Highest-rated restaurants in Raleigh by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in Raleigh by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Raleigh, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#19. Purr Cup Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 Prospect Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Bazil Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6602 Glenwood Ave. Ste 1 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Earth To Us
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 2893 Jones Franklin Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#16. B B & Y
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6501 Mt Herman Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Sandwiches, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Sosta Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 130 East Davie St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Poke Burri Raleigh
- Rating: 4.5/5 (338 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6613 Falls Of Neuse Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Poke, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Chop Shop BBQ & Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 East Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Black Ivory Café
- Rating: 5.0/5 (48 reviews)
- Address: 3080 Wake Forest Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bubble Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Street Tacos & Cantina
- Rating: 5.0/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 6325 Falls Of Neuse Road Ste 71 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#10. A Place At The Table
- Rating: 5.0/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 West Hargett St. Ste 50 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Gen Ramen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2330 Bale St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Ramen, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Meat & Bite
- Rating: 5.0/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 2908 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Burgers, Tex-Mex, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#7. SmokeStacks Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 701 East Lane St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Wine Bars, Smokehouse, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Carroll's Kitchen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 19 East Martin St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Community Service/Non-Profit, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Bombay Curry
- Rating: 5.0/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13220 Strickland Road Ste 167 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Bowlba Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 3607 Falls River Ave. Ste 117 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Thai, Bubble Tea, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Pita Bowl
- Rating: 5.0/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9101 Leesville Road Ste 141 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Mustang House
- Rating: 5.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 411 Fayetteville St. Ste 109 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Himalayan/Nepalese, Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Mr Burro
- Rating: 5.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 220 East Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.
