My hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina is not exactly a tourist destination but I decided to compile a list of a couple of restaurants in and around the area that I recommend! The close proximity of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has made this town into a hub of students and teachers from around the country and world. The restaurant scene reflects the growing need for diverse food options over the years.

I got to try these spots when I visited home this holiday season:

Al’s Burger Shack

708 Market St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

This shop, which opened in 2013, was voted on Trip Advisor and Food and Wine Magazine as the No.1 burger in America. Chapel Hill has been changing for the better in terms of food! It was one of the the juiciest hamburgers I have ever tasted. The hype is REAL! The level of juiciness was just incredible. Also, the fries were not oily but fried to perfection and seasoned with rosemary! 

El Chapin – Guatemalan Grill

4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Suite #38, Durham, NC 27707

I had been eyeing this place for the past couple years whenever I visited home and finally had a chance to try it! I know nothing about Guatemalan cuisine but to me the food felt homey and delicious. The rice was especially tasty and the carne guisada came with homemade tortillas! 

Meet Fresh 鮮芋仙

407 Meadowmont Village Cir, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

There is a new Taiwanese sweets store in Chapel Hill, NC which came as a big surprise for me. It is apparently a global chain store and only serves desserts and bubble teas. For my first Taiwanese dessert experience, I ordered a icy grass jelly bowl with taro balls. I liked how the dessert wasn’t over sweet so that it was a refreshing treat! 

Persis Indian Grill

1116 Parkside Main St, Cary, NC 27519

This is a bit of a drive from Chapel Hill but it is definitely worth the trip for their lunch buffet if you can get a ride there! I love Indian food and sadly have only tried Indian cuisine in the United States but the coolest aspect of this restaurant was the number of dishes during the buffet and the delicious chai tea. There were curries with egg and some other dishes that I had never seen or tasted before. I wished I could have the stomach of 3 or 4 people just so that I could fully appreciate the variety of the dishes. I don’t know anything about Indian food but I could feel a very authentic vibe from this restaurant!

Cha House

318 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

A Taiwanese cafe with snacks, lunches, and bubble tea! This one is located in the heart of Chapel Hill in downtown Franklin Street where all of the students from the university are hanging out. I had the fried chicken with rice and egg for lunch and a bubble tea, both were solidly delicious! One of the perks of this spot is the wifi availability and power sockets. A great place to hang out and get some work done on the computer. 

If you someday have a chance to visit Chapel Hill, North Carolina I can confidently say that there are plenty of food options! Hope to try some more spots next time I visit my home town!