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Soft lighting, starched linen tablecloths, glass vases coddling freshly picked zinnias—if these atmospheric elements are what you’re looking for, you probably won’t find them in the shops and restaurants that comprise Cary’s Chatham Square. For those who feel at home in upscale boutiques and eateries in downtown Raleigh or North Hills, the dreary, standard concrete strip mall on East Chatham Street isn’t exactly beguiling. But spend a little time there exploring its multicultural gift shops, markets and eateries, and you’ll find that the ostensibly unremarkable shopping center actually harbors a palpable ambient charm—and a lot of really good food. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Tibetan Himalayan Gift Shop
746 E. Chatham St., Suite-B
This little gift shop is filled to the brim with colorful Tibetan textiles and clothes, sheep’s wool hats and mittens, wall art, delicate handmade jewelry, meditation cushions and more. The gracious owners, Ngawang Choechen and Tenzin Dolma, source most of these items directly from Tibetan refugee women living in Himalayan countries who can’t find steady work or get an education. Choechen and Dolma help them earn a living by selling their creations, which makes the gift shop a perfect, local option to find meaningful gifts for loved ones.
Tacos Estilo Hidalgo
748 E. Chatham St.
“Soup of cow,” according to a server, is what regulars at this small Mexican-Salvadoran fast food joint order most often. Of course, there’s the usual fare: tacos, burritos, beans and rice. But if you drop in around lunchtime, you’ll find most people slurping down this vegetable and beef stew instead. It’s served with huge chunks of corn, zucchini, potato and beef (bone and all), piled high, swimming in a salty tomato broth. Try this place on Tuesdays for dollar tacos (order the chicken and don’t overlook the toppings bar), along with the soup and a bottle of Mexican Coke, made using cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup.
The Sea Depot
750 E. Chatham St.
The best thing about this family-run fish market is that, for just a buck or two extra, you can take your pick of the goods and have whatever’s fresh for sale fried, Calabash style, right there in front of you. The Sea Depot’s inventory is extensive, with offerings ranging from squid to mackerel, reflecting the diverse clientele that frequents the store. You can find you share of NC seafood, too, including shellfish and flounder. The owner, Li-Ping Hsu, uses one of the oldest, homegrown brands of breading—Atkinson’s fish meal—to fry the seafood; it comes out just crispy enough.
Baghdad Bakery
744 E. Chatham St.
If you approach this bakery with visions of Middle Eastern pastries and bread piled high, you’ll likely be disappointed; it’s more of a convenience store, selling snacks, olive oil and other everyday items. But follow the alluring smells emanating from the store’s small brick oven and you’ll find piping hot bread loves dusted with sesame seeds. Hasanain, the baker, bakes 300-400 of these loaves, an Iraqi bread known as sammoun, each day. He says they often sell out. Sammoun is traditionally stuffed with herbs, tomatoes, meats and cheese. It’s soft and slightly chewy on the inside, with a crispy flaky outside. And you can get your hands on them for a mere 60 cents apiece.
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