Eat Your Way Around the World: International Dining on Hillsborough Street

You don’t need a passport to taste bold global flavors—just take a walk down Hillsborough Street. From dumplings to gyros, tacos to tandoori, this vibrant Raleigh corridor is a culinary melting pot serving up authentic dishes from around the world.

Now is a great time to explore these international cuisines in Raleigh with the Hillsborough St Summer Food Walk Passport. Check in via Vibemap, complete a few simple tasks, and earn points and rewards for doing so. Some places will also have special deals.

Whether you’re grabbing lunch between classes, meeting friends for dinner, or planning a weekend food crawl, Hillsborough Street delivers a diverse and delicious lineup of international eats. In partnership with Live it Up Hillsborough St, we put together some of our favorite globally inspired spots to check out.

Latin & Mexican Bites

• Lobera Tacos + Tequila – serving up traditional Mexican dishes with a contemporary twist. Expect flavorful dishes, killer cocktails, and a laid-back but festive setting with windows rolled right up to take in the full view of the iconic NC Belltower. It is the place where the wolfpack gathers after all – Lobera is Spanish for Wolfpack! We love their shrimp and steak tacos and chicken and bacon nachos.
  • DEALS: Lobera has $10.99 lunch specials M-F, $5 margaritas on Mon & Tues, & $2 draft beer on Weds & Thurs
• Guasaca – Fresh and fast Venezuelan arepas packed with customizable fillings, making it a high value tasty grab and go lunch option.
  • Summer Food Walk Passport deal: “Choose your Chicken Bowl” Fajita Style or Pulled Style. Get the Bowl & Ice Tea for $8.75
• Gym Tacos – affordable meals with a cult following. Of course, their specialty is tacos but their extensive menu also features tortas, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, and more. Fans especially love their trash can tacos!

• Coco Bongo – If you’re looking for bold flavors in a fun, high-energy setting, Coco Bongo is the move. This Hillsborough St Mexican restaurant favorite is known for its generous portions of Mexican and Tex-Mex staples—think taco salads, enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos, and of course, endless variations of tacos.
• Fritos Tacos & Burgers – Owned by local Mexican entrepreneur Saul, Frito’s Burgers & Tacos is all about serving up big flavor on a small budget. The mission: bring the community fresh, affordable tacos and a pretty canopy of rainbow-colored umbrellas to eat under.
  • DEALS: Lines wrap around the patio for his famous $1 tacos (Tuesdays) often have lines.

• Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken: New to Hillsborough St is a veteran, minority, and family-owned casual eatery with several locations across the Triangle. Enjoy all kinds of chicken dishes from salads to chicken plate combos. Their Quinoa fresh salad with chicken, crunchy yuca, dried cranberries and choclo (peruvian corn) is so yummy!
  • DEALS: $12.49 daily specials, Mon- Fri

For Asian Cravings

• Lime & Lemon Indian Grill – Ready for a travel experience through the different regions of India – this is waht international dining is all about. Expect bold spices, modern vibes, unique Indian-inspired cocktails, and beautifully plated Indian cuisine. Lime & Lemon is the most upscale restaurant on Hillsborough St (yet can still be quite casual). They ahve a lot of vegetarian and gluten free options as well as every possible favorite Indian dish you can think of.
• Beansprout – A long-standing spot for classic Chinese-American dishes, consistently ranking as one of the best in Raleigh. It’s a mom and pop business and prices are said to be inexpensive, and dishes flavorful. It’s mostly a take out places although there are some tables inside. They have a very large menu with good vegetarian options.
• Golden Dragon offers delicious and inexpensive Szechuan, Hunan, and Cantonese style Chinese food. Reviewers have said the meals are delicious and filling for a great price with the spicy chicken a standout.
  • DEALS $7.29 lunch specials served with rice, and a choice of wonton soup, egg drop soup, hot & sour soup, or egg roll for an extra $1.29 #bargain

Hibachi & Company

• Hibachi & Company – Quick for a fast, satisfying meal. A quick and affordable eatery on Hillsborough Street serving up flavorful Japanese  hibachi bowls and teriyaki dishes . Every day they have a changing lunch special menu, making it a place you can go back to time and time again and always be surprised.
• Moge Tee – What began in China has quickly grown roots in the USA, including on Hillsborough St Raleigh. At Moge you can satisfy your bubble tea and Asian dessert cravings with this trendy stop – the students love it! (As do my daughters!)
• Kabab & Curry – Tandoori, biryani, and flavorful curries served with warm naan. For flavorful Indian and Nepalese cuisine with big portions and an affordable, and popular lunch buffet. Raleigh residents particularly like how authentic the Nepalese momos taste! The goat curry and the tikka masala are other popular dishes, and the garlic naan is soft and melts in your mouth – said to be the best naan in the Triangle.

For Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Delights

• Jasmin & Olivz Mediterranean – Fresh wraps, falafel, bowls, hummus, and shawarma for a quick and healthy bite. Jasmin & Olivz’s which offers a combination of tantalizing Greek and Lebanese flavors. This Raleigh international eatery is so good there are two locations on Hillsborough St – one opposite NC State and one opposite Meredith College.
• Al Baraka Mediterranean Market, Grill & Bakery – A unique spot offering Middle Eastern groceries, halal meat and produce, fresh-baked bread, and hearty meals to go. Their prices are reasonable here, and we’ve previously stocked out our NC tailgating party with their chicken wings, hummus, and haloumi – all very delicious!
• Shahrazad Hookah Lounge & Coffee – A large hookah bar, with a semi-outdoor patio and indoor seating. They also have frappes, smoothies, teas, coffee, and a few desserts, including baklava. Hookah lovers say it’s the best hookah in Raleigh and one reviewer said they appear to be traditional Khalil Mamoons and they offer Al Fakher, Starbuzz, and Fumari brand shisha.
• Shwarma Stop: Well-sized and delicious Middle Eastern swarma, falafels, pita, panini, hummus and more. Reviewers recommend the mix box and trying out the Laziz sauce and other special sauces.
• GRK YEERO – A hidden gem offering flavorful Greek wraps and bowls with tzatziki that hits just right. All kinds of yeero – small and large – as well as shish kebab platters, salads, spanakopita, hummus, and tasty treats like baklava, and namoura. Plenty of options for vegetarians as well
  • DEALS: Summer Food Walk Passport Deal: Small Chicken Yeero for $4.99 all week long from 11am-3pm

Here are more places to eat Mediterranean food in Raleigh

For Pizza

I feel these pizza joints are more NYC style pizza – so would that make them fit into an international dining on Hillsborough St guide? If the roots fit then that’s a “Sì, signora!”

• Oak City Pizza: If you’re looking for wood-fire pizza at a great price, Oak City is for you (especially if in need of a late night snack!) They sell pizza by the slice or pie, as well as pasta, stromboli and other American dishes like delicious wings and Philly cheese steak. Oak City also does gluten free pizza!
• Gumby’s Pizza: Gumby’s has a wide range of pizza (many with international twists like Thai chili), pepperoni rolls, pastas, and wings, quesadillas and more

Bussin Pizza

• Bussin Pizza: Our daughter thought the pizza from Bussin’s was delicious! They have a large pizza and pasta menu (as well as some of your American favorites like wings!) Don’t skip tiramisu or cannoli for dessert.
  • DEALS: Bussin’s has a 20 inch cheese pizza for $9.99 every Wednesday. But you must follow their Instagram to grab the deal!
• Checkers Pizza & Subs: Fuel your day (or late-night study session) with cheesy slices and creative toppings, calzones, stromboli, and a wide range of your favorite pastsa dishes. Checkers also has a Mediterranean menu filled with pitas and shawarmas!

With so many cultures and cuisines packed into just a few blocks, Hillsborough Street is Raleigh’s very own international dining destination. Whether you’re looking for a taste of home or a bite of something new, you’ll find it here.

Follow your taste buds to Hillsborough Street, and don’t forget to tag us in your food adventures. Still hungry? Check out these other Hillsborough St restaurants, Why We Love Jubala Coffee, and a guide on where to eat, shop and stay!