3 new Raleigh restaurants coming to downtown, North Hills and Glenwood Ave
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Standard Beer & Food expanded to a North Hills location with a 15,000-square-foot patio.
- Kokoro Ramen & Izakaya revives a downtown Raleigh space that had been vacant since 2020.
- Monya Ramen opened on Glenwood Avenue, next to sister restaurant Sushi Mon.
Raleigh’s dining scene has welcomed three new restaurants, including an expanded local favorite, a long-vacant space brought back to life and a neighbor to a well-known sushi bar. We’ve created a roundup of the latest additions to the food landscape.
Here are key takeaways:
- Standard Beer & Food opened its massive new location Tuesday, July 14. The restaurant and bar features a 15,000-square-foot outdoor patio — the largest in North Hills — and an over 5,600-square-foot dining room. The new Standard expands beyond the original’s famous smashburger with steak frites, a raw bar with oysters, tartare and ceviche. It also moves to a full-service model rather than the QR-code ordering used at the downtown Raleigh location.
- Kokoro Ramen & Izakaya recently opened at 200 E. Martin St. in downtown Raleigh, reviving a high-profile space off Moore Square that had sat vacant since Royale closed in 2020. Owner Neti Promkhotwong trained at a prominent ramen school in Kansas City to prepare for the opening. Kokoro simmers its broths for at least 10 hours, and offerings include ramen bowls, izakaya skewers and a “secret” menu of Thai dishes.
- Monya Ramen opened in North Raleigh next door to sister restaurant Sushi Mon, marking the first expansion for the popular sushi bar led by chef and co-owner Chris Lee. Monya held its grand opening Sunday, July 12, after drawing long lines at a soft opening that sold 400 bowls of ramen for $1 each. The pared-down menu at the Glenwood Avenue restaurant offers small plates as well as three ramen options for $18 each.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 2:54 PM with the headline "3 new Raleigh restaurants coming to downtown, North Hills and Glenwood Ave."
Simone Jasper
The News & Observer
Drew Jackson
The News & Observer