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Sample the world when you visit the local restaurants in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. From A to V, our area dishes up unexpected food & flavors from unexpected places.
Who would have thought the mountains of Virginia would be a great place to taste entrees from Afghanistan or Venezuela?
Let your palate travel the world in a most convenient way: a Virginia’s Blue Ridge foodie getaway.
Caribbean
Caribbica Soul in Downtown Roanoke combines the flavors of the Caribbean with Southern soul food for a delicious dining experience, with dishes like jerk chicken & waffles or curry goat with baked mac & cheese and collard greens.
See the Menu: Caribbica Soul >
Cuba
Cuban Island is a dream come true for early 90s Cuban refugees turned restauranteurs. Their menu features authentic Cuban cuisine like ropa vieja (shredded beef with peppers, onions, and cilantro), black bean soup, yuca, fried plantains, and of course, the classic pressed Cuban sandwich.
See the Menu: Cuban Island Restaurant >
European
It doesn't necessarily represent one particular country, but Sidecar in Downtown Roanoke offers a menu that showcases a variety of European foods and drinks, including traditional German, Polish, English, and Belgian style favorites. The drink list also features many old-world inspired cocktails.
See the Menu: Sidecar >
Honduras
Taqueria Rosita is a food truck slinging some of the best food around, and one Yelp reviewer raved about their papusas specifically.
Follow on Instagram: Taqueria Rosita >
India
Nawab is an excellent place to dine well; a place to dine as if you were a Nawab, which is “a man of wealth and influence,” according to their website. Taaza is an upscale Indian restaurant in Roanoke's Grandin Village offering traditional fare as well as Mediterranean delights. Both restaurants feature lunch buffets that make for a delicious Indian food feast.
See the Menu: Nawab > | Taaza >
Italy
Fortunato, Luigi’s, Mamma Maria’s, Sal’s and Tizzone all offer excellent Italian dishes, from the pasta staples we all know and love to beautiful pizzas.
Fortunato’s menu includes octopus while Luigi’s boasts a few escargot options. In Salem, Mamma Maria’s is the top spot for a wide variety of pizza, garlic knots and more. In Daleville, the pizza of Tizzone Wood-Fired Kitchen & Wine Bar can’t be beat.
See the Menu: Fortunato > | Luigi's > | Mamma Maria's > | Sal's > | Tizzone >
Japan
Set sail on a delicious adventure with friends & family by ordering the sushi boat at Cafe Asia. Ben Gui Sushi Japanese Cuisine is another top sushi experience with The Red Dragon roll, a favorite of readers of The Roanoke Times. For a wide variety of sushi and excellent lunch specials, Wasabi’s has more than 30 options from fried tofu to eel.
See the Menu: Cafe Asia > | Ben Gui > | Wasabi's >
Lebanon
Cedars Lebanese Restaurant offers many traditional dishes and easy eats for those who want to dip a toe into Lebanese cuisine. Do try the taboulleh! Shishka Mediterranean Grill & Hookah Bar has a similar menu plus a robust hookah menu to try.
See the Menu: Cedars Lebanese Restaurant > | Shishka >
Mexico
Typically, Mexican restaurants don’t deviate too far from one another, but each certainly offers a slightly different atmosphere. Alejandro’s is consistently voted a local favorite Mexican restaurant and has locations in Hollins, downtown Roanoke and Salem – each one offering its signature popular chips & salsa bar.
Roanoke’s Tuco’s Taqueria Garaje focuses on fresh and light ingredients and the area’s most impressive tequila menu..
La Casa del Burrito in Vinton does not have a bad review anywhere. Period. People rave about the wonderful flavors and excellent service.
Authentic tacos, burritos, and tortas are favorite dishes at Tacos Rojas in Roanoke. Check them out at their original location in Roanoke’s West End or their new spot in the City Market Building in downtown Roanoke.
Mi Tapatia on Roanoke’s historic Williamson Road serves the fresh flavors of Guadalajara, Mexico, from which the owners hale. Taco Riendo is a Roanoke food truck and a favorite of locals. Find them on Williamson Road - Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Finally, Carniceria Lily is also a food truck on Williamson. Place your order inside the Latin grocery and pick up your food at the truck.
See the Menu: Alejandro's > | Tuco's > | La Casa del Burrito > | Tacos Rojas > | Mi Tapatia >
Pakistan
Head to the City of Salem to KJ's Grill and Kabab House, a family-owned restaurant sharing their recipes for authentic Pakistani food. They offer a large selection of grilled meat dishes, which are all halal, as well as many vegetarian entrees and side dishes.
See the Menu: KJ's Grill & Kabab House >
Palestine
Bethlehem Restaurant & Grocery in Roanoke offers a chicken shawarma that seems to top everyone’s list, and be warned…the spices may catch you off guard with their intensity. Vegetarians will love the Mezze platter of assorted appetizers, including wonderful spreads like Foul Mudammas and Baba Ghanouj.
See the Menu: Bethlehem Restaurant >
Peru
Introduce yourself to the incredible flavors of Peru with a meal at Inka Grill Peruvian Cuisine in Downtown Roanoke. The menu features an exciting assortment of beef and seafood dishes with a rich blend of spices and seasonings, showcasing the amazing tastes of this part of South America.
See the Menu: Inka Grill Peruvian Cuisine >
Thailand
Champloo Desserts is a rolled ice cream and bubble tea establishment found in Roanoke and Salem. Choose from fruity, non-fruity, seasonal, and plain handcrafted ice cream, or try a bubble waffle. A bubble waffle is a puff pastry that originated in Hong Kong and features a crispy edge and fluffy middle.
For Thai comfort food favorites like pad Thai, pad see ew, drunken noodles, and assorted curries, check out Thai Continental Cuisine in Downtown Roanoke.
See the Menu: Champloo > | Thai Continental Cuisine >
Venezuela
Leonore Restaurant in Salem offers a flair of Italian with their Venezuelan cuisine. Try an arepa - Venezuela’s bread – with black beans and mozzarella, chicken and cheddar, or even scrambled eggs, bell peppers, and sautéed onions.
See the Menu: Leonore Restaurant >
Vietnam
Viet Sub in Roanoke receives consistent acclaim for their pho and banh mi sandwiches.
See the Menu: Viet Sub >
If you can cross all of these flavors off of your fictitious palate passport, we want to hear about it! So many tastes, so many interesting people to meet, and so many stories to share.
Because that’s what happens over food, right? Great conversation of travels and experiences.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge would be honored to be included in those tellings. Be a tasty #Trailsetter and let us know on social media! Happy travels!
