Fayetteville's food and dining scene: What's new and changing this fall?

While Fayetteville’s dining and food scene saw many closings in the summer heat, the fall has been fairly quiet.

Still, there have been several openings and other news as the leaves change color and the days get shorter.

Among them are two new Asian food trucks; a new late-night Ramsey Street restaurant; a name change for a chicken spot in Freedom Town Center; a hot dog trailer for sale; a Fort Liberty spouse competing on "Hell’s Kitchen"; and a feline adopted by one of the city’s most popular breweries.

Here’s a look at what’s new to the Fayetteville food scene this fall:

GR Fil-Am Grill serves Filipino-American fusion food

Fayetteville food truck GR Fil-Am Grill made its debut in late September. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Gerard and Noni Rangel, the pair serve a menu of Filipino and American fusion food.

The Rangels moved to Fayetteville in 2021 from San Francisco. Gerard Rangel, who was born in the Philippines and is trained in French cuisine, said he has worked as a chef for more than 20 years.

He said he’s grateful to cook and serve the food of his native country, like shrimp pancit, lemongrass beef stir-fry and chicken adobo.

“I have more passion doing my own food, from my country, and bringing it to Fayetteville,” Rangel said.

The food truck was recently licensed to serve Fort Liberty and plans to be a fixture at the forthcoming Haymount Truck Stop, Noni Rangel said. It serves a rotating menu of about five items.

Vee’s Seoul Kitchen food truck hit the streets

Victoria Johnson, sister of Kwon’s Kitchen Korean Fusion owner Victoria McKoy, has opened a Korean food truck of her own.

Vee’s Seoul Kitchen Food Truck hit the Fayetteville streets Tuesday. The truck offers beef bulgogi bowls, egg rolls and loaded fries. Hours and locations vary, follow the food truck on Facebook for updated information.

Wingyro’s Mediterranean and American Grill opened on Ramsey Street

Wingyro’s Mediterranean and American Grill opened Oct. 18 at the former Niko’s Gyros & Wings II, 3612 Ramsey St. The new restaurant offers lamb, chicken, beef and fish gyros, shawarma, kabob and seafood alongside sub sandwiches, chicken wings and burgers.

Like its predecessor, the restaurant has late night hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Fabe’s Peruvian Rotisserie Co. is now Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken

The former Fabe’s Peruvian Rotisserie Co. at 2715 Freedom Parkway Drive in Freedom Town Center is now Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken. The name change went into effect Oct. 1.

The two brands are owned and managed by the same family and serve the same food, general manager Miguel Ramirez said Monday. All three of the former Fabe’s, located in Fayetteville, Sanford and Wilmington, have been rebranded to Alpaca, he said.

“Everything is the same, we just renamed it,” Ramirez said Monday.

There are now 13 Alpaca restaurants across the state, he said.

Tanks & Franks food trailer listed for sale

Tanks & Franks’ 20-foot food trailer was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace on Oct. 17. Owner Tiffany Close said in a Facebook message that she plans to continue operations until the $40,000 trailer sells.

“I have no current plans of closing down,” she said.

Fort Liberty spouse competes on Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’

Leigh Orleans, an international private chef and Fort Liberty spouse, got an unusual start to her culinary career — and you can watch it unfold on this season of “Hell’s Kitchen.”

Orleans, 28, said she graduated from culinary school just two weeks before flying to Los Angeles to film the show, which Gordon Ramsay hosts.

After filming, the Army brought her and her husband from Georgia to Alabama, then to the Fort Liberty area. The two have lived in Cameron for about a year, she said.

Watch Orleans compete in Season 22 of “Hell’s Kitchen,” with episodes airing on Fox at 8 p.m. every Thursday and streaming on Hulu the following day.

Read the story: 'Hell's Kitchen' contestant is a Fort Liberty spouse, international private chef

Adopted a kitten to keep mice away: Gaston Brewing Taproom

Gaston Brewing Company’s newest employee isn’t on the payroll, but he plays an important role in sanitation and service.

Meet LD, an orange and white cat named for Labor Day, when the brewery owners found him emaciated and alone outside the taproom on Chicago Drive.

He was recently named CEO — “Cat Executive Officer” — owner Troy Rassmussen said.

Once LD is a little older, he will guard Gaston's brewing ingredients from pesky rodents, like mice and rats, that can otherwise invade their stores of grain.

Read the story: Stray Fayetteville kitten finds a purrfect home at Gaston Brewing's taproom

NC Food Commissary plans to open in January

Raeford woman Chris Thiessen said she intends to develop a commissary dedicated to food trucks, carts and caterers at 813 Griffin St. in the Vander community of Cumberland County, just east of Fayetteville. The 1.75-acre property is the site of a 4,000-square-foot building formerly used as an HVAC storage warehouse, and at one time housed expired Frito-Lay products, she said.

Slated to open in January, NC Food Commissary will offer private kitchen space, food storage, oil recycling, trash service, restaurant supplies and a retail front where customers can pick up orders, she said.

Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Restaurant and dining news in Fayetteville, NC in Fall 2023