Restaurant Recommendations

Here are some of my favorite restaurants in the NC RTP Area (Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and nearby)

ASIAN

$$ ⭐⭐ (Holly Springs) BEP Vietnamese Kitchen- Pho, Banh Mi, more

$ ⭐⭐⭐ (Cary) Brecotea Asian Bakery

$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Cary) Shangai Alley - Dim Sum & Chinese

$$ ⭐⭐(Apex) Sushi Iwa - not just sushi, many different Asian foods. 

$$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Cary) So Hot - hot pot & Korean BBQ

$$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Apex downtown) Sushi Suyu

GERMAN

$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(Durham) Guglehupf Restaurant & Bakery - don't forget the dessert!

INDIAN

$$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Apex) Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar

ITALIAN

$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(Cary, Waverly Place) Enrigo Italian Bistro

$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Holly Springs) Mama Mia of Holly Springs - friendly service

$$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Fuquay Varina) Giribaldi Trattoria (Italian & Pizza)

$$$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Holly Springs) Spazio Vino & Cucina - amazing authentic homemade italian dishes.  Great place for special occasions.

MEDITERANIAN

$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(Cary) Sassool - very healthy choices, the line gets very long around lunch time

MEXICAN 

$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(Apex) Mamacita

$$ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(Apex) Mezcalito - fun place

PIZZA

$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Holly Springs) Mello Mushroom - Get the Kosmic Karma!  If watching your diet or carbs, get it with the "Mellow Thin Crust", I think it even tastes better that way.  

SEAFOOD

$$$ ⭐⭐⭐(Holly Springs) The Blind Pelican - The line can be more than 90 minutes some days and times

Here are some of my favorite restaurants in the greater Dallas TX area.

(for your convenience, link to Michelin Guide online)

ASIAN

$$$ (Richardson 75081) Kirin Court (Dimsum) 

$$ (Richardson 75081) Sichuan King (try A6 Zhongs spicy dumplings and t11 basil eggplant)

$$ (Plano 75023) Little Sichuan Cuisine (Legacy Dr)

$$ (Richardson 75081) Pho Bac Vietnamese (great Pho soup)

$$ (Richardson 75082) Thai's Thumbz

$$ (Carrollton 75006) Too Thai Street Eats

AUSTRIAN (similar to German)

$$ (Plano 75074) Jorg's Austrian Food Only open 4 days a week (Weds thru Sat) and limited hours those days

BBQ (Texas Style)

$$ (Plano 75074) Lockhart Smokehouse

$$ (Richardson 75080) Ten50 BBQ

BREAKFAST or BAKERY

$$ (Richardson 75080) La Casita Bakeshop (closed Monday & Tuesday; closes 3PM the other 5 days)

$$ (Plano 75075) First Watch (breakfast and lunch only)

$$ (The Colony 75056) Sunview Cafe (breakfast and lunch only)

$$$ (Dallas 75205 & 75219) Shugg's Bagels

CASUAL

$$ (Plano 75024) Legacy Food Hall (19 places to eat, frequent live entertainment)

$ (everywhere) Costco (home of the $1.50 hot dog with free soda)

$$ (Richardson 75080) Dog Haus Biergarten Richardson (good beer and hot dogs)

$$ (Mc Kinney 75069) The Stix Icehouse

ITALIAN

$$$$ (Dallas 75027) Bellini's Italian Cafe and Bar (fancy, downtown, live music some nights 7PM)

MEXICAN

$ (Richardson 75080 and other locations) Tacos y mas (great churros for a couple of bucks)

$$ (Plano 75074) Casa Mama

$$ (Richardson 75080) Dos Arroyos Comida Casera

$$ (Dallas 75029) El Rincon del DF (go for the Tortas.  They don't speak much English so be ready to order in Spanish)

$ (Richardson 75080) Taqueria & Tamaleria Nuevo León (authentic Mexican breakfast tacos)

STEAKHOUSES

$$$$ (Richardson 75080) Texas Steakhouse (wonderful steaks, great atmosphere, friendly staff, great place for a special occasion dinner)

SUSHI

$$$$ (Dallas 75201) Uchi Dallas (fancy, expensive, downtown Dallas, get reservations)

$$$ (Downtown Plano 75074) EBESU Robata & Sushi (reservations recommended)

VEGAN or VEGETARIAN

$$ (Dallas 75223) Kalschandjis (run by the Hari Krishna temple, great lunch buffet)

$$ (Richardson 75080) Andalous Mediteranian Buffet Although they serve meat, many (but not all) of their items are vegetarian.