Here's The Best Food & Drink In North Carolina For 2019

NORTH CAROLINA — As 2018 comes to a close, it's a good time to think back on the highlights. Especially when those highlights involve food. The good folks at The Daily Meal website, who analyze all things related to eating and drinking, have been using their taste buds all year to determine the best places to get everything from pizza and Chinese food to burritos, brunch and beer.

They've compiled their wisdom into the annual guide to the best food and drink across the country.

Many of these spots that offer up the tastiest eats across the United States are right here in North Carolina. The website's list of the must-visit establishments in North Carolina features those that are among the nation's very best. You can use it as your 2019 culinary bucket list.

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"The Old North State’s wide-ranging cuisine is reflected in our list of the state’s best eats," The Daily Meal writes. "Twelve different cities and towns are represented, from the booming craft beer scene in Asheville to the delicious yet divisive barbecue of Lexington, and from cosmopolitan tacos in newly trendy Durham to fresh seafood in Southport at the mouth of the Cape Fear River."

Whether it's fine dining or street food you crave, here are some highlights of the best food and drink in the state:

• Best burger: The Dirty South Burger at Chuck’s, Raleigh
• Best soup: Matzo Ball Soup, Lucky’s Delicatessen, Durham
• Best hot dog: J.S. Pulliam Barbeque, Winston-Salem
• Best Italian restaurant: Mama Ricotta’s, Charlotte
• Best ribs: The Pit, Raleigh
• Best taco: Barbacoa, Tacos La Vaquita, Durham
• Best airport restaurant: Brookwood Farms BBQ (Raleigh International and Charlotte Douglas International)
• Best all-you-can eat deal: Casey’s Buffet, Wilmington
• Best steakhouse: Angus Barn, Raleigh
• Best bar: He’s Not Here, Chapel Hill
• Best beach bar: Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar, Carolina Beach
• Best beer: The Event Horizon, Olde Hickory Brewery, Hickory
• Best craft brewery: Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville
• Best brunch: Poole’s Diner, Raleigh
• Best sandwich: Chopped BBQ, Lexington Barbeque, Lexington
• Best restaurant for breakfast: Terrace, Charlotte
• Best Chinese food: Imperial Garden, Raleigh
• Best chocolate shop: French Broad Chocolate, Asheville
• Best coffee shop: Jubala, Raleigh
• Best cupcakes: Simply Cakes, Cary
• Best doughnuts: Britt’s Donut Shop, Carolina Beach
• Best farmers market: Durham Farmers’ Market
• Best food truck: Papi Queso, Charlotte
• Best French fries: Kill Devil’s Frozen Custard and Beach Fries, Kill Devil Hills
• Best restaurant: Lantern Restaurant, Chapel Hill
• Best seafood shack: Yacht Provision Company, Southport
• Best fried chicken: Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Raleigh
• Best grocery store: Harris Teeter
• Best hotel restaurant: The Asbury, Charlotte
• Best ice cream stand: The Parlour, Durham
• Best Mexican restaurant: Super Taqueria, Durham
• Most expensive restaurant: Fearrington House Restaurant, Fearrington
• Best pancakes: Kate’s Pancake House, Carolina Beach
• Best pizza: Pizzeria Omaggio, Charlotte

Find the full list of North Carolina’s best eats (plus most expensive, most romantic and more) here. You can see the full guide to the best food and drink in every state by clicking here.

Kara Seymour, Patch National Staff, contributed to this article

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