If you’re hungry for new flavors and local favorites, Highland Park in Mount Airy, NC is the neighborhood to explore. Nestled just north of downtown, Highland Park is a blend of tradition and tasty innovation, where comfort food classics meet inventive new bites. Whether you’re craving a hearty breakfast, a sweet treat, or gourmet cuisine, Highland Park serves it up with Southern hospitality and small-town charm. Let’s dig into the culinary treasures that make this neighborhood a must-visit for foodies!
Where The Food Scene Shines
Highland Park’s dining scene is surprisingly diverse—anchored by beloved institutions, sprinkled with new-school café charmers and food trucks, and rooted in community traditions. Most of the action is centered along West Lebanon Street, with a few hidden spots tucked into side streets and residential corners.
Standout Restaurants: Local Flavor on Every Plate
- The Highland Table (310 W Lebanon St)
- *Cuisine*: Southern Bistro
- *Price*: $$-$$$
- *What Makes It Special*: Set in a refurbished historic home, The Highland Table feels like eating in a friend’s dining room if that friend was an award-winning chef. Their pecan-crusted trout and seasonal vegetable plate are Highland Park comfort food at its finest. Locals rave about Sunday brunch, with fluffy buttermilk biscuits and a signature chicken-and-waffles platter.
- Mount Airy Pho & Grill (334 W Lebanon St)
- *Cuisine*: Vietnamese & American Grill
- *Price*: $-$$
- *What Makes It Special*: Highland Park’s not just Southern; here you’ll find some of the region’s best pho and banh mi. The owners, a husband-and-wife duo, bring cozy, aromatic broths and crispy tofu banh mi. Try the “Highlander Special” — a fusion burger stuffed with local pimento cheese and Vietnamese pickles.
- Maria’s Taqueria Truck (usually at Highland Park Plaza, Lebanon St & Pine St)
- *Cuisine*: Mexican Street Food
- *Price*: $
- *What Makes It Special*: Don’t underestimate this little turquoise food truck! Maria’s is famed for freshly pressed corn tortillas, flavor-packed tacos, and weekend-only tamales. The locals’ secret: Call ahead for her birria tacos (they sell out in an hour).
Cafés & Bakeries: Highland Park’s Heartbeat
- Bean & Biscuit Café (347 W Lebanon St)
- *Deal*: $-$$
- *Cuisine*: Café, Light Bites, Bakery
- *Why Foodies Love It*: This cozy corner spot is Highland Park’s laid-back meeting place. The aroma of house-roasted coffee and buttery croissants fills the air from early morning. Their cinnamon rolls, warm from the oven, are legendary, and locals love the rotating selection of seasonal hand pies.
- Surry Sweets Bakehouse (235 Maple Ave)
- *Cuisine*: Bakery & Dessert Bar
- *Price*: $
- *Hidden Gem Alert*: Blink and you’ll miss this pastel-painted cottage, but peek inside for Mount Airy's softest sugar cookies, pecan bars, and velvety chess pie. The owner, Miss Lila, uses her grandmother’s recipes and welcomes every customer like family. Try the lemon chess pie (a true southern classic) with a scoop of house-churned ice cream.
Food Trucks & Hidden Gems
- Smoky Row BBQ Co. (Fridays at Highland Park Community Center)
- *Cuisine*: NC Barbecue
- *Price*: $
- *Neighborhood Favorite*: When you see a line stretching from the community center, that’s for Smoky Row’s slow-pulled pork. The hush puppies and tangy red-slaw are unmatched, and every bite has the perfect kiss of smoke.
- The Greenhouse Juice Stand (pop-up at Willow Park, E Oak Ave)
- *Cuisine*: Smoothies, Fresh Juices, Healthy Eats
- *Price*: $
- *Weekend Only*: Look for their green-and-white tent on weekends for farm-fresh kale-apple juice, fruit smoothies, and avocado toasts. Health-conscious Highland Park locals swear by the beet-ginger wellness shot.
Classic Traditions & Neighborhood Favorites
- Highland Park Diner (on Pine St at Lebanon St)
- *Cuisine*: Classic American, Breakfast All Day
- *Price*: $
- *Noteworthy*: This family-run spot isn’t fancy, but it’s the best greasy spoon north of downtown. Pancakes as big as your plate, chicken fried steak, and endless mugs of coffee keep locals coming back.
- The Popcorn Place (250 W Lebanon St)
- *Cuisine*: Gourmet Popcorn, Snacks, Old-fashioned Sodas
- *Price*: $
- *Why It’s Special*: For a light bite or souvenir snack, walk into The Popcorn Place and inhale the sweet, salty aroma. Flavors rotate weekly from caramel apple to jalapeño cheddar, plus retro candy and craft sodas for a fun movie night at home.
Dining Destinations: Where to Wander
Eating your way through Highland Park is as easy as parking on West Lebanon Street and strolling a few blocks. The intersection of Lebanon and Pine is the unofficial food hub—start here and make your way east to discover new specialties and meet friendly faces at every stop.
- *Breakfast*: Bean & Biscuit Café or Highland Park Diner
- *Lunch*: Maria’s Taqueria (food truck) for tacos, or Mount Airy Pho & Grill for something different
- *Sweet Treat*: Surry Sweets Bakehouse — don’t skip the chess pie!
- *Dinner*: The Highland Table for a true night out, or Smoky Row BBQ if you catch them on a Friday
- *Snack*: The Popcorn Place for something to-go
Why Highland Park?
What makes Highland Park so delicious is its blend of old and new, family-owned pride, and creative energy. Many recipes have been passed down through generations, while new arrivals and young chefs add international flair and upscale twists. Prices are mostly friendly, and the portions? Generous enough you’ll want to bring a friend or two.
Next time you’re hungry in Mount Airy, skip the chain restaurants and head to Highland Park. You just might discover your new favorite bite in a neighborhood full of small-town flavor and big-hearted cooks.