Sure, lists of the “most prestigious” and “the best” restaurants in North Carolina help us make lists like this one. But, when it comes to unique, off-the-beaten-path, and downright eccentric, we turn to our readers and NC natives to ask…where can we REALLY find the most unique restaurants in North Carolina? All of these 11 one-of-a-kind dining experiences are a must-try AT LEAST once as they are some of the most unique restaurants in NC.
- Sip on coffee and grab a scone inside of a double-decker bus at Double D’s Coffee & Desserts in Asheville.
Double D’s Coffee Now a coffee and dessert house, Double D’s Coffee & Desserts once roamed the busy streets of London as a fully functioning Double Decker Bus. Now Double D’s is a unique, and quirky experience right in the heart of Asheville. It’s one of the most famous restaurants in North Carolina.
Visit the Double D’s Coffee & Desserts website for more information. Double D’s Coffee & Desserts, 41 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
- Dine on some mouthwatering BBQ at Little Richard’s Bar-N-Q in Winston-Salem.
Little Richard’s Barbeque/Facebook Little Richard’s Bar-N-Q serves some of the most delicious BBQ in the state and is perhaps one of the best places to eat in North Carolina. Between the sliders, the tacos, sandwiches, Pitmaster Plates, and more, you better bring your appetite!
Visit the Little Richard’s Barbecue website for more information. 109 S Stratford Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, USA
- Nothing can match the southern comfort food at Daniel Boone Inn.
management /TripAdvisor As one of the oldest and best places to eat in North Carolina, the Daniel Boone Inn mixes heritage with biscuits and gravy for a down-home dining experience away from home.
Read our previous coverage on Daniel Boone Inn to learn more. 130 Hardin St, Boone, NC 28607, USA
- Goats, cows, pastures, southern cookin’, and MAC N’ CHEESE are all found at Mike’s Farm in Beulaville.
Mike’s Farm/Facebook You know it’s TRUE southern cooking when you’re dining at a gorgeous farm! Mike’s Farm Southern Style Restaurant opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and you can spend the day taking hayrides and learning about life on the farm.
Read our previous coverage on Mike’s Farm to learn more. 1600 Haw Branch Rd, Beulaville, NC 28518, USA
- The true essence of coastal charm can be found at Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant in Morehead City.
Floyds 1921 Crystal Coast native and executive chef Floyd Olmstead brings a “twist” to classic southern dining. From Asian to Latin American influences, Floyd’s is southern comfort food with a cultural facelift. Plus, you can’t beat the gorgeous patio and live music on the weekends at one of the most unique restaurants in North Carolina.
Visit the Floyd’s 1921 website for more information. 400 Bridges St, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA
- Don’t let the exterior fool you, it ain’t real BBQ unless you get it from a window like the one at B’s BBQ in Greenville!
Flickr / Southern Food Ways Alliance
Flickr / Southern Food ways Alliance B’s BBQ in Greenville is SO good that it has a road named after it. Nothing pairs better than dining beneath the Carolina sunshine with a barbeque sandwich topped with crunchy slaw and served with crisp hushpuppies. YUM!
Read our previous coverage on B’s BBQ to learn more. 751 State Rd 1204, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
- A tiny dining room with BIG flavor at Pass The Salt in Historic Currituck
Lori S/TripAdvisor Don’t get trapped in the tourist-bait restaurants of the coast, Pass the Salt might look small and unassuming, but with local, organic ingredients southern food gets a soulful seaside twist. It’s one of the best hidden restaurants in North Carolina.
Read our previous coverage on Pass The Salt to learn more. 138 Courthouse Rd, Currituck, NC 27929, USA
- Congrats if you find the Hillbilly Hide-A-Way in Walnut Cove.
HillyBilly Hide-A-Way This amazing restaurant is one of the best kept secrets and hidden restaurants in North Carolina. You really can’t go wrong with “home-trained” cooks. Maybe I just spilled the beans, but this one-of-a-kind dining experience must be experienced…well ONCE!
Read our previous coverage on Hillbilly Hide-A-Way to learn more. Hillbilly Hide-A-Way Restaurant, 4375 Pine Hall Rd, Walnut Cove, NC 27052, USA
- If you like local, fresh shrimp, then you must try Gary’s Down East Seafood in Arapahoe.
Gary’s Down East Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar/Facebook Off the beaten path and a bit unknown, they’re hiding the best shrimp and the freshest seafood at Gary’s.
Visit the Gary’s Down East Seafood website for more information. 7610 NC-306, Arapahoe, NC 28510, USA
- If you’re a fan of juicy steak, you must try the Angus Barn in Raleigh.
Seungmahn/TripAdvisor As Raleigh’s premier steakhouse, The Angus Barn remains in the hearts of locals as a timeless “tradition.” The warm, wood-adorned atmosphere, plush comfortable chairs, and low-light makes for a cozy dinner at one of the most famous restaurants in North Carolina.
Read our previous coverage on Angus Barn to learn more. 9401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617, USA
- You’ll want to drive back for seconds at El’s Drive-In in Morehead City.
Flickr / mswine
Holly Mosher/Google I’m just going to let this picture of this delicious platter of fried deliciousness do all the talking for me.
Read our previous coverage on El’s Drive-In to learn more. 3706 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA
These are just a few restaurants in NC that offer unique dining experiences. Which of these unique restaurants in North Carolina are your favorites, and which ones did I miss? Please mention your favorites in the comments!
Double D’s Coffee
Now a coffee and dessert house, Double D’s Coffee & Desserts once roamed the busy streets of London as a fully functioning Double Decker Bus. Now Double D’s is a unique, and quirky experience right in the heart of Asheville. It’s one of the most famous restaurants in North Carolina.
Visit the Double D’s Coffee & Desserts website for more information.
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts, 41 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
Little Richard’s Barbeque/Facebook
Little Richard’s Bar-N-Q serves some of the most delicious BBQ in the state and is perhaps one of the best places to eat in North Carolina. Between the sliders, the tacos, sandwiches, Pitmaster Plates, and more, you better bring your appetite!
Visit the Little Richard’s Barbecue website for more information.
109 S Stratford Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, USA
management /TripAdvisor
As one of the oldest and best places to eat in North Carolina, the Daniel Boone Inn mixes heritage with biscuits and gravy for a down-home dining experience away from home.
Read our previous coverage on Daniel Boone Inn to learn more.
130 Hardin St, Boone, NC 28607, USA
Mike’s Farm/Facebook
You know it’s TRUE southern cooking when you’re dining at a gorgeous farm! Mike’s Farm Southern Style Restaurant opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and you can spend the day taking hayrides and learning about life on the farm.
Read our previous coverage on Mike’s Farm to learn more.
1600 Haw Branch Rd, Beulaville, NC 28518, USA
Floyds 1921
Crystal Coast native and executive chef Floyd Olmstead brings a “twist” to classic southern dining. From Asian to Latin American influences, Floyd’s is southern comfort food with a cultural facelift. Plus, you can’t beat the gorgeous patio and live music on the weekends at one of the most unique restaurants in North Carolina.
Visit the Floyd’s 1921 website for more information.
400 Bridges St, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA
Flickr / Southern Food Ways Alliance
Flickr / Southern Food ways Alliance
B’s BBQ in Greenville is SO good that it has a road named after it. Nothing pairs better than dining beneath the Carolina sunshine with a barbeque sandwich topped with crunchy slaw and served with crisp hushpuppies. YUM!
Read our previous coverage on B’s BBQ to learn more.
751 State Rd 1204, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Lori S/TripAdvisor
Don’t get trapped in the tourist-bait restaurants of the coast, Pass the Salt might look small and unassuming, but with local, organic ingredients southern food gets a soulful seaside twist. It’s one of the best hidden restaurants in North Carolina.
Read our previous coverage on Pass The Salt to learn more.
138 Courthouse Rd, Currituck, NC 27929, USA
HillyBilly Hide-A-Way
This amazing restaurant is one of the best kept secrets and hidden restaurants in North Carolina. You really can’t go wrong with “home-trained” cooks. Maybe I just spilled the beans, but this one-of-a-kind dining experience must be experienced…well ONCE!
Read our previous coverage on Hillbilly Hide-A-Way to learn more.
Hillbilly Hide-A-Way Restaurant, 4375 Pine Hall Rd, Walnut Cove, NC 27052, USA
Gary’s Down East Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar/Facebook
Off the beaten path and a bit unknown, they’re hiding the best shrimp and the freshest seafood at Gary’s.
Visit the Gary’s Down East Seafood website for more information.
7610 NC-306, Arapahoe, NC 28510, USA
Seungmahn/TripAdvisor
As Raleigh’s premier steakhouse, The Angus Barn remains in the hearts of locals as a timeless “tradition.” The warm, wood-adorned atmosphere, plush comfortable chairs, and low-light makes for a cozy dinner at one of the most famous restaurants in North Carolina.
Read our previous coverage on Angus Barn to learn more.
9401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617, USA
Flickr / mswine
Holly Mosher/Google
I’m just going to let this picture of this delicious platter of fried deliciousness do all the talking for me.
Read our previous coverage on El’s Drive-In to learn more.
3706 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique Restaurants In North Carolina November 02, 2021 Melissa M. What are some of the best places to eat in North Carolina? Aside from the restaurants listed above, North Carolina has plenty of other incredible eateries we should all try. Honestly, there are soooooo many! In our list of 24 Restaurants In North Carolina You Have To Try Before You Die, you’ll find some mouthwatering local restaurants serving up some of the best food in the state. For tapas and southern cuisine, dine at Mateo in Durham. For an elegant afternoon tea and dining, the Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro is the place to go. If you prefer to dine at a casual establishment that serves sandwiches and biscuits, you have to go to Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy. What are some of the best diners in North Carolina? For some of the best burgers in the state, visit BJ’s Diner located in Cherokee, NC. Haus Heidelburg Restaurant in Hendersonville is a diner-style restaurant serving plenty of classic German dishes. You’ll find schnitzel, spätzle, potato pancakes, sausages, and other favorites. Located in the same building as a motorcycle museum is a motorcycle-themed diner called Heritage Diner in Asheboro. Open for breakfast and lunch, dine on American fare and then go ahead and cruise through the museum! What foods is North Carolina known for? Every state is known for certain foods and North Carolina is no different! If you love BBQ, the Tarheel State is the place to be! Some of the best BBQ restaurants in the country are found here. There’s also Mt. Olive Pickles, Krispy Kreme, and Bojangles, all of which originated here.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique Restaurants In North Carolina
November 02, 2021
Melissa M.
What are some of the best places to eat in North Carolina? Aside from the restaurants listed above, North Carolina has plenty of other incredible eateries we should all try. Honestly, there are soooooo many! In our list of 24 Restaurants In North Carolina You Have To Try Before You Die, you’ll find some mouthwatering local restaurants serving up some of the best food in the state. For tapas and southern cuisine, dine at Mateo in Durham. For an elegant afternoon tea and dining, the Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro is the place to go. If you prefer to dine at a casual establishment that serves sandwiches and biscuits, you have to go to Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy. What are some of the best diners in North Carolina? For some of the best burgers in the state, visit BJ’s Diner located in Cherokee, NC. Haus Heidelburg Restaurant in Hendersonville is a diner-style restaurant serving plenty of classic German dishes. You’ll find schnitzel, spätzle, potato pancakes, sausages, and other favorites. Located in the same building as a motorcycle museum is a motorcycle-themed diner called Heritage Diner in Asheboro. Open for breakfast and lunch, dine on American fare and then go ahead and cruise through the museum! What foods is North Carolina known for? Every state is known for certain foods and North Carolina is no different! If you love BBQ, the Tarheel State is the place to be! Some of the best BBQ restaurants in the country are found here. There’s also Mt. Olive Pickles, Krispy Kreme, and Bojangles, all of which originated here.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Aside from the restaurants listed above, North Carolina has plenty of other incredible eateries we should all try. Honestly, there are soooooo many! In our list of 24 Restaurants In North Carolina You Have To Try Before You Die, you’ll find some mouthwatering local restaurants serving up some of the best food in the state. For tapas and southern cuisine, dine at Mateo in Durham. For an elegant afternoon tea and dining, the Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro is the place to go. If you prefer to dine at a casual establishment that serves sandwiches and biscuits, you have to go to Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy.
What are some of the best diners in North Carolina?
For some of the best burgers in the state, visit BJ’s Diner located in Cherokee, NC. Haus Heidelburg Restaurant in Hendersonville is a diner-style restaurant serving plenty of classic German dishes. You’ll find schnitzel, spätzle, potato pancakes, sausages, and other favorites. Located in the same building as a motorcycle museum is a motorcycle-themed diner called Heritage Diner in Asheboro. Open for breakfast and lunch, dine on American fare and then go ahead and cruise through the museum!
What foods is North Carolina known for?
Every state is known for certain foods and North Carolina is no different! If you love BBQ, the Tarheel State is the place to be! Some of the best BBQ restaurants in the country are found here. There’s also Mt. Olive Pickles, Krispy Kreme, and Bojangles, all of which originated here.
