Food Downtown Raleigh
Bida Manda
A place to eat in Downtown Raleigh, moderately priced ($$) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Dinner.
Why go
Laotian restaurant run by a brother and sister since 2012, known for crispy pork belly soup and lemongrass dishes.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown Raleigh, alongside 3 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with The Raleigh Times Bar and First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop.
- Type
- Food
- Neighborhood
- Downtown
- Price
- $$
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Dinner
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Downtown Raleigh, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1The Raleigh Times Bar
Bar in the 1906 building of the old Raleigh Times newspaper, with a rooftop patio a block from City Plaza.
Drinks · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop
Artsplosure's New Year's Eve festival on Fayetteville Street, ending with the copper acorn lowered over City Plaza and fireworks.
Activity · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3North Carolina State Capitol
Greek Revival capitol from 1840 at the north end of Fayetteville Street, a straight sightline from City Plaza.
Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line - 4Raleigh Marriott City Center
Large hotel on Fayetteville Street facing City Plaza, the closest beds to the Acorn Drop.
Stay · 0.3 mi straight-line - 5Poole's Diner
Ashley Christensen's diner in a 1945 luncheonette, known for macaroni au gratin and a chalkboard menu.
Food · 0.4 mi straight-line - 6Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
Fine dining in the restored 1879 Dodd-Hinsdale House, with a formal upstairs dining room and a cozier tavern below.
Food · 0.5 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Bida Manda is a stop on our Raleigh New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More places to eat in Downtown Raleigh
Another curated place to eat in Downtown Raleigh. See the full Downtown Raleigh guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Downtown Raleigh run from 48°F in January to 91°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Bida Manda itself, we suggest: Dinner.
Modelled monthly averages for Downtown Raleigh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Downtown Raleigh weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Bida Manda, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 35.77725, -78.63678
- Destination
- Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
- Website
- bidamanda.com
Bida Manda: quick answers
How much time do you need at Bida Manda?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Bida Manda. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Bida Manda?
Our pick: Dinner. Insider tip: Book ahead; walk-ins can wait at Brewery Bhavana next door.
Which TripsCircle routes include Bida Manda?
Bida Manda appears on Raleigh New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Bida Manda to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Raleigh.
Plan Downtown Raleigh
- Downtown Raleigh travel guide 8 places
- Best time to visit Downtown Raleigh weather by month
Lists & regions
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.