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Save On Going Out to Lunch

Local restaurants offer Duke employee discounts

Yolanda Williams, left, a clinical pharmacist at Duke, uses the Duke employee discount for a recent lunch with her husband Jon at JuJu Asian Tapas + Bar in Durham.
Yolanda Williams, left, a clinical pharmacist at Duke, uses the Duke employee discount for a recent lunch with her husband Jon at JuJu Asian Tapas + Bar in Durham.

[Update: Jade Buffet has since closed its doors. For a full list of discounts at restaurants, please see here.]

Izy Obi maps out her lunch spots according to what restaurants offer discounts. 

Her favorite? Jade Buffet.

The restaurant, which is a few miles from campus on Guess Road in Durham, features Chinese and Japanese cuisine and offers 10 percent discounts on dine-in and $5 to-go orders. Jade Buffet also delivers.

“The discount gives you a chance to try different types of food and restaurants,” said Obi, a clinical placement coordinator with the School of Nursing. “My favorite at Jade Buffet are all the different sushi rolls.”

If you’re looking for lunch ideas, here are some eateries that provide discounts to Duke employees:

Juju Asian Tapas + Bar

Right off Ninth Street,  Juju offers Duke employees a 10 percent discount from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The restaurant in the Shops at Erwin Mill serves up small plates of Asian-inspired cuisine like dumplings, spring rolls and various meat dishes.

Nazara Indian Bistro

Nazara in Cary serves a lunch buffet every day. The restaurant features changing menus that include dishes for meat and seafood eaters, as well as vegetarians and vegans. Employees get a 10 percent discount on their meal.

Zaxby’s

Zaxby’s at 3520 Hillsborough Rd. offers Duke employees a 10 percent discount on individual meals. The Georgia-based casual dining chain specializes in chicken and is a favorite of Melody McNair, a nurse with Duke Integrative Medicine. zaxbys.com

“It means a lot to save money and just be recognized as a Duke employee out in the community,” said McNair, who estimates she can save as much as $5 a week taking advantage of employee discounts during lunch.

To redeem discounts, most restaurants may require a valid DukeCard.