North Carolina, United States Food Guide: 10 American food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kinston

March 29, 2020 Tonie Szymanski

Find out what American restaurants to try in Kinston. Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,677 at the 2010 Census. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. Kinston is located in the coastal plains region of Eastern North Carolina.
Things to do in Kinston

10. Whiskey Pig Craft Butchery and Deli

214 N Herritage St, Kinston, NC 28501-4822 American, Deli, Barbecue Lunch, Dinner Seating [email protected] +1 919-922-3596 https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyPig1/
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 15 reviews

Whiskey Pig Craft Butchery and Deli

Reviewed By T10KSmichaelc

My friend and I decided to explore Kinston, North Carolina’s civil war history. Before we began exploring, we decided we needed some lunch. The Whiskey Pig had been recommended to us and is across the street from the full-scale replica of the CSS Neuse, a civil war “Ironside”. The cozy place was busy as the Kinston Christmas parade had just ended. The menu changes often as we witnessed two items being crossed off the menu as we waited to order! I ordered the Texas barbecue brisket sandwich and tallow fries. I had not heard of tallow fries before but they are conventional fries fried in beef tallow. They had a just a hint of beef flavor and came out piping hot. The sandwich was piled high with meat and had a delicious sweet tomato based sauce on top. A small cup of cream style cole slaw and a few dill pickle slices completed the meal. Everything was delicious! I appreciated the break from vinegar based barbecue sauces! The prices are reasonable as the “combos” include a drink.The shop is also a butcher shop and has a wide selection of beef, pork and chicken to choose from. We’ve been told that the meats are very high quality. Very friendly service!

9. Chick-fil-A

4499 US Highway 70 W, Kinston, NC 28504-7576 American, Fast Food Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast Takeout, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible [email protected] +1 252-208-0744 https://www.chick-fil-a.com/kinston
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 31 reviews

Chick-fil-A

Reviewed By RascalNC

It’s the lowest sanitation score I’ve seen for this chain (93.5). Considering they cut the raw chicken unlike other fast food places where it comes frozen that concerns me. Service isn’t quite as good as most of the chain. Seems like they are always training new people. Overall, better than other fast food in the area, but not as good as the chain has in other towns.

8. Kings Restaurant

910 W Vernon Ave, Kinston, NC 28501-3612 American Dinner, Lunch Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Takeout +1 252-527-1661 http://www.kingsbbq.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 56 reviews

Kings Restaurant

Reviewed By Jack L

Within one minute was seated to a booth, seating is is combination of tables booths. Bre-server-allowed plenty of tine to select the Bar-B-Que. This is a plateful of slow roasted hand chopped pork served with cream-didn't taste much cream-coleslaw, large pile of fries, five hushpuppies in a roll form, not a ball. This was a large portion over a regular size portion.Two rooms are available, one for barbecue & buffet style seating.I chose the buffet seating with the house menu. Each table/booth has a lazy susan with a stand up paper roll, bbq sauce, ketchup, salt & pepper & packets of regular & sweet plus sugar.From order taken to serving only five minutes. Dessert was a banana pudding . Entire meal very filling & tasty. Plenty of parking. Would recommend both King's & meal.

7. Peach Restaurant House

412 W Vernon Ave, Kinston, NC 28501-3738 American, Deli, Soups Lunch, Breakfast Takeout, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible [email protected] +1 252-522-2526 http://www.peachhouserestaurant.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 34 reviews

Peach Restaurant House

Reviewed By 485cheryla

This restaurant is quaint and cute. It’s named after the color of the building. I say upstairs which was very peaceful. The bathroom was clean. The food was really good. While ordering my food the cashier explained the favorites as well as her own since I asked for some advice. She was very friendly. What I did not like was that after they. Thought my food up, no one came to check on me again. I had the panini. The herb enriched bread was so delicious and the grilled chicken was seasoned nicely. The buttermilk garlic dressing and the crispy bacon added a great flavor to the chicken. Why did I tip beforehand? So now just bringing your food to your table should get you 20%. No one even came to see if I needed more to drink or ask if I wanted dessert which I was going to get and gave another coffee but not after the experience. (By the way, the Blue room is very dark and needs more lighting. Another guests and I were discussing this upstairs.) I was disappointed by the service but the food was great and tasty.

6. Queen Street Deli

117 S Queen St, Kinston, NC 28501-4933 American, Soups, Deli, Pub, Diner Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks Outdoor Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Takeout, Seating, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, [email protected] +1 252-527-1900 http://www.queenstreetdeli.com/1006/Page.aspx
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 78 reviews

Queen Street Deli

Reviewed By Beach80126

We had a very nice lunch here. They were busy so service was slow. Sandwiches are very good. Greek salad was only fair. We would have lunch here again but would stick with the sandwiches.

5. Sugar Hill Pizzeria

211 N Herritage St, Kinston, NC 28501-4821 Pizza, Italian, American Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible, Seating, Serves Alcohol [email protected] +1 252-686-8800 https://www.facebook.com/sugarhillyall/
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 40 reviews

Sugar Hill Pizzeria

Enjoy food, folks and fun at Sugar Hill Pizzeria. Great selection and atmosphere make this a place that local families come for "a good time, not a long time". Come check us out and you will see...Sugar Hill Y'all! Downtown K-Town Proud...

Reviewed By Tulip76

I was visiting Kinston for an overnight trip and one of the things I noticed is that downtown there is a nice selection of restaurants within walking distance of where I stayed but the list dwindles quite a bit after about 5 pm. The inside of the restaurant is a little different in that when you enter, you feel like you should be ordering something like a sub. The counter is very close to the front door and is where you order and pay for your food. The tables are in an adjoining larger room. I filled my own soda cup and found a table. My salad arrived soon after and when I was done with my salad, my pizza slice arrived. The salad seemed fresh and the slice was pretty big. I was still a little hungry so I ordered some wings. The wings were good.Overall, the food was good, not cheap but not really expensive, and the portions were reasonable.

4. King's Restaurant Incorporated

405 E New Bern Rd, Kinston, NC 28504-6737 American, Barbecue Lunch, Dinner Delivery, Highchairs Available, Takeout, Buffet, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Table Service +1 252-527-2101 http://www.kingsbbq.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 185 reviews

King's Restaurant Incorporated

King's BBQ and Chicken serves Eastern NC BBQ; traditional vinegar based, hand chopped pork BBQ. We serve the best sweet/spicy BBQ ribs and BBQ chicken in Kinston. Locally sourced vegetables including collards, turnip greens, cabbage, black eyed peas, and

Reviewed By Bear E

Their billboards advertise a buffet but when you get there it doesn't start until 4:00 pm. Limited sit down menu. Noisy atmosphere. Food was mediocre at best. Ribs were cold almost like they just came out of the refrigerator. Coleslaw was like it came out of a container. Service was almost like we were keeping the server from getting off for the afternoon. Not likely to return

3. Lovick's Cafe

320 N Herritage St, Kinston, NC 28501-4824 American, Cafe, Diner Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch Highchairs Available, Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 252-523-6854 http://lovickscafe.com/
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 120 reviews

Lovick's Cafe

Breakfast & Lunch Since 1941. Please come and enjoy. 3rd generation.

Reviewed By AdakC

We had breakfast while in the area. Service was alright. Our food was served warm, like it had sat awhile before being brought to us. The bottled orange juice was a brown color, not orange. Maybe we caught them on a bad day. I'm not sure we will be back the next time we are in the area.Sure not the things we like to hear, not sure why these issues my have occured, will address the ok service, food should be hot, brown OJ? Will call Dole.Thanks and hope to see you again.

2. The Boiler Room Oyster Bar

108 W North St Located in an Alley, Kinston, NC 28501-4834 American, Bar, Seafood Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service +1 252-208-2433 http://boilerroomoysterbar.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 589 reviews

The Boiler Room Oyster Bar

Reviewed By ahmatthewsnc

The BLT was fantastic! The butter bean veggie burger was ok and the fried okra appetizer was nothing special. I hated the atmosphere. The seating arrangement for most of the inside is configured with a very long cushioned bench against a wall with tables placed down the length of it. That leaves you very close to a complete stranger. We were meeting family that we hadn’t seen in a while, and it definitely didn’t provide the pleasing atmosphere I expected. The inside really needs a decor makeover. Perhaps they seat some people outside at other times of the year or in the evening, but there really didn’t appear to be a lot of outside space. This was a hot summer day so inside was the only way to go. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because the BLT was so good. I definitely wouldn’t go back.

What to do and see in Kinston, United States: The Best Places and Tips

1. Chef and The Farmer

120 W Gordon St, Kinston, NC 28501-4816 American Dinner Takeout, Highchairs Available, Free Wifi, Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table [email protected] +1 252-208-2433 http://www.vivianhoward.com/chef-the-farmer/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1134 reviews

Chef and The Farmer

Reviewed By ElizabethG813

Enjoyed our meal here. The atmosphere is great. Upscale but didn’t feel too fancy. Service was impeccable-very attentive staff. Fried collards were excellent! Definitely a must if in Kinston. Hi Elizabeth! We are glad you had a great time. Thank you for the kind words. Please visit us again soon.

Kinston Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Kinston

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