North Carolina dining earned these national awards in 2025

The curated articles show that North Carolina’s dining scene receives broad national attention. Various media recognize restaurants and chefs in Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte for their contributions to food culture. These accolades come from prestigious lists, awards, and media features.

Forbes Travel Guide lists several North Carolina restaurants as among the world’s best, including Herons near Raleigh and The Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro. Yelp ranks Durham as a leading city for barbecue, highlighting local spots like Backyard BBQ Pit and Lawrence Barbecue. Restaurants like The Flame Prime Steakhouse and Fonda Lupita recently gained exposure through features on "America’s Best Restaurants." North Carolina chefs appear on the James Beard Award nominee lists, with special mention of chefs in Asheville and Cashiers moving to the finalist round. The ice cream shops Pincho Loco in Durham and Pints Ice Cream & Beer in Fuquay-Varina make Yelp’s list of top ice cream stores. Together, these achievements place North Carolina dining firmly on the national map.

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The Roasted Pheasant with chestnut puree, poached cranberries, brussels sprouts and toasted honey jus is a seasonal menu item at Herons located inside The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. Photographed Dec. 18, 2009. By jleonard@newsobserver.com

NO. 1: SIX NC RESTAURANTS RANK AMONG ‘MOST OUTSTANDING’ IN WORLD — AGAIN. WHY THEY’RE SPECIAL

Here’s what to know about the winning restaurants. | Published February 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

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Herons, located inside the Umstead Hotel in Cary, has an elegant, contemporary setting. By Juli Leonard

NO. 2: THESE 3 HOTELS IN THE TRIANGLE MADE FORBES’ LIST OF THE VERY BEST IN THE WORLD

Over 1,500 hotels were named Forbes Travel Guide 2025 Star Award winners, including these three in the Raleigh area. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

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Fonda Lupita owner Biridiana Frausto (L) with America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow host Ashley Dawn. By Courtesy of America's Best Restaurants

NO. 3: POPULAR DINING SPOTS IN RALEIGH AND DURHAM TO BE ON ‘AMERICA’S BEST RESTAURANTS’

The media company recently visited four Triangle restaurants. Here’s how to watch. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

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Raleigh chef Scott Crawford chats at the bar of his newest restaurant, Crawford Brothers Steakhouse in Cary. By jdjackson@newsobserver.com

NO. 4: HERE ARE NC’S 2025 JAMES BEARD AWARD NOMINEES. DID TRIANGLE CHEFS MAKE THE CUT?

The James Beard nominations are out. Here’s how North Carolina fared. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson

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The barbecue chain Moe’s Original BBQ will open its first Triangle location later this year, in the former Blu Seafood space in Durham. By Moe's Original BBQ

NO. 5: NC IS HOME TO ONE OF THE TOP CITIES IN THE US FOR ‘BBQ ENTHUSIASTS’, SAYS YELP

The best “smoked meats, signature sauces” can be found in this Triangle city. | Published May 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

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Pincho Loco in Durham sells a variety of frozen treats. By Juli Leonard

NO. 6: THESE TRIANGLE ICE CREAM SHOPS ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE US, YELP SAYS

Here’s what makes these sweet spots so special. | Published July 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper, Chyna Blackmon

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.