The Biggest Food & Bev News to Know Now

We’re on cloud nine. Clouds Brewing is officially back Downtown in its new Jones Street digs, slinging beers, bites and beer garden-meets-pub vibes. 

Smoky Hollow is (finally) getting a coffee shop. Enter Madeleine, a cafe and bakery from the owners of Iris Coffee Lab, set to take over the former Tucker Street Diner space this fall. 

Pour one out for Triangle Wine Company, which closed all of its locations after 10+ years of business.

Eatertainment is ~punching~ back in. Raleigh Iron Works’ former Jaguar Bolera location is getting new life as Punch Bowl Social, which plans to upfit the space with a new bar + arcade and game areas.

For brews that pack a punch, head to The Left Hook Coffee’s brand-new brick-and-mortar in the former Hargett Street Laundromat, where you can also find teas, egg cream, house seltzers and must-have merch.

The Shinmai empire is growing. The latest addition, Shinmai Moku at Quail Corners, leans into Japanese yakitori and izakaya influences and is built around authentic Japanese binchotan charcoal, a traditional grilling method rarely found in North Carolina.

A true rollmance, Benchwarmers Bagels and Standard Beer + Food have both planted roots in Midtown’s NHID. 

Person Street’s former (ish) delicatessen space is entering a new chapter. Gallicchio’s Market & Eatery—from the team behind the former Pounded Pig Food Truck—is moving in this fall.

Yes, chef! Peregrine’s Saif Rahman landed on the James Beard Foundation’s TasteTwenty list, a national roundup of chefs to watch. 

Andia’s Ice Cream’s got big scoop. The award-winning Cary shop is expanding with a new production facility on Brookside Drive and plans for two more locations over the next two years.  

Now brewing at Salvage Yard: Bond Brothers’ all-day concept NOCO Brews & Bites is slinging specialty coffee and tea by day—then flipping to craft beer, cocktails and locally sourced small bites by night.

Slice, slice, baby! Michael Longo—of Glenwood Avenue’s Vic’s Pizzeria fame—has expanded his Triangle footprint with Mikey’s Pizzeria, now dishing a distinct blend of Neapolitan- and New York-style pies in the former Pizza & Pints space in McNeill Pointe.

Warm bowls, cold drinks, happy hearts—that’s the vibe at recently bowed KOKORO Ramen & Izakaya, which took over the long-empty Royale space in City Market.

Raise a glass: Not one, not two, but 13 Raleigh spots landed on Wine Spectator’s 2026 Restaurant Awards list for standout wine programs, including Bella Monica, Cucciolo Terrazza, Second Empire and Vidrio.

(Meat)ball is life. Meet Matty’s Meatballs, a Raleigh-based pop-up dishing out cups, sliders and heroes at various locales around town. 

If brunch is the question, Songbird is the answer. The recently launched weekend menu features cocktails, coffee, tea, juices and smoothies alongside food faves like avocado toast, breakfast sandos and yogurt bowls. 

Twirl it up: Sushi Mon is getting into the ramen game with adjacent Monya Ramen, serving up a trio of slurpworthy noodle dishes and small plates. 

Worth the powdered sugar—and the sugar rush—Beignets & Brew has officially landed on Hillsborough Street, offering fluffy fried dough, coffee (natch), breakfast sammies and more.

NC’s ’cue flex continues. Pulling up at No. 63, Prime Barbecue joined a trio of joints across the state on Yelp’s Top 100 BBQ restaurants in the U.S. list, including Concord’s The Smoke Pit (16), Peachland’s Jon G’s Barbecue (50) and Haywood Smokehouse in Dillsboro (65).

7 Brew fans, tap in. The drive-thru coffee chain is inching closer and closer to Raleigh with the opening of its latest NC outpost in Smithfield. Will the City of Oaks be next?!

Word on the street is Bull City’s Koi Sushi & Hibachi is rolling into Raleigh’s Celebration at Six Forks. Stay tuned!

Coasting into Dix, Drift recently tapped its latest cafe at The Weld near Dix Park, giving Raleighites one more spot to perk up.

Smooth moves: Fast-growing acai bowl, smoothie and juice concept South Block is set to debut next door to bartaco in the Main District of North Hills in early 2027.

New address, same butter chicken. Fan-fave local modern Indian restaurant Nazara Indian Bistro is relocating to Falls of Neuse Road after shuttering its space in Cary.

Margs for the masses! Vibey Kahlovera Mexican bar and grill now also calls Cary and Chapel Hill home. 

Ooh, la, la! A taste of Paris is coming to Cary a la La Pause Parisienne, an artisan French bakery and cafe churning out pastries, coffee, sandwiches and more. 

That’s a wrap! National Mexican-fusion chain Bubbakoo’s Burritos is bringing bold burrito goodness to Cary’s Ambery Place Shopping Center—think a Nashville hot chicken burrito and birria dilla. 

Beloved Durham brunch spot True Flavors Diner has closed after over a decade in business, citing rising costs and a crowded market.

Cheers to Mills River’s Sierra Nevada Taproom, the only brewery in the state to make it on Yelp’s 25 Breweries Pouring Happiness by the Pint list.