Neighborhood guide: Where to eat on Cliffdale Road, from candied grapes to chop suey
If you like food — who doesn’t? — you’ve probably heard about Fayetteville eats along Bragg Boulevard, Murchison Road, Ramsey Street, Raeford Road and downtown.
You may not have heard about the fantastic food on Cliffdale Road, which stretches from the middle of Fayetteville at Morganton Road, through the Skibo Road commercial center and loops to Raeford Road on the far western side of town.
The area has food from all over the world, including a shopping center that one restauranteur called "the little international food court" of Fayetteville.
That would be Cliffdale Square, home to Indian, German, Puerto Rican and Japanese restaurants, three of which have been there for more than 15 years.
Travel further west, and you’ll find a bevy of Mexican, Japanese and soul food offerings. Here’s a look at some of what Cliffdale Road has to offer:
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Nita’s Kitchen
Nita’s Kitchen is nestled into a shopping center with a convenience store, Caribbean grocery and a hair salon at the corner of Rim and Cliffdale roads.
Open since 2017, the restaurant is known for soul food favorites like macaroni and cheese, collard greens and fried chicken. The food isn’t fancy, just “regular home, old fashioned mama recipes," owner Anita Tucker told the Observer last year.
Four of the combo meals on the menu are named for her grandchildren: three chicken wings with two sides for $12.99 is called the Joshua; two pork chops and two sides for $14.99 is called the BT3 for Barry III; one pork chop with two sides for $10.99 is called the Kennedy; and the Bryson is grilled or fried shrimp with two sides for $15.99.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday.
Address: 8200 Cliffdale Road
Website: nitas-kitchen.com
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Suga Mama’s Confections
In case you can’t tell by the name, Suga Mama’s Confections is the place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Owner and winner of Netflix baking show "Nailed It!” Toni Bryant-Chance expanded from a concession trailer into a brick-and-mortar store in Cliffdale Plaza in November 2021.
She said she tries to stay on top of trendy sweets — the shop was the first in Fayetteville to sell Warheads soda, and she just started selling pickles flavored by the sweet and spicy Mexican condiment called chamoy.
In addition to an assortment of classic treats like snow cones and spun-to-order cotton candy, the store offers candied grapes for $10; cotton candy pickles for $8; and fresh-dipped chocolate and cookie-covered strawberries starting at $10. The shop accepts SNAP benefits.
The Blue Bell ice cream, available as a milkshake, sundae or in a variety of different cones, has been the biggest draw. Kids’ cones are $1.50 and a “huge scoop” is $3.50, Bryant-Chance said. Ice cream cakes and pies are available, too.
Store hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 1 to 10 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, closed Monday-Wednesday.
Address: 6900 Cliffdale Road
Website: sugamamasconfections.com
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Mi Casita
This small Mexican chain now has 17 locations, but it all started in 1990 when owner Juan Macias opened the first Mi Casita in Tallywood Shopping Center on Raeford Road, where it still stands today.
Like the other locations, the Cliffdale Corner Shopping Center outpost is known for its burritos, chimichangas, fajitas and tacos. Entrees start at $9.99.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Address: 700 S. Reilly Road, Suite 110
Website: micasitarestaurants.com
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Myabi Jr. Express
One block east of Nita’s is Miyabi Jr. Express, a casual hibachi grill and sushi bar in Cliffdale Commons shopping center. Roughly translated in Japanese as "elegance" or "refinement," Miyabi Jr. also has locations on McPherson Church Road and Ramsey Street.
Hibachi meals start at $8.50; bowls start at $7.95; and sushi rolls start at $4.95. Online ordering is available at miyabijrex.com.
Restaurant hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Address: 8108 Cliffdale Road
Website: miyabijrex.com
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Shogun J. R Express
Speaking of Japanese food, an unassuming exterior gives way to a softly-lit and stylish interior at Shogun J. R Express in Cliffdale Corner Shopping Center. Not to be confused with the sit-down restaurant by the same name on Ramsey Street, this quick-service, hibachi-style restaurant and sushi bar also serves wings and Chinese specialties like sesame chicken and shrimp lo mein.
Hibachi meals start at $7.20; bowls start at $6.75; sushi rolls start at $5.50; and Chinese specialties start at $8.95. Online ordering is available at shogunjrexpressnc.com.
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, closed Monday.
Address: 700 S. Reilly Road
Website: shogunjrexpressnc.com
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China King
Cliffdale Plaza’s China King has all the usual suspects — chop suey, chow mein and crab rangoon — plus a few you may not find on many casual American-Chinese menus, like barbecue ribs and wings.
Chow mein starts at $5.25, fried rice starts at $5.50, lo mein starts at $6.50 and chop suey starts at $5.25. Want dessert? For $4.25, 10 Chinese donuts are all yours.
Restaurant hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday.
Address: 6900 Cliffdale Road
Website: chinakingorderonline.com
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Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com. Want food news in your inbox every Thursday? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Neighborhood guide to the food of Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville, NC
