Ask a local: Best tacos, Mexican pizza and breakfast burritos in the Fayetteville area
Welcome to Ask a Local, a weekly summer series where we get the lowdown on where to go, what to do and what to eat around Cumberland County from the people who know it best. Interested in being interviewed? Fill out the form here.
In this week’s edition, we interview Manuel Chavez, 40, a California-born soldier stationed at Fort Liberty and a self-proclaimed “pizza snob” with a love for Italian and Mexican Cuisine. This is Chavez's second time in the area, having previously served here from 2009 to 2014 when the post was Fort Bragg.
Chavez said he’s found flavors here that mirror his West Coast upbringing and his Mexican roots, plus some distinctly Southern dishes. Read on for his favorite breakfast, barbecue and burgers.
Responses have been edited for grammar, style, length and clarity.
Where do you go for coffee?
I’m not a big coffee drinker but Cactus Creek has all different fresh-roasted coffees from around the world. I get a chocolate banana protein shake that is flavored with spices like nutmeg after my Saturday morning workout.
Best breakfast spots?
Cedar Point Restaurant has pineapple upside-down pancakes. They’re cooked to perfection, just the right amount of crispy and soft with a delicious glaze.
Don Ramon’s Taco Shop is one of my go-to places. They have massive breakfast burritos. I normally add bacon with extra salsa.
What restaurants do you frequent?
I’d like to think I'm a bit of a pizza snob. Brooklyn Pizzeria in Spring Lake has that chewy, crispy bite that you want from a New York-style pizza. Their cheese and sauce ratio is just perfect. They sell slices, too, which fill you up and hit the spot.
Crazy Taco food truck is quick, fresh and great for a weekday lunch (The food truck is often found outside Fort Liberty's Yadkin Road gate). They have quesabirria tacos made with goat, a lot of cheese, and consomme to dip it in. I either order that or carne asada tacos. However, one of my favorite things is the huarache. It’s essentially a long, thin fried flatbread loaded with beans, cheese, meats and salsa. The salsas are one of the main reasons I go there. They are consistently delicious and have the right amount of spice.
Taste of Mexico: 5 more places for the best tacos & burritos in Fayetteville, according to Mexican Americans
La Catrina Burritos Y Mas is a great place to gather with friends. One of the things that really drew me to them was the Mexican pizza. It's essentially large tortillas stuffed with your meat of choice and cheese. You can dip it into consomme or nacho cheese or add salsa — they’re customizable and speak to neo-Mexican cuisine.
Best burger?
One of the best burgers I’ve ever had is the breakfast burger at Metro Diner. I get it topped with eggs benedict. The burger itself was delicious, but when you mix all those flavors, it’s to die for.
See how readers voted Ranking the top 10 best burgers in the Fayetteville area in 2023
The Habit Burger Grill is a California-founded burger place that reminds me of In-N-Out as far as their freshness and signature sauce. They serve burgers on sourdough bread, which is very popular in California. You can’t go wrong. The sides are very delicious, too.
How about barbecue?
Noble Meats has fantastic pulled pork. It’s also a butcher shop, so everything is fresh. I’ve gotten their catering for a work function before and it was a huge hit.
Late-night bite?
I’m going to Cook Out for a Carolina-style burger with chili cheese fries.
Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Best tacos, Mexican pizza and breakfast burritos around Fayetteville
