1. Sassool
9.3
9650 Strickland Rd (Between Six Forks Rd & Harvest Oaks Dr), Raleigh, NC
Mediterranean Restaurant · North Raleigh, Raleigh, NC · 46 tips and reviews
Marianne Durham: My favorite place to eat! Authentic and Fresh, can't beat it!
Morgan Talbot: Tzatziki is the best I have ever had. Everything is DELICIOUS. Fresh and authentic. There's even a small grocery!
Emily Andino: Very authentic Mediterranean food with lots of healthy options, plus a market.
4. Neomonde
9.2
3817 Beryl Rd (at Hillsborough St), Raleigh, NC
Mediterranean Restaurant · 84 tips and reviews
Neomonde: For 35 years, Neomonde has proudly served the most authentic Lebanese & Mediterranean Cuisine in the Triangle. Please vote for us in Indy Week's Best of the Triangle Survey. :D Read more.
Two Guys Pizza: Can't get enough of this place! Authentic yet still cheap with great service. Can't wait to go back!
Shari Davis: Love their chicken &a tuna salad, tatziki, lamb kabobs, cabbage delight...... everything is made with LOVE.
6. Sushi Tsune
8.0
3417 Hillsborough St (at Gorman St), Raleigh, NC
Sushi Restaurant · 16 tips and reviews
h: Authentic Japanese food experience. Good place for lunch although location is rather hidden
h: Very authentic, love the tatami
Kaitlin: Fresh, reasonably priced sushi with a very authentic vibe. Hidden from the road and sandwiched between a gas station and Arby's it'd be easy to overlook -- but it's absolutely worth a stop!
Kaitlin: The sushi here is very authentic, as is the atmosphere, and I love that. But it's also expensive, and I've never seen them offer many specials.
DIGANT >> GOYAL <<: Authentic Place
Sam M: Chicken katsu was very authentic and with the right sauce, good sake menu, better than average draft beer selection (of Japanese beers)
Two Guys Pizza: There is no better BBQ spot in Raleigh. Don't let anybody tell you differently. This stuff is real, authentic, and AMAZING.
Kaitlin: The most authentic BBQ in town. I tell guests to skip The Pit and just come here. Better prices, better pork, better tradition.
Kylie: According to locals, to make North Carolina BBQ authentic, you have to smother it in vinegar and Texas Pete's. It's a totally different style, but they're right, it's delicious.
Kylie: Super funky and eclectic, authentic Mexican place hidden in a strip mall - gotta love suburbia! Start with queso, it's the only way.
Dipti Mahendran: Spicy pepino is a refreshing drink with a slight kick! Loved my camoron or shrimp tacos....great ambience to hang out with friends!
The News & Observer: The menu doesn’t describe the Mero-Mexican taco but advises, “dare you to try it!!!” Those who dare will discover that it’s lengua (beef tongue) – and that it’s very good indeed. Read more.
11. Sitti
8.5
137 S Wilmington St (at E Hargett St), Raleigh, NC
Mediterranean Restaurant · Central Raleigh · 103 tips and reviews
Emily Andino: Fresh pita and authentic Lebanese food.
Waleed 🇸🇦: As a Middle Eastern, Sitti is the most authentic and delicious Middle Eastern food in the US. I went to many places in the US, but nothing was such Sitti.
Waleed 🇸🇦: Their hummas was great. The Labne was incredible and so much delicious in a way you can't resist. Their pita bread was home baked. Definitely recommend this place as an authentic restaurant.
12. Lemongrass Thai
8.4
8320 Litchford Rd (at Harps Mill Rd), Raleigh, NC
Thai Restaurant · 28 tips and reviews
Sejal Parikh: By far best Thai food in all of Raleigh/Cary area!!...Been to Sawasdee(R) & Thai Spice(C)..hands down authentic tasting..ginger rolls, pad thai, tom yum soup, red curry..YUM! Will make vegetarian too.
Crystal W: The chicken red curry here is great! The lunch deal with chicken satay and the curry cannot be beat!
Donna R: Love the Pad Thai. :)
13. Centro
8.7
106 S Wilmington St (at W Morgan St), Raleigh, NC
Mexican Restaurant · 49 tips and reviews
Thomas Brown: Authentic, delicious. Recommend the chilaquiles, flan.
Penny Ashley-Lawrence: This place is so good and the family who owns it cares deeply about the quality and authenticity of the food. It's one of our favorite restaurants in Raleigh.
Saliha: Love the space inside - very colorful and springy !
Kim Ahearn: I had hot and sour soup & half fried dumplings. Both ok. The dumplings are like meatballs wrapped in noodle. Very filling. Not what I'm used to coming from other authentic Asian restaurants.
Stacey Frederick: Ginger & garlic eggplant, tofu or shrimp are the best!
Crash Gregg: Holy moly. The dumplings, the grilled lemongrass filet mignon, Malaysian curried chicken, homestyle tofu. Delicious and reasonably priced. Man o man, David is the bomb