Staff Menu Picks: Our Favorite Dishes in Durham

Most of us have one thing in common: We like to eat darn good food. Whether you’re on the hunt for Caribbean and Southern soul bowls, waffle balls dipped in sweet bourbon sauce, or a shatteringly crisp, moist chicken sandwich, the Bull City has you covered.

Known as the Tastiest Town in the South, Durham has a smorgasbord of global cuisines and unique flavors. Since it's pretty much our job to stay up-to-date on the restaurant scene, we’ve rounded up a list of our Discover Durham staff and volunteers’ personal favorite Durham dishes. Get ready for menu items ranging from gourmet to grab ’n go that you can add to your bucket list.

Our Favorite Breakfast & Brunch Dishes

Katie has a few favorite brunch spots around Durham, but she heads to the Durham Farmers’ Market for Bklyn Bakery’s everything croissant with vegan cheese (and other vegan treats) on the weekends, and if you miss the Bakery at the market, you can always order from their website.

For another delicious breakfast handheld, try Jada's favorite, Pete's "Fat Kid" Breakfast Sandwich from It's a Southern Thing. Packed with pulled pork, bacon, breakfast sausage, fried egg, and cheese, all drizzled with bourbon BBQ sauce, you may be able to hold this sandwich in your hands, but you'll want to take a seat when you take that first bite.

For a quintessential Durham brunch experience, you'll want to head to Dame's Chicken and Waffles. Highly recommended by Durham native Bakr, the chicken and waffles at Dame's achieves "the perfect harmony of flavors and textures". Dame's has chicken and waffles down to a science, from their perfectly fried chicken to their fluffy golden waffles. But it's about more than just the fundamentals at Dame's. Bakr says their extensive variety of "shmears" make Dame's dish truly unique.

Lunch & Dinner Picks

Salads, Seafood, Sandwiches, & Sides

Step into Local 22 Kitchen and Bar to find Destiny's favorite seafood dish in town. The Patagonian Salmon is cooked to perfection, tender and delicate, with flaky skin in every bite. According to Destiny, "the lemon dill cream that comes with it is the real star of the show," bringing out the best in the fish.

Jane has one and only one weakness – she can’t say no to the buffalo chicken salad at Nantucket Grill. That fresh lettuce topped with spicy buffalo chicken and creamy blue cheese dressing gets her every time.

If you run into Kristin at a Durham restaurant, she's likely sitting at the bar. For an easy meal, her go-to is the spinach salad at Seraphine, topped with fried oysters. And if she's feeling indulgent, seasonal sides like blistered shishito peppers are hard to beat.

Move over, salad. Let’s talk about finger-lickin' good chicken. Now that Jeff has eaten the fried chicken sandwich from Picnic, he will not settle for anything else. Who wouldn’t want a filet of juicy chicken, smothered with Old Bay aioli and pickles, on a toasted Martin’s bun?

When it's time for a dinner out, Morgan picks the burger at Alley Twenty Six – the short rib in the mix and the bacon-onion jam topping make a rich, delicious burger that is truly crave-able. And if you're not hungry enough for a full-size burger, order the junior for a lighter meal that still satisfies.

We also have a few serious fans of Mediterranean food in our office. The chicken shawarma pita pocket from Neomonde is Margaret A.’s favorite menu item. Talk about a true supporter – she’s been ordering those savory pita pockets before Neomonde even expanded into Durham.

Pizza, Pasta, Platters & Bowls

When Brittany isn’t in the office, everyone assumes she’s chowing down on the bacon and roasted garlic pizza at Boxcar Bar & Arcade. Not only does Boxcar have a variety of Neapolitan-style pizza, but with an arcade and outdoor seating, it’s also the ultimate drinking and gaming experience. Also counted among Durham's best pizza joints, Pizzeria Toro serves Matt's favorite, the mushroom pizza. With an olive oil base, this white pizza is treats patrons to rich, savory flavors and a crispy, chewy crust.

Jerry loves another Italian dish – pasta. For house-made Bolognese with butter, cream and Parmigiano Reggiano, his first choice is Vici Ristobar, an Italian restaurant “where food and drinks conquer.”

When it's time to grab lunch, you can bet on Ben heading to Corner Yaki at Durham Food Hall to pick up a karaage bowl. The rice, fried chicken, egg and pickled ginger is a delicious fusion of comfort food and Asian flavor.

Ask anyone in the office – Kaila’Shea is passionate about Boricua Soul, the brainchild of a husband-and-wife duo that serves a fusion of Caribbean and Southern flavors. Her favorite menu item is the Boricua Soul bowl, a hearty bowl of warm, juicy collard greens, savory mac and cheese, authentic pernil, fried tostones, and a scoop of golden Spanish rice and beans. According to Kaila’Shea, “the Caribbean flair with an euro-African twist is something you can't say no to in Durham!”

Asian Cuisine

Glenda loves the ramen from M Kokko. What at first appears to be a simple noodle soup wows with a complex layering of flavor, and the time and care the chefs spend developing this depth is evident in every comforting bite. Even if it's 100 degrees in July, it's never too hot for ramen!

Ava recommends the Katsu Sando at Rose's Noodles, Dumplings & Sweets, claiming it to have "the perfect bite every time." Ad the perfect finishing touch to your meal by ordering an ice cream sandwich for desert. Namu's "Joe's Special" is Victoria's go-to, with a generous portion of rice, spring mix, and japchae. If you want to really to kick it up a notch, you can add a protein of your choice and "pair it with the aioli and Bo's BBQ sauce and you're set!"

The melt-in-your-mouth tenderloin is like nothing he's ever experienced. With another great recommendation for Indian Food, Casey says the Samosa Chaat at Cheeni is a must-try dish. Pair this with one of Cheeni's herbal teas and a chocolate chip cookie for a divine experience.

Brisket, Short Ribs & Tempura

No one leaves The Original Q Shack hungry. Just ask Tom, a loyal fan who has been frequenting the restaurant for over 15 years. He aways looks forward to the combo platter with generous portions of perfectly-prepared meat and hearty sides. Susan is a regular at many local spots around town, but when she wants her favorite, she heads to Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar for the “well-seasoned, melt in your mouth, a little messy, but oh, so worth it” brisket tacos.

When Todd is looking for a satisfying treat, he has to have the short rib wontons from Juju. They are, to put it lightly, perfection. The deep-fried bites are filled with tender beef and topped with pepper-basil jam, cilantro and creamed chévre. "It's everything I want in a single bite, a veritable symphony of flavor and you'll be doing yourself an immense favor the next time you order them. Odds are, my friends and I have a plate or two coming to our table before we even order drinks!"

You know that one person who knows everything about every restaurant – the one who can tell you the chef’s name and list all the secret menu items ... from memory. Well, that’s Margaret P. on our staff. After careful consideration (and a ton of pressure to choose only one item), Margaret P. shared that her favorite menu item is – drumroll please – the "M" Omakase from M Tempura. Apparently, “each bite is simple, yet flavorful...and balanced to perfection.” If you haven’t heard of chef Michael Lee or visited one of his four restaurants around Durham, it's time. You can thank Margaret P. later.

DESSERT

Whenever there is a website issue (or really any issue), Jonathan saves the day. We've always wondered how he does it, and now we know his secret: cake. And not just any cake – the dark chocolate cake with decadent layers of chocolate and home-baked flavor from La Recette Patisserie gives him superpowers. Order the magical cake online, or pick it up at their brick-and-mortar shop. Jorden's preferred cake comes from Sweets by Shayda. The Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Mousse Cake is "is like a Ferrero Rocher, but twice as delicious."

When Genesis took her Ecuadorian family to the Cocoa Cinamon in Lakewood for authentic Mexican churros, their eyes lit up. Together, they savored every bite of those freshly made, crispy, doughy churros. Looking to take your churro to the next level? Genesis suggests dipping them into the hot chocolate puddle of “rich, velvety cocoa decadence.”

BEVERAGES

Marcus starts his day with coffee, and it’s an extra special day when it’s a vanilla latte from Oak House. He swears there’s more than just espresso, steamed milk and vanilla syrup in that 12 oz. cup. It’s really that good.

Several years ago, on one of his regular visits to Fullsteam Brewery, Peter noticed a new seasonal beer on the menu called Southern basil beer. Although he didn’t expect to see basil in a beer, he was sold after one sip. The exquisitely “crisp, light, and uniquely tasty” beer is only available during the summer when the brewery can gather basil from nearby farms. Trust Peter, it’s the perfect summertime beer.

We've listed all our favorite menu items – laid them out on a silver platter for you. All you have to do is go and gobble them up. Oh, and tag @durhamnc if you share any photos of these places on Instagram.