La Cocina – Cary

La Cocina Restaurante Mexicano is on MacGregor Pines Drive in Cary, run by a family of brothers who grew up cooking in Guanajuato. The kitchen sticks close to the dishes they learned at home, and the cooking is authentic in the plain sense of the word.

Weekly specials and events keep the calendar moving, and the dining room is a welcoming one. The family’s motto is “From Our Family, To Yours,” and after all this time they still sound grateful for how far the place has come.

What to know

• The first La Cocina opened in Mebane, North Carolina, in 2000.
• The family now runs 11 locations.
• The brothers say every plate carries the same pride as the first ones they served.
• Opening that first restaurant made a long-held family dream real.