American diner$ninth-streetMon-Fri 07:00-15:00; Sat-Sun 07:00-15:30
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
Southern$$downtownSun-Mon 10:00-14:30; Tue 09:00-15:00; Wed-Thu 09:00-19:30; Fri-Sat 09:00-20:30
Durham's celebrated brunch spot lets you build your own plate: choose the bird, the waffle style, the schmear and the drizzle from a list of creative options.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Sweet potato waffle, Oatmeal waffle
Burgers$$downtownMon-Thu 11:11-21:30; Fri-Sat 11:11-22:00; Sun 11:11-21:00
A downtown Durham burger and brewery institution. The kitchen grinds beef daily; the brewery rotates a pilsner and IPA. Opening time 11:11 is a tradition.
Signature: Craft beef burger, Truffle fries, House-brewed IPA
Puerto Rican$american-tobacco-campusMon 11:30-14:00; Tue 11:30-15:00; Wed 11:30-19:00; Thu-Sat 11:30-20:00
Boricua Soul at American Tobacco Campus fuses Puerto Rican cooking with Southern soul food. Empanadas, pernil and rice-and-beans are made from scratch daily.
Signature: Pernil, Tostones, Empanadas
Mexican$brightleafMon-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-20:00
Women-owned Mexican kitchen at Brightleaf Square pressing fresh corn tortillas in-house daily. Named Eater Carolinas Restaurant of the Year 2021.
Signature: Tacos al pastor, Tamales, Agua frescas
Peruvian$ninth-streetDaily 11:00-21:00
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