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When husband-and-wife team Kevin Ryan and Haley Leo lived in New York, every imaginable cuisine was available within a short train ride to the city. “There, you have the world

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When husband-and-wife team Kevin Ryan and Haley Leo lived in New York, every imaginable cuisine was available within a short train ride to the city. “There, you have the world

9 Essential Stops Along Jacksonville’s International Food Trail

Jacksonville, NC, restaurants: Pollos Teete and Lime & Lemon

When husband-and-wife team Kevin Ryan and Haley Leo lived in New York, every imaginable cuisine was available within a short train ride to the city. “There, you have the world at your fingertips,” Leo says. Veterans in the food industry, they loved the fast-paced restaurant scene. That’s why some of their friends were surprised when the couple chose to return to Jacksonville to open a taproom.

“We were able to choose any Marine Corp base,” Leo says. “You would think that with bases in Japan, Hawaii, and California, Jacksonville might not be high on our list, but we love this area.”

Sample one of the regional beers on tap at The Clove Hitch Beer Company (bonus, there are also options for those who prefer wine!). Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Now, as the busy owners of the recently opened Clove Hitch Beer Company, they appreciate the variety of cuisine that feels just as accessible as the options they chose from in New York. “It’s such a melting pot with Camp Lejeune that you have so many people who end up settling here,” Ryan says, which results in a community of locally owned, authentic eateries.

From warm Belgian waffles to fresh sushi rolls and Filipino stews, Jacksonville has a spot to fill every craving. Read on for a handful of can’t-miss stops along its official International Food Trail.

 

From creative cocktails and steak to creamy curries and crunchy samosas, the menu at Lime & Lemon delights a range of palates. Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Lime & Lemon

Originally from Southern India, Executive Chef Sengu Arumugam has a deep passion for Southern and Northern Indian cuisine. Blending spices like turmeric, saffron, tamarind, and cardamom, he gives diners a taste of India’s regions, traditions, and celebrations.

Lime & Lemon was first created by friends who saw the need for an elevated, authentic Indian cuisine experience. Adding to a successful lineup of locations in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh, the restaurant’s newest location on Jacksonville Parkway is the first Indian restaurant in a Hilton property.

“We’ve been open one year, and people are telling us we give them an experience and the kind of food they can only expect in metro cities,” Ravi Jeyaraman says, who co-owns Lime & Lemon. “They are happy that we are able to bring a big-city experience to Jacksonville.”

 

Havana 58

This classic Cuban and Italian espresso bar has mastered the intense-meets-sweet coffee balance you didn’t know you needed to start your day. “Havana 58 is one of the only places I can get a cortado — equal parts espresso and steamed milk,” Ryan says.

Want an afternoon pick-me-up? Ask for the affogato al caffe, made with a double shot of espresso poured over vanilla gelato.

 

Pho 7

Nourish your soul with a bowl of pho, a traditional brothy Vietnamese soup topped with fresh basil leaves, lime slices, jalapeño slices, and bean sprouts. If your preferences fall in the sandwich category, you can’t go wrong with banh mi — a sandwich constructed from impossibly crispy-fluffy bread stuffed with pickled radish, carrot, cilantro, jalapeños, and your choice of pork, chicken, or beef.

 

Try the sisig at Filipino Cuisine, a tangy, savory specialty made with pork and lots of seasonings. Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Filipino Cuisine

From the first year Kat Pasion’s mother, Josie, moved to Jacksonville, she knew she wanted to open a restaurant to share the Filipino cuisine of their family’s hometown. “We’re from a place called Pampanga, which is the official culinary capital of the Philippines,” Pasion says. “There wasn’t a place in Jacksonville where you could get home-cooked Filipino food, like stews, and she wanted to do that here.”

Filipino Cuisine’s most popular dish is sisig, served on a hot plate. “It’s fried pork belly, and we mince it with ginger, jalapeño, onion, and lime,” Pasion explains. “We serve it with rice and sometimes top it with an egg, extra chilis, and a slice of lime.”

 

Round up a group of friends and head to Chicano Street Kitchen to try as many dishes as possible, from chilaquiles to breakfast specialties. Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Chicano Street Kitchen

At Chicano Street Kitchen, look forward to Mexican-American specialties like birria chilaquiles (crispy corn tortillas cooked in a birria sauce) and steak tacos. There’s a festive drink menu, too, featuring fresh, colorful cocktails.

For co-owner Adrianna Leon, working in the food industry has always been second nature. Her father owns the local El Cerro Grande, and her brother owns El Cerro Tacos. “I wanted something else I could put a little bit of me into,” she says. “I like working with people and talking with people. Chicano is very cozy. It’s comfortable to come in and stay and talk for hours.”

A huge fan of breakfast foods, Leon is especially proud of the breakfast menu. “I love the Luis French toast, topped with powdered sugar and fruit.”

 

Order the lomo saltado at Pollos Tete, french fries topped with strips of sirloin, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, sauce, and a fried egg. Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Pollos Tete

At this authentic veteran-owned Peruvian restaurant on Brynn Marr Road, the juicy, tender chicken is the main event. The chicken, roasted over charcoal, pairs well with their homemade mild yellow sauce and green hot sauce, as well as sides like fried yucca, rice, and salad.

And the reviews don’t lie: “My Puerto Rican husband said it was similar to his mom’s cooking — and he does NOT say that often!” Tabitha D. writes.

 

Sample flavorful, fresh salads and spiced shawarma at Marrakesh. Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Marrakesh

While Ryan was on a Marine expeditionary unit, he immersed himself in the flavors of Oman, Jordan, and Bahrain. Today, when he eats at Marrakesh, he’s flooded with a wave of nostalgia. “Marrakesh is the full experience — the knickknacks, painting, lights, tapestries. When you step inside, you feel like you’re transported to a different world.”

Marrakesh celebrates time-honored recipes passed down from generation to generation, reflecting this family-owned business’s values. Owner Ahmad Rahman, who immigrated to the United States from Jerusalem in 1967, always cooked for his family, and it was with his sons Sami, Nabil, and Sammer that Marrakesh opened in 2010.

 

Which will you choose at The Milk Road, a matcha latte or cappuccino? Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

The Milk Road

According to Keith Nemcoff, founder of The Milk Road, their three hares logo “transcends culture and language, connecting people around the world.” Nemcoff believes coffee has that power, too.

He originally roasted coffee in an old popcorn popper in his Camp Lejeune barracks room. When he and some friends opened this cozy gathering spot on Gum Branch Road in 2016, it grew to include menu items like quiche and their signature liège waffles. Made from a brioche dough infused with pearl sugar, the waffles’ exterior caramelizes as it cooks in the cast-iron mold. Enjoy the crunch with a hot cup of coffee from the Espresso Garden out back.

 

Start your visit to Wasabi Japanese Sushi & Cuisine with an order of edamame and seaweed salad. Photography courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Wasabi Japanese Sushi & Cuisine

“If we’re hungry, even at all, and craving any form of sushi, Wasabi is our go-to,” Ryan says. “At least twice a week, we order it for pick-up.”

Whether you take it to go or grab a table in their small, cozy dining room, the service is spot-on and the sushi is second-to-none. “My favorite is the Sunshine Roll, and Kevin is going to order anything with shrimp tempura!” Leo adds.

 

Hungry for more? Whether you’re craving an espresso, icy paleta, or substantial bowl of brothy noodles, click here to learn more about Jacksonville’s International Food Trail and other locally owned restaurants in this Onslow County city.

This story was published on Jan 24, 2025

Robin Sutton Anders

Robin Sutton Anders is a writer based in Greensboro.