Food · Asheville · United States
What to eat in Asheville
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Asheville, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Pimento cheese · Photo: Carol VanHook, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Biscuits, Mountain trout and Ramps. Walk the South Slope brewery district for tasting flights, then finish at a downtown rooftop bar. Book dinner well ahead for October weekends, when leaf-season crowds fill restaurants.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Biscuits
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 7
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at…
- Food experiences
- 3
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9 foods to try
Breakfast · Vegetarian
1.Biscuits
Flaky, buttermilk biscuits are an Appalachian and Southern staple, served with sausage gravy, fried chicken, country ham or local jam and honey.
Where: Biscuit-focused breakfast spots downtown and in West Asheville; expect weekend queues.
Dish
2.Mountain trout
Rainbow trout raised in cold mountain streams of western North Carolina, served pan-fried, smoked or as smoked-trout dip.
Where: Farm-to-table restaurants across the city and smoked trout at local markets.
Dish · Vegetarian
3.Ramps
Wild leeks with a strong garlic and onion flavour that grow in the Appalachian forests in spring. Chefs fold them into eggs, pesto and potatoes for a few weeks each year.
Where: Restaurant menus and farmers' markets in April and May.
Snack · Vegetarian
4.Sourwood honey
A light, caramel-like honey made from the blossoms of the sourwood tree, which flowers in the southern Appalachians in midsummer; it is prized and often sells out.
Where: Farmers' markets, craft shops and the Western North Carolina Farmers Market.
Drink · Vegetarian
5.Apples and hard cider
Henderson County, just south of Asheville, is North Carolina's main apple-growing region, and local cideries press heritage apples into dry and sweet ciders.
Where: Orchards and cider taprooms around Hendersonville, especially in late summer and autumn.
Drink · Vegetarian
6.Craft beer
From Belgian-style sours to hazy IPAs and lagers, Asheville's breweries are a big reason people visit, and several national craft brewers have East Coast breweries nearby.
Where: Taprooms in the South Slope, downtown and West Asheville.
Snack · Vegetarian
7.Pimento cheese
A Southern spread of sharp cheddar, mayonnaise and roasted red pimentos, served with crackers, in sandwiches or on burgers.
Where: Menus across the city, from breweries to brunch spots and delis.
Dish
8.Soup beans and cornbread
Pinto beans simmered with pork and served with skillet cornbread and chow-chow, a sweet-sour relish of cabbage and peppers; classic Appalachian home cooking.
Where: Restaurants focused on Appalachian and Southern cooking, and some diners.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Chocolate
Asheville has several bean-to-bar chocolate makers, and its chocolate lounges serve truffles, cakes and thick drinking chocolate.
Where: French Broad Chocolates on Pack Square and smaller chocolatiers downtown.
Travelling around United States? What to eat in United States covers the dishes to try in each of our 44 destinations there.
Food experiences
Brewery hop
Walk the South Slope brewery district for tasting flights, then finish at a downtown rooftop bar.
Western North Carolina Farmers Market
The state-run market near the Biltmore Estate sells regional produce, honey, jams and crafts year-round, with seasonal apples and pumpkins in autumn.
Biltmore winery tasting
Biltmore's winery, in the estate's former dairy barn, offers tastings included with estate admission, near Antler Hill Village.
Quick bites and street food
- Biscuits — Biscuit-focused breakfast spots downtown and in West Asheville; expect weekend queues.
- Sourwood honey — Farmers' markets, craft shops and the Western North Carolina Farmers Market.
- Pimento cheese — Menus across the city, from breweries to brunch spots and delis.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 7 are usually vegetarian: Biscuits, Ramps, Sourwood honey, Apples and hard cider, Craft beer, Pimento cheese and Chocolate. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book dinner well ahead for October weekends, when leaf-season crowds fill restaurants.
- Popular brunch places do not always take reservations; arrive early on weekends or expect a wait.
- Many menus list the farms they source from, and ramps, trout and sourwood honey are worth looking for in season.
- Some restaurants close on Mondays or Tuesdays; check before planning a meal.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars and breweries, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Asheville famous for?
Biscuits, Mountain trout, Ramps and Sourwood honey. Flaky, buttermilk biscuits are an Appalachian and Southern staple, served with sausage gravy, fried chicken, country ham or local jam and honey.
+Is Asheville good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Biscuits, Ramps and Sourwood honey.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Asheville?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars and breweries, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.