Pure Soul

We came here one evening for dinner. It was pouring down raining outside and we'd had a long day…read more We'd seen photos of the burgers but hadn't tried it so we got to check another restaurant off our list. I had the double classic burger. I wasn't really impressed. It lacked the flavor and seasoning I thought I'd get based on how good the burger looked. I needed to add ketchup and mustard to the burger to get a decent taste from it. The fries were great. I got the spicy seasoning that they offer. Now that I think of it, they should have cooked my patties in the seasoning they put on the fries and it would have been a lot more tasty. There was a good amount of people at the restaurant, so they may have had a difference flavor experience than I did.

What a nice burger restaurant in downtown Durham! The spicy burger was tasty and not overly spicy…read more I got the fire tots and they were nice and crisp. The fire seasoning was more salty than spicy, but it was nice. The restaurant looks welcoming with bright colors. I got great service and recommendations from the staff. The food came out pretty quickly too. Their unsweetened tea was pretty weak (it came out yellow instead of brown) so I dumped it and got soda instead.

Drink selection

Classic with BBQ

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Classic burger - lifewithhanny

Bojangles

3.0(66 reviews)

1.0 mi

I arrived around 2:10pm on a Sunday afternoon to grab some lunch. I got a 3 piece supremes with…read morelarge fries and tea. The Fries and biscuit were delicious and fresh which is rare in my bojangles experience. I dined in solo. The staff were friendly. No complaints :)

I love Bojangles. I've been to them all over. This one is my favorite in the area, because the…read moreservice in the drive thru is fast and accurate. They have never been out of any cut of chicken at any time I have come in, which is not true of other stores in this area. The dining room is glass on three sides, so it's bright at all times of day. Today there was a gang of teens who wanted to sit and share a large tailgate party together. They were very courteous (one of the guys held the door open for me as we entered together), and even though they were laughing and having a great time together, they never were over the top rowdy. It was like they were sitting around on their granny's front porch, pouring each other cups of lemonade and sharing dipping sauces. When they left, they took all their trash as well. The food I ordered was slightly wrong (breasts instead of thighs), but the person behind the counter fixed it without complaint and even threw in another piece. The porter keeps the room clean and the napkins and utensils in order. It's just a great place to sit and have a meal. And the food is hot and cooked perfectly - just like granny!!

Great family dining!

Food came cold also the chick uncooked. Unfamiliarity

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Outside

NYC Halal Eats

3.9(20 reviews)

3.6 mi

Good vibes matched with excellent customer service. Hands down the best food in Durham. It don't…read morematter what you get off the menu. You'll be overly pleased.

It's been a long time coming, and I'm thrilled to finally have a Halal option on this side of town…read more I stopped by for a bite recently, and the food was solid--especially considering the price point. I ordered the chicken over rice, which included fries and a salad for only $13. The value is fantastic, and the blueberry lemonade was a delicious highlight. The flavor profile leans more toward Indian cuisine, which I really enjoyed. Service was friendly, and the food came out impressively fast.

Interior

Chicken over rice.

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Outdoor

Five Guys

3.8(58 reviews)

2.2 mi

This place is one of my favorite restaurants to visit. Every time I come here, it is very clean and…read moreorderly, despite the free peanuts they give you that people find every good reason to throw on the floor. Irregardless, they do a good job with cleaning up after the folks who love their peanuts. Very pleasant atmosphere with a variety of music playing in the background. The bathrooms are clean and very well maintained. The fries are always hot and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of sea salt added to fully enhance the flavor profile. I chose the patty melt on this occasion, and it did not fail to pleasantly surprise me with the tender meat and an assortment of wonderful flavors added by the additional toppings I selected. There are no 'Combos' here. Everything is ala carte, so be prepared for that. So come back for a visit. I've found that it has always been a pleasant experience. Ohh, and the peanuts are free, by the way. Lol.

A surprising good burger and lots and lots of fries, however, the service is what would bring me…read moreback here. Place was clean and everyone was friendly. Plus, free peanuts, which everyone was taking advantage of.. Worth checking out!!

A photograph of the contents of a Five Guys burger bowl, which include two ground beef patties, tomatoes, jalapenos, lettuce ...

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A Five Guys hot dog sits on the counter in a Five Guys restaurant.

Only Burger

4.0(390 reviews)

0.8 mi

Stopped in for the FGT burger and their great fries. Fried green tomato with fried egg and pimento…read morecheese. No disputing it's one of the best burgers ever. Forget what it sounds like. All the flavors just work together. I've tried a couple of their other burgers, which are very good, but I always come back to the FGT. It's a must try!

Yummy burger, nice outdoor location with a shaded area. Service was fast and friendly.read more

Mushroom burger

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Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

3.1(150 reviews)

2.0 mi

On Feb 23, 2026, my husband placed an order online through the Freddys app…read more When we received our order it was missing the large turtle concrete and regular root beer floor. I tried calling the restaurant right away but it went straight to voicemail. I left a message explaining what happened and asked for a callback. I then called two more times that night requesting a callback, no callback. On February 24, I tried calling the restaurant once I returned asking for a callback, no callback. I then sent an email that took me forever to find and still no response from anyone. How does a restaurant never answer their phone? I would have been happy with a credit and not a refund but apparently Freddys doesn't care about their customers, especially return visits which is the core of their business.

Good hotdogs and great custard. I also tried their Berger and it was much better than I was…read moreexpecting. All around good food for fast food

Inside. Ordering counter.

Mini Key Lime Pie Concrete. $4.25 with combo meal.

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Outside. This Freddy's in Durham is located at the Gateway Terrace shopping center. You can see it from 15-501.

Chicken Bee Korean Style Chicken

3.9(238 reviews)

3.7 mi

Food and service were good. Restaurant was clean and we were tended to when we walked in. The…read morebibimbap with bulgogi was good but the portion was a bit small. The fried chicken was good and very crispy though the pickled radishes tasted a bit raw and not very pickled. The portion of ttekboki was a great value for the price but the addition of big pieces of cabbage and bean sprouts was a little different from what I've experienced. Overall a good place to get your standard Korean style food.

possibly one of the best meals ive ever had. the crunch on the fried chicken is absolute…read moreperfection. good service & incredible food!

Restaurant

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Tacos Number Juan

3.8(52 reviews)

2.6 mi

The food is pretty good, cost is a little expensive except on Taco Tuesday (when beef and chicken…read moretacos are $1) service is also decent, as for the atmosphere there is no real Mexican restaurant feel except for the food they received a health grade of B and once any restaurant gets a B, I can no longer eat there until the grade comes back up to an A. hope this is helpful

Loved this place…read more Decor was very interesting, bright and fun. The couch type chairs are very comfy and place was clean. The young workers behind the register were very friendly, helpful about what was good and gave great menu item descriptions. They were very excited about the food on the menu and shared personal favorites. Food came out fairly quickly but not together for the table. They also kept forgetting items from our order but were quick to get it for us. Note the workers taking the order behind the counter are also the ones bringing the food out. Food was amazing! I have the 3 birria tacos (1 chicken 2 beef- though I ordered it flipped but appreciated the error as the beef were better tasting) and rice with beans. Loved that I got the birria sauce on the side in a Togo cup as I definitely took the leftovers home. There are self serve salsas, lime, cucumber and radishes you can get. Appreciate they had vegan option for my partner. Will definitely come back to try more off the menu.

Street tacos

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Rib eye tacos

Cook Out

3.1(95 reviews)

0.3 mi

Food is always good and it's not expensive. The shakes are really good 40 different flavorsread more

Tasty milkshakes for $3.99?! What a steal! I was introduced to Cook Out by my Durham friends and…read morewas surprised at the quality of their food! For all the milkshakes, the consistency was great - thick and not overly icy. The chocolate malt was my fav with its strong chocolate flavors. The banana fudge featured actual banana chunks and chocolate fudge. It was initially hard to drink with the straw but better then it loosened up. The oreo espresso that my friend had was also solid, although I would have preferred just oreo and maybe a little bit more cookie bites. For non locals, the restaurant closes at 930pm but you can still order take out at their counter or drive through. Our food came out super quick and the staff was patient despite a line building up.

Whole console is sticky

Puncher at the bottom of soda

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Curry Up Now Indian Restaurant & Catering

Today, was my first time trying curry up now. I got a Chicken Tikka Masala burrito and Peri-Peri…read morefries . I was not expecting it to be that big, that flavorful, and that spicy! I got it Desi because I love spice and Indian cuisine never fails to bring the spice. I also enjoyed the Peri-Peri fries as they had the right crisp and seasoning. I wasn't sure if I'd be sold on the concept but I definitely will be back to try more of the menu.

So upon entering this place around 1230p I was shocked at how dead it was. The person behind the…read morecounter who I guessed was the manager welcomed me. I told him I hadn't been here before and needed a few minutes to review their overwhelming and way too busy menu. He started berating me with questions, to the point I almost walked out. After he finally shut up, I was actually able to make a decision. I got one of their lunch specials, a fried chicken sandwich and fries. Took a little while to get the food. I know this isn't a fast food place, but again I was the only customer in the building other than one other couple who appeared to have already been served. Once I got the food, it was very tasty. The fried chicken was a little soggy but I looked past that. The fries where very good too but a lil heavy handed on the spice. The dining room was very clean and had been decorated for the holidays. I asked the manager as I was finishing my meal if it was normal for them to be this slow on a Wednesday afternoon during what would normally be a lunch rush. He said it was a little too slow for his taste but that they had enough to-go orders (DoorDash and so forth...) to keep them busy. Not sure how much I buy that but good luck to them anyways. Bottom line, will probably be back but the manager needs to allow customer to feel welcome at ease.

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20 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Cece M.

Elite 25

148

142

3 years ago

Pure Soul Vegan is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you're embraced by the owner's humble spirit, which sets the tone for an incredible dining experience. The food, oh my goodness, the food! It's truly some of the best vegan cuisine I've ever had the pleasure of savoring. I had the pleasure of trying their vegan soulful versions of classic dishes, and each one was a delightful surprise. The "shrimp," "chikn," mac n chez, collards, cole slaw, black eyed peas, and cornbread were all bursting with flavor and soul. Every bite was a testament to the care and passion that goes into creating each dish. It's clear that the team at Pure Soul Vegan pours their hearts into their food. But the treats didn't stop there! The red velvet cake and chocolate chip cookies were the perfect sweet endings to an already amazing meal. The flavors were spot-on, and I couldn't believe they were vegan! Overall, Pure Soul Vegan is a must-visit for anyone, whether you're a committed vegan or just looking to explore delicious, soulful food. The owner's humble spirit sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience, and the food speaks for itself. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's truly a vibe!! read more

Tais O.

2 years ago

I recently began my vegetarian journey and decided to try a local vegan restaurant. It was definitely worth it! The Po' Boy was amazing, a 10/10, with the bang bang sauce adding a perfect touch of spiciness. I honestly wanted two! The portion sizes are generous, providing great value for the money. The Soul Rolls are a must-try for BBQ lovers; my meat-eater husband even joked that they must be lying about being vegan because they tasted so good. The service was excellent. The gentleman who served us was kind and communicated well. The ambiance is super chill and peaceful, with the outdoor eating area offering earthy vibes and lots of greenery. read more

A K.

2 years ago

I was craving vegan mac and cheese and this spot popped up! I got take out so I can't speak to the experience inside, but the interior is LOVELY and the staff were so friendly to me. I got a plate of 3 sides: soul mac, kale caesar salad and black eyed peas. The kale caesar salad blew me away. I don't typically like salads with a lot of dressing but this complemented the kale very nicely and the crispy chickpeas on top were perfect. The soul mac definitely hit the spot and I thought the black eyed peas were pretty good. I'll be back with friends in tow! read more

C C.

9 months ago

The food at this location matches the positive energy of the people who work there. The service is truly top-notch--everyone is warm, uplifting, and greets each customer with genuine hospitality. I'm always happily satisfied by the many great menu options, and the consistency keeps me coming back. It's no surprise this place is typically packed! Grateful for businesses that deliver both quality and community. read more

Gabby D.

3 years ago

So good! Loved all the options, and everything is vegan! The Hot Honey Chicken with home made pickles was AMAZING! I didn't need the other veggies served with the sandwich (lettuce, tomato, and red onion) so I wish there was a way to leave those off, they were all on the side though so it wasn't a bother, I just hate to throw away good food! I will be back to try the cheese fries :) read more

Cherie P.

5 years ago

What can I say, this place is awesome!!The food is great, the vibe is wonderful. My favorite is the Big Kale Caesar ABSOLUTELY delicious. Ordering online what do you no Justice, you would have to go in person in order to enjoy the full experience of the vibe that it gives. Andrew and Nick have a good thing going here!! read more

kylie a.

4 years ago

This place is great, I love the barbecue (Jackfruit), collards, fried and BBQ chicken. My partner tried the mac and cheese and enjoyed it. Gone there at least 3 times, my last time someone was playing the saxophone. It was a very cozy, edgy experience. They also have art work/unique pieces for sale in the back. read more

Zumbi A.

4 years ago

I went looking for soul food restaurants for my family and found my favorite restaurant that all of my family enjoys. The corn bread is my favorite but I haven't had anything that I haven't enjoyed. Great food, great atmosphere, great people, great prices and food that feeds your soul!! read more

Jeff K.

4 years ago

Awesome experience the food is amazing! We had the soul bowl and the collard greens was so tasty! We met Andrew at the Triangle Vegfest in Durham and decided to try the restaurant and wasn't disappointed, this is our new spot!! read more

Zaakira P.

3 years ago

The food tastes amazing, the delicious southern dishes are made with care. Most importantly it's 100% vegan and employees take pride in costumer service. The vibes are incredible, I love spending my money here. 10/10 read more

Jerrica H.

5 years ago

Some of the best food I've had! I had the soul rolls and fried fish sandwich and they were amazing. It's really hard to find good vegan fish but they do it right here! read more

Melva P.

5 years ago

Food and service are both amazing!!! Those Soul Rolls are a must!!! If you are looking for good food even if you are not vegan-- it is a must do!! read more

Jason J.

2 years ago

Ask for the Breakfast Melt!!! 100% has never missed. Sucks that it's only in Mondays but me and the Chef have a deal worked out

Kiraboji A.

4 years ago

I think it was all flawless I loved the food one of the best places to eat with friends and family.

Bobby M.

611

5 years ago

Soul good on all the levels! Highly recommend everything on the menu! Will eat here often!

UsGirls M.

3 years ago

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Kaitlin V.

5 years ago

Great food, great atmosphere! Even my meat eating friends loved it Definitely recommend! read more

Micheal B.

3 years ago

We had them at an event. Loved my burger and fries. My wife enjoyed her fries as well

Destiny R.

5 years ago

Great vegan food! it also is not super expensive like some vegan food!

Teresa R.

3 years ago

Friendly service and excellent food.

Pure Soul - hotdogs - Updated September 2026

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I was so thrilled to find that my former favorite lunch place in Chapel Hill (which closed some…read moreyears ago) has now relocated to Durham, on the Duke campus! We went for a weekday dinner. The decor was beautiful and peaceful. Fresh flowers, art work, large booths and small tables. Plenty of space and quiet. The outdoor dining area looked great too. The food was outstanding. I particularly loved the pomegranate stew (Fessen Joon) on basmati rice with saffron. Such a rich and flavorful sauce. When I asked the owner how to make it, she told me it cooks for 7 hours. I also enjoyed the very fresh salad with delicious homemade dill dressing. Wish I could have taken home a bottle of it. The highlight for my husband and I was meeting the warm and wonderful owner, Laxmi. She came out to chat after dinner and when we told her we were celebrating our anniversary, she brought us a piece of their freshly made walnut dark chocolate cake, which was fabulous. Reminded me of my favorite lava cake. You must try this place for lunch or dinner. You will be eager to return. Thank you Laxmi. It was such a pleasure to talk to you and enjoy your delicious food.

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The Original Q Shack

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This is the way that BBQ should hit!!…read more We stopped in the "Shack" while visiting Durham. Having been huge fans of North Carolina style BBQ, we were not disappointed.My wife and daughter enjoyed the Pork Plate. By for me, I went with the two meat combo with Pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork was spot on. It was perfectly smoked and almost melted in my mouth. With a touch of spicy vinegar sauce, I was gone to Carolina in my mind for the rest of the day. The brisket might have been some of the best I've ever had. It had a nice fat layer and was also "melt in your mouth" and juicy. The brisket didn't need any sauce at all. It was that good. The hushpuppies were the star at the table. My family considers themselves to be connoisseurs of hush puppies, and these were ranked in the top five. A respectable ranking from such a discriminating hushpuppy panel. The sides we sampled included collard greens, mac and cheese and BBQ beans. The collards and Mac and cheese were out of this world. I should have ordered a double serving of the collards. However, the beans were a huge disappointment. They were more like a bowl of sub-par chili than BBQ beans. If we return, they will not be selected. A great BBQ spot when you are in Durham. Highly recommend you stop by, if only to taste the brisket!

Got the two meat plate for about 26$. It comes with two sides and I chose to get fries and mac and…read morecheese. The sides were good but the start was definitely the brisket. It was tender and flavor was there. The ribs on the other hand was a bit dry and the hush puppies weren't my favorite since they felt a bit too dry and doughy. Overall, this has been one of my favorite bbq in Carolina.

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