Known as one of the country’s most culturally diverse cities, Fayetteville serves up a melting pot of cultural delights from a variety of restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and food trucks. If your sweet tooth needs satisfaction, or you have a hankering for a savory meal, you can find all that and more right here.
Here are a few favorites:
BURGERS & ‘DOGS
A few years ago, the longtime popular food truck, R Burger added R Kitchen, a brick-and-mortar restaurant near downtown Fayetteville. The mushroom and Swiss burger on a toasted white bun with a side of crispy fries is a top pick.
Archway Burgers, Dogs and Beer in downtown Fayetteville lets customers build their own meals. Look for the little white order pads and pencils up front and check off your favorite condiments and toppings of all kinds — even fried green tomatoes and beer onions. Grab a craft beer and take a seat at one of the tables on the sidewalk or under the brick arch, a prime spot for people-watching.
Hot Diggidy Dog on Roxie Avenue serves hot dogs so delicious you’ll jump for joy, as the name implies. The restaurant also makes melt-in-your-mouth Carolina-style burgers complete with mustard, chili, slaw, and onions. The strawberry shakes are the real deal.
PIZZA, PIZZA!
Elizabeth’s Pizza on Hope Mills Road is known for its consistency and friendly service, which keeps hungry customers coming back not just for its pizza, but also the authentic pasta dishes and salads.
Chef and Pizzaiolo Nadia Minniti, owner of Gusto Napoletano Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria on Raeford Road, was named one of 10 U.S. Women in Pizza to Watch in 2024 by PMQ Pizza magazine. A certified VPN pizzaiolo (Vera Pizza Napoletana or true Neapolitan pizza maker), she opened Gusto Napoletano in 2019.
If you measure the quality of a pizza by its crust, you can’t go wrong at Little Italy Pizzeria and Restaurant near Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Brooklyn Pizzeria on Ramsey Street where the crusts are neither too thick nor too thin and the toppings are perfectly fresh.
A TASTE OF THE WORLD
Fayetteville’s international food scene takes you around the globe, bite by bite.
For soul-soothing pho, you can’t go wrong at Vietnam Kitchen in Westwood Shopping Center. Pile on fresh cilantro, basil, sprouts and jalapeno, and make your tastebuds happy.
For Chinese takeout, the place to go is Hong Kong Kitchen, also in Westwood Shopping Center. Garden-fresh ingredients and generous portions turn one meal into two — or more. And you can’t beat those steamed dumplings.
If sushi is what you’re craving, be sure to visit Nona Sushi Asia on Ramsey Street. The lobster and dragon rolls are the stuff of dreams. Hibachi dishes are also featured. The modern dining room is beautifully lit, setting the scene for making romantic memories.
Taste of West Africa on Person Street serves up healthy homestyle cuisine in a casual environment. The dishes have been described as bold, exciting and cooked with love.
From small plates to full meals, Agora Mediterranean Restaurant on Person Street is a delicious and nutritious choice. Menu items like hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel and kabobs are satisfying and flavorful.
For Indian food, a perennial favorite is Bombay Bistro, located in Cliffdale Square. Chef Kelly Kishan is known for working his magic on legumes and vegetables, prepared to perfection in aromatic sauces, herbs and spices. The vegetarian saag tofu and curries are splendid, as are the tender tandoori chicken and korma dishes. And if you like it hot, go with the vindaloo.
VEGAN BITES
Vibe Gastropub is downtown Fayetteville’s go-to destination for creative vegan delights served in sophisticated boho surroundings. Ambery Edge, the owner and chef, also operates Authentique Cafe, a popular food truck.
The Vegan Spot offers a variety of vegan meals, including classic American dishes such as burgers, fries, pizza and even a meatless meatball sub. The restaurant opened in January 2024 at Murchison Marketplace.
FAMOUS “Q”
Southern Coals on Raeford Road serves up some of the most authentic eastern-style pork barbecue, beef brisket and burnt ends in the state.
You’ll also dig the Q at the stalwart Barbeque Hut, which has been serving up its famous crispy fried chicken wings, slaw and hushpuppies since 1965. No barbecue dinner is complete without a proper glass of sweet tea to wash it all down. Visit one — or both — of the restaurant’s two locations on Fort Bragg Road and Owen Drive.
MEXICAN FOOD
At El Cazador Mexican Restaurant, owner/chef Agustin Alvarez offers all your Mexican favorites, from overstuffed beef burritos to shrimp, chicken and steak fajitas, to tacos, quesadillas and tamales. And while you’re there, don’t miss out on the great guacamole and margaritas. Distance is no reason to miss a meal at El Cazador. The restaurant has three convenient locations: Skibo Road, Gillespie Street and Good Middling Drive in western Cumberland County.
DATE NIGHT & SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Fayetteville is home to steak and seafood restaurants that are perfect dining choices for special occasions or when you want to treat yourself because, well, you deserve it. Luigi’s Italian Chophouse and Bar on North McPherson Church Road prides itself on its ribeye marsala. Chilean sea bass is another winner. Luigi’s serves up a fine plate of pasta, too.
Chris’s Steak & Seafood House on Raeford Road boasts exceptional meats, including the popular filet mignon. Kebabs, grilled salmon, and salads are also rave-worthy. Both Luigi’s and Chris’s restaurants offer stellar wine choices and a happening bar scene.
BREAKFAST SPOTS
Zorba’s Gyro on Raeford Road is the real deal. This Greek restaurant is not only known for its gyros and homemade baklava, but hungry customers love its hearty breakfast choices that are served up at bargain prices and inspire you to start your day with a smile on your face.
Just down the street from Zorba’s you’ll find Lindy’s Restaurant, where friendly staff will make you feel like family and promise you won’t leave hungry. Come for breakfast and stay for lunch at this classic diner. The omelets and hamburger steak are standouts.
SWEET TREATS
Superior Bakery on Hope Mills Road is famous as a bakery wonderland. You might be tempted to stay all day, sampling the fresh breads, doughnuts, Greek baked goods and Southern-inspired cakes. It’s a feast for the senses.
If German sweets are your jam, be sure to hit up Max & Moritz in Cliffdale Square where apple strudel, Black Forest cake and Linzer cookies are specialties.
Craving a cupcake? At The Sweet Palette downtown, choose from dozens of varieties, from key lime to red velvet. And the colorful macarons taste as good as they look.
COFFEE, TEA AND SMALL BITES
Hay Street is home to a row of locally owned coffee shops where you can have a meeting, catch up on work or get your morning caffeine fix along with pastries and savory breakfast fare.
Rude Awakening Coffee House opened in 1999 after saving the building that housed Brady’s Soda Shop and refurbishing it as an award-winning coffee shop on Hay Street. Rude Awakening offers a nearly endless variety of elixirs to get your day off to a wide-awake start.
At The Coffee Scene — with locations on Hay Street and Morganton Road in Fayetteville, and one on Fort Bragg — you may just feel like royalty when you sample the delicious beverages and small bites in an intimate setting.
If you keep a lookout, you might just spot Vagabond Café in your own neighborhood. Vagabond is a mobile espresso bar that moves around the Sandhills area and offers a brick-and-mortar shop downtown on Hay Street.
Winterbloom Tea offers all things tea-related. From curative teas to soothe your spirit and heal your body to tea cocktails crafted with the finest liquors, Winterbloom may just be one of the most unique tea houses you’ve ever visited, and it’s also on Hay Street.
The Red Desk Café, with a vibe like the coffee houses of the 1960s and ‘70s, gives guests a little live music with their coffee. Home to a local music collective, The Red Desk Café on Hay Street features live music on select nights.
Still hungry?
Here are more tasty choices:
Circa 1800: Billed as the place for “locally focused New Southern cuisine,” this restaurant serves up classic regional delights, including its signature Boudin Balls and Fayetteville Hot Buns. 108 Person St. 910-568-4725
Blue Moon Café: After more than 15 years, Blue Moon Café has earned the right to be called a Hay Street institution. 310 Hay St. 910-860-4700
J.K.’s Deli & Family Restaurant: Whether you crave comfort food for breakfast, lunch or dinner, J.K.’s serves your favorites. This restaurant has been family-owned and -operated since 1984. 125 Owen Drive. 910-485-3711
Latitude 35 Bar & Grill: Craving an island vibe? Latitude 35 offers a laid-back scene and food to match. Enjoy Key West Shrimp Bites or Key Largo Kabobs while dreaming of your tropical escape. 1217 Hay St. 910-485-4777
Pan: You can’t beat a good sandwich any time of day. Drop in at Pan to grab your favorite or just be surprised. You never know what the special invention of the day might be, and the only thing for sure is that it will be delicious. 105 Hay St. 910-491-3105
Peaden’s Seafood & Catering: A longtime favorite, Peaden’s serves up a taste of the coast to tickle your vacation vibe. Try Calabash-style seafood, Southern fried chicken, and eastern North Carolina barbecue. 1600 McArthur Road. 910-488-1972
Uptown’s Chicken & Waffles: Chef Judy Cage-McLean, who competed on the Food Network show “Chopped,” prepares her signature Southern pairings. She also offers catering and personal chef services. Ramada Plaza, 1707 Owen Drive. 910-676-8039
Vicky’s Famous Biscuits & Chicken: This popular spot features biscuits stuffed with country ham, pork chops, sausage, chicken or steak. Breakfast and lunch only. 128 Grove St. 910-491-2681
FROM A TO Z (Antonella’s to Zorba’s)
Where to find them
Antonella’s Italian Ristorante: 300 Hay St. 910-486-0046
Archway Burgers, Dogs and Beer: 113 Person St. 910-758-9449
Bombay Bistro: 5945 Cliffdale Road, Suite 1101. 910-487-0020
Brooklyn Pizzeria: 4411 Ramsey St. 910-491-4585
Chris’s Steak & Seafood House: 2620 Raeford Road. 910-485-4242
El Cazador: 1904 Skibo Road, 910-864-0700; 2800 Gillespie St., Suite 102. (Airport Plaza), 910-480-0084; 7835 Good Middling Drive, Suite 100. 910-758-8026
Elizabeth’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant: 2468 Hope Mills Road. 910-424-2848
Haymount Truck Stop: 100 Broadfoot Ave. 472-210-3250
Hong Kong Restaurant: 169 Westwood Shopping Center. 910-867-6464
Hot Diggidy Dog: 106 Roxie Ave. 910-426-1300
Lindy’s Restaurant: 3001 Raeford Road. 910-485-6247
Little Italy Pizzeria and Restaurant: 1400 Walter Reed Road, Suite 130. 910-867-8700
Luigi’s Italian Chophouse & Bar: 528 N. McPherson Church Road. 910-864-1810
Max & Moritz: 5945 Cliffdale Road, Suite 1104. 910-826-8400
Nona Sushi Asia: 4411 Ramsey St., Suite 112. 910-920-2400
R Kitchen: 1006 Person St. 910-527-1467. Also, R Burger food truck: Rotating locations in the region; see the Facebook page to find the truck.
Southern Coals: 3319-C Raeford Road. 910-745-7675
Superior Bakery: 2433 Hope Mills Road. 910-424-4242
The Barbeque Hut: 2802 Fort Bragg Road, 910-485-5390; and 2965 Owen Drive, 910-484-1975
The Sweet Palette: 101 Person St. 910-489-7342
The Vegan Spot: 3421 Murchison Road, Suite A. 910-500-3027
Vibe Gastropub: 131 Hay St., Suite 101. 910-491-8259
Vietnam Kitchen: 400 Westwood Shopping Center. 910-500-9011
Zorba’s Gyro: 2919 Raeford Road. 910-484-1010
Red Desk Cafe: 1110 Hay St. 910-853-9629
Rude Awakening: 227 Hay St. 910-223-7833
The Coffee Scene: 450 Hay St., 910-568-3758; 3818 Morganton Road, 910-864-0555
Vagabond Café: 108 Hay St., Suite 1B. 910-500-3009
Winterbloom Tea: 238 Hay St. 910-491-3536
Read CityView Magazine‘s e-edition of the 2025-2026 issue of DestinationFAY here.