Elmo's Diner ★ 4.0
The reliable Ninth Street anchor since the 1980s, Elmo's serves breakfast and lunch seven days. The pancakes are house-made and waits on weekends are earned.
Signature: Pancakes, Biscuits and gravy, Huevos rancheros
Casual Dining in Ninth Street
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken ★ 3.9
Peruvian charcoal chicken at a fair price point on Ninth Street: roasted halves and quarters with aji amarillo sauce and sides of yuca or plantains every day.
Signature: Charcoal chicken, Aji amarillo sauce, Yuca fries
Juju Durham ★ 4.0
A Ninth Street fixture for Asian fusion tapas and sake. The menu roams across East and Southeast Asian influences; order broadly and share across the table.
Signature: Sake-steamed mussels, Crispy Brussels sprouts, Duck pot stickers
Cafés in Ninth Street
Joe Van Gogh Broad Street ★ 4.2
Joe Van Gogh's Broad Street cafe opens daily from 06:30 near Ninth Street. The single-origin filter coffee is the flagship of the roastery operation.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter coffee
Bakeries in Ninth Street
Monuts ★ 4.3
Monuts built a following on Ninth Street with seasonal-glaze donuts and quality dairy. Bagel sandwiches and coffee round out a morning menu that sells early.
Worth the queue: Seasonal glazed donut
Coffee Roasters in Ninth Street
Joe Van Gogh ★ 4.3
Durham's original specialty roaster since 1994, Joe Van Gogh runs three Durham cafes with the same direct-trade espresso and single-origin filter programme.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, Honduras
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Pour over, Whole bean retail
Bars in Ninth Street
Common Market Durham ★ 4.0
A deli, bar and bottle shop hybrid near Ninth Street. Craft sandwiches, rotating draft beer and a curated bottle shelf from early morning until late evening.
Signature drink: NC craft beer on draft and bottles
Food: Craft sandwiches and deli items
Budget Eats in Ninth Street
Cosmic Cantina ★ 4.0
Open until 04:00 every night since 1995, Cosmic Cantina on Perry Street near Duke is Durham's definitive budget late-night. Burritos and tacos under $14.
Try: Build-your-own burritos and tacos
Elmo's Diner ★ 4.0
Ninth Street institution serving the full Durham demographic since the 1980s. Pancakes, eggs and sandwiches at honest diner prices; coffee is bottomless.
Try: Pancakes, eggs and sandwiches
Brunch in Ninth Street
Elmo's Diner ★ 4.2
The Ninth Street brunch anchor since the 1980s. Scratch pancakes and bottomless coffee from 07:00 daily. Weekend waits are real; arrive before 08:00.
Order: Pancakes with maple syrup
Late-Night Eats in Ninth Street
Cosmic Cantina ★ 4.0
Durham's late-night institution since 1995. Cosmic Cantina on Perry Street runs burritos and tacos until 04:00 every night. Nothing exceeds $14.
Order: Build-your-own super burrito