The 15 Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina

The best restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina offer delicious insight into the unique, super local Appalachian cuisine that defines this charming mid-Atlantic mountain region.

As anyone familiar with the area will tell you, the food scene in Asheville is wild! So intriguing, in fact, that many of the city’s best chefs left careers in New York, Boston, New Orleans, and other big culinary cities in order to start new ventures in this charming Blue Ridge Mountain town. 

^ If THAT isn’t a testament to how special the food culture of Asheville has become, the number of tourists who travel here specifically for the food should be. 

Innovative, locally-sourced-but-globally-inspired cuisine, as well as down-home Southern eats, are a modern fixture of Asheville’s culinary scene. The city has dozens of renowned chefs and James Beard Award nominees, in addition to a great producer network of incredible local farmers’ markets.

Also, there are countless cool food and drink festivals in the area, which brings a steady stream of inspiration and innovation to the ever-rising local food IQ. 

All of this and more has led Asheville to become one of the most exciting cities in America for food right now. There’s a reason so many people fall in love with what’s cooking in Asheville. 

The restaurants in this list, moreover, are part of this movement. Below, scroll our guide to the best restaurants in Asheville for unique local meals. Here, we spotlight what makes each restaurant so special, as well as what you should order where for the best experience. Bookmark this list for easy reference later.

Enjoy your meals!  

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The Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina

The best restaurants in Asheville for delicious, unique, locavore meals.

Chai Pani (Casual-Modern Indian Street Food)

Helmed by five-time James Beard-nominated chef and restauranteur Meherwan Irani, Chai Pani is a buzzy Indian street food hot spot that has won approval by everyone from us to the New York Times to Bon Appetit magazine. 

They serve an amazing gobi manchurian (crispy-tangy fried cauliflower), as well as pav bhaji (zesty vegetable curry served with soft, sweet buns), butter chicken, and other classic Indian street food staples right in the middle of downtown Asheville– across from the Grove Arcade and next to one of Asheville Bee Charmer‘s two locations. 

The colorful, casual restaurant interior is also part of the charm. It’s a lively space– especially around Holi and during other Indian festivals when they style the decor to match. In this way, the experience of dining here feels very seasonal and site-specific, while also maintaining a global, cultural appeal. 

Ultimately, this is a great casual spot for delicious Indian street food and uniquely hearty thalis (and trust me, we’ve eaten enough Indian food both professionally and at home to know that these are special). They also do great take-out. Chai Pani’s many culinary awards should speak for themselves! 

• Insider Tips

The mango lassi (India’s iconic mango-yogurt drink) and housemade turmeric golden milk are particularly good here. Drinks don’t tend to get a lot of attention in restaurant guides, but these ones are authentic, lovely representations.

Chai Pani also has plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian menu options, for those with dietary restrictions.  

 

Cúrate (The Best Tapas in Asheville)

This chic tapas and wine bar is housed in a former 1927 bus depot in the center of downtown Asheville. Cúrate is an authentic Spanish tapas bar on bustling Biltmore Ave that’s helmed by Chef Katie Button, Felix Meana, and family. 

The menu features many locally sourced ingredients (a standard in Asheville, but still) as well as an impressive wine and sherry list. (It’s actually been named one of the Best Wine Restaurants in America for this reason.) 

True to its enduring Spanish influences, you can anticipate several of the usual suspects at Cúrate– house marinated Spanish olives, fried Marcona almonds, ibérico ham, sensuous breadsticks, ample cheese charcuterie, paella-style pasta made with squid ink, and the like.

But the restaurant also serves unique twists on the classics, like Cúrate’s trucha al horno (butterflied local trout, charcoal-grilled whole over parsley & hazelnut picado), which make the experience extra intriguing. 

As far as small plates go, we love the albondigas (beef, pork, lamb meatballs made with ibérico ham in a tomato sauce “that makes Felix’s mom proud”).

We also love the salads, which vary with the season but recently included sumptuous endibias con queso y nueces. This mix of endive, Spanish blue cheese, candied walnuts, oranges, pomegranate seeds, and baby lettuces came dressed in a brightening house champagne vinaigrette that was just perfect. (Divine!) 

Ultimately, it’s the elevated gastronomics, inimitable local flavor pairings, and cozy-chic decor that make this classic Asheville restaurant so special. Curate’s reputation proceeds it– it’s often one of the first places out-of-towners sit down to dine in Asheville (especially the Europhiles). Eat here and find out why it’s regularly named one of Asheville’s best restaurants.  

 

Sovereign Remedies (Ideal For Visual Eaters)

This lovely vintage cocktail bar and restaurant is styled like an alchemist’s pharmacy. True to that romantic aesthetic, Sovereign Remedies serves some of the best cocktails in Asheville, which is what people know them for. 

Still, we love cozying up for a meal at the beautiful bar even when we aren’t drinking; the lovely menu offerings might be Asheville’s best-kept foodie secret. Think: incredible beef tartare, crispy oyster mushrooms, boudin croquettes, and great local cheese plates. 

Food-wise, everything is gorgeous. Seriously: Sovereign Remedies is a food stylist’s dream, as the kitchen relies heavily on seasonal plants and herbs (much like the cocktails themselves). See also the enduringly artistic salads. 

The restaurant also does amazing brunch. And design-wise, the aesthetics here are always on point. Overall, it’s a great dinner spot for design lovers, artists, creative types, and local produce lovers. 

Related: Read our guide to the 12 Best Breakfast Spots in Asheville.  

 

Tupelo Honey Cafe (Homey, Casual Southern)

Tupelo Honey is a local style of honey native to Western Appalachia, and also the name of a popular Van Morrison song about the same thing— but in Asheville, North Carolina, Tupelo Honey is also the name of a classic Southern restaurant Downtown.

Beginning with the cornmeal biscuits served with not-too-sweet blueberry jelly, a meal here is sort of a rite of passage for locals. The restaurant’s house fried chicken is super popular, and all birds are antibiotic-free. Plus: they do great vegetables, making it a rather accommodating Asheville restaurant for vegetarians.  

They even offer a “veggie feast” option where guests can order a bunch of delicious vegetable sides. These include, for example, roasted cauliflower, bacon-cooked collards, local mashed potatoes with tabasco fried onions, or fresh local greens paired with any of their homemade dressings. I love it, and strongly recommend this option for veggie lovers.  

For the classic omnivorous experience, order the sweet tea roasted chicken and a bunch of delicious sides. The deviled eggs here are also fabulous— as is their fried okra. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the luscious peanut butter chocolate pie with salted pretzel topping. (<— Definitely order that if/when it’s available!) 

Also: Tupelo has many gluten-free options for swapping out sandwich bread, etc. The prices are great too, which is why this now-regional chain is super popular with locals and visitors, alike.

If you aim to visit on a weekend, be sure to make a reservation in advance. Otherwise, you’ll have to sit at the chef’s counter– which is actually pretty cool! (Though it’s not ideal for parties larger than 2, as you can’t really see each other otherwise.)   

 

Corner Kitchen (Best Restaurant in Biltmore Village)

“A lot of places do Farm to Table– the difference is what happens in between.” So goes the website motto of Corner Kitchen, the best restaurant in Biltmore Village by a landslide.

This lovely farm-to-table restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Asheville because of, among other things, their famous Reuben (as well as their prime location not-to-far from the iconic Biltmore Estate, a must-see local attraction).  

But back to their iconic Reuben: The restaurant sources raw corned beef for this sandwich from a specialty purveyor in Salisbury, North Carolina. To this, they add braised sauerkraut and homemade thousand island dressing and serve on griddle-toasted locally-made rye bread. (The secret is that they melt Swiss cheese on both sides of the bread. It’s so good it’s practically illegal!) 

Other than that, we also love the artful craft salads. Try the super unique and delicious Crispy Fried Oyster salad with spinach greens, bleu cheese, bacon crumbles, tomatoes, and spiced pecans dressed in a tangy honey mustard vinaigrette.

The salmon, beef, and local trout dishes are seasonal and always reliably tasty, as well. Visit the Biltmore Estate and then go here for a late lunch or early dinner! 

• Insider Tip

Corner Kitchen desserts are always excellent. See, for example, their recent gluten-free Pear Brownie Sundae or the White Chocolate Bread Pudding with hazelnut biscoff ice cream and caramel sauce, which tastes homemade in the best way. (Because it is!) 

Ultimately, with its endearing location inside a cute little stand-alone house in the village, Corner Kitchen delivers on this cozy, familial prospect. The comfortable aesthetics and homegrown flavors are nostalgic, innovative, and welcoming all at the same time.  

 

Buxton Hall Barbecue (Eastern Carolina BBQ)

Buxton Hall Barbecue is a traditional eastern Carolina BBQ joint, which means they specialize in wood smoked, whole hog barbecue. Best of all, they offer pasture-raised meat and produce from local farmers, which about as boutique as a modern-day barbecue house can get. 

We love the Whole Hog Pulled Pork Plate, dressed with an Eastern Carolina bbq mop and served with pickles, hush puppies, and a choice of two sides. Opt for the hashbrown casserole if you’re feeling exotic.

Otherwise, you can never go wrong with the baked beans and classic collard greens. And when they give you the option to order extra Red or White BBQ sauce: do it! 

Appetizer-wise, the Smoky Pimento Cheese & Crackers is also a North Carolina staple. This is a must-try for pimento cheese fans. Just sayin’. 

Finally, as we wrote in our guide to the Best Fried Chicken in Asheville, the house fried chicken sandwich is a local favorite worth seeking out. Chicken often gets overlooked at these kinds of establishments. But here, they treat it with just as much tender loving care as everything else on the menu.  

Ambiance-wise, the restaurant is a lively, industrial-chic environment that’s casual– and yet it feels somehow upscale. (We chalk it up to the quality ingredients and trendy, minimalist design. The Buxton Hall building was actually a roller rink in the 1930s! Very cool.)  

Ultimately, Buxton Hall Barbecue is a great place to gather and share a plate. If you’re a BBQ lover visiting North Carolina, add it to your Asheville food itinerary! 

 

Chestnut (Foodie-Friendly)

Chestnut is a lovely little downtown restaurant operated by the same folks who own Corner Kitchen (detailed above). The focus here is on hand-crafted culinary classics made with the best available local ingredients. Asheville’s myriad growers, ranchers, cheesemongers, and dairies are all on display here. 

Thus, whether you’re interested in super-local dishes featuring hand-cut french fries and pickled green tomatoes, or expert takes on food world classics like Lobster Bisque (whose base takes hours to make), Chestnut delivers on quality, style, and panache. It feels vaguely old school, and that’s part of the charm. 

Even the humble Chestnut Chips are seasoned with creative aplomb, featuring an intriguing dusting of salt, sugar, mustard powder, and paprika. (Even picky eaters can’t resist!) 

The dinner menu changes with the season, but we generally love the satisfying charcuterie plates and duck dishes, when available. (Think: local juniper seared duck breast and duck confit with root vegetable hash, watercress, cherry mostarda, red wine demi-glace. Hmm-hmm. All of their reductions are textbook, and all proteins are cooked to Masterchef standard.)

Chestnut also makes all their desserts in-house, right down to the rich ice creams and refreshing sorbets. (<— These are often welcome after the kind of hearty meal you will inevitably have here.)  

 

White Duck Taco (Creative Tacos)

White Duck Taco serves some of the most innovative tacos in Asheville. (Admittedly, there aren’t many options vying for that title, but still. These are great!) 

This casual local taco shop has multiple locations around Asheville, but we like the quirky hipster vibe at the River Arts District location on Riverside Drive the best.  

Go here for a seasonally-rotating menu of creative taco inventions, like the Jerk Chicken Taco, Bangkok Shrimp Taco, Philly Steak & Cheese Taco, Honeyroasted Duck Taco, or Bahn Mi Style Tofu Taco with daikon slaw and ginger glaze.

It’s all good, and there’s so much variety within the proteins alone that you’re sure to try something new, creative, and unique with every visit. (In the past, for example, they’ve featured everything from Lamb Gyro Tacos and Lump Crab Tacos to Maui Mahi Mahi Tacos. So, the sky really is the limit. Come with an open mind.)   

Ultimately, there are delicious vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, as well. (Think: Mushroom-Potato Tacos, Black Bean Tacos, etc.) Plus, the service is quick and snappy. 

Sit down to dine at one of their colorful turquoise tables or take your tacos to go for a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway or at the UNC Asheville Botanical Gardens. (They travel well.)   

 

The Market Place (Beautiful Upscale Dining)

The Market Place is one of the fancier restaurants in Asheville, ideal for a romantic date or intimate dinner. The genre is New American with strong Italian leanings– they do a mean Lamb Pappardelle and a lovely Sunday Gravy, for example.

Intriguingly, most produce served at this restaurant comes from farms located within 100 miles of Asheville. (<— This is harder than it sounds to do, but those who have been to Husk in Charleston will understand why it’s so special.) Every dish is enduringly earthy and suggests a real sense of place. 

Since 1979, The Market Place has been serving wonderful multi-course meals, beginning with appetizers like kale fritters and Togarashi seared tuna with bourbon barrel tataki sauce, Japanese turnip, radish, and watercress salad. (Ok, that tuna isn’t local– but this is one example of an app that’s so good it’s worth the import!)  

Also, given their insistence on sourcing almost exclusively from local farms, the restaurant’s food is often downright beautiful. (See image above.)

Portions here might be a bit modest for hearty eaters, but each dish is a feast for the eyes. There’s a reason The Market Place has been around for 40+ years!  

 

Haywood Common (Appalachian Comfort Food)

West Asheville hot spot Haywood Common serves seasonal, Appalachian-grown comfort food that’s some of the best in Asheville. Their Thai Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and rustic, skin-on french fries are absolutely insane. So is the grass-fed burger and sensational cast-iron cornbread. (See Thai Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, above.) 

For a unique foodie experience, try the Coca-Cola Ribs or house Animal Fries. (Hand-cut fries with cheddar cheese, fried onions, sriracha-lime sauce, preserve lemon crema, and green onions. <— These are great for sharing.) The weekday garam masala breakfast waffles are also surprisingly amazing. 

Ambiance-wise, they also have a nice outdoor patio and a cute on-site market featuring Asheville-made sundries and other pantry items.  

Ultimately, if you’re going to make the trek out to West Asheville, this is a great place to stop for dinner after lingering around Harvest Records and/or Battlecat Coffee Bar. Plus, the restaurant is attached to The Whale, an excellent local craft beer collective that’s worth checking out, as well.  

Related: The 6 Best Places to Get Fried Chicken in Asheville.  

 

Mela Indian Restaurant (Indian with Lovely Ambiance)

Mela’s unassuming entrance on Walnut Street conceals the lovely ambiance of the decor within. Mela Indian Restaurant offers delicious North and South Indian dishes featuring a number of excellent vegan, vegetarian, seafood, and meat dishes that are as diverse and unique as the people and cultures of India.

We love the bindi (okra), chole (chickpeas), saag paneer, and chicken tikka at Mela— but the tandoor seafood dishes and copious list of specials are also excellent. We like going here for dinner (they have a nice, low-lit ambiance and a beautiful bar) but the lunch buffet is super popular and economical.

The restaurant also makes delicious cilantro and tamarind chutneys. These are best mixed and used as a dipping sauce for their crunchy poppam (a delicious, fast appetizer). Vegans and vegetarians will also love incorporating them into their generous thali plates.

Lamb lovers, meanwhile, will rejoice over the number of grass-fed options from New Zealand. (Try the lamb rogan josh or the lamb curry for a real treat!) 

Of course, no Indian restaurant would be authentic without offering traditional lassis and chai. Fortunately, Mela serves a classic, rich mango lassi and a perfect salty lassi. (This latter is harder to find, if only because it’s an acquired taste.)  

Ultimately, be sure to save room for dessert gulab jamun and post-dinner chai for the full experience. (For those who drink alcohol, they also offer a delicious spiked chai.)

And on your way out, don’t forget to take a small handful of meethi saunf, aka candy-coated fennel seeds– an Indian digestif. 

 

12 Bones Smokehouse (Asheville’s Best Ribs)

President Obama drew attention to this no-frills, lunch-only Asheville BBQ spot when he stopped here on the campaign trail. Today, 12 Bones Smokehouse is still resoundingly popular with locals, who come here primarily for the blueberry BBQ chipotle ribs, luscious corn pudding, and top-notch pickled okra. 

While the interior isn’t fancy, the food is fine. Try the sliced brisket with a side of collards and cornbread. Or, opt for a traditional pulled pork sandwich with a more exotic side like crispy onion strings (a side dish you don’t see often at this kind of BBQ joint). It’s all good. 

Personally, I love the smoked turkey sandwich featuring sugar bacon, brie cheese, and pesto mayo on Texas toast. It’s not only super delicious, but rare. The unique combination of flavors will delight casual BBQ fans and discerning foodies alike. Plus, add two sides and the entire plate will cost you ~$13 –> a steal for this kind of hearty lunch in Asheville. 

Be advised, however, that 12 Bones Smokehouse does not take reservations. The weekend lunch line during nice weather days can get long. Plan accordingly, meat lovers!   

Oh, and for the best experience, head to 12 Bones’ River location. It has a bit more character. 🙂 

• Other Cool Local Meat Purveyors

Foothills Honest Meats is a great quality purveyor of juicy burgers, insane brisket melts, country-fried pork chops, and the like. They’re a favorite at many of the area’s best farmers’ markets, and with good reason.

Sadly, their original West Asheville gem, Foothills Butcher Bar, is now closed, so check their website to find the current hours of their food truck or visit their Black Mountain Butcher Bar if you’re looking to cook or grill at home. Asheville has a wealth of great regional farms, and this is a nice way to get access to quality local products. 

Farm Burger in downtown Asheville, meanwhile, serves exclusively 100% grass-fed burgers from area farms, as well as delicious vegan options. Gluten-free buns are also available upon request.

Plus, they use beef tallow in their beef burgers. This is a unique secret ingredient that’s partially responsible for why they taste so good. (And it makes for a rare burger experience!)

The homestyle fried chicken sandwiches and superfood salads are also excellent. Worth checking out if you’re a burger fiend!  

 

The Blackbird Restaurant 

The Blackbird is not typically listed in these kinds of guides to Asheville’s best restaurants, but if you’re looking for upscale casual dining in Asheville, it’s worth the visit. This restaurant has a great bar (ask about the cocktail of the week; they also make an exquisite Old Fashioned).

Because most of the ink spilled about this restaurant is reserved for local papers, it feels like a hidden gem. It’s a good place to dine if you want to avoid a glut of tourists. 

We specifically recommend ordering the risotto or a lamb dish when available. You also have to try the famous Southern Custard Coconut Cake— a sumptuously decadent dessert that we feel the need to call out by name. (More on that, below.)  

Overall, the Blackbird is ideal for a nice late lunch– especially if you want to focus on appetizers and desserts, the real stars of the menu. (It’s also a nice time of day to enjoy some Shanti Elixirs’ locally-made probiotic green tea, a hidden gem on the drink list.)

They have a lovely local smoked trout salad and an amazing Mushroom Pork Melt. Even the burgers and BLTs, moreover, feel somehow elevated and worldly. It’s all lovely. 

With regards to heavier fare, the housemade pot pie with buttery biscuit top is fabulous. So is the lamb cottage pie and the incredible goat cheese corn pie— a fixture of the vegetarian + vegan section of their dinner menu. (Yes, this is a great Asheville restaurant for those who don’t eat meat. Moreover, if you’re looking for an upscale vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Asheville, the Blackbird is your best bet.)  

• Insider Tip

But seriously: save room for dessert. The Southern Custard Coconut Cake is positively life-changing. Coconut lovers adore the coconut custard layered with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut. 

Otherwise, expect amazing Southern treats like old-fashioned Banana Rum Pudding; the Blackbird Cobbler made with seasonal fruit, hand-crafted ice cream, and sugar-cinnamon cookie crumbles; or the warm Pecan Pie Brownie served with melty ice cream. Delicious!  

~ Honorable Mention ~

Some other cool foodie gems in Asheville.

French Broad Chocolate (Iconic Local Chocolate Boutique)

This iconic Asheville chocolate boutique is exactly that: it’s a boutique. French Broad Chocolate is not a shop, not a cafe: it’s an entire world of enticing chocolate creations. 

Here, Asheville’s most popular chocolatier sells bespoke chocolate truffles, chocolate baked goods like peanut butter brownies, chocolate-dipped cookies, and chocolate cake, as well as chocolate gelato, hot and cold drinking chocolates, and even creative local souvenirs like sipping chocolate, melting chocolate, seasonal chocolate objects, and chocolate-themed art. (FWIW, there are actually quite a few artisanal chocolate shops in Asheville, but this one is definitely the coolest.)  

This beloved local franchise and tourist destination has two locations: a Chocolate Lounge & Boutique downtown, as well as the Chocolate Factory in Ramp Studios. 

Be sure to go to the lounge for the quintessential experience. But if you want to tour the facility, the French Broad Factory attached to Ginger’s Revenge Tasting Room is the spot for you.

• Insider Tip

If it’s summer, be sure to try one of their seasonal ice creams. We love the “milk & cookies”, “Buddha”, and “toasted coconut” flavors, which are also the most popular. 

Like their signature Buddha truffle, the house Buddha ice cream is 100% vegan. It’s made from French Broad dark chocolate and sweet coconut cream. If you’re feeling extra, try them both! 

 

Sunshine Sammies (Local Ice Cream Sandwiches) 

Artisanal ice cream sandwiches, anyone? This place is so cute. As we wrote in our guide to Asheville’s 5 Best Ice Cream Shops, Sunshine Sammies is a downtown ice cream staple where you can craft-your-own boutique ice cream sandwiches, or choose from a menu of pre-fab options. (All of them are great.) 

The creamery uses its own homemade cookies and housemade ice cream in these ice cream sandwiches. So, no matter what combo you pursue, it’s bound to be good. Choose your own adventure!  

Local strawberry ice cream and sugar cookies? Mint chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate cookies? You decide. 

They even offer vegan ice cream and vegan cookies– including a vegan graham cracker cookie that is my absolute favorite. (Pair it with plain chocolate or vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat.)  

Read more in our guide to Asheville’s 5 Coolest Ice Cream Shops.  

 

Dobra Tea House (For Vegan/GF Baked Goods & Tea in Cozy Environs)

Dobra Tea House is a relaxing, cozy spot to enjoy hot or cold tea, healthy baked goods, and vegan eats in the heart of Asheville.

On a brisk evening, their Lexington Ave location is an absolutely lovely place to linger over post-dinner tea and dessert. (I strongly recommend going here with a friend for good vibes and conversation.)   

The tea house has amazing paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free baked goods as well as incredible savories. If you feel like going for lunch in West Asheville, consider their epic vegan cheese plate. Or, try an iced oolong tea paired with Asheville’s best vegan Cuban sandwich.  

But seriously: this place is adorable and the baked goods are always on point. I love the gluten-free buckwheat fig tea cake and the house chai. Both are somehow even better enjoyed amid the cafe’s low-lit ambiance.  

No matter what you sip, be sure to shop for local ceramics on the way out! (And, FWIW, they sell exotic tea blends– including blooming tea and organic options that you can purchase loose-leaf, as well.)   

 

Posana (Dedicated Gluten-Free Kitchen)

Posana is a great, consistent farm-to-table eatery that’s also one of the only dedicated gluten-free restaurants in Asheville. Fortunately, it’s also delicious, whether you’re a gluten-free diner or not. 

Simply put, their gnocchi is to die for, as are the Short Ribs and Joyce Farms Chicken (seemingly every Asheville restaurant has their take on this local staple, but theirs is particularly good.) 

The Pan-Seared Tofu is also surprisingly great. (<— Recent preparations incorporated cauliflower, grilled cabbage, beets, hazelnut cream, and an enlivening cardamom orange vinaigrette.) 

They also offer creative takes on local Southern dishes that gluten-free diners typically can’t enjoy. Consider the creative Quinoa Hush Puppy, made with zesty chermoula and rich, house-made cashew parmesan. So great!

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a good gluten-free restaurant in Asheville, this one’s your best bet. Even locals who eat gluten seek it out. 🙂   

 

What To Eat in Asheville 

Look out for these special local food items on menus and at farmers’ markets in Asheville.

• Fried chicken
• grits
• collard greens
• cornbread
• shrimp
• banana pudding
• Buchi wildcrafted kombucha (they use things like chicory, burdock, and local yaupon holly in their preparations!)
• Roots hummus 
• local beer
• apples, berries, and other seasonal produce
• local ice cream 
• Imladris Farm jam
• Poppy popcorn
• French Broad Chocolate  
• Also look for products made with indigenous Yaupon Holly or Burdock (these two local, native plants are frequently foraged in Asheville and incorporated creatively into artisanal food products) 
• black walnuts (<— Admittedly, these are an acquired taste.)  
• pimento cheese 
• breakfast biscuits 

We also specifically recommend trying vegan ice cream from The Hop and doughnuts from Hole Doughnuts, if you can swing it. 

Ultimately, a mix of southern and new-age earthy foods defines Asheville’s robust farm-to-table foodshed. To truly taste the place, try to experience a mix of all of the above (depending on what you like). 

And if you eat everything– well, you’re in luck! Asheville is a great place to enjoy classic Southern cuisine with international influence, while also experiencing new site-specific foodie trends. There’s so much to explore and love in AVL. 

As long as you know where to look, you can’t go wrong. (Especially if you eat at any of the restaurants on this list.) Enjoy!  

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Related: 17 Cool Things to Do in Asheville (A Charming Visitors Guide)

Also: Read our guide to Asheville’s Incredible Farmers Markets and discover The 6 Best Places to Get Fried Chicken in Asheville.

We’ve also got guides to Asheville’s 12 Best Breakfast Spots, Coffee Shops, and the 5 Asheville Ice Cream Shops that foodies shouldn’t miss. (We take ice cream very seriously in these parts.)