As a dietitian nutritionist, food journalist, and former restaurant cook, I think it’s fair to say that I know my way around food. Since moving to the North Carolina Triangle region, I’ve done my best to eat at as many restaurants as possible. And since opening Ruby Oak Nutrition, I’ve been asked by countless clients for recommendations for healthy restaurants in Raleigh, NC.

Before I list off some of my favorites, let’s get something straight: As a non-diet dietitian who specializes in eating disorder treatment and takes an intuitive eating approach, I know that “healthy” means something different to everyone. No single food – or restaurant! — is inherently “healthy” or “unhealthy.” The best restaurants are whichever ones you love, and that differs for everybody.

When people ask me where to find a healthy lunch or what the best healthy restaurants in Raleigh are, I caveat by telling them that you can find a nutritious meal pretty much anywhere. Not everybody loves that answer, and I get it. So now when people ask me this question, I think about restaurants that offer a wide variety of foods from all different food groups, and that typically leave me feeling satisfied and energized.

The Raleigh, NC restaurants listed below range from grab-and-go salad spots to multi-course sit-down restaurants. Some are great for a work lunch, while others are better suited to special occasion dinners. Read on to discover my favorites.

11 top spots for healthy food in Raleigh

Whether you’re in Downtown Raleigh, North Hills, Hillsborough Street, or somewhere else around town, a satisfying meal is right around the corner. Remember that “healthy food” isn’t a one-size-fits-all term. What feels good for you might not feel great for someone else, and vice versa.

3 best healthy breakfast restaurants in Raleigh

1. Raleigh Raw

Although a smoothie isn’t my breakfast of choice, I know that others swear by them. And what I really love about Raleigh Raw is that there are also smoothie bowls on offer, which come with toppings and are thick enough to eat with a spoon, as well as fun toasts. At lunch time, Raleigh Raw also serves poke bowls, salads, and sushi burritos. And bonus: The inside is dog-friendly!

• Location: 7 West Hargett St
• Google rating: 4.7 stars
• Our top menu picks: The Khaleesi Acai or the Green Lotus smoothie bowl for breakfast, a build-your-own sushirrito for lunch
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://raleighraw.com

2. Irregardless Café

More a brunch spot than a breakfast one, Irregardless is a big, bright restaurant on Morgan Street just outside of central Downtown Raleigh. On weekends starting at 10 AM, you can order a huge range of brunch classics, many of them vegan. The menu is vegetable-heavy and features waffles, omelettes, sandwiches, and various salad options

• Location: 901 West Morgan St
• Google rating: 4.6 stars
• Our top menu picks: Goat cheese omelette, tofu scramble, crab cake benedict, or lox brioche
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://www.irregardless.com/

3. The Daily Planet Cafe

Located inside the Museum of Natural Sciences on West Jones Street, the Daily Planet Cafe offers a range of coffees, smoothies, salads, and sandwiches, including plenty of vegetarian options. It’s a fun place to stop into if you’re on your way to work downtown, or if you’re planning to spend some time at the museum.

• Location: 121 West Jones St
• Google rating: 4.4 stars
• Our top menu picks: Huevos rancheros grits bowl, avocado toast, breakfast burrito
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://thedailyplanetcafe.com/

4 best places for healthy lunch in Raleigh

4. A Place at the Table

Located in a sunny spot in Downtown Raleigh, A Place at the Table is the perfect place for a casual lunch meeting over a salad or sandwich. Even more impressive than it’s food — which tastes like something you might make at home on days when you’re really motivated — is its mission. The restaurant has a pay-what-you-can model, where you can pay the suggested price, pay less (at least $3), pay by volunteering an hour of your time, or pay an additional $10 to donate a meal to someone else.

• Location: 300 West Hargett St #50
• Google rating: 4.8 stars
• Our top menu picks: Turkey bacon avocado club sandwich, superfood yogurt bowl, hummus pesto sandwich
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://tableraleigh.org/

5. Happy and Hale

A local mini-chain that’s similar to Sweetgreen, Happy and Hale serves up fresh salads and grain bowls, as well as drinks like juice and kombucha. The North Hills location is right next to a row of fitness studios, so it’s the perfect spot to pop in and grab something to go after a workout, or to sit and have lunch while you’re working remotely. Their delicious Hale Caesar bowl is my absolute favorite, a vegan caesar salad with buffalo cauliflower, cashew parmesan, and super crispy chickpeas. In addition to signature dishes, you have the option to build your own bowl with various grains, vegetables, cheeses, sauces, and other toppings. It’s also easy to find gluten-free choices.

• Location: 200 Park at North Hills St #101 (and a few others around the Raleigh and Durham, NC)
• Google rating: 4.4 stars
• Our top menu picks: Hale Caesar, Coco Curry Bowl, Chimi Steak Bowl
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://www.happyandhale.com/

6. CAVA

If you like build-your-own-salad places but want something a little bit heartier, CAVA is probably your best bet. It’s basically the Mediterranean Chipotle, owned by the same folks who own Zoe’s Kitchen (another great lunch spot that sadly isn’t in Raleigh anymore). Everything is fresh, and in addition to normal protein options like chicken and tofu, you can choose from things like braised lamb, meatballs, and falafel. There are locations all over Wake County and beyond, and any of them make a great choice. I frequent the one in the Village District because it’s closest to Ruby Oak Nutrition’s Raleigh office.

• Location: 403 Daniels St
• Google rating: 4.5 stars
• Our top menu picks: It’s best to build your own bowl here. Some of the best toppings are the braised lamb, crazy feta cheese dip, falafel, and skhug dressing.
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://cava.com/

7. Sosta Cafe

A cute sandwich place on Davie St with a handful of indoor and outdoor tables (plus a very comfy couch!), Sosta is an underrated place for a quick but tasty lunch. The sandwiches run the gamut from ham and brie to curry chicken salad to vegan chicken salad, and there are plenty of salad and veggie options. What’s best about this place, though, is that every sandwich comes with a free side of cous cous salad, bean salad, or green salad.

• Location: 130 East Davie St
• Google rating: 4.8 stars
• Our top menu picks: Alpine sandwich, vegetarian riviera sandwich, salmon salad, salad sampler
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://www.sostacafe.com/

4 best healthy dinner spots in Raleigh

8. Fiction Kitchen

Although vegan “chicken” and “pulled pork” isn’t everyone’s thing, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this place, which recently moved just outside the city center to Gateway Plaza. As far as healthy food Raleigh goes, this place is one of the only fully vegetarian spots around. You can go for a couple of small plates, or choose a hearty main like “Chicken” and waffles or Impossible meatloaf. Either way, vegan options abound.

• Location: 2409 Crabtree Boulevard #100
• Google rating: 4.7 stars
• Our top menu picks: Eastern NC-style BBQ sandwich, peanut noodle bowl, vegan charcuterie board
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://thefictionkitchen.com

9. The Standard Beer + Food

If you’re looking for a varied food menu alongside a list of local brews and craft cocktails, The Standard (in the Person St neighborhood) is your place. It’s almost always crowded, probably because it’s a great choice for pretty much anybody. Come with a huge group and sit in the backyard with your dog, or show up alone or with a friend at the bar. They have a killer tuna tartare appetizer, a loaded cobb, and creative tacos that you can mix and match.

• Location: 205 E Franklin St
• Google rating: 4.5 stars
• Our top menu picks: NC spicy tuna tartare, standard cobb, skirt steak taco
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://standardbeerandfood.com/

10. Ajja

From the owners of the award-winning (and sadly, closed) restaurant Garland, Ajja is a Mediterranean-South Asian fusion restaurant located in the Five Points neighborhood. It’s a great place for a group birthday dinner or for date night, with unique decor, creative food options, and friendly staff who are happy to guide you. The menu changes a bit by season, and pretty much everything is delicious. Hot tip: The warm olives come without pits and taste like the spices they’ve been marinated in — a must-try.

• Location: 209 Bickett Blvd
• Google rating: 4.7 stars
• Our top menu picks: Lamb seekh, tear ‘n’ eat bread, creamed feta dip, and at least one of the seasonal market vegetable options for the table
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://www.ajjaeats.com/

11. Sitti

An old standby on Wilmington St, Sitti is a Lebanese restaurant with a huge menu and a huge space. The menu has classics like hummus, grape leaves, falafel, kebabs, and platters, and all are tasty. There’s also a full bar and the restaurant takes reservations, so it’s a good place to keep in mind if you have a big group and want to plan a sit-down dinner.

• Location: 137 S Wilmington St
• Google rating: 4.4 stars
• Our top menu picks: Samkeh harra, chicken shawarma, Sitti tasting platter, falafel
• Link to the restaurant’s website: https://www.sitti-raleigh.com/

Our intuitive eating dietitians can give you the personalized recommendations you need to support a healthy, happy lifestyle.

At Ruby Oak Nutrition, we offer in-person and virtual appointments for anyone who wants to recover from an eating disorder, feel less stressed about food, or improve their health without dieting.

We’re a group of dietitians who take a non-diet, body-positive, identity-affirming approach to recovery and healing your relationship with food. Go here to learn more about nutrition counseling for kids, teenagers, and adults, in-network with most major insurance companies and offered virtually to clients in North Carolina and over a dozen other states.

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You might also like:

• What Is Intuitive Eating? Why Is it Better Than Dieting?
• What is HAES? Why Should I Work With a HAES Dietitian?
• Body Acceptance Is Key to Intuitive Eating. Here’s How to Practice It.
• Intuitive Eating and Weight Gain — Things to Keep In Mind