Food & Drink

Raleigh’s taco scene is changing. Your guide to the newcomers moving in

The Triangle is reaching a queso crescendo of fast casual taco shops.


Since the pandemic, fast casual restaurants have been surging, with many brands eyeing the Triangle as they reach for national expansion.


Tacos are the fastest growing group, with a half-dozen out-of-town brands moving into the region in the last five years.


The Triangle is lucky to have a thriving local taco scene, including several homegrown fast casual hot spots. Earlier this spring, readers of The News & Observer declared the very hip and very delicious Chido Taco the local favorite.


As more out-of-town names move into the market, here’s what you need to know about the Triangle’s new glitzy taco shops.
The thing about Barrio Tacos is if you can dream it, it can be a taco.
The thing about Barrio Tacos is if you can dream it, it can be a taco. Barrio Tacos

Barrio Tacos

421 N. Harrington St., Raleigh. barrio-tacos.com

Set to open this summer at Smoky Hollow near downtown Raleigh, this will be Barrio’s first location in North Carolina. Known for endlessly customizable tacos, diners fill out an order form to create their tortilla dreams.

Barrio also plans an extensive drinks menu, with a deep lineup of tequila and whiskey brands. Barrio expects to be open by July.

Capital Tacos (an update)

There were bound to be casualties in this crowded taco market. Capital Tacos announced in 2023 that it would open in Raleigh in 2024. At that point the brand had locations in Florida, Georgia, Colorado and North Carolina’s sole restaurant in Charlotte.


Since then, the Charlotte location has closed and the franchise part of the company filed for bankruptcy and the local owners confirmed the Raleigh location isn’t happening.


Little Rey

1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 102, Raleigh. 919-355-3479 or littlerey.com/raleigh

Raleigh is home to one of the five Little Rey locations in the U.S.

This fast casual line from celebrity chef Ford Fry has made a big splash in the Triangle, collabing with local chefs on monthly taco specials, serving up smoky charcoal chicken and beloved breakfast tacos.

The popular DC-area taco shop Taco Bamba will open in Raleigh this month, serving one of the most inventive fast casual menus you can find.
The popular DC-area taco shop Taco Bamba will open in Raleigh this month, serving one of the most inventive fast casual menus you can find. Greg Powers

Taco Bamba

3518 Wade Ave., Raleigh. 919-827-1119 or tacobamba.com/location/raleigh-nc


The first Taco Bamba outside of the Washington, DC metro landed in Raleigh’s Ridgewood shopping center along Wade Avenue.


Created by former fine dining chef Victor Albisu, Taco Bamba serves classic tacos with heightened flavors, plus experimental bites like a shrimp and grits taco, one with Cheerwine carnitas and another filled with sweet potato poutine. If you’re not feeling tacos, this spot also specializes in overstuffed tortas, wings and cheese fries. The bar serves up rare bourbons and tequila, plus frozen drinks.


Torchy’s Tacos

1110 Mercantile Drive, Building 6, Suite 120, Raleigh. 919-439-1177 or torchystacos.com


505 Dr. Calvin Jones Highway, Suite 110, Wake Forest. 984-401-2330


Torchy’s kicked off the big brand fast casual boom in the Triangle, when it opened in Raleigh in 2021. Famous for its queso, Torchy’s had fans wrapped around the building for weeks.


Things are more chill now and a second location opened in Wake Forest, serving the same indulgently creative tacos, like the “Trailer Park,” filled with fried chicken and green chiles, and “The Democrat,” filled with smoked brisket and avocado. Torchy’s is one of the most popular brands in Texas and we’re grateful it imported its breakfast tacos to Raleigh.


Texas-based Velvet Taco plans to open its first Triangle location in Raleigh’s North Hills district.
Texas-based Velvet Taco plans to open its first Triangle location in Raleigh’s North Hills district. Velvet Taco


Velvet Taco

4208 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. velvettaco.com

This Texas giant is the latest restaurant brand to throw its hat into the Triangle. Something of a Torchy’s competitor, Velvet Tacos uses the tortillas as a creative launching pad, going beyond carnitas and barbacoa, to serve Korean-style barbecue pork and spicy chicken tikka. Look for Velvet Taco by the end of 2025.

Wong’s Tacos

4251 Parklake Ave., Raleigh. 919-896-6018 or wongstacos.com/locations/glenlake

Created in Richmond, Wong’s Tacos will make Raleigh its first expansion outside of Virginia.

Wong’s specializes in fusion, blending Asian and Mexican flavors and ingredients. Look for tacos like Kung Pao chicken and Korean braised brisket, plus other bites like chorizo stuffed eggrolls and moo shu mushroom fajitas. The brand expects to open in Raleigh in winter 2025.



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This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Raleigh’s taco scene is changing. Your guide to the newcomers moving in."

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Drew Jackson
The News & Observer
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Drew Jackson writes about restaurants and dining for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun, covering the food scene in the Triangle and North Carolina.
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