Featured Restaurant News
- The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that after months of planning and construction, Botiwalla by Chai Pani has an opening date at Raleigh Iron Works. The highly anticipated restaurant from Asheville’s James Beard Award-winning Chai Pani Restaurant Group is opening this coming Tuesday, June 2, at 4 p.m. at 2221 Iron Works Drive. Owners Meherwan and Molly Irani are stacking the menu with kebabs, paneer, lamb burgers and more as an ode to India’s tea and kebab houses. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant will seat 80 people indoors and 30 on the patio. The opening will occur ahead of the James Beard Awards June 15, where the Iranis are finalists in the Outstanding Restaurateur category. Get familiar with them here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- With June nearly upon us, that means one thing…we are inching closer to the opening of Songbird, the new day-to-dusk bar by Charlie Blue Arm and Meg Paradise of Umbrella Dry Bar at East End Market (1020 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Ste. 130). The concept will feature a walk-up window, sit-down service, two intimate custom bars, and a lush patio and garden. The beverage line-up is extremely diverse as well as seasonal offering up alcoholic, low-ABV and nonalcoholic beverages, wines, small-batch spirits, coffee service (Willow House Coffee), and a tea program developed with Tin Roof Teas. On the food front, look for shareable plates, larger dishes and desserts developed by Dave Mitchell, formerly of Plates Kitchen and currently of Longleaf Swine BBQ, who will serve as chef-in-residency for the first few months. Keep up with an opening announcement soon on their Instagram.
- News broke this week that Giorgios Epicurean Market (GEM) — the European eatery and gourmet market from restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias — has permanently closed the location in East End Market and will soon be replaced by a new Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant called Casa Nama from the JalMex Restaurant Group. They are the team behind Gringo a Go Go, Chido Taco, and Yatai in downtown Raleigh as well as La Buena Vida, La Victoria Cocina and Tacos Number Juan. The new concept is expected to feature sushi, ramen, tacos, and more, with an opening targeted for late 2026. Follow along on Instagram here.
- Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street is getting two new tenants according to the Triangle Business Journal. First up will be Beignets & Brew in the former home of Mulan Ice Cream & Milk Tea in the Stanhope Apartment building. It is a franchise that features a menu that includes traditional and flavored beignets, croissants, specialty coffees, tea and more. No word yet on an opening date. And just down from that, Mexican-inspired chain Qdoba has signed a lease for a space at 2510 Hillsborough Street. Look for them to open by the end of the year. Visit Beignets & Brew here and Qdoba here.
- Over in Cary, the Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Desi Chowrastha, with locations across the country, is planning to make its North Carolina debut in Cary. The restaurant is opening at 2734 N.C. 55 in the West Park Place shopping center. The menu features a number of Biryani dishes, curries and much more. Stay tuned for an opening date. Start getting familiar with them here.
- Also in Cary, reader Brannon Part informed us that Teriyaki Madness is coming to Parkside in Cary next to Hooky Entertainment at 1132 Parkside Main Street. If you are not familiar with them, you’ll find crave-worthy, customizable teriyaki bowls piled high with fresh ingredients, made-to-order when you order. They serve marinated, grilled chicken, steak, tofu or salmon with choice of rice or noodles and fresh, stir-fry veggies. This will be their second Triangle-area location with a location already in Wake Forest. Get to know them here.
- We first shared this with you back in February, but reader Arthur Barham notified us that Duke’s Kitchen & Taphouse in Fuquay-Varina is now open at 132 S. Fuquay Avenue in the former Vicious Fishes Taproom & Kitchen space. It has the same chef, management and staff that was at Vicious Fishes, but a new owner. Additionally, some of the old menu favorites like pimento cheese will be resurrected, and a full bar will feature domestic and craft beer on tap, ciders, seltzers and a solid wine section. Check them out here.
- Over in Holly Springs, David McCreary shared with me that Flying Biscuit Cafe will open on June 1st in Oakview Commons shopping center at 161 Oakview Commons Drive, Suite 105. They’ll be serving up breakfast, brunch and lunch with a Southern twist. This will be the sixth Triangle-area location for the chain out of Georgia. Visit Flying Biscuit here.
- Also in Holly Springs, the Triangle Business Journal shared that The Perch plans to open at 1125 McChesney Hill Loop later this summer. The cafe will serve coffee from California roastery Cat & Cloud in addition to a wide array of sandwiches, baked items, salads and more. The business will also have an array of games and game tables.
- Up in Wake Forest, reader Mark Cleveland shared with us that Charlie Darmetta and his team will soon open a Burrito Shak at the new Wake Forest Exchange development along Star Road and Capital Boulevard. They had the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the development a couple of weeks ago. This will be there 18th location in North Carolina and third in the Triangle-area (Cary and Clayton). They had a location in Raleigh that was replaced by a Gym Tacos. Get familiar with them here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- You may have heard that the Triangle’s location of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games opened recently. You may now be asking why I mention it here. Well in addition to their super fast karts and arcade games, they have a pretty impressive food and drink menu. I’m talking chicken & rice bowls, flatbreads, tacos, burgers and a full menu of shareables. Finish it off with cocktails and craft beer (after you finish driving of course and before you jump in your Uber). Check out the menus here.
, Closings
- Chapel Hill’s brick-and-mortar location of The Latin Effect shared on social media that they have closed their location on W. Franklin Street. That is the bad news. The good news is that you can continue to enjoy their offerings via their food truck as it will still be cruising around the Triangle. Look for the truck on @StreetFoodFinder.
Food Trucks
- The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo continues in 2026 on these remaining dates from noon to 4 p.m. – 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 them. 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
- Tickets are on sale for Raisin’ The Roof, the opening event in this year’s Chefs for Change fundraising series benefiting Families Moving Forward, Durham’s primary emergency shelter for families with children. The 2026 mixer will take place on June 4th at 6 p.m. at ReCity Network in Durham (112 Broadway St.). This lively community gathering will have a retro block party feel and feature small plates prepared by celebrated local chefs, including Seth Gross and CeCe Lopez of Bull City Burger and Brewery; Aaron Louv of NanaSteak; Serena and Toriano of Boricua Soul; Rahul Nikam of Viceroy; and introducingRiche and Perry of Flaming Hills Hot Pot. Dessert will be provided by The Parlour. Guests will enjoy an evening of incredible food, interactive games and activities, and a live DJ set by DJ NABS. Tickets are just $60 and can be purchased 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
- For thousands of kids in central and eastern North Carolina, the last day of school won’t be the happy event you and I remember. There’s a quiet struggle going on in their homes. Their parents are trying to navigate low wages, high housing and medical costs, and rising food prices — amid cutbacks to federal food assistance. The end of school breakfast and lunch programs for the summer could bring them to a crisis point. More of our neighbors have already been turning to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and our partner agencies lately. We expect those numbers to grow once school is out. Summer can be a tough time for kids facing food insecurity … but it doesn’t have to be, when we work together. Thank you for helping kids spend their vacation playing and growing! Make This a Hunger-Free Summer.
