Featured image: Sam Dean Photography / Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwest Virginia, Roanoke has a long-standing reputation for welcoming immigrants and refugees into the community, even getting national recognition last year for its efforts. From Filipino to Middle Eastern to Jamaican and more, this hospitable nature has translated into diverse and flavorful dishes available across the city.
Here’s just a taste of the global bites Roanoke has to offer.
Pinoy Kitchen | Filipino
Owner Franchesca “Fran” Maglalang recently closed her popular restaurant and grocery in nearby Vinton, Virginia, but is still serving up authentic Filipino food every Saturday at vintage and antique store Unusual Finds in Downtown Roanoke. Classic dishes like Lumpiang Shanghai, a deep fried appetizer akin to a spring roll, Dinakdakan, a spicy pork belly dish and banana fritters dot the menu. Maglalang will have her Pinoy Kitchen food truck up and running later this summer to bring Filipino favorites to the people on a regular basis.
Nakhon Thai Cuisine | Thai
Nakhon Thai is a Thai restaurant that focuses on quality over quantity, says owner Chanya Hanchana, who says the menu is purposely on the smaller side to allow her to “carefully control the quality of each dish.” The focus has paid off as the eatery has near perfect reviews on Google thanks to the vibrant and bold flavors in crowd favorites like the sweet and savory cashew stir fry or crispy chicken.
Diablos Tacos | Mexican
Located just outside of Roanoke in neighboring Salem, Virginia, Diablos Tacos was a fan favorite at various food festivals around town for a number of years before opening a permanent location just under a year ago. Every Tuesday tacos are just $1.99 each, making it even more of an appealing spot to try—but don’t discount how delicious the street corn or tamales are, too. There’s also a traditional salchicha torta (a grilled sandwich with split hotdogs tucked inside) that’s worth a taste.
Cuban Island | Cuban
You’ll find this acclaimed Cuban hotspot in the Williamson Road district in Roanoke, a well known destination for international cuisine. Estela Perez and her husband Manuel Hidalgo have been in the neighborhood for 15 years and are well known throughout the community for their homestyle cooking and hospitality. Enjoy Travel recognized them as one of the top Cuban restaurants in the country in 2023. Stop in for a strong Cafe Cubano before moving on to a plate of ropa vieja or one of their Cuban sandwiches.
Viet Sub | Vietnamese
Owners Tu Doan and her husband Khoi Nguyen relocated to Roanoke from Vietnam in 2013 and have been crafting their signature Banh Mi Sandwiches pretty much ever since. A perfectly crispy homemade baguette is slathered with mayonnaise and chicken liver pate before being topped with proteins like honey glazed pork herb and veggies and is an all-around winner, but things like pho and Bun Thit Nuong—rice vermicelli noodles—are also available.
Sudha’s Kitchen | Indian
After a year-long hiatus, owner Sudha Tumuluri celebrated a grand reopening of her beloved food truck specializing in vegetarian South Indian flavors in March. Fans flock to the truck, parked on Colonial Avenue about ten minutes from downtown, for the multitude of dosa options and other traditional plates like biryani and samosas on offer. Delight your taste buds with the cheesy paneer or spicy masala dosa and wash it all down with a cool mango lassi to drink.
Empanada Nirvana | Puerto Rican
As the name suggests, empanadas are a main attraction at this food truck that pays homage to Puerto Rican cuisine. Filling flavors rotate often and run the gamut from mac and cheese to chorizo to a Philly cheesesteak option. At only $5 a pop, it’s a no-brainer to try more than just one. Check out the traditional and popular shrimp mofongo on the menu while you’re at it, or try the Puerto Rican smash burger. You can keep up with where the truck will be by following Empanada Nirvana’s social media accounts.
Ike’s Kitchen | Japanese
The Roanoke community was crushed when Ike’s Kitchen closed in March of 2022, only to be elated when the well-loved establishment reopened toward the end of 2023. Originally from Japan, Chef Ike has lived in Roanoke for the last 30 years and serves a range of classic Japanese dishes. The katsudon rice bowl with deep fried pork and egg is a must-order, as is the agedashi tofu or the spicy tantanmen ramen.
Reggae Grub | Jamaican
Roanoke’s City Market Building houses Reggae Grub, a newer spot in town celebrating Jamaican culture. Owner Kevin Brown developed his passion for cooking growing up in Jamaica and decided to bring the flavors of his home country to the city in 2023. Try classic dishes like the spicy jerk chicken, oxtails or curry goat for a main and pair it with a side of fried plantains or red beans and rice. Brown is known for doling out substantial portions with each order, but you still may not end up with any leftovers given how good it is.
Bethlehem Restaurant & Grocery | Afghani and Mediterranean
Bethlehem Restaurant & Grocery is part restaurant and part specialty grocery store that weaves together Afghani and Mediterranean flavors. On the grocery side, you’ll find a mix of Afghani clothing and provisions like the viral pistachio Dubai chocolate bar, spices, and frozen food, while on the restaurant side you’ll find things like succulent kabobs, falafel and specialties like Qurma Chalow, an Afghan lamb curry. The menu is fully halal as well, one of the few in Roanoke.
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