The 26 best restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cúrate (@curatetapasbar)

Chef Katie Button takes diners on an edible journey through prized Spanish dishes. Named for the literal translation of “heal yourself,” Cúrate will no doubt cure snack attack cravings with its hyped charcuterie bar. Get your fill of cured meats, Spanish cheeses, and a sinful dessert list. Drinks include a cool, curated list of vermouth, sherry, and cider on tap. The restaurant also offers more filling items like paella, grilled meats and seasonal veg done well, like ramps in spring and heirloom radishes come winter. 

Chai Pani is an Indian street food eatery that's loved by locals and tourists alike. It recently moved into a much larger space in the former Buxton Hall Barbecue spot, so there's a bigger (and quite colorfully decorated) dining room to match. This means the lines that often form outside move far quicker than they used to, but you should still expect an hour-plus wait on busy weekends. The excellent curries, crispy kale pakoras and lime-kissed matchstick okra fries have deservedly earned wide acclaim, but you should try the grilled paneer that comes sizzling like a plate of fajitas if you want your mind blown.

The more casual cousin of Cúrate, La Bodega, offers a relatively minuscule menu of Spanish tapas and a daily specials plate. The burger is terrific, and if you’re lucky enough to show up on a day when it’s featured, so are the oxtails, served over a flattened Spanish tortilla. If you can’t land a reservation—don't feel bad, it’s not easy—you can often grab seats at the bar for a pre-dinner savory martini and a helping of tinned fish, an ideal Asheville way to start the night.

Jargon is where you go when you want dinner to feel like a performance art piece. The menu is as unpredictable as the crowd—the dishes fall somewhere between avant-garde and comfort. I’ve never left the place without a story to tell, which is saying something for a town that thrives on eccentricity.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MOTHER bread+wine (@motheravl)

At first just a bread and wine shop in the River Arts District, Mother has spawned a cafe on the brewery-dominated South Slope. The menu is mostly sandwiches and tartines served on housemade sourdough, but the always-changing offerings typically feature composed dishes like hamachi crudo with sourdough tempura crunch and a chicken-fried quail on grits. The wine menu trends toward funky and natural, and the waitstaff is a knowledgeable bunch who will help figure out what to pair with that monster of a meatloaf sandwich

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Limones Restaurant (@limonesavl)

Chef and owner Hugo Ramirez serves original and appetizing reworks of Mexico City cuisine, his hometown, at Limones Restaurant. The menu changes roughly every week or so, depending on what produce and ingredients are available locally at the time. The cocktail list is delightfully extensive, and the restaurant also offers a vast range of fabulous craft beers. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vivian (@vivianasheville)

This cozy eatery has grown from a humble 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 is a firm favorite among locals and visitors alike. The menu rotates with the seasons and the availability of local produce, but each assortment is consistently delicious. Leave room for dessert—you should always leave room for dessert, but especially for the ones at Vivian.

Leo’s House of Thirst feels like the kind of place where you accidentally become a wine snob. It’s small and intimate, with a rotating list of natural wines that’ll have you claiming you taste “notes of fresh-cut grass,” even if you’re usually more of a Coors person. The inside is tight and cozy, but there are few better places to spend a cool mountain evening than on the picnic benches off to the side.

A laughably tiny Wall Street pizza place, Contrada is a sister restaurant of Cucina 24 next door. The pizzas here are the stars, as are the ever-changing list of apps. Cocktails come pre-batched from the tap, meaning you’ll never wait long for what might be the city’s best negroni. 

Golden Hour occupies a dark space in the basement of The Radical, a very hip hotel, and boasts a Southern-leaning menu designed by chef Jacob Sessoms. The regularly crowded space leans touristy, but Sessoms still injects soul into his cooking. The menu is full of personal touches— the Corn Pone & Heirloom Beans is a recipe that was passed down from his father. 

Brittany Kroeyr and Matt Brown filled their resumes with restaurants like Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park and Kattie Button's restaurants before starting this roving pizza truck. The menu and the location where you can find the truck changes constantly, but be on the lookout for the charred broccoli with anchovy gremolata and a burrata margherita. The truck only operates on weekdays, so check Instagram for the schedule.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grand Bohemian Asheville (@grandbohemianasheville)

Red Stag Grill at the Grand Bohemian Hotel feels like stepping into a moody hunting lodge, and carries a menu full of steakhouse classics. The game-heavy menu, which often features cuts like elk and kangaroo, pairs well with the old-world décor.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ELDR Restaurant (@eldravl)

Eldr, which means "fire" in the Old Norse language, is what happens when someone decides the forest needs a fine dining experience. Occupying a cozy cottage on the grounds of the Omni Grove Park Inn, the food here is rustic but refined, with everything locally sourced and meticulously prepared. Running the kitchen is Spruce Pine, N.C., native Eric Burleson. 

Time Out tip: Come on Mondays when the pizza oven is roaring and the menu is full of one-night-only pies.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by T H E A D M I R A L (@theadmiralasheville)

The West Asheville restaurant has been around for over a decade and keeps its finger on the pulse of what diners desire. What do diners want? Delicious food, of course. The chill atmosphere, romantic lighting, minimalistic interior, and ever-changing menu draw the crowds, and the food does the rest. Altogether, The Admiral is a fine dining restaurant with dive bar vibes, situated in a former dive bar. The amped-up wine list is just the cherry on top. 

An impressive menu awaits at Nine Mile, named after Bob Marley’s hometown in Jamaica. Chilled-out vibes complement pasture-raised chicken, line-caught trout, and tuna, with a variety of other seafood. The menu contains an impressive selection of rice dishes, pastas, and salad, but the zesty array of fresh vegetables really stands out.

Time Out tip: Have food allergies or dietary restrictions? A gentle word in the server's ear and the kitchen will make almost any dish vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and/or dairy-free.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by White Duck Taco Shop (@whiteducktacoavl)

A no-frills, super affordable taqueria with seriously good eats. White Duck Taco Shop sells innovative tacos at several locations in the city. Fillings are quirky but appetizing, and everything is a la carte, so bring a crew of friends and order multiple items to taste it all—and obviously wash it down with a local beer or two. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @nengjrs

Neng Jr.'s is what happens when Filipino comfort food gets the Asheville treatment—bold, inventive, and unapologetically fun. Tucked away like a secret in West Asheville, it's the kind of place where you can expect flavors that surprise and a vibe that’s always relaxed.

At Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack, Nashville hot chicken is served at spice levels from wimpy all the way up to "what were you thinking?" hot. The hot chicken also makes its way to decadent sandwiches, like a BLT with pimento cheese. While the chicken might be the main draw here, it's the sides that really shine—try the corn pudding, fried okra and mashed potatoes that serve as a volcano for brown gravy. 

This tiny doughnut shop has some of the South’s best doughnuts. Hole's menu is simple and easy to navigate—pick from one of four doughnut flavors (including a seasonal option that changes weekly), grab a cup of PennyCup Coffee and wait (im)patiently while they’re fried to order in front of you. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when the time comes to devour a hand-shaped, piping-hot treat that eats more like brioche pastry than a basic doughnut.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cucina24 (@cucina24restaurant)

Cucina 24 is an Italian restaurant with a Southern touch tha'ts perfect for date night. Chef Brian Canipelli's uses regional ingredients to craft Italian dishes that shimmer and shine. The restaurant works closely with local farms to ensure the freshest produce—something that's apparent from the very first bite.

Thank a successful science experiment for White Labs Brewing Co. The White Labs company provided yeast strains to breweries before adding their own brewpub on the outskirts of downtown Asheville. There are sandwiches and salads on the menu, but the real draw is to the Neapolitan-style pizzas made with a dough fermented for 72 hours—the result of what happens when the scientific method is applied to the art of pizza-making  Forgive the slightly sterile and industrial vibe (the place was essentially started by scientists, after all). 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sunny Point Café (@sunnypointcafe)

If breakfast at any time of day is your thing, then this unassuming spot on Haywood Road is nothing short of an oasis. The menu is extensive, and everything is made from locally sourced ingredients or grown from its on-site production garden. Patience is required on weekends because every local knows how good the food is here, but try to persevere because Sunny Point Cafe is worth the wait.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sovereign Remedies 🍸 (@sovereignremedies)

You go to Sovereign Remedies for the best cocktail creations in Asheville, but you stay for the food. This place, located in a well-lit space that resembles an old-school pharmacy, reinvents the wheel by turning simple, locally sourced ingredients into edible pieces of art. The menu is a delight, featuring dishes like Cajun Pineapple Heritage Pork Collar and Chimichurri Apple Brandy Beef Tri-Tip Steak.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rhubarb (@rhubarbavl)

Chef John Fleer livened up the dining scene in Asheville with a menu of beautiful dishes that give diners a true sense of place; as he relies heavily on Buncombe County’s farms and purveyors for menu inspiration. This rustic, chef-driven restaurant in the heart of downtown serves meat, but will satisfy even the pickiest vegetarian palate. Rhubarb offers a hefty list of North Carolina cheeses, an entire 'eat your vegetables' section, and Southern-inspired bites with a culinary twist. Sit at the chef’s table, order a beer and glimpse into the open kitchen to view where the magic happens. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ASHEVILLE NOMADS (@ashevillenomads)

Occupying a modest outlet on Patton Avenue, Taqueria Muñoz 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 a wide variety of tortas, tacos, burritos, tamales and quesadillas on offer. There are vegetarian versions—that might not appear on the menu—of many of the dishes, so don't be afraid to ask. There's also a food truck that sometimes makes its way around the neighborhood.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 12 Bones Smokehouse - Asheville BBQ Joint (@12bonesribs)

In the South, barbecue is a must. Roll up your sleeves and dive into drool-worthy ribs smoked slowly over hardwood for hours and doused in Cheerwine or blueberry chipotle sauce. For a lighter intro, dip your toes into the side plate (not literally) and the 'just a taste' meat menu.

Time Out tip: The Wedge Brewery is just across the way if craft beers are your thing.