I have been in search of a good pho spot in North Carolina for a while and I think I have finally…read morefound it. This restaurant is authentic and the broth here really hit the spot for me. The also has all the side condiments you would want to go with your pho which is hard to find around here. The service was also amazing, they sat us down quickly, took our orders almost right away, and the food came out in about 10-15 minutes. The restaurant itself was well decorated, bright, and clean. I will 100% be coming back when I am in the area.

Second visit. First time, slow service but good food. We gave grace…read more This time? A reminder that aesthetic does not equal execution. The space is lively and well-designed. It photographs beautifully. Unfortunately, restaurants aren't judged on lighting. We ordered everything upfront: Banh Xeo (explicitly no shrimp due to a shellfish allergy), Cha Gio, Pho Tai, and the Chef Special. Somehow, not everything was entered correctly. The Banh Xeo arrived covered in shrimp. Allergy clearly stated. It was sent back immediately. We were told they could remake it, but it would "take a while because it takes a long time to make." Banh Xeo takes under 10 minutes in a properly run kitchen. We declined and assumed the rest of our meal would arrive promptly. It didn't. The egg rolls weren't just fried, they were fully baptized in oil. One bite and it felt like chewing on a sponge that lost a fight with the fryer. Then we watched tables seated at least 15 minutes after us receive their food before we did. When we asked about the remainder of our order, we were told it had "just been added" and would take a while. Pho taking 35+ minutes in a Vietnamese restaurant isn't high volume. It's disorganization. The Chef Special was decent. The pho, which should be the backbone of the menu, was underwhelming. Several tables around us had incorrect orders or long delays. The owner circulated, but instead of urgency or accountability, the energy felt inconvenienced. Here's the reality: great atmosphere can draw people in once. Food and leadership bring them back. If you're going because it looks trendy and buzzing, go in with eyes open. The aesthetic might be the star of the room, but the food should be.

Bida Manda mean "father and mother" in Sanskrit. This restaurant was started by siblings (a…read morebrother and a sister), and they named their restaurant to honor their parents. What a great idea! I like to come here for one dish: the squash curry or the pumpkin curry. It's either vegetarian or vegan, so yeah, it's pretty much the highlight of the menu as far as I'm concerned. It's called the Manda Curry or Mom's Curry: Slow-cooked house coconut curry with fresh root vegetables, jasmine rice, and pumpkin. It reminds me of Vientiane Palace's Squash Curry. Upscale ambience!

It's an OK place The ambience is nice and servers are…read moreattentive The food was too salty The sausage, salad, noodle. If they could cut the salt to 25% of what they put in, could work much better

This restaurant has been on my list to visit for a couple of years. I was finally able to go. It…read morewas fine. Nothing spectacular. The reason I gave it 4 stars was because the dumplings were disappointing. They were not warm and the dumpling dough was thick. We got the David's dumplings and the crispy spicy wontons. The wontons were better. I liked the crispy dough but they weren't spicy at all. The entree meals were better. I had the Malaysian curry soup which had a nice kick and was steaming hot. It had lots of different toppings in it which was nice. My husband got the fried rice. It was also really good. The Chinese sausage complimented the rice well and there were plenty shrimp in it too. If I went back I would forgo the dumplings and just go straight to having the entree.

First of all, I love the ambiance there. The exposed bricks are so pretty to me! They also have…read moresuch a huge space. They even have a private event room as well! Secondly, the food!!! We ordered a lot of food (2 appetizers and 3 entrees ) and our eyes were not bigger than our stomachs because we finished all the food We are proud big backs lol What we tried and how we'd rank them: David's Original Half Fried Dumplings Malaysian Curry Noodle Soup Open Top Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai Dumplings Sautéed Green Beans David's Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage Make sure to ask them for their house made chili oil! It's spicy but a little sweet. We were both fans. My friend even asked if they sell it

You can order Dimsum items from the kiosk or grab a large bowl and fill it up with raw meats,…read moreseafood, noodles, soy products, and veggies. Then choose a broth and they'll make a bowl of hot soup for you with all your handpicked ingredients. Large enough space and usually no wait.

I recently checked out Fun DipPot with a friend, and it was my first time trying malatang! I'm more…read morefamiliar with hot pot where you cook everything yourself, so it was a nice change to just pick out what I wanted and have the staff cook it for me. There was a wide selection of ingredients to choose from, and you can customize the broth flavor and spice level however you like. I really liked how you can grab exactly what you want in the quantity you want--no worrying about ordering too much or too little like with hot pot. The service was friendly and fast, and there was plenty of seating inside. There isn't a dedicated parking lot, but we found a paid lot just a short walk away, so it wasn't too bad. Overall, it was a fun and tasty experience--I'll definitely come back to try out more ingredient combinations next time!

Chuan cafe is a cozy hidden gem in North Raleigh. The shopping center it's in is definitely in an…read moreunassuming strip mall, but trust me the food and the service are worth It! I came right before a show at the Alamo Drafthouse around the corner, which makes it the perfect night out for dinner and show. It looks like a lot of people order takeout here, but they have ample tables and do offer an excellent dine in service. I loved their green beans and eggplant. All their food felt more authentic and homestyle than your typical run of the mill Chinese place. The food had flavor, and it wasn't overly greasy either! I'll definitely come back next time in near north Raleigh.

I used to love this restaurant and was a loyal customer for years, which makes this experience…read moreespecially disappointing. I ordered the lo mein, bamboo flounder fish, and a side of fried rice. Unfortunately, the lo mein was extremely greasy, the fried rice was overly salty, and the shrimp was hard, overcooked and not fresh. When I informed the waiter that I would not be eating the lo mein due to its condition, I was told that I would still have to pay for it and that it did not matter whether I liked it or not. He initially refused to remove the dish from my bill. After eventually taking it off, he told me that he never wanted to see my face again as I was leaving. What disappoints me most is that I genuinely enjoyed this restaurant and had been a repeat customer. The decline in food quality combined with the way my concerns were handled has left a very negative impression. Unfortunately, I will be taking my business elsewhere.

A new Indian restaurant in Raleigh! Soul Flavorscape had some amazing food and a lot of options to…read morechoose from. We got a lot of food to try out! For apps we got Gobi Manchurian and the Afghani paneer and tikka masala paneer as well. The Gobi Manchurian was good had a bit of a BBQ sauce flavor to it but the spice was good and the Afghani paneer was delicious! For entrees we got the punjabi palak paneer and the malai kofta and paneer tikka and various naans and rotis. Everything was off the chain delicious. I do wish some dishes were a bit spicier but overall it was great. The service was amazing I loved that they had water bottles on the tables and you fill it up as you please. It is a fairly formal place! Parking is right beside the restaurant!

If you're looking for Indian food in Raleigh that delivers on both flavor and overall experience,…read moreSoul Flavorscapes of India is an easy recommendation. This is a 5-star restaurant, but not in a formal, special-occasion sense. It's a more approachable kind of 5: thoughtful, well-executed, and genuinely enjoyable. The kind of place you can go for a relaxed dinner or to host friends from out of town, and still feel confident in the quality of the experience. I went with my husband and a family friend who was visiting, and it was a great setting for catching up. The ambiance strikes a nice balance between polished and comfortable. I especially liked the rich blue tones inside and the overhead lanterns, which give the space a warm, inviting feel. There's also a outdoor patio, though at 96 degrees, we opted to sit inside. I'll admit I didn't do a great job capturing photos, but everything we ordered was excellent. We started with samosas, veg pakora, and beet cutlets (which my husband hadn't had since moving to the U.S. for grad school over a decade ago). We also ordered a mango lassi, the bread basket, malai kofta, balti chicken, and lamb biryani. A few highlights: Portions are generous The spice levels are accurate "medium" and "medium hot" both had a noticeable level of heat, which isn't always the case locally The lamb biryani stood out (my husband said it's the best biriyani he's had in North Carolina) Service was also great. The owner stopped by our table multiple times and was warm and engaging. She even shared how to make a strawberry lassi with our friend, which was a thoughtful touch. One practical note: the restaurant is downtown, and there's a surface parking lot directly next to it that uses ParkMobile, which makes parking straightforward. We're already planning to return.

This restaurant pleasantly surprised me. I'm honestly not a huge Chinese food person, and when…read morepicking restaurants, it's usually not something I naturally gravitate toward. I was actually a little nervous going in because certain Chinese dishes tend to upset my stomach, so I tried to avoid some of the heavier noodle and chicken dishes that normally do that to me. Honestly, I think that was the best decision because I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and felt completely fine afterwards. I started with the crab rangoons, which were perfectly creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside -- absolutely delicious. Then I tried the pork-filled bao buns, which was my first time ever having them, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them too. Everyone else at our table seemed to really enjoy their food as well. I genuinely didn't hear a single complaint. We also ordered some drinks that were delicious, and both our server and the rest of the staff were absolutely fantastic and very welcoming throughout the night. The atmosphere and vibes inside are honestly one of the coolest parts of the experience. It somehow feels like a mix between a brewery, a florist, a bookstore, and a Chinese restaurant all at once. It's such an interesting and unique space that doesn't really feel like anywhere else. Overall, this was a great experience, and I would absolutely come back to try more items on the menu.

Ambiance - casual, intimate, great for small and large groups…read moreService - exceptional, server was knowledgeable and polite Food - super unique dim sum brewery spot, the dim sum came out hot, highly recommend the Nasi Goreng crab fried rice

I was in the mood for oxtails on a week night after the snow in Raleigh. Placed that were open late…read moreand considering the weather were far and few between but Hady's was open. We made the trek from the north side of town over and it was worth it. The place is immaculately clean and the menu is an extensive list of cuisine from all over the world. From Jamaica to Ghana and place in between. I know this could be a difficult balance to strike, but it was done well. I ordered the oxtails with rice and peace and plantains. The order was a nice size but I do feel the oxtails portion could have been bigger. Lots of sauce but not a lot of meat. The seasoning on it was very well done. Spicy but not too spicy. Well balanced. I enjoyed it along with my well portioned sides. The person with me got jollof rice and chicken. They said the rice was good and the grilled onion on top of the chicken was perfect. The chicken wasn't to their personal taste but looked well portioned and prepared. They also had a variety of bottled drinks to choose from like mango and hibiscus drinks. I would go back.

Jerk Chicken, Egusi Soup with Goat, Curry Chicken, Jollof Rice, Corn Fufu. All were flavorful…read morealthough some better than others. We really liked the Curry Chicken, jollof rice, and sides.