4 North Carolina Chains Locals Don’t Visit Anymore & 4 New Ones Everyone’s Talking About
Growing up in North Carolina, I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of our state’s dining scene firsthand.
Some once-beloved restaurant chains have lost their local luster, while exciting newcomers are breathing fresh life into our culinary landscape.
Let’s explore five North Carolina chains that locals have largely abandoned and five new hotspots that have everyone buzzing with excitement.
1. Fading Glory: Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q
Remember when Smithfield’s was the go-to spot after Friday night football games? Their Eastern-style BBQ once reigned supreme across the state, but those days seem long gone now.
Last summer, I drove past three locations before finding one still open. The quality has dwindled noticeably – the once-crispy chicken now often arrives lukewarm, and their signature tangy sauce doesn’t pack the same punch it used to.
Many locals have shifted allegiance to smaller, artisanal BBQ joints that offer more authentic, wood-smoked options. With inconsistent service and outdated interiors, this once-mighty NC chain is watching its customers disappear faster than their hushpuppies at a family reunion.
2. Yesterday’s News: Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries
The pink and teal nostalgia of Hwy 55 once captured our hearts with its 1950s diner aesthetic and classic American fare. My family had a standing Saturday tradition there for years – burgers, fries, and those thick milkshakes that required extra-wide straws.
Now when I pass by, the neon still glows but the parking lots tell a different story. The chain expanded too quickly and quality control suffered dramatically. Their once-juicy burgers have become forgettable, and the service that made each location feel like a neighborhood spot has grown increasingly impersonal.
With fierce competition from both national chains and local gourmet burger spots, Hwy 55’s middle-ground approach no longer excites the Carolina palate.
3. Fizzled Out: Golden Corral
Golden Corral, born right here in Fayetteville, was once the pinnacle of family celebration dining. I still remember the excitement of being told we were going there for my birthday that chocolate fountain was the stuff of childhood dreams!
These days, the endless buffet concept has lost its appeal for health-conscious North Carolinians. The pandemic dealt a particularly harsh blow to their self-serve model, and many locations never recovered. When I visited recently with my nephew, the food seemed to be a shadow of what I remembered – warming trays of mass-produced dishes that lacked the homestyle quality they once claimed.
With farm-to-table dining gaining popularity and consumers demanding higher quality ingredients, Golden Corral’s quantity-over-quality approach feels increasingly outdated.
4. Fading Fast: Shoney’s
Shoney’s breakfast bar was once the weekend morning ritual for countless North Carolina families. My grandparents would take me every Sunday, and I’d load up my plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, and those addictive mini-muffins.
The chain has been in steady decline across our state, with locations shuttering one by one. The few remaining restaurants often sport faded signs and dated interiors that haven’t seen updates since the early 2000s. Their once-popular buffet now feels like a relic from another era.
Modern brunch spots with creative menus and craft cocktails have stolen Shoney’s thunder, leaving this once-dominant chain struggling to maintain relevance. Even their iconic strawberry pie doesn’t seem to draw crowds like it once did.
5. Rising Star: Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
The first time I bit into a Rise biscuit, I actually closed my eyes and made an embarrassing sound of pure joy. This Durham-born chain has revolutionized how North Carolinians think about the humble biscuit, elevating it from side dish to main attraction.
Their buttermilk biscuits achieve that perfect balance crisp exterior giving way to a fluffy, buttery interior that makes an ideal canvas for their creative toppings. The righteous chicken lives up to its name with a perfectly seasoned crust and juicy meat that puts fast food versions to shame.
What makes Rise special is their ability to honor Southern traditions while bringing unexpected twists like buffalo chicken biscuits or their cinnamon biscuit rolls. Lines form early, especially on weekends, proving this newcomer has serious staying power.
6. New Local Favorite: Sup Dogs
Sup Dogs started as a humble hot dog joint in Greenville and has transformed into a cultural phenomenon. I made the pilgrimage after hearing countless friends rave about it, and now I’m part of the evangelism team.
Their loaded hot dogs defy gravity with toppings piled high – the Carolina Dog with chili, slaw, and mustard pays perfect homage to our state’s hot dog tradition. The restaurant buzzes with energy, especially after ECU games, when the place transforms into the hottest spot in town.
What began as student hangout has evolved into a multi-generational destination that appeals to families during the day and the college crowd at night. Their expansion to Chapel Hill proved this concept has legs beyond its original market, making Sup Dogs a certified North Carolina success story.
7. Trendy Newcomer: Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ
Crave has stormed onto the North Carolina food scene with a concept that feels tailor-made for our state’s palate. Last month, I stopped by their newest location and found myself torn between their self-serve beer wall (genius!) and the mouthwatering menu of loaded hot dogs and smoky BBQ.
The restaurant bridges the gap between fast-casual and full-service with a modern industrial aesthetic that appeals to millennials while remaining family-friendly. Their Carolina dog with pulled pork on top is a hybrid creation that somehow makes perfect sense in our BBQ-loving state.
What sets Crave apart is their ability to appeal to different dining occasions – quick lunch, family dinner, or evening hangout with friends. Their rapid expansion across North Carolina suggests they’ve cracked the code on what modern diners want.
8. Buzz-Worthy Addition: Cugino Forno
When I first walked into Cugino Forno, I felt transported straight to Naples. The massive wood-fired ovens dominating the open kitchen aren’t just for show – they’re the heart of what makes this rapidly expanding pizza chain North Carolina’s most exciting Italian import.
Founded by three cousins (“cugino” means cousin in Italian), their commitment to authenticity is evident in the perfectly charred Neapolitan-style crusts and simple, high-quality toppings. Most locations occupy revitalized historic buildings, adding character you simply can’t manufacture.
Their expansion model is particularly smart – targeting growing areas like Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter and Durham’s American Tobacco Campus. The combination of genuine Italian techniques, locally sourced ingredients when possible, and stunning industrial-chic spaces has created a formula that North Carolinians can’t resist.