The content creators behind Raleigh FoodTrap share where they go for quick meals, special dinners and more in the Raleigh area.
by Ayn-Monique Klahre | photography by Forrest Mason

For our 2025 Guide to Where to Eat and Drink in Raleigh, we surveyed 11 people in the hospitality industry to learn where they go for a casual meal, celebration dinner, coffee fix and more. Two of them were Roger and Briana Kornegay, the husband-and-wife duo behind Raleigh FoodTrap! Raleigh FoodTrap is an award-winning media outlet that is dedicated to showcasing the culinary scene in Raleigh, North Carolina and beyond. They also own The Yard Milkshake Bar in Seaboard Station and run social media for various hospitality businesses.

Read on for their picks for where to eat and drink 2025!

Where do you go for a special-occasion dinner? 

For special occasions, we hit G.58 in Morrisville. It’s one of the state’s only fine dining Chinese food experiences. The Peking Duck is a must-order. It’s marinated for three days, then it’s roasted for an hour before you eat it —it’s an experience all by itself! The decor is another component that makes this spot a must-try for special occasions. Walking inside that place makes you feel as if you are in a fine art museum. 

What’s your go-to neighborhood spot? 

Vittles at the Park in Durham is a favorite of ours — we can’t get enough of this place! It’s owned by a sweet little lady who was married to a Negro League baseball player and cooked for their family of 7-plus. One day she said she wanted to cook for others too, so she opened Vittles at the Park. Her menu consists of soul food and Jamaican cuisine, and it’s so good! We order the Deep Fried Ribs, the Catfish and you must try the Oxtails!

What’s a great casual spot?

Our favorite hidden gem is IRONBOX Breakfast. It’s a food truck located next to a junkyard in Youngsville! They have a slamming 5-star Google rating, and everyone raves about their sandwiches. Their breakfast sandwiches are easily some of the best we’ve had in NC! You must try the Island Sandwich. They add pineapple jelly to it to give it that kick you didn’t know you needed!

Where do you get lunch? 

When we eat lunch out and about, we like to spend cheap! Our go-to is Frito’s Burgers and Tacos. On Tuesdays, tacos are $1 and you can’t beat that! Our favorite is the Shrimp Tacos! Literally, the shrimp tacos are worth $6-plus but they are only $1 here on Tuesdays! We like to grab a sampler plate of four or more tacos featuring the flavors for the day. This spot is a must — especially if you want to stay cautious of your spending. 

Where do you get a meal to go? 

When you want a gourmet meal to go and don’t want table service with all the other bells and whistles, check out Tombachi! It’s a food truck that roams the area and it’s serving the BEST hibachi you’ll ever have! Our go-to item is the Hibachi shrimp and chicken! Tom, the owner, has a true gift of cooking hibachi and his product is amazing. 

Where do you go for a drink?

We love the mocktails at The Willard, the rooftop bar at the AC Hotel in downtown Raleigh. Their food is top tier but we just love their mocktails. They put the same amount of energy into their alcohol-less drinks that they do into their alcoholic drinks and it shows through their presentation, taste and combinations! We especially love their pineapple ginger mule. If you are a ginger fan, this one is a must! 

What’s your go-to coffee spot?

As coffee addicts, we’ve found the coffee at Biscuit Belly in Seaboard Station to be SO good! This is a franchise that recently entered the Raleigh market and its coffee has been a game changer for us since it arrived in town. The Drip Coffee is a standard blend of coffee, but it’s roasted exclusively by the Heine Brothers in Louisville, KY — it’s good stuff! 

What’s your favorite new-ish place?

We are HUGE fans of the newly opened The Yard Milkshake Bar in Seaboard Station! Over-the-top milkshakes, giant ice cream cones, exclusive Blue Bell flavors (that you can’t get anywhere BUT The Yard), cake slices, donuts, cookies, brownies… Our favorite item to grab is The Raleigh FoodTrap shake. It features a giant slice of red velvet cake, milk chocolate ice cream stacked with red velvet ice cream and whipped cream! It stands about a foot tall and needs to be added to your ‘hit list’! 

What are you excited to try? 

We are super excited about PINS Mechanical Co., which will be opening in Seaboard Station sometime in 2025. Downtown needs more fun things to do! 

What’s a spot outside of Raleigh that’s worth the drive?

If you have some free time and don’t mind driving, head to Rolesville, and check out Granchio. It’s about 5 minutes outside of Wake Forest, and here you’ll find some of the best Italian seafood in the Triangle area. It’s locally-owned and -operated by a family that takes the ultimate pride in what they do! Also, it’s super clean! I’ve been in their back of house and it’s so clean you could eat melted butter off the floor! 

A portion of this article originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of WALTER magazine. The full version was published on waltermagazine.com on December 30, 2024.