5 Places to Eat in The Triangle Area of North Carolina

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Five Places to Eat in the Triangle Area of North Carolina

by Andrew from Grounded Traveler
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Although I now live in Germany, I grew up in the Triangle area of North Carolina, US. The Triangle is named mainly after three cities which form a long triangle near the center of the state: Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Raleigh is the state capitol and each city has a major university with a number of others in the area. Although there are a few other towns in the area, here are five, each with a unique feel and a place to eat. Before moving to Europe this was my stomping ground. I’ve eaten at all of these over my years growing up, so they also bring back memories.

1. Durham

Home of Duke University and my hometown. One of the classic foods of North Carolina is pork BBQ. An entire pig is roasted over coals forever, then it is pulled into flaky pieces and put on a bun. There is a split between the tomato based sauces and the vinager based ones, with each end of the state claiming one as their own. My pick is definitely the vinegar. In northern Durham is Bullock’s BBQ, no frills just great pork; get deep fried hushpuppies as well.

Photo Credit: bnilsen on flickr

2. Chapel Hill

Home of UNC Chapel Hill, one of the oldest universities in the US. Most well known as the college basketball home of Michael Jordan. This has a small town atmosphere that is kept vibrant with the student population. Franklin Street is the main shopping and restaraunt street and looks the part of the town. Lots of bars in this area (duh, university town), but the place I remember the most is Sutton’s Drugstore. It is a real pharmacy, but with a diner in the back. I remember going in for green slushies with my friends in high school. Chapel Hill was our favorite hang out and in the hot summer, the green sorbet slushies in big white cups were great.

Photo Credit: yawper on flickr

3. Carrboro

The smaller brother of Chapel Hill with an even more liberal almost hippy feel. The main square runs jazz concerts as well as festivals in the summer. Check out Carrburritos for your mexican fix.

4. Cary

Heading the other direction from Chapel Hill you reach Cary. Sometimes it is called C.A.R.Y for Containment Area for Relocated Yankees, as it was where a lot of the northerners settled when moving to the area. I lived here for several years in the midst of it all. A local chain of frozen custard dealers is Goodberry’s. There are several in the area, but two in Cary and I was a regular visitor to both of them. Check out a Carolina Concrete, custard with stuff (cookie bits, walnuts, cherries.. that kind of thing) mixed in that they hold upside down to give to you.

Photo Credit: _cck_ on flickr

5. Raleigh

Home of North Carolina State University. The one university in the area that I have a degree from. Raleigh is the biggest city of the area and North Carolina’s capitol. There are lots of neat places here but Lilly’s is unique to me. It is nestled in the Five Points Area just north of downtown and is a really quirky-cool pizza place. The pizzas are tasty and good sized and a lot of the ingredients come in organic versions. The art is always funky and changes. Life size painted nude-abstract figures mark the men’s and women’s toilets.  At least they used to, the art changes from time to time.

Photo Credit: patrickeasters on flickr

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrew is a North Carolina native that now lives in Freiburg, Germany. He writes about the expat experience of putting down roots in Germany and travels around Europe at his blog Grounded Traveler. He is also active on twitter @groundedtravelr.
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