20 Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina

Are you wondering where to find the best restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, for an upcoming family vacation, girls’ trip, romantic getaway, or business trip? The food scene is as varied as the landscape.

Choose from local specialties, farm-fresh produce, international cuisine, Southern dishes like okra and chicken and waffles, and that world-famous (or at least in the Southern world) North Carolina BBQ. Our mouths are already watering.

Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and home to the Vanderbilt’s famous 19th-century Biltmore Estate, Asheville sits in western North Carolina about an hour and 45-minute drive from Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Travelers often combine the two destinations into one, getting a full fix of history, outdoor recreation, stunning scenery, and family-friendly attractions.

But what to eat? Yep, our minds went there too. Have no fear. We’ve got you covered on the food front.

Asheville is known for mountain scenery, historic architecture, music, and the galleries, museums, and artists’ studios of the Downtown Art District and River Arts District. Along with the areas of West Asheville, downtown Asheville, North Asheville, and South Slope, you’ll find a wide variety of local restaurants, bars, coffee shops, food trucks, and seasonal farmers’ markets all around town.

We admit it was a tough task to pick out the best restaurants in Asheville, NC. But somebody had to do it. Let’s get started exploring the best Asheville restaurants for fine dining, cheap eats, quick stops, and casual get-togethers.

Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina

1. All Souls Pizza

Address: 175 Clingman Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

All Souls Pizza serves a variety of artisanal wood-fired pizza with toppings such as sausages, beets, honey, artichokes, and yes, even pepperoni. Don’t let the word “artisanal” sway you. This place is as cozy and laid-back as you can get.

The popular pizza place uses organic grains and the freshest seasonal ingredients on its pies. Flour and polenta are milled on-site. Bread comes from the nearby Farm & Sparrow Bakery.

Not in the mood for pizza? No worries. Other selections include fried North Carolina catfish, pecorino hush puppies, a roasted chicken pressed sandwich, salads with apples and lemon vinaigrette, and farro soup as well as local craft beer and wine. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are…