Is Chatham Square the best place for Ethnic Food in the Triangle? (Raleigh: chapel)

[Bmateo]

Superwok has been discussed here a lot, as the best place for authentic Chinese.

Poncho Villa has gotten the nod for one of the best places for authentic tacos

Little Tokyo, while not the fanciest, is a great place for Japanese and Sushi

And today I ate at Chef of India, which ranks right up there with the other Indian in the area (and I work in RTP).

None of these places are very "nice". They lack atmosphere, and to the unadventurous might even seem a bit intimidating, but the food is really good in all of them. Add to that several Indo-Pak grocers, at least one good (and friendly) Morrocan/Middle Eastern Grocer, and I believe a few other options.

Is this the best place in the triangle to get good, authentic (and variety) Ethnic Food?

Discuss.... (And better yet, if there are other places, where are they)

[lynnhayes]

Neo-China in Durham is the best Chinese. Red Lotus in Chapel Hill comes a close second.
Sitar is the best Indian food in Durham, Bombay is the best in RTP. Mint is pretty good in Chapel Hill but they have a new owner and the food is different from its beginning.
None of these places have tons of atmosphere. As far as I can tell, with etchnic food you pick either atmosphere or good food, you don't get both.

[J_Lurk]

IMHO, there is no other place in the Triangle with the variety and quality of Chatham Square. As you said, the groceries are good too. We like Toyoshokuhin, the Japanese grocery. There is a good older thread on Chatham Square here: Chatham Square in Cary - full of ethnic food (not trendy, no chains)

You can probably find the same variety in a 1-3 mile stretch of Capital Boulevard in Raleigh, but you'd have to drive to get it. You can find a smaller variety on 9th Street in Durham (Banh's Vietnamese, Blue Corn Cafe, etc.), but except for Banh's, not quite as good or authentic.

[adlnc07]

I've driven by there many times but never gone in to check any of the restaurants or shops out. Definitely a very unassuming little strip mall! I'll have to give it a try - I miss the little "mom & pop" ethnic shops/restaurants that are on every corner (it seems) in Northern Virginia.

[des1rees]

Originally Posted by lynnhayes

Neo-China in Durham is the best Chinese. Red Lotus in Chapel Hill comes a close second.
Sitar is the best Indian food in Durham, Bombay is the best in RTP. Mint is pretty good in Chapel Hill but they have a new owner and the food is different from its beginning.
None of these places have tons of atmosphere. As far as I can tell, with etchnic food you pick either atmosphere or good food, you don't get both.

Here is my .02 - Being Indian, I strongly feel Bombay and Sitar kind of falls in the lower rungs of authentic Indian food. Different regions in India have completely different type of flavours. If you want to try those varieties - follow this - Royal India on Capital Blvd for the typical North Indian type of food, Saffron for a little bit more Americanized palate ( not that spicy, at the same time, good), Kandas - for the South Indian non vegetarian, and Tower for the South Indian vegetarian food. Biriyani at Biriyani Point used to be good but now I go to Lazeez on Hillsborough Street for my authentic Pakistani Biriyani fix. Atmosphere for Saffron/Kandas/Royal India is good - I definitely would not classify them as "hole in the wall". Lazeez on the other hand, is in the corner of a convenience store kind of place...

[toot68]

Morrisville Square has a pretty big ethnic cross section as well. I've only eaten at Tower (Indian), which is fantastic, but they also have Thai, Middle Eastern and a Mexican restaurant. Plus pizza and an islamic center.

[lamishra]

Chef of India is awesome. Their weekend buffet is REALLY good and according to my Indian husband, some of the best food around!
BTW LynneHayes, Alyssa said to tell Harrison hi!