Fayetteville's Favorite Foodie Finds

It can be argued that you can't fully experience a destination without exploring its unique dining experiences. Fayetteville and the surrounding towns of Cumberland County bring bold Southern flavor and global flair to the table. This region is full of unexpected finds, from food trucks and cozy cafés to elevated plates that surprise and delight.

These standout spots are the perfect place to start for you’re foodie weekend getaway:

Grilled Ginger Vietnamese Restaurant

Grilled Ginger Vietnamese Restaurant serves over 100 dishes, from favorites like pho and vermicelli to standouts like Shaken Beef, curries, and crispy calamari. You’ll also find a wide variety of vegetarian options and specialty drinks like Vietnamese coffee, fresh fruit smoothies, and whole coconuts. The Wraps & Roll dish offers a fun twist. Diners craft their own fresh rolls from a spread of bold ingredients. Everything at Grilled Ginger is fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned.

A plate of food from Grilled Ginger, a Vietnamese restaurant in Fayetteville, NC

A cup of stew from Grilled Ginger, a Vietnamese restaurant in Fayetteville, NC

Haymount Truck Stop

Fayetteville's first (but definitely not only) food truck venue, the Haymount Truck Stop, offers a rotating selection of local and regional food trucks serving lunch and dinner. This family- and pet-friendly spot can host up to four trucks at a time, with menus that change daily so no two visits are ever the same. But it’s not all about the food. You can also grab a beer from a regional brewery or sip a hand-crafted, elevated cocktail to enjoy indoors or out on the spacious patio.

A young woman receives her food from a Fayetteville, NC food truck

Two meals and a drink from Fayetteville, NC's Haymount Truck Stop featuring fresh, edible flowers

Napkins

Each Sunday morning in season, Napkins' chef shops the Dirtbag Ales Farmers' Market for inspiration. Around lunchtime, the restaurant opens with a special brunch menu featuring that day's market-inspired dish (or dishes) alongside their regular menu.

Of course, Napkins is a strong pick any day of the week. The menu changes seasonally and showcases the creativity of the staff with each menu update. A few years back, the restaurant updated its menu to feature more locally sourced products, and the public responded enthusiastically. Favorite dishes include doner kebab, poke bowls, and grilled chicken wraps while their famous fried Brussels sprouts with handmade dipping sauce remain a year-round staple.

Taste of West Africa

Or maybe you'd like to take your taste buds on a culinary journey to Taste of West Africa. A part of Fayetteville's downtown since 2012, this family-run restaurant serves authentic West African cuisine prepared homestyle. Owner Isabella Effron, born in Ghana, brings a little love and good energy to every dish from jollof rice and khebab to her famous okra soup. Located in the heart of downtown, Taste of West Africa also hosts monthly cultural events that add even more flavor to the experience.

Noble Meats

Located in a nondescript building on a country highway just north of Spring Lake, Noble Meats is easy to miss. Set your navigation and stay alert because Noble Meats is a gem not to be missed.

Visit Monday through Saturday and you’ll find the place packed with loyal fans digging into pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket, ribs, burnt ends, sandwiches, and tacos. Sides like new potatoes, baked beans, potato salad, and Texas Caviar, a zesty bean and corn casserole, round out the menu. Everything is made fresh on-site each day.

Still hungry? Noble Meats doubles as a full-service butcher shop, offering hand-cut steaks, ribs, pork chops, and house-cured bacon so you can take the flavor home with you.

A tray of barbecue meat and sides from Spring Lake, NC's Noble Meats

A woman purchases fresh meat from Noble Meats butcher shop near Spring Lake, NC.

Great meals have a way of bringing people together—and in Fayetteville, they often spark a sense of discovery too. Dig a little deeper into Cumberland County’s culinary scene and you’ll uncover everything from time-honored traditions to bold, international flavors. These six stops are just a small bite of what’s waiting for adventurous food lovers. Start planning your foodie weekend in Fayetteville, NC today—your taste buds will thank you.

Need a place to start? Download our Destination Guide and build your flavor-filled itinerary.