Ciudad del Toro: Durham Latino Eats for Hispanic Heritage Month
Durham’s sizable Hispanic and Latino community has made many contributions to the Bull City, including a tour of tasty restaurants serving authentic and delicious food from the 33+ countries represented here.
Enjoy a delicious meal, snack or treat at one of these Latino-owned restaurants. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked our followers for their favorites, and they gave us delicious answers. 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, Check out this piece from food historian Von Diaz.
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.
Azteca Grill
1929 Chapel Hill Rd.
Treat yourself to a delicious meal at Azteca Grill, where the recipes are inspired by family tradition and the food is meant to make you feel at home. Share a meal with friends or family or enjoy a solo feast. Everything is made with fresh, quality ingredients, from the Caldo de Mariscos to the Asada Gorditas, and the pozole is a local legend.
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.
Cocoa Cinnamon – Lakewood
2013 Chapel Hill Rd. Suite A
For amazing coffee drinks, hot chocolate and churros, head to Cocoa Cinnamon's third location in the Lakewood neighborhood. The owners, Leon and Areli Barrera de Grodski, were inspired by the churrerias of Mexico. 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.
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.
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.
Don Gallo (formerly Tacos Nacos)
3411 University Dr.
When you pull up to the red and yellow house and see "Cely's Casa De Cambio" outside, you might think you're at the wrong place. But don't worry. Don Gallo (also known as Tacos Nacos) shares the space with a currency exchange store. Walk by the service counter at the front of the store to find a restaurant serving delicious Mexican food in the back.
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.
Fonda Lupita
905 W. Main St.
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.
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.
La Buena Vida & Tacos Number Juan
4416 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd; 910 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
Under the same ownership, these restaurants serve up a celebration of Mexican flavors. Head to La Buena Vida for the best of brunch, lunch and dinner. Offering classics like ACP and fajitas while also crafting limited time specials like Bigmak tacos and Octopus Aguachile, this restaurant is sure to have a little something to excite your palate. Tacos Number Juan is built off a passion for real Mexican cuisine. Everything is handcrafted, from the thirst-quenching margaritas to the delectable quesabirrias. While the tacos are a must-try, the menu features a whole host of options ranging from tortas to burritos and everything in between.
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.
La Superior Carniceria & Super Taqueria
3325 & 2842 N. Roxboro St.
As one Yelp reviewer wrote about La Superior Carniceria (La Superior for short), "You may think it is just a grocery store when you drive by, but it is so much more." Beyond the market is the bakery, which offers fresh tortillas and other baked goods. Behind that is the restaurant where the tacos, huaraches, flan and more are fresh and made to order. For more delicious offerings from the team behind La Superior, visit Super Taqueria just down the street. Super Taqueria offers a mouth-watering selection of sopes, tacos, burritos and gorditas, plus a loaded salsa bar. Pair your food with an agua fresca for a stellar meal.
Mi Calvillo
748 9th St.
Mother-daughter team Esmerelda and Valeria Lopez run this tiny spot on Ninth Street. Esmerelda brought the flavors and dishes she serves at Mi Calvillo in her hometown of Calvillo in central Mexico.
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.
Mi Perú Peruvian Cuisine
4015 University Dr. Suite 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.
Pincho Loco
1918 Perry St.
Off Ninth St near the "Angel of Spring," you can find a cute little ice cream shop called Pincho Loco. Here, you can get native Latino flavors like tequila, tiger tail (vanilla, Mexican vanilla, and chocolate), guava, tamarind and more.
Sofia's Pizza
2201 Angier Ave.
An East Durham staple, Sofia's Pizza serves up some of the best pies and wings in town. Their hand-tossed, specialty pies like the "East Durham" and "La Güera"are Bull City delicacies you won't want to miss. Hungry for more? Add some oven-baked wings, wedge potatoes, a specialty salad or even a sub sandwich to the order.
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 Chef Oscar Diaz are full of personality, flavor and culture. Equal parts cafe, cocktail bar and restaurant, Aaktun offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. This 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.
El Huarache
2001 N. Roxboro St.
El Huarache derives its name from the popular Mexican street food often filled with beans and topped with various ingredients like meat, salsa, cheese and cilantro. However, their menu is full of many different amazing options. You can't go wrong with their birria, and the caldos are excellent as well. Other options include tacos, quesadillas, chilaquiles and more. To top it all off, their drink menu is also full of refreshing options.
Mezcalito
706 Ramseur St.
Feeling the need for a margarita the size of your head? Look no further than Mezcalito. Brought to you by the Mezcalito Group, this restaurant specializes in Mexican food and amazing drinks. Their extensive menu features all the classics like tacos, burritos, ACP, enchiladas and more. Enjoy your food and drinks in their lively indoor seating area or the spacious patio.
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