8 highly anticipated NC restaurants opening in 2026
New year, new restaurants! From barbecue joints to sushi spots, discover the most exciting North Carolina restaurant openings of 2026.
North Carolinians have no shortage of options when it comes to great restaurants. From farm-to-table establishments and casual barbecue joints to upscale steakhouses and sustainable seafood spots, there is a restaurant for every type of hungry diner in the Tar Heel State.
In 2026, the dining options will be even more plentiful, with many new restaurants slated to open throughout the year. We rounded up some of the most mouth-watering openings and highlighted everything you need to know about them below. Keep reading to discover the eight most exciting restaurant openings happening in North Carolina in 2026.
Boone
Chai & Chutney
If you find yourself in Boone craving Indian street food, head to Chai & Chutney, a new concept from the team behind another Indian spot in Boone, Mint Indian Cuisine. Chai & Chutney is expected to open in 2026, though at the time of writing, an exact date hasn’t been confirmed.
The menu will consist of bold, flavorful dishes such as crispy, tangy pani puri, comforting curries, freshly baked naan, and roti. The restaurant shared a sneak peek of some of the dishes on Instagram, including fries covered in tikka masala sauce, masala chicken wings, and Vada Pav, a deep-fried potato dumpling served between two soft buns with chutney and a green chili pepper.
Address: 664 W. King St., Boone
Charlotte
The Story of Mi Cariño
If you love Mexican food and agave, you’ll want to reserve a table at The Story of Mi Cariño stat. Scheduled to open on Jan. 27, 2026, in the heart of Charlotte’s South End, The Story of Mi Cariño is a gastro-cantina and mezcalería inspired by the bold flavors and spirit of Mexico and the Latin culture in Los Angeles.
The menu features a mix of scratch-made small plates, shareable appetizers, and entrees. Some signature dishes include specialty tacos, a corn truffle dip, and tamales filled with sous vide beef tongue and chile morita salsa. Diners can complement their meal with a vast selection of more than 200 agave-based spirits and a cocktail menu that changes seasonally.
The approximately 2,350-square-foot restaurant was designed to feel cinematic and transportive, with custom artwork and tilework decorating the space.
“We’re building more than a restaurant. Mi Cariño is an immersive escape and our culinary love letter to the flavor and complexity of Mexican and West Coast Latino cuisine and mezcal culture,” Ankoor Patel, a partner with hospitality development company B-Side Group, said in a press release.
“It’s a space where you catch up over dinner and then keep the night going with mezcal and music.”
Address: 1440 S. Tryon St., Charlotte
The Improper Pig
The Improper Pig, known for its bold barbecue with an Asian flair, is expanding in 2026, with its flagship restaurant in Plaza Midwood slated to open its doors in January. The new space, The Improper Pig’s third location, was designed to feel like the “liveliest backyard barbecue you’ve ever crashed,” according to a press release.
With the new space comes a revamped menu featuring new wood-fired grill specialties, reimagined vegetarian options like smoked tofu and the No Pig Sandwich, and globally inspired dishes that honor the restaurant’s Asian-fusion roots. Some other menu highlights include egg rolls stuffed with pulled pork and a kimchi burger.
“We’re not trying to be the most traditional smokehouse in town. We want to be the one you can’t stop talking about,” Will Bigham, founder of hospitality group Stomp, Chomp & Roll, said in a press release.
“We have nothing but love for traditional barbecue, but we’re not here to replicate; we’re here to remix. Whether you’re a purist, a plant-eater or a flavor-chaser, there is a seat at our table.”
Address: 1600 Central Ave., Charlotte
Durham
Lutra Cafe & Bakery
After serving its sweet and savory pastries at various farmers markets and coffee shops throughout the state, Lutra Cafe & Bakery is finally opening its own brick-and-mortar location. The new spot, slated to open in spring 2026, will be housed in Durham’s American Tobacco Campus.
In addition to Lutra’s baked goods, which range from sweet buns and cinnamon rolls to pies and brownies, a full breakfast and lunch menu will also be available at the new location.
Stay updated with news about the grand opening by following Lutra on Instagram.
Address: American Tobacco Campus, 300 Blackwell St., Durham
Prime STQ
Part barbecue joint, part steakhouse, Prime STQ is a new culinary concept set to open at the Horseshoe at the Hub RTP in early 2026. Chef Christopher Prieto, the James Beard Award finalist behind another North Carolina favorite, Prime Barbecue, will blend his barbecue expertise with his Puerto Rican heritage to create dishes like house-aged steaks served with chimichurri sauce.
The restaurant will lean heavily into its barbecue roots during the day before transitioning into more of a steakhouse experience at night. Prime STQ will feature 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space.
Check the restaurant’s Instagram page for updates.
Address: Horseshoe at the Hub RTP, 3151 Elion Dr., Durham
Raleigh
Standard Beer & Food
Standard Beer & Food is expanding its footprint in 2026—in a very big way. The restaurant’s upcoming location—its second—will feature 5,600 square feet of indoor space and a 15,000-square-foot outdoor patio, making it the largest open-air space in North Hills.
At its existing location, Standard Beer & Food brews beer on-site and offers a menu of elevated comfort food like oyster tacos, smash burgers, and pecan-smoked wings. The new space will also feature a market with artisanal foods available for purchase.
An opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but you can keep an eye on the restaurant’s Instagram page for updates.
Address: 540 St Albans Dr., Raleigh
The Common Market
The Common Market, a deli, bar, and market hybrid space, is coming to Raleigh’s Seaboard Station in early 2026. The 4,700-square-foot establishment will feature a large outdoor patio and everything fans have come to love about its other locations: a full-service bar, grab-and-go meals, made-to-order sandwiches, coffee, craft beer, wine, and a selection of grocery items and local products.
Follow The Common Market on Instagram for updates regarding the official opening date.
Address: 807 Halifax St., Raleigh
Winston-Salem
Shinjuku Station
Sushi lovers in the Winston-Salem area will be excited to learn about the forthcoming opening of Shinjuku Station. The all-you-can-eat revolving sushi restaurant will feature a conveyor belt that delivers fresh sushi to diners—an interactive dining concept that’s still relatively new in North Carolina. If you don’t want to grab something off the conveyor belt to eat, you can order from the menu, and your food will be delivered to your table—by a robot.
The menu features plenty of sushi rolls and nigiri, plus appetizers like chicken or shrimp skewers and tempura tofu, and entrees such as ramen, poke bowls, and hibachi.
An exact opening date hasn’t been confirmed yet—the restaurant’s website simply says “coming soon.” It also mentions that locations in Raleigh and Charlotte are coming soon, too.
Address: 1045 Hanes Mall Blvd., Winston-Salem
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