15 Best Restaurants In Winston-Salem NC You Must Try

If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, you have come to the right place!

Whether you find yourself in Winston-Salem for business or pleasure, or you’re a local looking to try something new, our comprehensive guide to the very best food in Winston-Salem NC has got you covered.

From incredible sushi to handmade pasta, and traditional southern fare to epic sandwiches, there is something here to suit every palate, every budget, and every preferred dining style.

Jump into Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina for a massive range of fresh and authentic Mexican food, or Mama Zoe Michael’s for a delightful brunch after a big night out.

Winston-Salem NC really packs a punch on the restaurant scene, with food menus supported by extensive wine lists, fantastic cocktails, and the very best of local craft beer as well as imported favorites.

If you’re having a longer trip to North Carolina, you might also want to check out our list of the Best Things to Do In North Carolina: The Ultimate NC Bucket List!

But in the meantime, you’re here to find good restaurants in Winston-Salem NC, so buckle up and let’s go!

15 Best Restaurants In Winston-Salem NC You Must Try

HakkaChow – Asian Eats

This great spot has been voted Winston-Salem’s best Asian Restaurant and it’s easy to see why. Offering dishes inspired by Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Korean and Thai food, HakkaChow delivers the very best Winston-Salom NC food.

Committed to using fresh and high quality ingredients to create authentic and modern flavours, HakkaChow provides all the favourites you know and love, beautifully presented and always delicious.

We love their Stir-Fried Garlic Eggplant, served with broccoli, and their Korean bulgogi beef is amazing. Their kimchi cheese fries are decadent treat, as is their Shanghai-style spare ribs.

They also have a dedicated sushi menu, and serve some of the best sushi in Winston-Salem NC.

HakkaChow also offer daily drink specials including half price sake on Sundays!

If you’re looking for what to eat in Winston-Salem, there’s something at HakkaChow for everyone. It’s guaranteed to be a great night out! Come hungry!

Meridian Restaurant

Meridian Restaurant offers some of the best dining in Winston-Salem North Carolina, set in an elegant dining room with terrific Mediterranean flair.

Everything served here is prepared in-house, supported by a commitment to local sourced produce and using seasonal ingredients where possible.

We love their tagliatelle with shrimp, creamy tomato sauce, basil, Parmigiano Reggiano and cold pressed olive oil. Or the seared scallop risotto with oyster mushrooms, chorizo and Campo de Montalban cheese. *chef kiss*

If you’re looking for something lighter, their amazing tapas menu has all the usual favourites including a wide range of cheese. Unsurprisingly, their wine list is also epic, as is the cocktail selection.

There’s nothing not to love – the food is amazing, the setting is gorgeous, the staff are warm and welcoming – what are you waiting for? Head to Meridian Restaurant for a great night out and the best food in Winston-Salem NC.

Mama Zoe Michael’s

Had a big night? Need to find the cure in a late brunch? Whether or not these words ring true for you, you’ll want to add Mama Zoe Michael’s to your bucket list, it’s definitely the best brunch in Winston-Salem North Carolina!

At Mama Zoe’s, they boast they will treat you as family rather than a customer, and in that warm familial embrace you will find a massive range of breakfast treats, from omelettes to eggs benedict, griddle options to biscuits and sandwiches. There’s something here for everyone!

We can’t go past their Eggs Vera Cruz – scrambled eggs with sausage, onions and cheddar in a tortilla topped with salsa and sour cream and served with fresh fruit. Yum!

It’s also worth mentioning that they’re open for lunch and dinner as well, so while they’re definitely our pick for the best brunch in Winston-Salem NC, they’re also just one of the best Winston-Salem restaurants overall!

Mizu Japanese Cuisine

If you’re in need of sushi in Winston-Salem North Carolina, and honestly, who isn’t in need of sushi at any given moment, you’ll want to add Mizo Japanese Cuisine to your bucket list!

Their vision is to provide the most ‘delicious, authentic and fresh’ Japanese food, and they work hard to deliver on this, with fresh ingredients sourced locally wherever possible.

We loved their mackerel sashimi and seared pepper tuna sushi. Beyond sushi, their menu offers a great range of Japanese food including soup, salad, rice, a hibachi grill selection, and noodles.

The yaki udon (soba noodles are also available) was also delicious, with a choice of shrimp, beef, chicken – we picked shrimp!

They also have a range of Japanese beer and wine to make your meal complete!

Mizu Japanese Cuisine really offers the best sushi in Winston-Salem NC, and is just one of the best restaurants in Winston-Salem generally too! Don’t miss it!

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes is hands down one of the top restaurants in downtown Winston-Salem.

Owned by two amazing women, this award winning restaurant serves the best of southern inspired home style cooking.

We love their Fried Green Tomato and Okra Basket – you could this their signature dish as the proudly boast that friends have been made and relationships forged over a basket of fried green tomatoes and okra.

It’s a robust menu with a lot of options, so there’s something for everyone here. From Savannah Red Rice – a traditional dish with smoked sausage and seared shrimp, to Three Cheese Macaroni and Country Ham Souffle and a Blackened Salmon Nicoise salad, the food is epic, with a cocktail list to match.

The restaurant itself is also really well laid out and a great place to kick back for a few hours.

If you’re looking for where to eat in Winston-Salem, look no further than Sweet Potatoes, a gem of a spot that’s impossible not to love.

Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and Bar

If you’re looking for a fancy night out, you’ll want to add Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and Bar to your bucket list, it truly is top dining in Winston-Salem North Carolina.

Located in a historic mansion with stunning light and beautiful pressed white tablecloths, Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and Bar is the perfect spot for a romantic night out or to celebrate a special occasion. You can also start or finish your evening at the beautiful Library Bar, adjacent to the restaurant.

In terms of food, like everything else about Spring House, it is top quality. We love their Roasted Cauliflower Steak topped with onion, garlic, herbs, spinach and feta. If you’re looking for something meaty, try their Bison Meatloaf and Crispy Onions, served with creamed spinach and fried cheese curds. So good!

For the very best of downtown Winston-Salem restaurants, definitely spend an evening at Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and Bar.

Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro

Another of our favourite restaurants in downtown Winston-Salem is Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro, a delightful spot in the West End.

This is a super popular spot, especially the lovely outdoor seating which is first come, first served, so we recommend getting there early if you’re keen for an al fresco dinner.

As for the food, there are no mistakes to be made when ordering here. We especially love their Beef Short Rib served with red wine reduction, broccoli, sour cream and mashed potatoes. The Fried Chicken with Springer Mountain chicken breast, macaroni cheese, green beans and peach chutney, is also a winner.

The menu may not be as extensive as other menus you might find but the quality of the food, the stunning location and the ambiance of the restaurant will mean you’re in for a memorable meal at one of the best restaurants in Winston-Salem NC.

Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina

We LOVE Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina, with fresh and authentic Mexican food, a vibrant ambiance and next level margaritas, there’s nothing not to love, it is one of the best Winston-Salem North Carolina restaurants.

With all your usual favourites the menu may not have many surprises, but we especially love their Black Bean Soup with pico de gallo and avocado, Chorizo Tacos served with onions, cilantro and special sauce, and Pollo Jalisco – grilled chicken with onions, mushrooms, pineapple and melted cheese, served with rice, beans and tortillas.

It’s a big menu, there’s something for everyone, most importantly, there’s something for you!

There’s even a super cocktail list, with all the classics and then some. It’s a Bahama Mama for us! They also have a great range of Mexican art, which really takes the atmosphere to the next level.

If you’re looking for good restaurants in Winston-Salem NC, Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina is one of the best!

West End Cafe

If you’re looking for the best lunch in Winston-Salem North Carolina, you’ll want to check out West End Café.

West End Café has great daily lunch specials, such as a café patty melt on grilled rye with Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, and grilled onions.

West End Café is a great lunch spot but also open for dinner, with a great range of burgers, pitas, salads and more. They also have menu items such as Cast Iron Seared Brie with puff pastry, port wine syrup and apple-walnut crumble, it’s so good! Or Potato Pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce!

There’s also a gorgeous pond at the front of the café that you can check out while you’re there. Speaking of gorgeous ponds, you might also want to check out our list of the Best Things to do in Winston-Salem You Shouldn’t Miss!

West End Café is one of the best Winston-Salem NC restaurants! We know you’ll love it, we know you’ll be back for more!

Quanto Basto

Quanto Basto – which is Italian for ‘as much as you like, as much as you need.’ This family run restaurant is the place to go for the best dinner in Winston-Salem North Carolina.

The motto here is ‘gather, taste, enjoy’ and we know you will! How could you not, with freshly prepared, home made pasta, and rotisserie fire roasted porchetta.

To start, we recommend the parmesan, pork belly and crab dip, followed by the sausage and clam pasta. If you’re into dessert, we can’t go past the traditional olive oil cake served with vanilla and orange blossom gelato. Super noms! They also do a great affogato brownie.

This is the perfect menu! And with a tailored wine list to match, it’s the perfect night out.

Definitely check the opening hours before you visit as their opening days can vary.

One of the best restaurants in Winston-Salem NC, Quanto Basto will never disappoint!

Midtown Cafe and Dessertery

Midtown Café And Dessertery is some of the best dining in Winston-Salem North Carolina.

They pride themselves on being the place where flavour and hospitality meet, and they are not kidding!

We highly recommend all their pies, but cannot got past their pecan pie, key lime pea and pumpkin pie in the fall. Love the fall! You can buy your pie by the slice, half or whole pie. What a great idea!

If you are not here for pie (honestly though, who is not here for pie?), they have really good sandwiches here. Tarragon chicken salad sandwich is their best seller, served with seeded grapes and potato chips.

We also love their Ham and Swiss – Swiss cheese and gourmet mustard on rye bread.

If you prefer toasted sandwiches, you have to try the Southerner Pimento Cheese, with pimento made from a blend of cheddars, on sourdough with fresh tomato slices. It’ll probably change your life.

The best Winston-Salem NC food is right here at Midtown Café and Dessertery. Get around it!

Duke’s

Duke’s is the place to go if you’re looking for the best breakfast in Winston-Salem North Carolina, we love it here and we know you will too!

With the slogan ‘breakfast is Duke’s’, it’s hard to argue with the incredible menu on offer here.

This family run restaurant has been a Winston-Salem NC staple for the last 60 years, so jump on the bandwagon, you won’t regret it!

We love the pecan pancake stack or the country ham with biscuits but if you’re super hungry, they also have a breakfast platters served with gravy, grits or hash browns, and homemade biscuits or toast, and your choice of eggs, ham, sausages or bacon. Oh boy!

With amazing daily specials, Duke’s is also one of the best cheap eats in Winston-Salem NC. There’s truly something for everyone here! It is truly some of the best food in Winston-Salem NC. Tell them we sent you!

Kermit’s Hot Dog House

Another staple of Winston-Salem North Carolina for decades, Kermit’s Hot Dog House is low key one of the best places to eat in Winston-Salem NC.

With the very best of diner cuisine, we can’t go past their footlong cheesedog, their fish sandwich or their hamburger steak sandwich. Top that off with a traditional milkshake or hot fudge sundae and you will be singing!

They also have indoor and outdoor seating for a super casual ambiance. Best of all, they have a drive-in option so you can have a picnic in your car with and embrace that old-school Americana feel!

It’s super family and child-friendly, and the staff are warm and friendly. It’s cheap and cheerful and we know you’ll leave here happy.

If you’re looking for what to eat in Winston-Salem NC, Kermit’s Hot Dog House is the place for you! We know you’ll love it so much that you’ll be back again for more!

Mayflower Seafood Restaurant

Mayflower Seafood Restaurant is one the best restaurants in Winston-Salem, offering fresh and local produce all year round.

With the traditional feel of a seaside town’s local fish shack, Mayflower Seafood Restaurant is an authentic spot for sure!

Everything on this menu is incredible, but we love their homemade clam chowder, or their specialty broiled seafood – we love the flounder or the tilapia. So good!

If seafood is not your jam, we love the baked spaghetti or pork chop sandwich. There’s something for everyone here!

They also offer daily specials, as well as dedicated senior citizens’ and children’s menus. They also have – and this might be our favourite thing of all – porthole shaped windows. Ahoy there!

For some of the best seafood in Winston-Salem NC, get yourself to Mayflower Seafood Restaurant. Stat!

Crazy Crab Seafood and Grill

Crazy Crab Seafood and Grill is one of the best restaurants in Winston-Salem North Carolina, hands down!

For some cracking southern cuisine, drop in here and grab one of their great baskets. Our favourite is the fried catfish strips basket, but the fried oyster basket is also great and to be honest, there are no bad choices here!

Oh, and all baskets come with fries (which you can upgrade to sweet potato fries or hush puppies for $1!).

They also have a great seafood combo menu, with different specials on different weekdays. We love Tuesdays – ½ pound shrimp, ½ pound snow crab legs, and 1 pound of crawfish! Serve this up with some egg fried rice and you’ll be back for more, we know it!

If you’re looking for where to eat in Winson-Salem NC, Crazy Crab Seafood and Grill is here for you!