Ciudad del Toro: The Best Latino-Owned Restaurants in Durham, NC
Durham’s Hispanic and Latino community has made many contributions to the Bull City, from authentic Mexican tacos to Colombian arepas, take a tour of food from 33+ countries.
Enjoy a delicious meal, snack or treat at one of these Latino-owned restaurants. Try a new restaurant in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, and keep coming back all year long. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should be more than enough to make you hungry. For an even deeper dive into amazing dishes and the Latino cultures represented in Durham's culinary scene, read food historian Von Diaz's guide to Hispanic and Latino restaurants in Durham.
Central American + Caribbean Restaurants in Durham, NC
You don't have to book a flight to enjoy some of the best cuisine from Central America. A Puerto Rican meets Southern sandwich. Salvadoran pupusas served hot and fresh. Guatemalan garnachas and pollo en pepián. Try a dish from a country you haven't visited, or get a taste of home at these restaurants.
Boricua Soul
705 Willard St.
A beautiful fusion of Caribbean, Puerto Rican and Southern soul food, you can find Boricua Soul near the "Durham" sign at the American Tobacco Campus. The husband and wife team of Toriano and Serena are behind this exciting spot.
El Cuscatleco Restaurant
4212 Garrett Rd.
El Cuscatleco is another no frills spot where you can find authentic Salvadorean and Mexican food served in a charming dining room. Make sure you bring your appetite because the menu of fresh pupusas, Salvadorean specialties, fajitas, tacos, sopas and more will have you wishing you could order it all.
Pupuseria Dona Laura
1113 N Miami Blvd.; 302 Davidson Ave.; 1101 E Geer St.
Traditional Salvadoran pupusas, served hot from a food truck. What's not to love? Order a pupusa, yuca fritas con chicharrón and a side of curtido. Order ahead online for a quick lunch.
El Chapin
4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Suite #38
Owner Rony Ordóñez started El Chapin in 2015. His restaurant offers traditional Guatemalan cuisine like garnachas, guisadas, Pollo en Pepian and lots more, along with a wall of groceries.
El Quetzal Guatemalan Mexican Grill
4810 Hope Valley Rd, Ste. 101
Guatemalan garnachas and tamales share a menu with Mexican plates. Order the fish tacos, take a seat on the terrace and enjoy live music on the weekend.
Mi Pequeño Honduras
1129 W. Club Blvd.
For a taste of traditional Honduran food, look no further than Mi Pequeño Honduras. This restaurant features a robust menu complete with classics and house specials that are sure to delight the taste buds. Dig into the yuca con chicharrón, savor the elote loco or share a round of tamales with the table.
La Casita Restaurant
2425 Guess Rd.
Find Dominican food that tastes like home right on Guess Road. Order the sancocho, add an empanada and the mofongo always hits the spot.
Sabor Latin Street Grill
105 West NC Hwy 54, #201
Founder Dalton Espaillat grew up in the Dominican Republic eating from street vendors, and he built the menu to match: empanadas, arepas, yuca fries and a salsa bar. The menu extends beyond Dominican food. The pan-Latin heritage and flavors include Colombian, Cuban, Venezuelan, Mexican and Salvadorian cuisine.
South American Restaurants in Durham, NC
You have probably had an empanada. But have you tried an empanada from every country? Try an empanada from Colombia, Argentina and Bolivia. Order Peruvian roast chicken for a weeknight meal that is better than anything you could make at home. Stop by a food truck smoking Venezuelan-style beef. And whatever you do, don't forget to order a side of yucca fries.
Alpaca Peruvian Chicken
302 Davidson Ave., 703A 9th St. & 3726 Mayfair St.
If you've been to any Alpaca Peruvian Chicken location, you know their roasted chicken, black beans and rice, and yucca fries are downright addicting. Order 1/4 of a chicken or a whole bird at any one of their three Durham locations.
Guasaca
A-100, Erwin Square, 2200 W Main St.
To experience the full glory of a delicious arepa, visit Guasaca. The small Triangle-based chain specializes in the Venezuelan staple. You can find the Durham location off of West Main Street.
Mi Perú Peruvian Cuisine
4015 University Dr., Ste. A1
Rotisserie chicken, tostones and fried yuca are just a few of the delicious items you can find at Mi Perú. Treat yourself to traditional and authentic Peruvian food at this charming spot.
Makus Empanadas
1125 W. N.C. 54, Ste. 304
Hernan, Santiago and Ricky grew up together in Buenos Aires arguing over everything except empanadas. Theirs are baked, not fried, and the Empadog — a hot dog wrapped in empanada dough — deserves a side of chimichurri.
D' Lujo Grill and Pabellón Arepas and Bowls
2312 New Raleigh Highway
D'Lujo and Pabellón are two Venezuelan food trucks you don't want to miss. At D'Lujo, you'll find carne en vara, the smoked skewered beef of the Venezuelan plains, cooked low and served by the platter. Pabellón is named for the country's national dish. The Pabellón arepa comes stuffed with shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantain and fresh cheese. Try them both for an authentic taste of Venezuela.
Sarah's Empanadas
5410 N.C. 55, Ste. O
A south Durham counter specializing in Bolivian empanadas. The half-moon flour dough pastries are generously filled with meat, vegetables, cheese and a blend of spices before being baked. The Pork Corn Arepa is stuffed with NC BBQ pork, sweet corn and melted cheese. If you're still hungry, satisfy your sweet tooth with a Guava and Cheese empanada for a classic Colombian flavor combo.
Canastas Chicken
5318 New Hope Commons Dr., Ste. 104
Peruvian charcoal rotisserie that started in Richmond, Virginia, before heading south to Durham. Order pollo a la brasa by the quarter or the whole bird or the popular Peruvian lomo saltado.
Colombian Delights Food Truck
505 N. Mangum St.
A family-run Colombian food truck parked in downtown Durham. Empanadas are the reason people find it; the arepas will keep you coming back.
Sweet Treats and Drinks
After your meal, we're sure you saved room for dessert. Right? A family-run bakery making milhojas, pastelitos de piña and Alfajores de Maizena. A neighborhood beer garden serving ice cold pints. Ordering every paleta flavor for your next party. Stop by for a coffee, beer or dessert at these latino-owned spots.
Pincho Loco
1918 Perry St.
Off Ninth St., you'll find a cute little ice cream shop called Pincho Loco. Here, you can get Latino flavors like tequila, tiger tail (vanilla, Mexican vanilla, and chocolate), guava, tamarind and more.
Cocoa Cinnamon – Lakewood
2013 Chapel Hill Rd., Ste. A
You'll find delicious coffee and hot chocolate at all three Cocoa Cinnamon locations, but locals know you have to head to their Lakewood location for their fresh-made churros. The owners, Leon and Areli Barrera de Grodski, were inspired by the churrerias of Mexico. Get a classic churro covered in cinnamon sugar, or try one with a seasonal sugar and spice blend. You can find nods to Areli's Mexican background in the bilingual menus and signage as well as the brightly patterned decor and tile work.
La Monarca Michoacana
2000 Avondale Dr., 4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. #23
For a sweet treat, head to La Monarca Michoacana, which specializes in Mexican-style paletas and ice cream. Can't decide on what to get? No shame in getting both.
Durham Beer Garden
812 N. Mangum St.
The Durham Beer Garden is a perfect spot for an afternoon chat or an evening hang. Nestled in Durham's Old Five Points neighborhood, this establishment boasts a robust beer list, great food and indoor and outdoor seating. Head here to wind down after a work day or spend a Friday night clinking glasses with friends and listening to live music.
Sunflower Bakery
5607 NC Highway 55, Ste. 105
Named after a childhood memory, Sunflower Bakery began in owner Gladis Villatoro's home as she baked and decorated cakes for family and friends. Eventually, she had so many people wanting her beautiful, delicious cakes that she was able to open a brick-and-mortar store. Not only can you order your own custom cake here, but you can also get tasty sweet treats like cinnamon buns, cookies, sponge cake rolls and more.
Mexican Restaurants in Durham, NC
It simply isn't possible to list every Mexican restaurant in Durham. We are beyond lucky to have our pick of the best Mexican cuisine around thanks to the amount of incredible Mexican-owned restaurants in the Bull City. Check out our blog dedicated to Mexican restaurants in Durham.
Fonda Lupita
905 W. Main St.
At Fonda Lupita, everything is made from scratch. Down to the tortillas. For amazing Latino eats in Brightleaf Square, look no further than Fonda Lupita. The popular Sanford, NC restaurant brought its homemade Mexican flavors to Durham and the Bull City never looked back. Order guisos with rice, beans and freshly made tortillas any day of the week, or drop in on the weekend for delicious menudo and pozole.
Don Becerra Taqueria
249 E Club Blvd. #227
The phrase "hidden gem" gets thrown around a lot, but Don Becerra Taqueria certainly qualifies. Inside this specialty grocery store, you'll find a restaurant with fast and friendly service and fresh, authentic Mexican and Central American food.
Mi Calvillo
748 9th St.
Mother-daughter team Esmerelda and Valeria Lopez run this spot on Ninth Street. Esmerelda brought the flavors and dishes she serves at Mi Calvillo in her hometown of Calvillo in central Mexico.
Taqueria La Vaquita
2700 Chapel Hill Rd.
Taqueria La Vaquita or "The Cow Store" as it is affectionately called, is well-known for the bovine statue that adorns its roof. But it's famous around these parts for its delicious Mexican food and beverages.
Aaktun, Little Bull & TaTaco
704 Ramseur St., 301 E. Chapel Hill St., 620 Foster St. Ste B.
These three concepts from award-winning chef Oscar Diaz are full of personality, flavor and culture. Equal parts cafe, cocktail bar and restaurant, Aaktun offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. The Tulum-inspired establishment is a go-to spot for sandos, totchos and drinks of all kinds. The seasonal menu at the MICHELIN Guide-recommended Little Bull offers tapas, large plates and specialty cocktails inspired by Oscar's Mexican heritage. TaTaco serves tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and more, all with a focus on hyper-local ingredients.
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