Trying to decide where to eat in Asheville? Check out nationally acclaimed local food blogger Sommer Collier’s favorite spots from A Spicy Perspective. She has good taste…..a lot of our favorites are the same! Get in touch to find out which of Sommer’s favorite places to eat in Asheville are featured on which days of our daily walking food tours. We visit 6-8 different restaurants on every tour!
Where to Eat in Asheville, NC
Visiting Asheville, North Carolina and need a restaurant recommendation? Let me help! We locals know all the hot spots in our little mountain town.
I love where I live.
Yet what’s more, seemingly everyone I meet in business and travel loves where I live.
Over the last few years, as I’ve shared my hometown Asheville, North Carolina with you, I’ve started receiving emails… Lots of emails.
Many of you have asked, “When we head to Asheville next month, where should we stay? What should we do? What are your restaurant suggestions??”
So I’ve decided to share a 3 week series to offer you ALL my travel suggestions for Asheville, North Carolina, from a local’s standpoint. And of course, we’re starting with where to eat.
There is definitely something special about this funky little town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s the weather, the greenery, the laid back atmosphere, the focus on the arts, the sense of nature pressing in on all sides, and let’s not forget the food scene.
Farmers, artisan producers, chefs, and foodies flock here to live, fine tune their art, vacation, and of course eat. For a small town, Asheville has an absurd amount of high quality locally-owned restaurants.
There are numerous stories of sought-after chefs, that had work opportunities all over the country, yet chose to settle here.
It must be the mountain air. Or maybe the exceptional local produce.
So today I want to share our personal restaurant recommendations.
Am I telling you these are the best Asheville restaurants?
No, of course not. I would never say that…
I’m telling you, these are the places we frequent, and we have extremely good taste. *wink*
Many of these categories overlap, so please click over to see hours and menus.
Dinner
Cucina 24 – Fine Dining Italian Fusion, $$$, but worth it. I suggest ordering something from every category of the menu.
Curate’ Tapas Bar – Rustic Spanish Tapas with a Twist, $$$. Must try the eggplant and cured ham selection.
Limones – Latina Inspired Cuisine and Amazing Cocktails, $$. Order the Caliente Margarita… or the Pomegranate Margarita.
The Junction – Nuevo Southern Cuisine in the River Arts District, $$. Fun environment and great ever-changing menu.
Local Provisions – Modern American cuisine focused on fresh local ingredients and southern sentiment. $$ We love to sit at the bar and order small plates like the Curds and Whey and Smoked Trout.
Rhubarb – One of my favorite new spots with southern-inspired favorites, reborn. $$-$$$. Plus its right smack in the middle of down town.
Bouchon – French Bistro, $$. Get the frites with aioli; they are fried in duck fat!
All Souls Pizza – Fresh and fabulous pizzas and so much more, $$. I’m always surprised when we visit All Souls.
Wasabi – Fresh Sushi, Killer Squad Salad, $$.
Rezaz Mediterranean Cuisine – Mediterranean Fine Dining, $$$. Always exceptional.
The Standard – A Pizza Dive and Proud of It, $. Lt. Dan’s favorite pizza in town. (2 locations)
Nine Mile – Caribbean Cuisine with Whole Grain and Grain Free Options, $$. Love me some “Negril Nights” Pasta! (2 locations)
Storm Rum Bar & Bistro – Complex Cocktails and Southern Fusion Food, $$. If they have the crispy pig ears on the menu, you’ve got to try them!
Plant – Asheville’s most talked about Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant. $$ Just north of downtown.
Addissae – Asheville’s first real Ethiopian restaurant. $$ Ethiopian family-style platters served with Injera sour dough crepes.
The Bull & Beggar – Creative uses of offal and seafood. $$ If you happen in on a Monday, enjoy juicy dripping burger and fries when you buy a beverage.
Red Ginger Dimsum – Asheville’s only dimsum bar. $$ Sit at the counter and order classic dumsum dishes like barbecue pork buns, crispy fried shrimp balls, and dumplings.
Copper Crown – Located in East Asheville, this casual neighborhood restaurant has quickly become one of our go-to spots. $-$$ With inspired southern small plates and entrees, and gorgeous presentation, we never get tired of eating here. Check out the nightly cocktail specials.
Lunch
Chai Pani – Indian Street Food, $. Addictive. Different. Exceptional. Order the Bhel Puri and Kale Pakoras.
White Duck Taco – Tacos with a Twist, $. Gotta try the Bangkok Shrimp Taco. (2 locations)
Asheville Sandwich Company – A funky little sandwich shop in West Asheville, with amazing sandwiches and fries served right on top! $
Buxton Hall – Southern barbecue at its best. $ Order all the sides and save room for dessert!
Juicy Lucy – A locally-owned Gourmet Burger Joint with a great vibe, $. Love the outdoor seating.
Tod’s Tasties – Breakfast and Lunch Dive with Interesting Flavor Profiles, $. I love the Budha Bowl.
Coxe Avenue Food Trucks – You never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always good, $$.
Stone Bowl – Korean, $$. Must try the Pa Jun Veggie Pancakes.
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack – Hot, I Mean Really Hot Fried Chicken, $. Start with Mild if you’re not sure, it’s still spicy.
Farm Burger – Walking around downtown and need a Big Juicy Burger? This is the spot, $. Amazing flavor combinations and vegan and paleo options.
Doc Chey’s – Quick Service Stir Frys and Noodle Bowls, $. My kids’ favorite lunch spot.
Wild Ginger – A hole-in-the-wall favorite in south Asheville, serving up traditional Vietnamese Pho Soup. $
Gan Shan Station – Old gas station turned modern Asian diner. $$ Classic Asian comfort food, with a twist!
Okie Dokie Smokehouse – Good Ol’ Carolina BBQ, $. Just a little east of Asheville in Swannanoa.
To see A Spicy Perspective’s favorite places to eat in Asheville for breakfast, at pubs and breweries, for dessert, snacks, coffee and after dinner drinks, read the full article here!