin.

• Staying at American Tobacco campus, very exciting news coming out of the folks at Fullsteam (which will open sometime in 2026, perhaps around Labor Day). They shared that Phoebe Lawless will be their new director of hospitality. Many of you know Phoebe from her beloved Durham ventures over the years: Scratch, Baby Scratch, The Lakewood, and Snack Service. She will help build and execute what they are calling an “American South Public House” and its event space, Stoker Club. Menu-wise, expect a blend of tavern classics (including the return of some Rigsbee favorites) and a ton of Southern sides and plenty of vegan options. Keep up on Instagram here.

• Little Bull will open in their new location on Monday, August 3 completing a year-long renovation of a historic building dating to the 1910s in downtown Durham’s National Register historic district (301 East Chapel Hill Street). The work preserves a lot of the building’s history with wood from the original interior walls and repurposed the salvaged beams into a staircase that now connects the main dining room to the upstairs bar. Little Bull will serve dinner nightly beginning at 5 pm, with weekend brunch continuing on Saturdays and Sundays. The team plans to introduce weekday lunch service this fall, marking the restaurant’s first lunch offering. Congrats to Oscar Diaz and Juan Camilo Espada and the entire Mezcalito Group. Follow along on Instagram here.

• On a recent visit to Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, I noticed new signage on the former Ay Pro Dios and then Ram’s Corner spot – it will soon by the newest home of Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill, which in addition to its Chapel Hill locations, has locations in Durham and Cary. No word yet on an open date. Visit Kahlovera here.

• A little further down on Franklin Street, Chapelboro reported that a combination Jimmy John’s and Baskin-Robbins store will soon open at 143 West Franklin Street, in the same building which houses Target. Both restaurants are owned by Inspire Brands LLC. who also own Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, and Sonic Drive-In. No open date has been released just yet, but work is underway. Visit Jimmy John’s here and Baskin-Robbins here.

• Chapelboro also shared more Franklin Street news – Hibachi & Company at 153 East Franklin Street has closed at its current location and has moved down the street to 163 East Franklin Street. Both The Daily Tar Heel and Business Debut report the restaurant’s old storefront will soon be occupied by Yeti Bowl and Shakes. Business Debut notes the Franklin Street location will be the first for the “bowl-focused concept.” Visit Hibachi & Company here.

• We learned this week that Raleigh-based restaurateur Anthony Rapillo and Katsuji Tanabe will soon open KatSushi at Boxyard RTP, introducing a vibrant new hand-rolled sushi restaurant to the beloved Durham outdoor food hall. Born of the creativity of Tanabe and rooted in his Japanese lineage, it will feature a menu focused on made-to-order hand rolls and rice bowls. They will have walk-up ordering, an outdoor bar with seating, and a handful of high top seating options near the restaurant, which will be on the second level of Boxyard. Visit Boxyard here.

• Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And so it is as we remind you that Fiesta Grill in Chapel Hill (5 miles west of Carrboro) will be closed for their annual vacation through July 14. reopening on July 15. Please plan accordingly. Hang in there! Visit them here.

, Closings

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on September 27. You’ll find food and drink at over 30 food trucks as well as inflatables and family fun for all ages. It will be hosted at Durham Central Park (500 Foster Street, Durham). Go ahead and mark your calendar. 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

• July 16th through July 26th is Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. From skyline cocktails to neighborhood favorites and exciting new discoveries, you’ll find exclusive prix fixe menus, chef-crafted specials, and limited-time offers throughout Downtown Raleigh during this celebration. Next week, they’ll start unveiling participating restaurants, including The Willard Rooftop Lounge, with many more to come. Stay tuned to see who’s joining this year’s list!

• On Sunday, July 26 at 7 p.m. at the Southern Village Green in Chapel Hill, Porch will be jamming out and collecting food donations to support the more than 800 families they serve. This summer they’re providing extra food in the market to help families make ends meet until kids are back in schools receiving free and reduced meals in the fall. If you can, please help kids have all the nourishment they need to have a happy summer? Here are our most-needed items: Hearty snacks; Pasta sauce (plastic jars please); Maseca; Condiments (ketchup, mayo, salad dressing); Cooking oil, and Nutella. Reach Porch here.

• The Left Hook Coffee shop is holding their grand opening at its Hargett Street cafe with a circus on Saturday, August 1. Located at 912 E Hargett Street, at the corner of Hargett and State, you’ll enjoy local vendors/artists/makers, live music, local food vendors, live screen printing, “circus” activities, wrestling, and more. A huge congratulations to Kristin and Nick! Follow along on Instagram here.

• Tickets are on sale now for the 2026 Dinner in the Meadow event on September 13th for 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

• Stop Summer Hunger when your gift doubles! The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina currently has a $100,000 match until July 31! For kids, summer should be a time of play and rest. But for too many local families, it’s a time of worry instead. When school breakfasts and lunches stop for the summer, parents on an already-stretched budget are challenged to fill the gap. Thanks to some generous friends, every dollar of your gift today will double, up to $100,000, to fund our summer meal programs so that kids can be kids. Because of our buying power and relationships with local food providers, every gift, of any size, will go a long way. Every $30 can feed one child two children for a month! Every $90 can feed one child two children all summer! Consider a donation today!