Mexican: Chapelboro has a wealth of great taco trucks that come out at night
Chinese: starting points would be Gourmet Kingdom or Jade Palace; Sister Liu’s Kitchen makes really good dumplings on the way to Durham, Happy China (in Durham)
Vietnamese: Pho Far east and Pho Vietnam (more in the North Raleigh, Cary area). Greensboro apparently has a huge Vietnamese community and some of the places we have tried there have been pretty awesome.
Korean: Namu is on the way to Durham and also serves coffee and beer. Seoul Garden (Raleigh) and Vit Goal Tofu (Durham) are other starting points. Downtown Durham has a new and nice Korean chicken wings place which is suprisingly good called M Kokko. Finally if you are around Cary then Golden Pig is also wonderful for Korean food.
South Indian: ton of wonderful South Indian buffets in Morrisvile like Tower and Dharani
North Indian: Sitar in Durham and Mint in CH; Also Vimala’s Curryblossom
BBQ: The Pig and Allen and Sons are great.
Southern: Crook’s corner has good catfish and shrimp and grits. Lula’s has good fried chicken. Rise is for biscuits and donuts.
Low key American: Al’s Burger shack gets rave review. Merritt’s makes a sandwich better than it has any right to. Sutton’s is an institution.
Mediterranean: Med Deli is a staple. Kipos is more of a sit down place but excellent
Dessert: Gugulhupf in Durham is fantastic for cakes/bread etc. Mithai is a wonderful Indian “sweets” store in Cary