Restaurant Award
Home Rankings Praise Awards Trending Methodology
search

Navigation

Restaurant rankings, praise awards, monthly trending, and our methodology.

Home / Rankings / Praise Awards / Trending / Methodology / Owner login /
  1. home Home
  2. › Trending
  3. › North Carolina
  4. › Restaurant

Trending Restaurant in North Carolina

Monthly discoveries · Places on the rise

Good places keep getting better. Discover restaurant making the biggest gains in Restaurant Score and find a new favourite for your next visit.

calendar_monthScores as of October 9, 2026

Monthly discoveries, continued

Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#26

E.L.K of Monroe

place Monroe, North Carolina

trending_up+12.7pts
76.9
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#27

Famous Shawarma Mediterranean Food

place Hickory, North Carolina

trending_up+12.5pts
75.2
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#28

Main Street Market

place Rutherfordton, North Carolina

trending_up+12.2pts
71.4
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#29

Appalachian Mountain Brewery Taproom and Kitchen

place Mills River, North Carolina

trending_up+12.1pts
75.4
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#30

Burger King

place Spring Hope, North Carolina

trending_up+11.9pts
74.5
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#31

Gregory's Original Restaurant Rutherfordton

place Rutherfordton, North Carolina

trending_up+11.9pts
64.8
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#32

The Patio at the Surf

place Surf City, North Carolina

trending_up+11.8pts
71.1
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#33

Applebee's Grill + Bar

place Wilkesboro, North Carolina

trending_up+11.7pts
76.1
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#34

Peggy's Kitchen Table

place Warsaw, North Carolina

trending_up+11.7pts
65.1
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#35

Pizza Inn

place Cherryville, North Carolina

trending_up+11.6pts
74.8
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#36

Rock The Dock Dueling Piano Bar

place Morehead City, North Carolina

trending_up+11.4pts
78.0
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#37

Mt. Pleasant Japanese Express

place Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

trending_up+11.4pts
67.4
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#38

Coconut Cove

place Surf City, North Carolina

trending_up+11.3pts
76.1
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#39

Southern Crossroads

place Lenoir, North Carolina

trending_up+11.3pts
75.8
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#40

Archway Burgers, Dogs, And Beer

place Fayetteville, North Carolina

trending_up+11.2pts
85.3
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#41

Marina Joes

place Surf City, North Carolina

trending_up+10.9pts
73.0
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#42

ZENSHI Handcrafted Sushi

place Marvin, North Carolina

trending_up+10.8pts
36.2
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#43

Beach Bowls

place Beaufort, North Carolina

trending_up+10.6pts
70.9
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#44

Ward's Grill

place Saluda, North Carolina

trending_up+10.6pts
69.9
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Close-up of a bright coastal restaurant dish
#45

Bagner and Alexa's Downtown Cafe

place Winston-Salem, North Carolina

trending_up+10.5pts
59.8
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Moody restaurant interior with polished service
#46

Yum Yum!

place Concord, North Carolina

trending_up+10.4pts
74.0
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Chef-led tasting counter framed in warm wood
#47

Bojangles

place Laurinburg, North Carolina

trending_up+10.4pts
68.6
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: High-end plated dish
#48

Bojangles

place Raeford, North Carolina

trending_up+10.4pts
68.1
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Refined sushi or chef counter interior
#49

Skylines Cafe

place Clayton, North Carolina

trending_up+10.3pts
81.7
View Restaurant arrow_forward
Illustrative image: Destination dining room
#50

BRUMA Brunch & Dinner Taco

place Wake Forest, North Carolina

trending_up+10.3pts
71.3
View Restaurant arrow_forward
« Prev
2
Next »

Progress you can see.

A little context

Trending follows the largest positive changes in Restaurant Score over a monthly comparison. The current scores are dated October 9, 2026; the comparison target is September 9, 2026. The nearest earlier weekly observation, up to 14 days before that target, supplies each restaurant's starting score.

Changes are measured in points. Explore the scoring methodology for more context.

Follow your appetite.

More monthly discoveries

Trending Afghan restaurant in North Carolina

Explore Trendingarrow_forward

Trending African restaurant in North Carolina

Explore Trendingarrow_forward

Trending American restaurant in North Carolina

Explore Trendingarrow_forward
More cities in North Carolina
location_onAberdeenlocation_onAhoskielocation_onAlbemarlelocation_onAndrewslocation_onApexlocation_onArchdalelocation_onArcher Lodgelocation_onAsheborolocation_onAshevillelocation_onAtlantic Beachlocation_onAydenlocation_onBanner Elklocation_onBayshorelocation_onBeaufortlocation_onBelmontlocation_onBelvillelocation_onBelwoodlocation_onBenson
Restaurant Award Independent restaurant intelligence

Where exceptional restaurants
earn their place.

United States

Evidence-led rankings that turn public signals into meaningful recognition.

Explore the rankings arrow_forward Learn About Our Methodology arrow_forward
Discover
  • Rankings
  • Praise Awards
  • Methodology
Information
  • Frequently asked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2026 Restaurant Award. All rights reserved.

Data-led. Independently ranked.