25 Best Restaurants in Asheville, NC
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville boasts a vibrant and diverse culinary scene, drawing food enthusiasts from near and far.
So, what are the best restaurants in Asheville, you ask? They’re plenty! We assure you, though, that each one of them will give you a uniquely pleasant experience.
Best Restaurants in Asheville
Whether you’re seeking farm-to-table freshness, innovative fusion dishes, or classic Southern comfort, Asheville’s restaurant scene has something to offer everyone. Here’s a guide to some of the best spots you won’t want to miss.
1. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
- Must Try Dishes: Sweet Potato Pancakes, Mac and Cheese Waffles
- Address: 12 College St, Asheville, NC 28801
This restaurant is one of the first places leading the wake of traditional southern food. Being in business for more than 20 years, Tupelo Honey remains as popular as ever.
One of the best entrees on the menu is their signature Shrimp & Grits. Another amazing dish is the Smothered Chicken. These skinless, boneless chicken thighs with milk gravy are to die for.
The restaurant also offers gluten-free and vegetarian options, which is a huge plus. Additionally, they have a brunch-all-day menu.
As for drinks, they have a few house-made specialties, including Tupelo Honey Cold Brew, Hopped Sweet Tea, and Turmeric Ginger Tonic.
2. White Duck Taco Shop
- Must Try Dishes: Pork Belly Tacos, Lamb Gyro Taco, Beef Bulgogi Taco
- Address: 12 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28803
The taco menu at White Duck Taco Shop is a culinary adventure, offering a wide range of globally inspired flavors that cater to a variety of tastes. Each taco is crafted with bold and inventive ingredients, ensuring a memorable dining experience.
The Pork Belly Tacos, for instance, feature succulent pork belly paired with pickled watermelon rind, providing a perfect balance of savory and tangy. The Lamb Gyro Taco incorporates tender lamb, tzatziki sauce, and crisp lettuce, bringing the delightful flavors of a classic gyro to a handheld form. For those who love Korean cuisine, the Beef Bulgogi Taco is a must-try, featuring marinated beef, kimchi, and fresh herbs.
Additionally, the menu often includes seasonal specials and vegetarian options, ensuring there’s something delightful for everyone to enjoy.
3. Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville
- Must Try Dishes: Meatballs, Brussels Sprouts, Trout
- Address: 130 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Another great restaurant in downtown Asheville is Twisted Laurel. It focuses on New American cuisine with a farm-to-table concept.
The place offers a variety of dishes from an always-changing seasonal menu. Some of Twisted Laurel’s special entrees include the Pecan Crusted Carolina Mountain Trout and Brick Chicken.
Their Swordfish au Poivre served with creamed spinach is out of this world. Furthermore, the place also has an enjoyable list of house-made pasta, which is extraordinary.
4. Posana Restaurant
- Must Try Dishes: Mushroom Gnocchi, Sunburst Trout
- Address: 1 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
This 100% gluten-free, contemporary American restaurant located in downtown Asheville proves that no gluten doesn’t necessarily mean no flavor.
Their Ribeye with arugula, mushrooms, and herb butter is phenomenal. Also, you can’t miss their Lamb Rack or Joyce Farms Chicken.
So, even if you’re gluten intolerant, you’re definitely going to enjoy Posana.
5. Sovereign Remedies
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Sovereign Remedies is especially great for art lovers and visual eaters. With their chef utilizing locally sourced ingredients to create masterpieces, Sovereign Remedies is lovely.
Try their Make Space Grande Lamb Marquez, Herby Chicken Thigh Pot Pie, or Furikake Dusted NC Catfish. You’ll never regret the experience at this restaurant.
Additionally, their kitchen heavily relies on local plants, fruits, and herbs, which is why their menu is superb.
6. The Market Place
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Another American farm-to-table cuisine, The Market Place is Asheville’s remarkable upscale dining restaurant. This American-Italian fusion restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic dinner date.
They offer a variety of dishes, mostly made with produce from farms that are no more than 100 miles outside Asheville.
The Market Place serves outstanding Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli and a marvelous Pan Roasted Sunburst Trout.
7. Rhubarb
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Rhubarb’s kitchen, led by the award-winning chef John Fleer, combines southern dishes and fine dining.
Their always-changing menu includes sharing plates, wood-fired dishes, and other tempting creations. This combination ensures a sensational experience for all food lovers.
From their Seared Sunburst Trout Fillet to the Smoked Ashley Farms Half Chicken, the food at Rhubarb’s can’t get any better than this.
8. Nine Mile
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Named after the area in Saint Ann, Jamaica, where Bob Marly was born, Nine Mile is a splendid Caribbean-inspired, vegetarian-friendly restaurant.
With three branches in Historic Montford, West, and South Asheville, this restaurant offers an impressive selection of seafood, salads, rice dishes, and much more.
At Nine Mile, they can turn almost any vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, or gluten-free dish, which is impressive. You shouldn’t hesitate to reward yourself with one of their outstanding shrimp, marvelous chicken, or flavorful tofu dishes.
9. Bouchon
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If you’re not much of a French cuisine fan, Bouchon is here to make sure you change your mind. The owner of this restaurant, Michel Baudouin, continues the farm-to-table tradition he grew up witnessing in his French hometown.
So, enjoy a fine plate of pan-seared tenderloin Steak au Poivre or a roasted half duck rubbed with dry coriander and cacao nibs. They also serve fantastic chicken and lamb chops. Not to mention how good their salmon dishes are.
10. Chestnut
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Located in downtown Asheville, Chestnut is a classic restaurant with an edgy twist.
Due to its seasonally changed menu, this eatery provides you with luscious dishes, like the Mushroom Wellington, Seafood Couvillion, and Pepper Crusted NY Strip.
While you’re there, you don’t want to miss the Pistachio Crusted Lamb Lollipops or the outstanding Shrimp and Grits.
11. Pack’s Tavern
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Pack’s Tavern is a family-owned restaurant that’s committed to top-quality service. Also located in downtown Asheville, this restaurant lies inside a beautifully restored historic building.
Their signature entrees include a mouth-watering Brisket Mac-n-Cheese, an overly appetizing Pecan Crusted Rainbow Trout, and crispy chicken tenders, among many other dishes.
In addition to that, their Beef Stroganoff and Grilled Ribeye are fantastic. They also have burgers, subs, pizzas, and calzones. It’s basically a have-it-all kind of eatery.
12. Zambra
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A place with a romantic atmosphere, Zambra offers traditional tapas with a contemporary approach.
This restaurant uses a selection of the best local ingredients to create their dishes. This includes the Seared Market Fish and Spanish Seafood Stew.
They also serve incredibly delicious tapas made with insanely appetizing components, including fried chicken, grilled shrimp, and smoked goat cheese.
13. Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas
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Red Ginger is an authentic Chinese dim sum and tapas bar. This sensational place is heaven for Chinese food fanatics.
It has a variety of vegetarian dishes, like the luscious Pan Fried Veggie Dumpling and the Vegetable Chow Fun.
As for omnivores, you can pick their distinctive Sticky Rice with Chicken, the juicy Smoked Duck Breast, or the Jing Du Steak.
They also have amazing noodles, rice, and seafood options, including the Yang Zhou Fried Rice, the Beef Noodle Soup, and the Fancy Salmon Roll.
14. Jerusalem Garden Café
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Take a trip to Jerusalem with this authentic Mediterranean restaurant. Operating for over 20 years, this family-owned eatery is relaxing and exotic.
You can eat food there while enjoying live music and belly dancing shows. What more could you ask for?
They serve a wide range of lamb, mixing grilled dishes and many other creations. Moreover, you can have their signature Falafel Wrap, Eggplant Moussaka, or Shakshuka Special.
15. Cucina 24
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This Italian/Appalachian fusion restaurant offers the best dishes with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, which takes the dining experience to a whole new level.
Just like many of Asheville’s restaurants, Cucina 24 changes the menu seasonally. However, the amazing standards remain the same.
They offer wonderful Smoked Lamb Loin, Roast Duck, Grilled Swordfish, and many other dishes.
16. Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse
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Another Asian restaurant, Ukiah, is top of the game. It has this kind of Japanese izakaya theme mixed with American BBQ.
Their Duck Hot Pot and Veggie Ramen are something else. They also offer outstanding Wagyu, Chicken Thighs, and Sea Bass skewers.
Additionally, they have a huge variety of coffee, tea, and non-alcoholic cocktail drinks, like the Ramune Japanese Soda.
17. Bone and Broth
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This restaurant serves elevated southern classics as well as steaks. It provides you with an exquisite dining experience.
You don’t want to miss their special Rosemary Sambal Lamb Chops, Chimichurri Chicken, or Southern Fried Rabbit.
18. Laughing Seed Cafe
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Laughing Seed offers international vegetarian food made with local and organic components. They have salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and marvelous entrees.
Their Butternut Squash Risotto is incredible, and the Thai Panang Curry is just as delicious. While you’re there, try the Kombucha drinks and freshly pressed juices.
19. Strada Italiano
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Our final Italian eatery is Strada Italiano because who doesn’t love Italian food?. This place’s menu is packed with incredible flavors that will appeal to most people.
From Tuscan Duck & Figs to Eggplant Parmesan, what not to like? They also serve heavenly pasta and desserts. So, don’t forget to try their specialty Grilled Florentine Ravioli.
20. Mayfel’s
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- Address: 22 College St, Asheville, NC 28801
Mayfel’s serves local cuisine with cajun and creole vibes. It’s yet another place to try the amazing Shrimp and Grits.
Crab Cakes and Buttermilk Fried Catfish are among the best dishes over there. What’s more, it’s one of these places where you can have an extraordinary brunch.
21. Moose Cafe
- Must Try Dishes: Biscuits with Apple Butter, Chicken and Dumplings, Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Address: 570 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
If you’re craving southern comfort food, then Moose Cafe is the place for you. They serve large portions of homestyle meals made from scratch.
You can try their fried chicken, pork chops, and meatloaf with your choice of sides like mac and cheese or collard greens. Don’t forget to save some room for their delicious fruit cobbler for dessert.
22. Cornerstone
- Must Try Dishes: Shrimp and Grits, Meatloaf, Eggs Benedict
- Address: 102 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
Located in the Clarion Inn Biltmore Village, Cornerstone is a quaint restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. Their menu features southern-inspired dishes with a modern twist.
From their savory shrimp and grits to their classic meatloaf, everything is prepared fresh daily using locally sourced ingredients. Don’t miss out on trying their delicious Eggs Benedict for breakfast!
23. Early Girl Eatery
- Must Try Dishes: Homemade Biscuit French Toast, Spinach Potato Cakes, Breakfast Bowls
- Address: 8 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801
Early Girl Eatery is a popular spot for breakfast and brunch in Asheville. They are known for their homemade biscuits, which are used to make their famous Biscuit French Toast. Their menu features Southern comfort food made with fresh, local ingredients.
Apart from their delicious breakfast options, the Spinach Potato Cakes and Breakfast Bowls are also must-try dishes. Make sure to get there early, as this place tends to get busy quickly!
24. Tastee Diner
- Must Try Dishes: Hot Dogs, Adult Milkshakes
- Address: 575 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Tastee Diner is a retro-style diner that offers classic American comfort food. Their hot dogs are a local favorite, and they also serve creative and delicious adult milkshakes. A fun and unique spot to grab a quick bite while exploring Asheville.
25. HomeGrown
- Must Try Dishes: Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Trout
- Address: 371 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
At first glance, Homegrown is a charming little restaurant. They make delicious biscuits from scratch right in-house. Plus, they use farm-fresh local eggs and local farm sausage. They also have vegetarian options available for those who prefer a meat-free breakfast.
Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, Homegrown is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. They even have their very own community garden where they grow some of the produce used in their dishes! So not only are you getting delicious food, but you’re also supporting sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients.
Conclusion
With a variety of Appalachian fusion restaurants and many others, this mouthwatering list of diners is absolutely worth considering if you’re going to be in Asheville soon. One of them is surely going to work up your appetite.
