Fast-casual restaurant opens first Raleigh location soon. What’s on the menu
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Roots Natural Kitchen will open its first Raleigh location at 2712 Hillsborough St.
- Restaurant offers customizable salads and grain bowls with build-your-own options.
- Welcome Week begins Feb. 16 with giveaways; grand opening Feb. 21 features 40% off bowls.
A week ago, the North Carolina State University community got a new place to grab chicken fingers and fries when Raising Cane’s opened just off campus.
Another restaurant opening soon on Hillsborough Street may provide a more healthy balance to diner’s diets.
Roots Natural Kitchen seems to be following in the footsteps of Raising Cane’s.
The chicken finger chain made its Triangle debut near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus. So did Roots Natural Kitchen, in 2021.
Within weeks, Roots will open its first Raleigh location near NC State, in the former Gumby’s Pizza on Hillsborough Street.
Offering customizable salad and grain bowls, Roots Natural Kitchen was founded in 2015 in Charlottesville, Virginia. It has since spread its signature and build-your-own options to more than 20 locations across Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Delaware and West Virginia.
Roots Natural Kitchen menu
Customers have two choices at Roots — select a meal from the restaurant’s list of 10 signature bowls, or create their own, choosing a base, toppings, dressings and protein.
Two of the most popular bowls are the Pesto Caesar and El Jefe ($13). The Pesto Caesar has a base of mostly kale with bulgur grains added, topped with tomatoes, pita chips, lime-pickled onions, shaved Parmesan and grilled chicken, with pesto vinaigrette and caesar dressing.
The El Jefe has a base of brown rice, with some kale added. Those ingredients are mixed with black beans, charred corn, red onions, avocado, pita chips, feta and chicken, and topped with cilantro lime dressing.
Customers can also build a salad or grain bowl, selecting from grains and lettuces, cheeses, beans, roasted vegetables, fresh fruits and vegetables, dressings and grilled meats and vegetarian proteins. Create-your-own meals start around $11.
Roots Natural Kitchen opens in Raleigh
The restaurant at 2712 Hillsborough St. will begin its “Welcome Week” Monday, Feb. 16.
Throughout the week, there will be giveaways and chances to win free Roots for a year. On its grand opening, Saturday, Feb. 21, Roots will offer 40% off all bowls and free sweatshirts.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Fast-casual restaurant opens first Raleigh location soon. What’s on the menu."
