Fayetteville International Food Trail

Fayetteville's dining scene reflects the global footprint of Fort Liberty. Soldiers and families have brought recipes from every continent, and you can taste that diversity in a single long weekend. This guide outlines a self-guided international food trail that links West African, Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American stops across downtown, Haymount, Skibo Road, and the Raeford and Cliffdale corridors.

How to use this trail

This trail is designed for flexible use:

• Pick one corridor for an evening out, or
• Build a full weekend itinerary with lunch, coffee, and dessert stops
• Mix sit down restaurants with food trucks and bakeries

Because Fayetteville is car dependent, plan on driving between zones and using our transportation guide for parking details.

For practical tips on driving and parking, see Getting Around Fayetteville: Transportation & Parking and the main Visitor Guide.

Downtown and Haymount: Walkable global bites

Start in the Cool Spring Downtown District and nearby Haymount, where you can park once and walk between multiple international options.

Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors

Downtown and the Skibo corridor feature several excellent Mediterranean and Middle Eastern kitchens. Menus often include shawarma, falafel, hummus plates, kabobs, and fresh salads built around olive oil, lemon, and herbs.

Look for:

• Casual counter service spots where you can grab a platter to go before strolling around the Market House
• Sit down restaurants with lamb shank, roasted chicken, and mezze spreads that encourage sharing

These restaurants are great for mixed groups, since most offer vegetarian plates, grilled meats, and kid friendly options like fries and rice.

West African comfort food

Fayetteville has one of the strongest West African dining scenes in eastern North Carolina, thanks to military families from Ghana and other countries along the Gulf of Guinea.

Typical dishes you might encounter include:

• Jollof rice with grilled chicken or fish
• Peanut or palm nut stews served over rice
• Fried plantains and yam fries
• Fufu or banku paired with rich soups

Expect generous portions, slow cooked flavors, and very friendly service. If you are new to West African cuisine, tell your server you are trying it for the first time and ask for recommended plates that are moderately spicy.

Coffee and dessert

Finish the downtown leg at a local coffee shop or dessert spot:

• Grab a cortado or pour over at a specialty roaster on Person or Hay Street
• Try a seasonal latte and house made pastry at a Haymount cafe

These stops make downtown ideal for a progressive date night: appetizers at one restaurant, dinner at another, and coffee or dessert somewhere else.

Skibo Road and Cliffdale: Strip mall gems

Skibo Road is best known for big box shopping and chain restaurants, but tucked among them are some of the most interesting international kitchens in the region.

Palestinian and Levantine dishes

Along Skibo and nearby streets you will find Palestinian and broader Levantine menus featuring:

• Chicken or beef shawarma wraps
• Hummus and baba ghanoush with warm pita
• Falafel platters with pickles and tahini
• Grilled kebabs with saffron rice

A typical trail stop here might look like:

1. Start with hummus and warm flatbread as a light appetizer
2. Share a mixed grill platter for the table
3. Add a side of tabbouleh or fattoush salad for freshness

Asian noodle and hot pot experiences

The Cross Creek Mall area has become a hub for interactive Asian dining:

• Korean style tabletop barbecue where you grill your own meats
• Hot pot restaurants offering bubbling broths, noodles, and thin sliced meats
• Vietnamese shops with pho, banh mi, and rice noodle bowls

These are excellent for groups and unit outings. Expect loud conversation, plenty of steam, and tables covered in shared plates. If you are unfamiliar with the format, staff are usually happy to walk you through how to order and cook.

Quick global lunches

If you are shopping at Cross Creek and want a fast but interesting meal, look for:

• Food court stalls serving teriyaki plates or Thai curries
• Strip mall spots with lunch combos that include rice, protein, and a side

Many offer lunch specials in the eight to twelve dollar range, making it easy to eat well without overspending.

Raeford Road and Hope Mills: Hidden neighborhood favorites

Head southwest from Skibo along Raeford Road and into Hope Mills to find smaller, often family run restaurants.

You will encounter:

• Afghan or Middle Eastern grills with kebabs and rice
• Mexican taquerias with street style tacos, tortas, and pozole
• Caribbean or Latin fusion food trucks parked near busy intersections

These businesses often cater to locals rather than tourists, so menus may be handwritten or only partially translated. That is part of the charm. If you are not sure what to order, ask what the kitchen is known for and follow their lead.

Suggested one day itinerary

Here is one way to structure an all day international food tour:

Morning

• Coffee and light breakfast at a downtown cafe
• Walk around the Market House and cool Spring streets

Lunch

• Drive to a Vietnamese or Thai restaurant near Skibo for pho, curry, or stir fried noodles
• Stop at a nearby bakery or bubble tea shop for something sweet

Afternoon

• Visit the Airborne and Special Operations Museum or Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Dinner

• Head to a West African restaurant for jollof rice, stews, and plantains
• Or choose a Palestinian or Mediterranean grill for shawarma and mezze

Nightcap

• Finish with a local craft beer at a brewery or a late evening espresso downtown

Tips for enjoying the trail

• Many restaurants offer military discounts; have your ID handy and ask politely
• Plan for traffic on Skibo and Raeford during rush hours
• Share dishes family style so you can taste more of the menu
• Check restaurant social media pages for current hours and specials
• When in doubt, choose what the kitchen recommends rather than sticking to the safest option

Fayetteville's international food trail is one of the clearest ways to experience how global the community around Fort Liberty has become. In a single weekend you can travel from West Africa to the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia without ever leaving Cumberland County.