Best authentic cuisines in RTP (Raleigh, Durham: live, floor, backyard)

[LoopDeLoop]

some have mentioned previous articles about the foodie scene in the triangle area. while definitely not on the scale of LA, you'll enjoy getting to know some restaurants in the area.

in my list, i second some previous recommendations & add a couple more. mine are all raleigh locations:

japanse/sushi - sushi blues, waraji
middle eastern - neomonde (for upscale middle eastern, you could visit their downtown restaurant, sitti)
italian (well, really pizza although piccola italia's ravioli is pretty delicious) - piccola italia, moonlight pizza

i haven't found any good vietnamese place, though i used to adore café cyclo when it was in cameron village. someone else may have recommendations on such things.

[lamishra]

We've always enjoyed Dalat in Raleigh for Vietnamese. I don't know how authentic it is though. We also found the Bavarian Brathaus in Cary to be pretty authentic German.

[xylemphloem]

I would add Vit Goal for Korean in Durham.

[WDJ]

Originally Posted by lamishra

We've always enjoyed Dalat in Raleigh for Vietnamese. I don't know how authentic it is though.

I went there once, and didn't find it to be very authentic at all. Our dishes were more Chinese than Vietnamese.

[lamishra]

I've never been to Vietnam, so I wouldn't know what REAL authentic Vietnamese food is. Seems about the same as the Vietnamese food I've had in DC. I do know Dalat has two menus though.
Most of the Indian places around here are good, but not really all that authentic. My Indian husband says he'd never even eaten some of the more popular Indian dishes until he came to the US! He likes Biryani house, Udipi and Cool Breeze, although they are all total hole in the wall places.

[peperoberto]

If you like Peruvian-style roasted chicken, check out Mama Nori's. There's a location in both Durham and Raleigh.

In terms of other Peruvian dishes, I can't think of any restaurant in the area that serves it. You will find a random milanesa here and there, but no full-on Peruvian.

[lamishra]

Peruvian food must be more popular in CA than here. Whenever I'm in LA visiting my husband's family, they ALWAYS want to go eat Peruvian food and seem to have a bunch of different Peruvian restaurants to choose from! I didn't even know there was any Peruvian food around here, that's good to know!

[kittnmouse]

i've been to dalat before, when i was at ncsu. it's terrible... lol. but back then i didn't know it b/c i never had REAL vietnamese food.

[lamishra]

While it may not be authentic, it's definitely not terrible. It's one of the few family owned eateries that has survived! That place has been there at least 25 years and continues to receive excellent reviews.

[kittnmouse]

Originally Posted by lamishra

While it may not be authentic, it's definitely not terrible. It's one of the few family owned eateries that has survived! That place has been there at least 25 years and continues to receive excellent reviews.

let me clarify... the food is "okay" but not authentic by any means. but i'm judging based on the fact that my in-laws are former restaurant owners and from vietnam, so i have been enlightened on what good vietnamese food is :-p