Explorin’ Asheville - Best Food
Best places to eat around asheville
Here’s a quick list of just some of our personal favorites around Asheville. They can range from a quick bite by the river to a treat-yo-self (but still casual) night on the town.
White Duck Taco Shop
I promise you haven’t had tacos like these. White Duck has a very unique and oddly satisfying menu. This shop sits on the French Broad River in River Arts District with a huge outdoor seating area. There is another nearby location downtown, so if you want the outdoor riverside seating, be sure to choose the Riverside Dr. location!
Rosetta’s Kitchen
Three words: Vegan Comfort Food! Rosetta’s Kitchen is a must stop if you are downtown. Their menu ranges from Chili cheese fries, Taters with gravy, and cauliflower buffalo wings to rubens and grilled cheese and even rotating baked goods - its a vegan’s paradise! If you’re a kombucha lover - they have six flavors on draft, including Marshall’s very own BUCHI! On top of their welcoming atmosphere that just gives off that homey feel, they also run a beautiful program they call “Everybody Eats,” where they provide meals for anyone coming through their doors that need it. As a customer, if you would like, you can pay a little of the cost forward with your meal - And they don’t ask, its just an option - if you would like to.
Botiwalla
Botiwalla is a modern street Indian food restaurant in West Asheville with fast service and a casual and vibrant atmosphere. Recently opened by the same owners as Chai Pani, which is on everyone’s “Must-Eat” lists for Asheville, and can be difficult to get into without planning ahead, Botiwalla, in our opinion, offers the same amazing flavors with less hassle.
Huli Sue’s BBQ
Hawaiian-Southern menu with insane flavor! Huli Sue’s is a must! Whether you’re in the mood for fresh fish, poke, Hawaiian BBQ, or tropical cocktails, we suggest you reserve a table and be ready for some great food and service with the coolest vibes.
Gan Shan West
Uhhh-mazzz-ing Asian fusion with some seasonal Appalchian inspiration. They’ve got the basics, like some of the best General Tso in town, the guilty pleaures, such as their Pickle and Kimchi Plate, and even vegan options for just about the whole menu. They do have limited 4pm-9pm hours (closed Monday), so don’t get your hopes up as this being your lunch spot (speaking from experience).
Tupelo Honey Cafe’
If you want to experience those flavors that have made Asheville so famous in recent years, there’s no better place to go than Tupelo Honey. The food is rich, but it is all made from scratch, with the most responsibly sourced, local ingredients as possible, whether its the produce, meat, or brews and spirits. Whether its for brunch or dinner, you may need to be prepared for a caloric overload, but with its prime location across from Pritchard Park, you can just walk it off as you stroll the streets of downtown Asheville,
Thai Pearl
Another recommendation in West Asheville, Thai Pearl is possibly the best Thai food we’ve ever had - and that’ll be reinforced by the wall of “Best of WNC” awards you see when you first walk in. Their menu includes all the classic Thai dishes, along with a few others for the adventurous ones, all of which seem to get devoured, despite the seemingly-impossible-sized plates. Of course, their friendly service and warm atmosphere doesn’t hurt much either.
Early Girl Eatery
With locations in both downtown Asheville and West Asheville, Early Girl Eatery is another local hot spot that focuses on healthier, lighter plates using seasonal, local, sustainably sourced ingredients while still embodying that rich, Appalachian comfort food. With their first location opened in 2001, Early Girl Eatery has remained a must-visit for Asheville foodie tours for over 20 years now.
