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Breakfast is the champ at this bright and airy in-demand spot for biscuits, smashed avocado toast, and frittatas, but it's also worth a visit later in the day for delicious bites like fried halloumi with honey and capers.
102 Montford Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Quick counter service
- Hemp lattes
- Breakfast sandwiches overflowing with goodness
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In 2022, this unassuming storefront Indian street food eatery stunned the culinary world by winning the James Beard Award for Most Outstanding Restaurant in the country. Fortunately, the accolade hasn't changed the laid-back delightful experience of dining here. Chef-owner Meherwan Irani draws inspiration from his hometown near Mumbai in dishes like bhel puri (crispy puffed rice with a tamarind sauce) or chicken pakoras (savory fritters).
22 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Shareable dishes
- Vegetarian-friendly menu
- Reasonable prices
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If you have the blahs, Cúrate, with its extraordinary authentic tapas and fun atmosphere (they won the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Hospitality—in the country) is the cure. The kitchen showcases the flavors of Spain over two dozen snacks and small plates, with special attention to cured Iberian ham dishes and seafood such as octopus and calamari.
13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Spanish sherries and wines
- Convivial atmosphere
- Selection of hams
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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This charming intimate space features handmade shadow-box art from the 1950s, a collection of mirrors, and retro lava lamps above the bar. The menu is equally eclectic, with small and large plates, including deep-fried deviled eggs, calamari in a garlic marinara sauce, roasted octopus with fava beans, duck and andouille gumbo, elk meatballs, and trout with fennel.
715 Haywood Rd., Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Known For
- Creative takes on traditional dishes
- Craft cocktails like the Ice Breaker
- Outdoor courtyard
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Don't let the pig statue out front full you—this is sophisticated vegan dining with a menu of frequently changing dishes from different cultures and cuisines. A typical menu might include seitan chili with cheese, lasagna with raw vegetables, smoked portobello mushrooms, and delicious coconut milk ice cream for dessert.
165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Biodynamic cooking methods
- Industrial-chic setting
- Organic wines and local beers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Set in the ground floor of the historic Asheville Citizen Times Building, Citizen Vinyl is one of the South's foremost vinyl record producers. It's also a lounge, bar, coffee shop, and an excellent café, Session. Opt for a chicken salad melt, a breakfast sandwich with fried eggs and chili crisp, or sip a negroni and enjoy the classic playlist.
14 O'Henry Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Biscuits-and-gravy specials on Mondays
- Amaro cocktails
- Former home of WWNC Radio, where Bill Monroe popularized bluegrass
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$$$ | |
The Bull and Beggar is decidedly warehouse hip, with brick walls, old wood floors, and high ceilings. The French-inspired menu plays like an upscale steakhouse, and the surf-and-turf theme extends to the mollusks, which include raw oysters and escargot. Their 30-seat nearby spinoff, Baby Bull, now hosts their popular Burger Monday, with deals on fabulous double-patty burgers.
37 Paynes Way, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- An incredible 34-oz. dry-aged ribeye
- Excellent surf, as well as turf
- Sunny patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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The lively crowds at this BBQ hot spot range from hippie potters to downtown suits—former president Barack Obama made 12 Bones his first stop on multiple trips to Asheville—who come for the ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, sweet vinegar slaw, and corn pudding. On a sunny day, grab a seat at the picnic tables outside and take in the murals that cover every wall in the vicinity.
5 Foundy St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Smoky baby back ribs
- Waitresses who call you "sweetie"
- Collard greens and other Southern sides
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. and Sun.; closes at 4:30 on weekdays
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$ | Metro West |
BattleCat Coffee Bar is one of the funkiest local coffeehouses in Asheville, in a boldly painted, old wood house with a porch and ample picnic tables that draws those who like the relaxed ambience, free Wi-Fi, and Counter Culture coffee. Tiger Bay Cafe shares the space and kitchen here, serving generous bagel sandwiches and breakfast burritos.
373 Haywood Rd., Asheville, North Carolina, 28806, USA
Known For
- Plenty of outdoor seating
- Black-owned business
- Local art on the walls
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A French-style bistro, Bouchon ("cork" in French, and a type of Lyonnaise restaurant) serves simple Gallic comfort food, such as steak frites, bouillabaisse, and a version of chicken cordon bleu in a lemon juice, white wine, and butter reduction. The owner is from Lyon, and the casual spot fills up due to its prime location on Lexington Avenue.
62 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- French fare like steak frites and escargots in garlic butter
- Steak tartare and ris de veau (sautéed sweetbreads) on Thursdays
- All-you-can-eat mussels in savory sauces
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch.
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Entrées such as pecan-crusted mountain trout with ginger sweet potatoes grace the frequently changing new American menu at this charmingly renovated Victorian cottage with wood floors, plaster walls painted in serene colors, and a fireplace in one dining room.
3 Boston Way, Asheville, North Carolina, 28803, USA
Known For
- Innovative versions of Southern and American favorites
- Charming Biltmore Village location
- Farm-to-table menu
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$ | Downtown |
Named after an early-maturing tomato variety, Early Girl Eatery is casually Southern, with a natural twist, as it partners with about two dozen local farms for its farm-to-table cuisine. Breakfast is served all day and includes stacks of multigrain pancakes with organic maple syrup, shrimp and grits, and sausage-and--sweet potato scramble. In 2018, the owners opened a second location at 444 Haywood Road in West Asheville.
8 Wall St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Southern comfort food
- All-day breakfast
- "meat and two" specials at lunch and dinner
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Inspired by the food of Southeast Asia, China, and Japan, Gan Shan West has an eclectic and inventive menu of house-made dumplings, ramen, soups, and noodles. Choose a table in the colorful petite dining room or sit on the breezy patio.
285 Haywood St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28806, USA
Known For
- Pleasant outdoor dining
- Cool and casual vibe
- Tasty creative specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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With exposed brick walls and antique wood floors, this is a staple haunt for fresh-brewed coffees and teas, plus pastries and free Wi-Fi. There are also locations in North Asheville and Woodfin.
13 Rankin Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Silky coffee and tea lattes
- Skilled baristas
- Laid-back atmosphere
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The perfect stop for chic picnic provisions, a memorable lunch, or a lively pintxos (small bar snacks) dinner with friends, fans of Cúrate are thrilled to find many of its specialties available at this sister establishment, including cured meats, cheeses, sangria—even paella. The "La Bodega Experience" is one of the best prix-fixe menus in town.
32 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Nicely curated selection of European foodstuffs
- Gourmet sandwiches
- Perfect for picnics
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This vegetarian-vegan eatery is a longtime Asheville favorite on charming Wall Street. The extensive menu ranges from banh mi sandwiches and a vegan sweet potato Reuben to dinner specialties influenced by the flavors of India, Cuba, Thailand, Mexico, and Morocco. There are also several raw entrées.
40 Wall St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Thai panang curry
- Cold-press juices and other beverages
- Breads baked in-house
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed., Reservations not accepted
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Three components—a talented chef from Mexico City, locally sourced ingredients, and a San Francisco bistro atmosphere—combine to make this modern Mexican place a standout. Whet your appetite with the ceviche sampler and lobster nachos before going on to the regularly changing list of main dishes like carne asada with a romesco mole.
15 Eagle St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Extensive margarita menu
- Smart unobtrusive service
- Airy and open space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Rather than specialize in one type of Indian cuisine, Mela offers dishes from across the country. The traditionally prepared tandoori dishes (chicken, shrimp, and lamb) are especially delicious, and at lunch there's an inexpensive buffet.
70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Classic dishes nicely presented
- Bright and airy dining room
- Vegetarian and vegan options
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$ | Montford |
This informal neighborhood spot in Montford serves what it bills as Jamaican food, although the not-too-spicy jerk dishes are served in bowls over linguine or basmati rice. Tofu can be substituted for any meat, and many of the ingredients are from local organic farms. (If you like more heat, ask for the Rasta Fyah hot sauce.) Wine, beer, organic coffees and teas, and Cheerwine, a North Carolina soft drink with a cherry flavor, are among beverage offerings. Nine Mile has a second location in West Asheville.
233 Montford Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Jamaican and Caribbean food
- Large servings at low-to-moderate prices
- Laid-back atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$ | Downtown |
Old Europe's Hungarian owner creates authentic European pastries, all made fresh daily and complemented by Mountain City coffee (including the city's best cold-brewed iced coffee), owned by an MIT grad who brings a scientific approach to coffee roasting. Asheville's oldest, but arguably most peripatetic, coffeehouse opens early and stays busy until late. Its current location, just north of Pack Square, is close to several new hotels.
13 Broadway St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA
Known For
- Authentic Hungarian and other European pastries
- Locally roasted and fresh-brewed specialty coffees
- Cold-brewed iced coffee
