The chef of the upcoming restaurant Peregrine shares where he goes 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. One of them was Said Rahman, the chef of the upcoming restaurant Peregrin. Originally from Bangladesh, Rahman moved to New York City and then to North Carolina. The longtime executive chef of Vidrio has been named a North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Chef of the Year. His new restaurant, Peregrine, will open early this year.
Read on for her picks for where to eat and drink 2025!
Where do you go for a special-occasion dinner?
For special occasions, I go to this restaurant called Yemeni Cuisine Restaurant and Cafe. When I go there, I always order Lamb Mandi which is their specialty. I love that restaurant because of the culture and the cuisine they share with their guests.
What’s your go-to neighborhood spot?
For my neighborhood spot, I go to a Mexican restaurant near my house called Taquería La Cabana, on Capital Boulevard. I usually go there on Sunday morning and get a big bowl of menudo with a handmade tortilla and lots of lemon. I keep coming back to it because of its location — it’s inside a BP gas station and there are no signs for it. Once you walk in, you see everyone from rich to poor eating and sharing a table together.
What’s a great casual spot?
My favorite under-the-radar spot is Almadina Biryani Hut on Western Boulevard, inside the Almadina Supermarket. I love Biryani and yogurt chutney with it. They make traditional spicy chicken biryani from Hyderabad, India. It’s as traditional as it gets.
Where do you get lunch?
As chefs, we do not really eat lunch. But sometimes, if I didn’t eat dinner the night before, then I would grab lunch from the (ish) delicatessen on N Person Street. I get corn beef and hash or a breakfast burrito.
Where do you get a meal to go?
A meal on the go is usually from MoJoe’s on Glenwood South. I order an Inferno Burger and crispy onion rings.
Where do you go for a drink?
My spot is William & Company on N Person Street. I get whatever nonalcoholic drink the bartender makes me. I go there to meet friends and just hang out. This is a cool neighborhood place for it.
What’s your go-to coffee spot?
Coffee is what gets me going all day. Raleigh is full of great coffee spots, and one of my favorite spots is Videri Chocolate Factory. I love the smell of roasting coffee beans and cacao there. My order is just a classic almond latte with honey.
What’s your favorite new-ish place?
Mac’s Speed Shop on Glenwood Ave. My favorite thing to get is Texas Pete Fried Pickles and Burnt End Briskets.
What are you excited to try?
I am excited for Crawford Brothers Steakhouse coming soon to Fenton. There are not many quality Steakhouses in the RTP area. My family is big into meat, so I’m excited to have them there.
What’s a spot outside of Raleigh that’s worth the drive?
My favorite spot outside of Raleigh is this Ethiopian restaurant called Goorsha in downtown Durham. It is an authentic Ethiopian restaurant. For those of us who have never traveled to Ethiopia, you can taste their amazing food and their coffee — and I am a huge coffee lover.
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.
