14 Best Restaurants In Asheville, North Carolina

Once a mountain town known for its picturesque views, Asheville's food scene has skyrocketed over the past few years. Now, choosing where to eat is as much a priority for visitors as figuring out a prime fishing spot or when to tour Biltmore.

As much as Asheville is deeply connected to its Appalachian mountain terroir—many of its restaurants proudly cook in Eastern Carolina style—its international cuisine continues to blossom. Award-winning spots like Chai Pani and Cúrate continue to cement Asheville's place at the forefront of the South's innovative, multicultural culinary community. The city acts as a welcoming incubator to a whole slew of adventurous, ambitious projects, from new brewery concepts to renovated Airstream trailer resorts.

This collection of local restaurants—some new and some old—are all worth a stop while in Asheville. Whether you go for a tried-and-true favorite or try something new, you'll be in for a great meal.

Local Legend: Asheville Proper

Husband-and-wife team Mindi and Owen McGlynn opened this stylish, Art Deco-inspired steakhouse in the Grove Arcade in 2020. Since then, its premium cuts of meat (from regional purveyors) and a dazzling array of seasonal sides have attracted locals and visitors looking for a special night out. The chef's tasting menu is a luxurious way to experience the range of what's on offer here, but the regular menu is still full of things to love, like charred octopus, wagyu ribeye, and even a chargrilled tofu "steak."

New Favorite: Little D's

Located in North Asheville, Little D's is the latest offering from the team behind Asheville Proper, the popular steakhouse in the Grove Arcade. True to its name, Little D's is a smaller, cozier space with a seasonally inspired menu of shareable small plates like charred cauliflower with fennel pesto, parmesan, and toasted hazelnuts.

Local Legend: Chai Pani Asheville

"I don't know if I would have had the courage to open this place anywhere other than Asheville," says Chef Meherwan Irani, who opened Chai Pani in 2009 with his wife, Molly. While Irani had no prior professional cooking experience, his innovative, playful take on Indian cuisine soon took off. And by 2022, it was awarded Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. The colorful space, which is painted with murals and strung with lights, has a festive vibe as diners dig into plates of butter chicken and rice and bhel puri, a popular Indian street food made with puffed rice that's topped with chickpea noodles and herbs and served with two types of chutney (see below). Whatever you order, don't miss the Matchstick Okra Fries.

New Favorite: Regina's

Regina's, a breakfast and lunch spot in West Asheville, serves up modern takes on "comfort classics" like fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and biscuits galore, as well as creative, seasonal dishes like a sandwich filled with burrata, prosciutto, arugula, basil, chili and olive relish, cantaloupe jam, and sourdough. This stylish yet relaxed restaurant is quickly becoming a go-to spot for locals.

New Favorite: Little Louie's

A few years ago, Little Louie’s started as a weekend-only pop-up, where chef Eliott Moss (of Buxton Hall) served up overstuffed sandwiches to much fanfare. Eventually, the concept evolved into a brick-and-mortar space that opened in early 2023. While Moss is no longer affiliated with the restaurant, it has plenty of fans for its Smashburgers, Eggplant Parm Hoagies, pierogi, and late-night hours. The menu is short, the vibe is casual, and there's often a line. It's worth the wait.

Local Legend: Cúrate

Chef Katie Button's Spanish tapas bar, Cúrate, is a long-standing star in Asheville's food scene and has gained much attention for its thoughtful small plates, traditional paella, and expert service. In 2022, the restaurant received the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Hospitality. Come with friends and share a selection of Spanish classics over sangria; don't miss the authentic, hand-cut jamón ibérico, head-on Mediterranean prawns, and Basque vermouth on tap. Advance reservations are recommended, as this space fills up quickly.

New Favorite: La Bodega

For a more casual experience, check out nearby La Bodega, Katie Button and co-owner Felix Meana's Spanish restaurant, market, and bakery, which opened in 2022. The all-day cafe opens at 9 a.m. for breakfast and offers lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner, as well. Pick up a xuixo, a sugar-crusted Catalan pastry that's fried and filled with cream with your morning coffee, savor a mid-day charcuterie plate, or settle in for a multi-course dinner curated by chef Matt Brown.

Local Legend: Sunny Point Café

Since opening in 2003, Sunny Point's owners April Moon Harper and Belinda Raab have seen Asheville and its dining scene transform into something that would have been unimaginable back then. But their West Asheville café is just as beloved for its comfort food and breezy covered patio now as it was nearly 20 years ago. Open for breakfast and lunch, huevos rancheros is a popular item, but you can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches, like the pecan-crusted fried green tomatoes served with bacon, goat cheese, and roasted red pepper aioli on a croissant, or the fried chicken sandwich with arugula and brie on a biscuit. One reason the food is so special here is that much of it is grown right on-site in the restaurant's garden. Take a stroll through after your meal and admire what's growing.

New Favorite: Rabbit Hole Bakery

This adorable spot, located behind its sister restaurant Sunny Point Café, is small, as its name implies. But the space is bursting with good things to eat and drink (especially if you're waiting for a table at Sunny Point). Rabbit Hole offers baked goods like cookies, hand pies, and quick breads, as well as coffee and to-go items. The space's deck, which overlooks the garden, can host private events and pop-up dinners.

Local Legend: Early Girl Eatery

Early Girl got its name from an heirloom tomato variety, which tells you a lot about the restaurant's approach to cooking. Now, about 20 years later, there are four locations, all of which are bustling, especially for brunch. Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serving breakfast all day, it's the kind of homey, family-friendly diner that everyone thinks of as their "own" place. You can't go wrong with the buttermilk multigrain pancakes, crisp yet fluffy waffles, anything that includes fried chicken, or the sandwiches, like the Shroomie which stacks a marinated and grilled portabella mushroom, red peppers, caramelized red onions, spinach, and tomato between two slices of locally baked rye.

Local Legend: Rhubarb

Since opening in 2015, chef John Fleer's restaurant Rhubarb has become as much of a fixture on Pack Square as the city's musicians and buskers. Fleer's seasonal and sophisticated Appalachian-inspired menu reads like a "who's who" of farmers and purveyors. From trout to beef to basic ingredients like garlic, Fleer's dishes are as locally sourced as can be. Dishes like benne flour hoe cakes, crispy hominy, and rabbit ragout give Rhubarb a sense of place, and because the menu changes seasonally, you'll experience something new with each visit.

New Favorite: Eldr

Chef Eric Burleson's latest venture is more upscale than his beloved, now-closed, diner Over Easy Café, but it is no less inviting. Open for dinner, lunch (Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), and weekend brunch, the menu is a celebration of Burleson's love of "seasonal, Appalachian, and heritage-raised ingredients." This may sound humble, but the food is anything but. A pork chop dish might be served with Katarina cabbage, sunchoke summer savory puree, spring new potatoes, smoked trout roe, spruce tip honey, and chives. Even a burger is made with 24-day aged beef, Ashe County Cheddar, black garlic mayo, special sauce, caramelized onions, and served on a brioche bun.

New Favorite: Gemelli

This all-day cafe offers something for everyone. Located in West Asheville, Gemelli is the latest venture of Anthony Cerrato, the chef/owner behind Social Lounge and Strada Italiano. Start your day with a Cornetto sandwich with bacon, eggs, smoked mozzarella, salsa verde, and arugula on an Italian croissant. Lunch and dinner options include antipasti, pizza, and of course, house-made pasta. The namesake Gemelli pasta includes paprika noodles, lamb sausage, broccolini, lamb-anchovy butter, and grana padano. Or just pop in for an afternoon espresso and something sweet from the pastry counter. It's all delicious.

New Favorite: Benne on Eagle

Located in The Block, Asheville’s historic black business district, Benne on Eagle honors the African-American cooking traditions of the Appalachian region. Start with the West African Hummus Platter—savory peanut and sweet potato hummus, candied pecans, and fried okra served with toast points. Dinner options include Braised Lamb Shanks with butternut squash puree and Prawn and Collard Green Gumbo. For brunch, the Farmer’s Hash includes a medley of berbere-spiced root vegetables, kale, and caulilini sauteed in duck fat. Or stick to classics like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, or steak and eggs. You can't go wrong.