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    Hank's Downtown Dive

    4.5 (109 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars, Tacos
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Hank's Downtown Dive Photos

    HANK'S DOWNTOWN DIVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Hank's Downtown Dive

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    Reviews With Photos

    Steak
    Divya S.

    Such a cute spot in Downtown Cary!! The service here is absolutely phenomenal. It started to rain torrentially as I was walking into this spot and their wait staff graciously gave me a clean dish towel to dry myself off as they mentioned their bathroom paper towels would not be as helpful. It was very kind of them! The food here is also delicious. We ordered fries for the table, and my friend and I split the steak and NC tide fish. I'm still dreaming about the beans the fish was plated on. This will now be added as a spot I will take out of town visitors. I would recommend small parties only as this spot is fairly quaint!

    Caulidilla
    Juliet H.

    It's delicious and John at the bar is fabulous! Hubs and I truly enjoy cozying up to the bar for dinner and drinks at Hank's. The fried chicken, flounder, burrata, and the caulidilla are ALL fantastic. Loved the roasted oysters too. The flavors are poppin' and the innovation in the execution of the dishes and the plating always gets me. Like, burrata with no bread wanted or needed-- love it. IYKYK. Oh, and that freaking panna cotta with the pomegranate is absolutely EVERYTHING! It's truly a sleeper, but not to be missed (ever). Compliments to the chef and John. We love Hank's and we'll be back again and again. Cheers!

    What amazing wallpaper
    Karen S.

    Wow I wish wish I lived in this adorable downtown Cary' families, Christmas lights, bars restaurants. Love. Passed by this place, as a single not really wanting a dive bar, skipped 2x. Then, consulted Yelp. What a great experience Gold rush, my new fav drink Wine selection with a wine I was unfamiliar (Spanish, starts with an S) Despite wanting to order the elevated best fried chicken of your life enough for two, I opted for eggplant fries in a spicy red pepper sauce, crisp, dip panel and full of flavor. And the oysters. Perfect I will go here always when near Raleigh

    Food was unbelievably good and service was spot on even though they seemed very busy for a Monday. Jason the bartender was great. Lots of gluten free options. Had the pasta and the friend chicken. Both amazing! I've never had fries with green beans but that combo was awesome!!! The white bean hummus also tasted so fresh! I would highly recommend this spot!

    Rebecca L.

    Let's take a moment to appreciate just how divine this fried chicken is. Perfectly crispy, juicy, and served family-style with a generous pile of golden fries, crisp green beans and drizzled with chili garlic honey--this is the kind of comfort food that feeds both the stomach and the soul. The Moore's Farm broccoli was a standout side, bringing a fresh, earthy balance to the richness of the chicken. And let's talk ambiance--charming, cozy, and the kind of place that makes you want to linger just a little longer. Cary, you've got a gem here. No question--I'll be back for more.

    Lasagna
    Eric B.

    Great ambiance and vibe and lived the service at the bar. We tried several popular drinks and loved them all. The fried chicken was juicy and crispy--big portions and fries--and my wife raved about the lasagna. The real winner was some puft pastry bread thing w Indian curry spices or something...wow that was a tasty treat to start. We'll be back for sure...this was our 2nd time (we went last year visiting from our home in Austin, and now we live much closer in Richmond). 5 stars.

    Milk washed bourbon drink
    Jaclyn N.

    This little cute restaurant in downtown Cary is an entire experience. The portions are huge. I had the oysters and pork shank and both were delicious. The drinks were very very good. The fried chicken was enough for my two friends to share. The lasagna was average. My friend's portion was big but it wasn't something we'd get again. The Korean cauliflower was amazing. I wouldn't order the carrots again either. Our server was being trained and was as kind and attentive as could be.

    Brisket taco
    Shannon D.

    So it was pretty good. The tacos are 7 dollars a taco. The fried chicken meal is MASSIVE. So many fries, but the sauce that it's baked with is amazing. The beef and broccoli was just okay. I'd come back again but it's a little bit on the pricey side for the quality. Still good though. Nice atmosphere outside as well as inside.

    Anthony H.

    The oyster both raw or cooked are must have ! Great service! Nice design and decor! The shrimp and grits was on the salty side! Otherwise it was a perfect meal!

    Bluefin Tuna sseasoned and seared to perfection served with delicious salad and a special sauce. Delicious!
    Dale D.

    1st year anniversary for Hanks Downtown Dive according to Matthew. Well lighted with view of Chatham Street in the Sunroom patio seating indoor and outdoor seating. Excellent heirloom tomatoes on grilled toast with basil is the fresh appetizer. Double Wrapped Tacos, shrimp, house made potato chips, and a special sauce is a delicious presentation with broccoli. Dozen fresh oysters on the halfshell from Pamlico, North Carolina was tasty, briney flavor, accented with horseradish, lemon slices, and a mignonette. I highly recommend that you visit Hanks Downtown Dive to enjoy the New Orleans style blues and jazz music, the well lighted dining and delicious food. Ask about the story of Hank. One of the best restaurants in the Downtown Town of Cary.

    Heirloom tomatoes

    We found Hanks on yelp and boy did we luck out! Our server Naomi was wonderful and made us feel at home. The restaurant had the best vibe! The food was nothing short of spectacular. We had heirloom tomatoes, olives, lasagna and fried chicken. Next time we are in Cary, we will definitely be back! Thanks Naomi

    These heaters weee two feet closer and centrally located.  Evidently the table requested they be moved closer.

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    Ask the Community - Hank's Downtown Dive

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    Esmeralda Grill is a very authentic local Mexican spot that does a lot of things right, especially…read morewhen it comes to classic comfort dishes. I usually rotate between the tacos, enchiladas, and molcajetes, and while the tacos themselves are just okay, the overall experience is solid. The fresh chips are easily some of the best I've had at a Mexican restaurant (warm and crisp). Add queso to those chips and it really seals the deal. They more than make up for the tacos being a bit underwhelming and are honestly reason enough to come back. This is a great neighborhood spot if you're looking for authentic flavors, generous portions, and excellent chips and dips (biggest downside is no liquor aka no margaritas). Not every dish is a knockout, but the highlights keep it comfortably in 4-star territory.

    Esmeralda Grill absolutely rocks, and it was almost a restaurant that I considered avoiding because…read moreI ordered the wrong thing. I was really one mayonnaise filled torta away from missing out on my favorite Mexican restaurant of Cary. The food is some of the freshest and most authentic in the area, and is consistently spot on. Forget heavy burritos or overly sauced enchiladas, this place is the real deal. When you come to Esmeralda Grill, you should really focus on the meat heavy dishes, whether it be via land or sea. There are so many different options to choose from, from both categories. When thinking seafood, expect the full fish. If you find yourself with the fresh grilled tilapia, you will receive a delicious whole fish that tastes as if it was caught that morning. It is such a fantastic option. I also appreciate the camarones a la diabla, or Diablo shrimp. The shrimp are plump and juicy, the spice of the dish is excites your taste buds and is a great dish. My favorite entrees are the land meat dishes though. El Trio Perfecto is my go-to order, it is grilled steak, chicken and pork all on one plate with rice, beans, salad, and tortillas. The Mexican spice rub on the meats is absolutely mouth watering, the flavors are so bold and tasty. The meats are all cooked to perfection and the portions are gigantic. You can make different tacos with the various meats, it is seriously one of my favorite Mexican dishes. I would highly recommend this! Additionally, Esmeralda Grill has so many other wonderful dishes for different flavor profiles. My grandparents are pretty particular about empanadas, but simply cannot get enough of Esmeralda's version. They also make some killer tacos, and some very affordable ones if you were to come on Tuesday! The moral of the story? Don't base your opinion of a restaurant after a single visit. You don't come across a fantastic hole in the wall every day, Esmeralda Grill is one that every Mexican food lover should know!

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    4.5(77 reviews)
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    I love this place…read more They never disappoint. Good solid Mexican food for a reasonable price. The quesadillas are my favorite. I rotate between the carnitas and the carne asada. I love that they have crema and queso fresco crumbled on top with the onions and cilantro. Fresh made tortillas. They're basically a huge taco. The pulpo tostada was yummy! they have a little salsa bar with the spicy pickled carrots , onions and jalapeños. A few different salsas, cabbage salad , and more. If you want real authentic Mexican food. Give them a shot!

    Excellent Tacos! The restaurant is an average storefront Tacqueria but don't let appearances fool…read moreyou! They have a very large selection of tacos, and there is definitely something for everyone who's a taco lover. I got al pastor, carne asada and pollo tacos and all are excellent. All the tacos are stuffed full into two soft corn tortillas, and yes FULL! Order at the counter, and they'll give you a container for the condiment bar and some small cups for salsa. The condiment bar had chopped onions, cilantro, pico de gallo and jalapeño, also pickled onion and sliced radishes as well as lime wedges. Also four different salsas, all really good and with decent spice levels. The tacos are $3.50 each, definitely worth the price. Rancho Grande is kind of what Chubby's used to be before they got impressed with themselves Good food, reasonable prices and friendly folks at the counter, how can any taco-lover not like this?

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    Taqueria El Toro - @sujungchronicles

    Taqueria El Toro

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    Hands down the best tacos I've had in North Carolina. Just wow. The food is phenomenal and comes…read moreout really fast. They've expanded into a bigger space so there's a lot more seating available which is much needed because it's always packed. The line moves quickly and the staff works efficiently. They are pros. If you love tacos, try this place.

    Stopped by Taqueria El Toro last week after a few people had recommended this place. I'll admit my…read moreexpectations may be shaped by having a lot of Tex Mex style food in Texas, but I wanted to give this a try. When you arrive, there is plenty of parking around the building, and entrances in the front and on the right side. Once inside, you'll walk up to counter and place your order. Your then given a order number and it's open seating. Your number will be called out in Spanish when your food is ready and you'll pick it up at the counter. I ordered an al pastor taco which unfortunately was not good. It came out extremely cold and needed a lot of salsa for it to have any flavor. I also ordered a steak burrito which was much better and was served with melted cheese on the top. There were fatty pieces throughout the burrito but this was far better than the taco. Lastly, I ordered a horchata but it tasted like grainy and wasn't great. If I'm in the area again I may give this a try but I'd definitely stick with a burrito so your food is hot.

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    Tacos Estilo Hidalgo #2 y Pupuseria - Taco asada.

    Tacos Estilo Hidalgo #2 y Pupuseria

    3.7(20 reviews)
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    The place blends in with the strip, for sure. However my friend had gone there before and explained…read morethere were different flags on the menu. So I agreed. It is a small place for sure. Parking could go either way, I would assume better during off lunch, early dinner hours. We were greeted as soon as we arrived and to my surprise, the menu is extensive! Wow. We opted for ASADA tacos and Revueltas Pupusas. They serve beer. If you eat in, there a bar for toppings. It was very, very good. We enjoyed both options and if around, I would definitely go back. Small, quiet and good.

    Affordable Latin American eats…read more While not my favorite place to order tacos and pupusas, this joint won't rock the bank like some of the other places I ate. This place is frequented by construction and other blue color workers, so you know it's gotta be bussin for the value. I ordered a variety of different tacos; pollo, asada, Al pastor, lingua and loroco pupusa. The chicken is very bland, the safe option for people with low spice tolerance. The other meats have decent flavor but tend to be on the dry and chewy side. The pupusas are lovely and I always enjoy watching them assemble and fry on the griddle. The cortido is a nice crunch and if you want other options, they have a salsa bar to tack on more. The staff speak Spanish and will try to explain what an item is, but it's best to study before hand. They're really nice and patient and will try to describe something if you didn't prepare ;) Easy lunch and quick dinner option.

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    Hank's Downtown Dive - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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