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    True Flavors Diner

    4.0 (1k reviews)

    True Flavors Diner Photos

    Business Info

    TRUE FLAVORS DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - True Flavors Diner

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    Mac n cheese
    Kaylee B.

    This was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. Everything was quality and I wish Iived in the state so I could be a regular. The waffle I had was perfection and the peach French toast my brother got was also perfection. The restaurant makes their own flavored butters and I cannot speak highly enough of our experience. Bacon was perfection, everything was great quality and if we visit again we will definitely be back.

    Harvest Hash Skillet
    M V.

    Very delicious! The menu is not huge, but everything sounded amazing, which honestly made it hard to choose. I ended up getting the Harvest Hash and it was incredible. The waiter was super friendly, and the coffee refills kept coming the whole meal. Definitely would recommend!

    Peach Cinnamon Buttermilk Pancakes
    Austin H.

    We stopped by True Flavors for Sunday brunch and had a bit of a wait, but honestly, totally worth it. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the quality of both the service and the food matched that vibe perfectly. We arrived a little later into the brunch rush, so they were out of some ingredients, but that just tells me their stuff is fresh and the place is clearly loved by locals (and now by me too). I ordered the peach cinnamon buttermilk pancakes, so good! It came with a thick, juicy slice of ham that hit the spot with some eggs on the side. If I had one tiny wish, it'd be for a little more egg action on the plate. Overall, great spot with a great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back!

    Brown sugar peach butter French toast, sausage, & eggs
    Ashleigh F.

    This restaurant is located in a shopping plaza with shared parking outside. The dining area is kind of small. This is my second time at true flavors. The employees that I engaged with were not personable at all. The original meal that I wanted wasn't available so this time I got the brown sugar peach French toast, with eggs and sausage. It was ok. I would not get it again.

    Kitchen area
    Raul Y.

    Very good food in an inviting and casual atmosphere!! We had the Ultimate biscuits and gravy and the fried chicken and waffles! Both were delicious but we did miss out on the "complimentary" biscuits which we should have beef served while waiting for our order! We will be back! Highly recommended!

    Fish & Grits with 2 Eggs Over Easy. Excellent dish.
    Marissa M.

    I invited a friend to visit True Flavors for brunch this morning with the goal of supporting a minority owned business on Juneteenth. Upon arrival my friend had not made it into the restaurant as yet. The woman who greets patrons at the door asked that I step outside until my friend arrived as they do not seat you until all members of the party are present. This is a very small storefront diner. So I understood how crowded it can get. However, her delivery may not have carried so well with someone else. There was a gentleman in the kitchen, perhaps a head cook, who greeted us pleasantly when my friend arrived. I wish this demeanor had been carried out throughout the dining experience. We were seated and given 1 menu to share. Table settings had been left out and uncovered at the table. I asked our server for dining recommendations. I decided on the hazelnut iced coffee and the Fish & Grits which is served with 2 eggs of your choice. I ordered mine over easy. Mini Biscuits were delivered to the table. I did not enjoy these. Lackluster. My meal arrived and the presentation was spot on. I enjoyed this dish. The green onions and grits were very flavorful. I would compare the cheese grits to Mac & Cheese. it being served in a small skillet was a nice touch. The fish was fried very similar to chicken and was not overly seasoned or salted. I enjoyed my meal, however, the lack of courteous customer service was a big miss for me here and I don't have a reason to return. Often, when I attempt to support local businesses with staff of my own race, they low ball on the service and up charge on the dime. I have to dine where my dollar is appreciated & presence is valued.

    In the bathroom
    Chrissy A.

    Please, please, please check this place out. The biscuits are HUGE, the flavor combinations are crazy inventive, and everything is so so tasty. This place is in an old strip mall. It gets busier as the morning goes on. There is plenty of parking but the close parking goes very quickly. The interior is very small so you may have to wait a bit but it's never been too long for us. Beware...this isn't a great place if your group is bigger than 4. Most of the waitstaff is friendly and helpful. I just really, really loved the chicken chipotle blueberry biscuit. Amazing. I'm making myself hungry just thinking about it!

    pork chop
    Mya R.

    my boyfriend enjoyed his pork chop but I shouldve listened to my server when he told me not to get the chicken biscuit anf gravy. Absolutely nauseating. We also had a side of mac n cheese, not great. this place used to be packed but thr quality of the food was better. idk what happened but I probably won't go back,

    Smokey Carolina Bacon Smash Burger
    Mary L.

    Every thing is amazing. If they serve it you will want to eat it. I've been here multiple times over many years and never EVER been disappointed on any level. The service, the vibe, AND the food are always exceptional. If you ever visit Durham and have the time...GO.

    Strawberry French toast
    Zay M.

    I arrived at 9:32am on a Sunday morning in a party of two. We were seated promptly. The table looks like it was meant to be sideways to fit 4 people which created an unusual distance between us. Our waiter came over at 9:35pm. He didn't introduce himself and stated that he will get us waters and asked if we wanted something else. We received the waters quickly. He returned a couple minutes later to inquire if we had questions about the menu, which we did. I also asked about Debbie Lou's Sandwich shop. He said it used to be separate until COVID. Then, they combined and were doing two separate menus. Now, they combined the menus and switch it up every couple months. At 9:50am, we ordered. I got the strawberry butter French toast with scrambled eggs and bacon. The other party got the cinnamon sugar waffles with bacon and side of cheese grits. At 10:02am, we received the food. Food Quality: 3/5 -At 9:52am, waiter brought over complimentary biscuits. The butter on top was visible and it was paired with a strawberry jam. The biscuits were soft, fluffy, and down right delicious! -Cheesy Grits: You must stir it because the cheese is at the bottom melting. My date stated "it's good grits" -Bacon: The first piece of bacon I tasted was not warm at all and was chewy. Of my 3-4 pieces of bacon, only a small piece was warm and crispy like I expected. This was disappointing. My date's bacon was the perfect temperature and crispiness. The disparity questions consistency. -Eggs: Perfect temperature but lacked seasoning or flavor. I added salt and pepper and it was fine. -French Toast: Very thick. The cream cheese was too much, in my opinion. This was evident when I cut into it and it basically drowned my French toast with the syrup. I was expecting fresh strawberries but it wasn't. It tasted like strawberry crumbs as it was somewhat hard and crunchy. The edges of the French toast were a little over cooked and burnt in some places. The interior of the fresh toast was soft and delicious. -Waffles: My date said the "Cinnamon sugar was perfect." I tasted it and they indeed were flavorful and delicious! Presentation: 5/5 -Well-presented, neat, and appetizing -Whipped cream butter on my French toast was in an excessive amount -There was a green garnish on the eggs, which was in excessive and overpowered the eggs. If there were only a couple Service: 4/5 -Per receipt, our waiter was "Isaiah M." He was friendly and attentive. Outside of not introducing himself (which is a personal pet peeve), the service was great. He attempted to help me decide which entree to get as I was deciding between the strawberry butter French toast and cinnamon roll pancakes. He noted they both were great options and are a consistent menu item even as they rotate out the menu. Ambiance & Cleanliness: 5/5 -The music was great! It was mostly R&B, which is our favorite genre! -On the table, they have sugar, salt, pepper, creamer, and a container of straws. -The place was clean and tidy. Staff went around to clear plates and tables. Value for Money: 4/5 -For the two entrees and side of grits, the total was $41, which isn't bad. -The side of eggs was tiny. It honestly shocked us. My date is allergic to eggs, so I ate his (which they did put on a separate plate) Overall Experience: 4/5 -My date said it was the "Best breakfast place I had in a while." For him, his food and everything was perfect. He disliked they he was unable to substitute the eggs, which he is allergic to. This caused him to give me his eggs and pay for a different side. Total: 25/30 5 star: 29-30 4 star: 24-28 3 star: 19-23 2 star: 14-18 1 star: 6-13

    Chipotle Blueberry Chicken Biscuit
    Bethany K.

    We were so pleasantly surprised and will definitely be back again! We got a little lost trying to find them in the parking lot because it seems they have rebranded from Debbie Lou's to True Flavors Diner a little less than a year ago. What a hidden gem! The inside was tiny but gorgeous and so beautifully decorated. They have an open kitchen so you can see the love going right in. The staff was so friendly. The food is absolutely fantastic and the presentation is stunning. We agreed it was some of the best if not THE BEST biscuits we had ever had. They were perfectly buttery and salty with a nice fluff. The chicken was soooo juicy and crunchy. The blueberry compote and sugary vanilla icing paired with the chipotle was outstanding. It's a large portion and we had leftovers. A must try for sure!

    Complimentary Biscuit Appetizer with Jam Side order of cheese grits served in a skillet
    Rachel S.

    This was our second visit to True Flavors for weekend brunch. Be prepared to wait at least 30minutes to an hour. You can put your name on the list and get texted when your table is ready. You will receive a 5 minute grace period to arrive when your table is ready. We went to Starbucks down the road to wait since it was a colder morning. When we were seated, we could tell it was a very busy and hectic morning for the wait staff. It's important to be patient. I ordered the biscuits and gravy. The gravy is very savory compared to sweet. It is a generous amount of gravy poured on top of a GIANT biscuit. My friend got the strawberry French toast which was a 4inch thick cut slice of bread, perfectly toasted on the outside. Unfortunately, the point of sale system was down by the time our meal was over and we had to sit and wait for 30minutes before it was running again. That was not in the restaurants control but added to our waiting time as well and none of us had cash on hand.

    Chicken and gravy biscuit

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    7 months ago

    Food was really good, a bit expensive but portion size made it worth it. Service was quick. Good experience and a good hidden gem.

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    2 years ago

    The best food. I don't live in Durham anymore but it's a must whenever I am visiting in town. Everything is so good!

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    Page 2 of 27

    Ask the Community - True Flavors Diner

    How dob I order ahead of coming inside?

    Check their website during business hours. https://www.trueflavorsdiner.com/

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    True Flavors Diner - diners - Updated September 2026

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