Fonda Lupita ★ 4.1
Hand-pressed corn tortillas fuelling tacos and tamales at Brightleaf Square's best prices. Named Eater Carolinas Restaurant of the Year 2021.
Try: Tacos al pastor and tamales
Elmo's Diner is an american diner budget eat in Ninth Street, Durham.
Editorially verified June 24, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Address: 776 9th Street, Durham, NC 27705
Hand-pressed corn tortillas fuelling tacos and tamales at Brightleaf Square's best prices. Named Eater Carolinas Restaurant of the Year 2021.
Try: Tacos al pastor and tamales
At $14-22 for a James Beard winner's fried fish plate with signature Hush-Honeys, Saltbox offers the best value-for-accolade ratio in Durham. No reservations.
Try: Fried fish plate with Hush-Honeys
Lunch pricing for Puerto Rican food made from scratch at American Tobacco Campus. Empanadas and pernil under $12; the lunch crowds say it all.
Try: Empanadas, pernil and rice-and-beans
New Mexico green chile burritos in a city of BBQ and tacos. Hatch Burritos on N Mangum has quickly become a weekday morning-to-lunch favourite downtown.
Try: Hatch green chile breakfast burritos
A Durham institution since 1942, King's on Foster Street holds a menu where nothing exceeds $10. Grilled cheese, burgers and sandwiches without any fuss.
Try: Grilled sandwiches and burgers
Marked by a bovine statue, Taqueria La Vaquita is one of Durham's best-value taqueria counters. Tacos at $4-5 each; al pastor and birria are the best choices.
Try: Tacos and burritos