Coming to Duke is exciting. The first thing most people mention is Duke basketball. Another might be wandering through Duke Gardens on a sunny afternoon. Some are already thinking about staying in the Triangle long after graduation. What few people will tell you, though, is this: the Triangle is an elite food region. And somehow, the food gets even better when you experience it through the multicultural community at Fuqua.

For many of us, MQM is the first time we are constantly surrounded by people whose cultures, traditions, music, and cuisines are completely different from our own. It’s easy to stay in our comfort zones and stick to what we know. But, honestly, the best meals I’ve had this year came from throwing comfort out the window and letting friends guide me through cuisines they grew up with.

So here are three of my favorite food experiences in Durham, not just because the food was incredible, but because the people made them unforgettable.

1) Szechuan Mansion Hotspot

I went to Szechuan Mansion Hot Pot with my close friend Justin, who grew up in Beijing. From the moment we sat down, I knew I had surrendered all ordering responsibilities. Justin took the menu and started confidently checking boxes with food names I couldn’t even pronounce. About 20 minutes later, I found myself trying duck feet and tripe for the first time. Safe to say my taste buds got a lot more adventurous that night.

In all sincerity, there was a brief moment when I questioned every life decision that had led me there. By the end of the meal, I was fully converted. The hot pot was incredible, but what made the experience memorable was hearing Justin explain the dishes, traditions, and how hot pot meals are such a social experience in Chinese culture.

2) Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar

Another Ninth Street gem, I went to Lime & Lemon with my MQM team after finishing fall classes, and the five of us somehow represented five different countries. Arpita and Salman took charge of ordering and basically created a masterclass in South Asian cuisine for the rest of us.

What started as “Wait, what is Tamarind sauce?” quickly turned into conversations about weddings, family traditions, and cultural celebrations across our different backgrounds. At one point, we spent 15 minutes debating whose culture has the longest weddings (South Asia definitely won that one).

This was another example of a night spent enjoying fantastic food, and I will never forget how naturally it became a bridge to deeper conversations and friendships.

Quick honorable mention: Naga’s South Indian Cuisine in Morrisville is a little farther away, but absolutely worth it. I went late one night with four friends — three from different parts of South Asia — and somehow our ordering process turned into a regional debate on curries, spice levels, and whose hometown food was superior. It was easily some of the best Indian food I’ve had in the Triangle.

3) Wheat

Right across the street from Lime & Lemon sits one of my favorite restaurants in Durham: Wheat. The first time I went was with my friend Miller to celebrate Little New Year. Once again, I happily gave up control of the ordering process. By this point, I’d say this is probably a good life strategy in general, especially if you want to try something new and delicious.

That meal introduced me to flavors I never would have ordered myself, from Longan Red Date-Wolfberry tea to Crispy Grass Carp. Every dish felt like a different experience.

Another restaurant in a similar category that I loved was Taipei 101 in Cary. Their dry pot dishes are phenomenal, and somehow, the Japanese tofu completely stole the show for me.

At the end of the day, this blog isn’t really just about restaurants. It’s about how special food becomes when paired with the multicultural experience at Fuqua. Some of my favorite memories this year didn’t happen in classrooms or at networking events — they happened sitting around a table, slightly confused by the menu, while friends introduced me to flavors and traditions I’d never experienced before.

So, my advice? Be adventurous. Say yes to the unfamiliar dish. Let someone else order for the table. Worst case, you try tripe once and never again. Best case, you create one of your favorite memories from MQM.