My Top Five Picks for Eating in and Around Raleigh, North Carolina

For the most part, Raleigh is seriously lacking when it comes to delicious, affordable restaurant choices. Having lived most of our lives in the DC area, we're used to an abundant selection of ethnic, fresh, yummy cuisine. You basically trip over good restaurants anywhere you go in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

There are many fantastic fast-food chains down here in Raleigh (Cook-Out, Smithfields, Biscuitville, Bojangles, etc.), and also all the regular nation-wide [expensive and boring] restaurant chains are here (P.F. Chang's, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday, Cheesecake Factory, etc.), but when it comes to smaller, local sit-down restaurants which we enjoy the most, they have proven to be much more elusive.

Many places we've tried and deemed completely unworthy are seemingly wildly popular here with the locals. They've obviously never had good food before, so they don't know the difference. When we see these people standing in long lines for mediocre food, we feel pity.

We have spent a year now down here in the good ol' South, and these are our top five picks for good eats in and around Raleigh:

SeoulGarden Korean BBQ & Tofu - http://www.raleighseoulgarden.com (Corner of Millbrook and Atlantic, in Northern Raleigh)

Although I'm sure Korean BBQ restaurants have been around since the dawn of time, for some reason I had never been to one before moving down here to North Carolina. Initially we were quite nervous to eat there - thinking that possibly we'd be helping to control the local pet population - but the food is absolutely amazing. The Chicken BulGoGi, Teriyaki Tofu, and Edamame (steamed soybeans in the pod) are especially tasty and worth ordering. Some of the items you can cook yourself at a BBQ table, or they will prepare the food for you. Make sure to also get the Shikhye (barley and rice dessert drink) after your meal in order to have the full experience.

If I had one slight complaint, it would be that they tout themselves as a "Korean B.B.Q. and Tofu" restaurant, but the choices of tofu dishes are quite slim. Also, be aware that if you go there at a non-traditional eating time - such as 3pm - you just may catch the owner napping at a table.

Torero's Mexican Restaurant - http://www.torerosmexicanrestaurants.com (Corner of Millbrook and Atlantic, in Northern Raleigh)

The Torero's we frequent is in the same shopping center as Seoul Garden, making it very convenient when you're note quite sure what you're hungry for, since you are assured a good meal no matter which place you end up.

I've eaten a lot of Mexican food in my lifetime (just measure my waist for proof), but in my personal opinion, Torero's is the epitome of great Mexican cuisine. From their ground beef tacos to their chicken fajitas, and everything in-between - Torero's puts every other Mexican restaurant to shame. In fact, all other Mexican restaurants should just close their doors now and quietly go out of business, because nothing can ever compare.

Torero's portion sizes are hefty, their food is fresh, their prices are fantastic, their service is unbeatable, the restaurant atmosphere is fun, and the taste is second-to-none. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about Torero's. Even their chips and salsa are the best I've ever had, and don't get me started on their Flan (egg custard). If I had one suggestion to make it even better (if that's even possible), the addition of a sweet corn cake dish to their menu would take a restaurant that's already Heavenly and make it downright orgasmic.

Taste of Thai - http://www.tasteofthairestaurant.net/nc (Corner of Falls of Neuse and Pacific, in Northern Raleigh)

Just down the street from Torero's and Seoul Garden is Taste of Thai, which is a great authentic Thai restaurant. Over the past 12 months we've tried virtually everything on the menu, and recommend just about everything they have to offer. Along with their amazing dinner salad, Taste of Thai's Tofu Tod, Vegetarian Fresh Rolls, and Curry Puff appetizers are a great way to start your dining experience here. For the main course, I highly recommend trying the Chicken Pad Thai, Chicken Ma Muang (garlic chicken), Chicken Gang Gari (mild yellow curry), Chicken See Eu (chicken with egg noodles), and Beef Fried Rice. When in season, their Mango Sticky Rice dessert is a delicious way to end your meal here.

Taste of Thai also offers a weekend buffet, as well as a weekday lunch buffet, but for the best dining experience you should pass up the buffet and just order from the menu (which I find holds true for most restaurants).

Two Cousins Pizza & Pasta (Just off I-40 on Highway 210, in Benson)

As in all towns, pizza and pasta places are a dime a dozen in Raleigh. They range from national chains to small "mom & pop" shops, and everything in-between. Over the past year we've tried a lot of them and most of them are not worth going back to. Even the local Dominos pizza and Pizza Hut do not seem to match the quality and taste of those up in Maryland and Virginia. There is a tasty pizza place in Garner (that we also used to have in Maryland) called Pizza Inn, and there is an incredible pasta place in Northern Raleigh called Pulcinella's (same shopping center as Taste of Thai), but finding a tasty place that offers both has been difficult.

Two Cousins is right around the corner from where we live, which means this place doesn't have to fear the dying economy. Just like Torero's, try as we might we cannot find a bad thing on their menu. They offer regular pizza, white pizza, and Sicilian pizza (which you have to order an hour ahead), as well as any Italian pasta you can think of - all of which is to-die-for. Their stuffed shells and manicotti are amazing, and even their chicken fingers are delicious. Better yet, they deliver!

China King (Just off I-40 on Highway 42, in Garner)

The most difficult restaurant to find in the Raleigh area was a good Chinese food restaurant. There is no shortage of Chinese food options, but the problem is that most of them are just not good. Just because a restaurant has a fancy building or is in a fancy shopping center, and just because they have a line of people out the door waiting for their food - does NOT mean it will be good food. I guess if people are hungry enough they will eat anything.

It was a long and arduous search, but we found a diamond in the rough when we stumbled upon China King. It is located in a run-down tiny shopping plaza, behind another restaurant so it's blocked from view, and from the exterior you'd think it was quite unlikely you'd find great food within. They offer the traditional take-out, but the best thing about China King is its eat-in dining room that's hidden around the corner.

Everyone judges Chinese food based on different criteria, but I judge a Chinese food restaurant based on their Egg Rolls and on their Vegetable Egg Foo Young. If those two things are good, usually everything else will be good too. China King definitely does not disappoint! Our recommendations would be the Chicken Lo Mein, Chicken with Garlic Sauce, Bean Curd Home Style, Moo Shu Chicken, and of course the Vegetable Egg Foo Young. Another favorite Chinese food menu item I enjoy is Sweet & Sour Chicken but although it is edible, I do not recommend it from China King. But hey, you can't have everything - and compared with the available options, this place is still my top choice in the entire Raleigh area.

In Summary

Raleigh is growing by leaps and bounds, so I have high hopes that the available restaurant choices and quality of food will continue to expand and improve. In the meantime, I'm happy that we have found some amazing local restaurants to keep us well-fed and happy.

Happy eating!