Boricua Soul ★ 4.2
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
Saltbox Seafood Joint is a southern seafood budget eat in South Durham, Durham.
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.
Editorially verified June 24, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Address: 2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
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
A by-the-slice pizza counter on W Main Street at $3-4.50 per slice. Rotating styles and toppings from classic to creative; Wednesday is 50-cent wing night.
Try: Pizza by the slice
Open since 1957 and Eater-named one of America's best in 2022, Chicken Hut does weekday lunch only and sells out before mid-afternoon. Arrive before noon.
Try: Southern fried chicken