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With so many options, how do you choose? When we first moved to AVL, all of the Asheville restaurant guides seemed to have the exact same places to eat:.
Those are indeed some of the most popular and famous Asheville restaurants. They are delicious. You should go to them. Jerusalem Garden Cafe is a vibrant must that forces difficult choices against its downtown neighbor, Red Ginger Dimsum. Endless Asian tapas anyone? One word: Dumplings.
Personally, Edison at the Grove Park Inn makes our mountain hearts sing with those jaw-dropping sunsets and seasonal craft cocktails. Posana is a classic date night downtown Asheville restaurant with a dedicated gluten-free kitchen.
And, what about when you need a hole-in-the-wall grinder from Apollo Flame Bistro? Plus, which Asheville breweries have the best food or food trucks? Known as Foodtopia, the restaurants in Asheville are plentiful and amazing.
So, how do you choose? As Asheville locals, we are sharing our favorite Asheville, NC restaurants. And yes, of course, this list will be highly contentious and also not include every restaurant in Asheville. This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We are also including restaurants in Asheville that we love for dine-in and takeout.
One of the Asheville restaurants we live for, Plant is everything. Plant is food. We are not vegan, but Plant is truly for everyone. Hands down one of the best vegan restaurants in Asheville , we are obsessed with their cheese plate and desserts. Dishes change seasonally and are mostly organic and gluten-free. Beets, curries, veggie lasagna… Need we say more? Plant does not have an online reservation system, and sometimes, it may be hard to get through. Plus, North Asheville has amazing restaurants and stays just a tad quieter than downtown.
Plant has its own parking lot — a bonus in this tight city. One of the newer Thai food restaurants in Asheville , Thai Pearl is gorgeously decorated and delicious. Thai Pearl is also a great choice if you are looking for more gluten-free options. If you follow us elsewhere, you know that Tom has Celiac Disease — so gluten-free is extremely important to us. Sitting between two famous West Asheville restaurants , Nine Mile and Jargon, choose from curries, rice, stir-fry dishes, soups, and Thai salads.
Thai Pearl also serves fresh oysters. Now, we frequent Thai Pearl as much as we can. Not only did we meet Chef May and learn how much she gives back to the community, but we tried her most popular Thai dishes.
Tom devours the Pad Thai and Thai Basil. This is definitely our new favorite go-to Asheville Thai restaurant. See what restaurants are new in Asheville in For one of the best new Japanese restaurants in Asheville , Ukiah is sure to wow you.
Located on Biltmore Ave. Think meat skewers, shrimp cocktail, ramen, and raw sushi-grade fish. This is an Asheville restaurant to treat yourself. They can accommodate dietary restrictions. Inside, the bar is gorgeously decorated, and the rest of the restaurant will transport you out of the city. Make reservations and bring an extra sweater in the fall and winter, especially if you wish to enjoy their outdoor patio with the beautiful stone fireplace.
Limones is by far one of the most romantic restaurants in Asheville. This is also our top pick for ambiance. Plus, any place with two enchanting window seats is a bonus for us. Find candle chandeliers glowing throughout this historic building decorated with mirrors and abstract art. With two smaller rooms and a bar, enjoy intimate conversations. His food is simple yet divine. To start, order tapas with their famous margaritas; you may have trouble choosing from their extensive list.
For tapas, we enjoy the fresh and innovative ceviche but they also have lobster nachos…. Limones has a great cocktail list, Spanish dessert wines, and Mexican coffee. We could sit here all night. Personally, we appreciate that Limones sits on a quiet downtown side street. You will want to make advanced reservations.
We could never pick out one or two of the best BBQ restaurants in Asheville. North Carolina is famous for its BBQ. Their North Asheville location is always jumping, and they offer indoor and outdoor seating. This location also has a parking lot. You cannot go wrong with their BBQ and hearty sides.
You cannot beat those sunset views over the mountains. They serve lighter fare including sandwiches and salads and are cheaper than their other restaurant, Sunset Terrace. Even though the bars are not quite situated on an actual rooftop, we consider The Omni Grove Park Inn as housing the best rooftop restaurants in Asheville, NC.
Sunset Terrace is a stellar high-end Asheville restaurant. We daintily annihilate their scallops and steak. Please just remember that the Grove Park Inn is a luxury resort hotel.
Most of the year, parking is free for the first few hours in their lots and Vanderbilt parking garage. For the holidays, you will have to pay a hefty self-park or valet fee. Fair warning, too: you will have trouble deciding what to eat here.
You will most likely over-order and want to eat it all. We always have leftovers. Gypsy Queen, along with Plant and Laughing Seed, is also one of the best Asheville restaurants for both vegan and gluten-free food.
For Mezze, order grape leaves, hummus, and a mixture of fried Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. For entrees, choose from rice bowls, gyros, platters, and wraps. We recommend dining at Gyspy Queen for lunch. Order at the counter and grab a seat — inside or out. Gypsy Queen is located near Green Tea Sushi, just on the outskirts of downtown Asheville over the bridge that passes by the Asheville silo. We promise: the food is delicious and the staff is incredibly accommodating and friendly. Find plenty of parking.
Nine Mile is a vegetarian-friendly restaurant with Caribbean-inspired pasta and rice dishes. For Asheville restaurants, Nine Mile has one of the largest menu keys for gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, nuts, dairy-free, and honey. Nine Mile does not take reservations, and they will grow extremely busy no matter what time you arrive.
With some luck, you might catch them at the right time, and we promise: the wait is worth it. Nine Mile runs on the spicier side, but they can accommodate dishes.
Their pasta and seafood are delicious. Nine Mile also only serves wine and beer. Montford is also one of the most unique Asheville neighborhoods for architecture, Riverside Cemetery , and Shakespeare in the Park. One of the first fancier restaurants in downtown Asheville that we ate at before moving to AVL , Posana is always jumping. Unique to Asheville, Posana has a dedicated gluten-free kitchen.
This is perfect for our Celiac husband. Almost all of their menu is gluten-free with the exception of a few labeled cocktails and drinks those bitters, man. Posana is the absolute best restaurant in Asheville for celebrations. They serve local and contemporary American cuisine.
Think gluten-free desserts, appetizers, and meaty entrees. The executive chef and co-owner graduated from The Culinary Institute of America. Posana has a large patio and looks out over Pack Square, which is full of interesting happenings. This is Asheville, after all.
Recently, the owners also started nearby District 42 , a lounge, and Bargello , casual fine dining at Kimpton Hotel Arras.
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Picnics include house-baked breads and pastries, local cheese and meats, and salads made from fresh, local produce. Patio seating has cliff views. The brasserie combines delicious French food and incredible wine selections with seasonal local produce and products that Executive Chef Peter Crockett sources from farms around Asheville. With a prime corner location in the beautiful Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville, find superior local and organic produce and meats for a bounty of fresh flavors with contemporary style. Enjoy craft cocktails, specialty beers and famous honey dusted fried chicken at their new lounge, adjacent to original space. Devour overflowing tacos; we suggest ordering at least 2 per person. Sunny Point posts wait times near where you order.
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Also find food trucks, best burgers, pizza, vegan, coffee houses, gluten-free and top places to eat by location! Find a warm, cozy atmosphere where the food and service will delight your senses. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, ample wine offerings, a selection of local draft beer, an extensive rhum list, and of course, delicious food prepared by Chef Owen McGlynn.
Free parking in their private lot downtown. Located in downtown Asheville, this eatery serves modern soul food inspired by Appalachian ingredients.
Brunch on Sundays. Take in the sights and mountain views with a picnic basket from The Rhu in downtown. Picnics include house-baked breads and pastries, local cheese and meats, and salads made from fresh, local produce. Many choices! Order in advance for quick pick-up. Enjoy an elegant dinner or Sunday brunch at this secluded mountaintop, luxury lodge at 5, feet elevation in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Sunday brunch buffet has two carving stations and home-made desserts. Lunch picnics too! Reservations required. Open late April through early November. Enjoy lunch or dinner in the shadows of Chimney Rock. Carefully crafted dishes feature many local ingredients and the freshest seafood possible.
For the ultimate romantic surprise, ask about reserving the chef's private table. Patio seating has cliff views. Exceptional wine list. Reservations recommended.
Open Tuesday-Saturday. Dine lakeside at Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure by their private beach. Arrive by boat or car. Casual dining includes their favorites, hand-made pizzas and house-ground burgers.
At the bar, sip craft beers while watching the game or playing billiards. Come early to enjoy the patio views. The original home of Green Man Brewing, the pub specializes in hand-crafted English ales and weekly traditional jam sessions in a charming old world atmosphere.
Open until 1 AM weekdays, 2 AM weekends. Located inside the historic Orchard Inn , their farm-to-table prix-fixe menu changes weekly, with much of the produce from their organic garden. Enjoy views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and extensive wine list. Make reservations in advance for this special dining experience.
A world-class favorite located on charming Wall Street. Chef William Dissen's inventive menu features seasonal and organic ingredients from area farms, plus an extensive wine list.
Live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the bar and lounge. In the heart of Asheville in Pack Square is this comfortable place for friends, families and strangers to simply lean in and enjoy each other's company. A place where food and drink is at its uncomplicated best.
The menu is inspired by seasonal ingredients and pays homage to the bounty of regional and American cooking. A wood-fired oven and grill complement the rustic creations. Award-winning Executive Chef Tom LaFauci specializes in handmade pasta and smoked meats putting his Italian-American touch on a wide range of crowd-pleasing entrees.
Limones Downtown — Three cheese chile rellenos. Cucina 24 Downtown — Wood roasted vegetables. All of the vegetable dishes here are top notch.
Also, distinctive cocktails. The Admiral West Asheville — Amazing thick cut pork chop order it cooked medium and scallops. Farm and Sparrow Bakery sold at All Souls Pizza and seasonal farmers markets — Wood fired bread, house milled flour, and chocolate croissants.
Wild Ginger South Asheville — Outstanding chicken pho. Mela Indian Restaurant Downtown — Saag paneer and kozi milagu chettinad. They also have distinctive cocktails. Chai Pani Downtown — Warning! They have okra fries that are habit forming. Sovereign Remedies Downtown — The pimento cheese puffs are light as air. Strada Italiano Downtown — Tons of fresh, gluten free pastas.
French Broad Chocolate Lounge Downtown — Ganache based drinking chocolate and a dizzying array of truffles, all made from bean to bar or brownie or pot de creme. Table Downtown — Try the thick and rich chocolate budino. Zambra Downtown — Pan seared local trout and small plates set in a romantic dining experience.
Jerusalem Garden Downtown — Baba ganoush that will have you licking your plate clean. Red Ginger Downtown — Try the pork dumpling in shanghai style and dan dan noodles. Heiwa Shokudo Downtown — Altenderfer roll with tempeh, avocado, and maple almond butter is our go to order. Farm Burger Downtown — One of the popular Asheville downtown restaurants. Check out the No. They also have a brewery downstairs. Let us know what you think! River Arts District. Grey Eagle Taqueria River Arts District — We recommend the carnitas arepa with smoky and super tender confit pork and the Also try the fiambre salad.
Try the smoked Carolina shrimp. Grove Park. Strawberry and coffee ice creamare our favorites. They feature North Carolina beers and local and regional flavors. Expect to see a hefty list of North Carolina cheeses, an entire 'eat your vegetables' section and Southern-inspired bites with a culinary twist. The West Asheville restaurant has been around for over a decade and continues to keep on the forefront of what diners want: delicious food. Its chill atmosphere, romantic lighting, minimalistic interior and a globally inspired ever-changing menu of small, is what draws in the crowd.
Altogether, a fine dining restaurant with dive bar vibes, situated in a cinderblock building. The amped up wine list is just the cherry on top.
In the 20 or so years that it's been open, Limones Restaurant has remained a firm favorite for local residents. Chef and owner Hugo Ramirez offers some original and appetizing reworks on the cuisine of his home town, Mexico City. The menu changes roughly every week or so depending on what produce and ingredients are available locally at the time. Chef Patrick O'Cain, an Asheville native, whips up visually stunning East Asian dishes like dumplings, ramen, Korean fried chicken and more, in a no-frills former gas station.
Lunch features a more mainstream, straight forward menu check out the dumpling boat, where you pick 20 dumplings of choice and dinner service takes it to next level. This cozy eatery has grown from humble beginnings as a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar eatery offering a fusion of European food culture with Appalachian ingredients and flavors. Located in the super-stylish River Arts District, Vivian has established itself as a firm favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Chef Brian Canella keeps it real with traditional Italian intertwined with regional ingredients. If breakfast, at any time of day, is your thing, then this unassuming eatery located on Haywood Road is nothing short of an oasis.
There's very little that isn't on offer here and everything is made from locally sourced ingredients or even grown from its on-site production garden. At the weekends, patience is required as every local knows how good the food is here, from sausage and cheese-stuffed French toast, carrot hotcakes, or locally lauded shrimp and grits. Occupying a modest outlet on Patton Avenue, this Mexican eatery is extremely popular with locals, who pour forth to sample the delicious and extensive menu.
Specialties include birria, pupusas, caldo de res and pollo con mole plus of course there's an wide variety of tortas, tacos, burritos, tamales and quesadillas on offer.