Best Lunch Restaurants in Chapel Hill

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodIndianJapanese

Regions

Durham

Neighbourhoods

CarrboroChapel HillDurham

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral washroomWheelchair access

14 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Cholanad Restaurant and Bar restaurant

1. Cholanad Restaurant and Bar

4.3

Awesome(528)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• South Indian • Chapel Hill

Booked 3 times today

Cholanad Team is focused on delivering the South Indian culinary experience in a world class style. We are aspiring to become a world leader in ethnic cuisine experience that includes food, ambiance and service.

2. Tandem

4.6

Exceptional(2076)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Carrboro

Booked 20 times today

Tandem offers modern American cuisine in a sophisticated, yet comfortable atmosphere.

3. Talulla's

4.7

Exceptional(1261)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Turkish • Chapel Hill

Booked 8 times today

When you walk through the shadowed glass doors of Talulla's, an instant transformation begins to occur. Your mind and body begin to relax. Your ears pick up on the eclectic mix of music. Your eyes wonder around the walls, decorated in Turkish rugs; then the ceilings, scattered with warm, unique lighting pieces; then the floors... the dark, hardwood floors; and finally, across the plush seating areas, disguised by cushions and pillows and fabric leisurely draped around the frames.

4. Elements

4.8

Exceptional(2486)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Fusion / Eclectic • Chapel Hill

Booked 9 times today

Elements is OPEN for DINE IN & TAKEOUT! From the moment you walk in to the last delicious morsel you will taste, we promise to deliver a unique and exquisite dining experience. Our cuisine combines classical as well as modern Asian and European cooking techniques to enhance the flavors of local and sustainable ingredients. Our menu changes often to capitalize on the freshest and most seasonal fare. We believe George Barnard Shaw said it best when he said. There is no love sincerer than the love of food." We couldn't agree more. From fork to mouth, we wish you good eats.Elements Team

A photo of Carolina Brewery - Chapel Hill restaurant

5. Carolina Brewery - Chapel Hill

4.5

Awesome(216)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Regional American (Southern) • Chapel Hill

Booked 14 times today

Since 1995, we have been proudly serving the locals, students and visitors to Chapel Hill. A lot has changed in both our town and the craft beer industry since we opened our doors as the culmination of a business school plan I wrote my senior year at UNC. Today, we celebrate our North Carolina roots with a made-from-scratch menu focused on Carolina foods in a newly renovated building. I hope you enjoy a true Carolina experience here at Carolina Brewery and will look for our award winning beers on your travels throughout the Carolinas. Cheers, Robert PoitrasOwner/Founder

6. Kanki Durham

4.4

Awesome(456)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Japanese • Durham

Booked 15 times today

Since 1972, Kanki has been the Triangle’s favorite Japanese steakhouse and sushi house.Located in West Durham on Mount Moriah Road, Kanki Durham serves up delicious hibachi lunches and dinners, sushi and much more. Our Durham, NC Japanese restaurant is the only Kanki location with a To-Go number, and we make picking up take out orders fast and simple with designated parking spaces and an easily accessible “Take Out” door.Kanki will only seat complete parties. Please have all your guests accounted for prior to seating. Incomplete parties must wait to be seated until all has arrived. An 18% gratuity will be added to parties of 6 or more.

7. Coco Bistro

4.4

Awesome(41)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Vegan • Chapel Hill

Booked 2 times today

Coco is designed beautifully with indoor and outdoor spaces to offer you a fun and delightful dining experience. We have been workshopping our new plant-based dishes for months now, creating nearly everything in-house, from scratch - and we are absolutely thrilled with all of our new dishes. And, of course, our full wine, beer and cocktail menu complements our foods wonderfully. Just some of our "Best Of Chapel Hill" 100% plant-based options include: Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles, Peach & Avocado Bruschetta, Red Cream Paneer Curry, Penne Alfredo with Wild Mushrooms, Coco Signature Impossible Burgers with sauteed mushrooms, crispy shallots on our housemade brioche bun, Pesto Linguine, Caesar Quinoa Salad, Baby Bellas & Rosemary on Truffle-Buttered Toasts, Strawberry Cheesecake-Stuffed Cookies, Peach Cobbler A La Mode and Rosewater Malabi Custard. (most items are available gluten-free).We hope to see you for dinner soon!

A photo of Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Chapel Hill restaurant

8. Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Chapel Hill

4.6

Exceptional(477)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Indian • Chapel Hill

Booked 11 times today

Rated as the # 1 Indian Restaurant in Triangle, Lime & Lemon Indian Grill offers an immersive dining experience with exquisite dishes that will take you on a journey through India's many regions, traditions and festivals. We meticulously curate using only the best ingredients to create dishes that are authentic, unsurpassed, and timeless. All this in an ultra-modern setting to ensure your dining affair is nothing short of perfect.Featured in the October 2019 edition of News & Observer and received a 4 out of 5 star rating. It has been consistently voted as one of the Top 10 Ethnic restaurants and has also been recognized as the Best Indian Restaurant in the Triangle for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

A photo of Nasher Cafe at Duke University restaurant

9. Nasher Cafe at Duke University

4.6

Exceptional(858)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Durham

Booked 25 times today

The 125-seat indoor/outdoor Nasher Cafe overlooks the garden and sits adjacent to the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen "Corridor Pin" sculpture, providing a serene and beautiful ambience. The Nasher Cafe offers local and sustainable products forged into creative lunch, brunch and dinner menus. Guests can experience a world class museum as well as restaurant in one stop.

A photo of Maggiano's - Durham restaurant

10. Maggiano's - Durham

4.6

Exceptional(4466)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Durham

Booked 37 times today

Join us for lunch or dinner at Maggiano's Durham and savor the rich flavors of Italian-American dishes inspired by Nonna’s traditional recipes. We are centrally located for UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, NC State and NC Central, making us a great destination for visiting parents and students. The 17 theater cinema located at the Streets at Southpoint makes our location the perfect place for dinner and a movie. Visit us at 8030 Renaissance Pkwy or book your reservation today!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
JohnVIP
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •24 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Flounder was excellent. Service attentive but not hovering.
More info
ElementsPrice: Expensive• Fusion / Eclectic• Chapel Hill
•
4.8
E
Edward
Greensboro / Winston Salem / Highpoint •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Excellent food and atmosphere. Great wait staff and service. Would highly recommend. The slow roasted lamb was very tender and perfect!
More info
Talulla'sPrice: Moderate• Turkish• Chapel Hill
•
4.7
A
AndrewVIP
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •16 reviews
4.0
Dined 6 days ago
Great service! Food was delicious but not a great value
More info
TandemPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Carrboro
•
4.6
J
James
Phoenix / Arizona •3 reviews
5.0
Dined on Feb 9, 2025
Went with my wife. Perfect weather had the doors open really fun.
More info
Carolina Brewery - Chapel HillPrice: Moderate• Regional American (Southern)• Chapel Hill
•
4.5
J
Julia
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill •3 reviews
4.0
Dined on Oct 4, 2024
I gave ambiance such a low rating only because we were disappointed in not being able to eat in one of the outside spaces you have. We hope the restaurant has not given up service out there. We love the food, but also love eating outside, especially in the covered part when the doors are open. Otherwise, ambiance inside was fine.
More info
Cholanad Restaurant and BarPrice: Moderate• South Indian• Chapel Hill
•
4.3

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