37 Best American Restaurants in Asheville

“Been a customer in 2007 and still in Love with the place.“

“On Saturday, February 14th, I went downtown for a solo dinner at Huli Sue’s and quickly realized I had completely forgotten Billy Strings was in town for the weekend. Between Valentine’s Day and a sold-out show within walking distance, downtown was absolute chaos. Walking into Huli Sue’s, though, felt like stepping into a well-oiled machine. The hostess (I truly wish I had gotten her name) greeted everyone calmly and kept the flow of guests organized and welcoming. They were operating on a reservation system for the evening honestly genius given the circumstances. Even as a party of one, the wait was about an hour and a half, which I completely understood. Knowing I was craving their food, she suggested takeout. She even let me sit at the table where they roll silverware so I could look over the menu and wait for my roommate to text their order and never once made me feel rushed. While I waited, I watched her run the entrance like an absolute goddess. She was pleasant, efficient, and incredibly organized. Every table being notified was already set, down to water poured and ready. When guests arrived, she greeted them with genuine enthusiasm and walked them to their tables like they were honored guests. Downtown was a madhouse. People kept walking in without reservations, and she calmly explained the wait. When guests were understandably discouraged, she let them know they were accepting reservations for the 15th and I honestly didn’t hear a single person turn her down. She made everyone feel welcome. Despite the cold and the madness outside, the restaurant remained calm and peaceful inside. Even at full capacity, the volume stayed comfortable. The kitchen ran like an orchestra no yelling, no chaos, no stressed staff just teamwork and smiles. I wanted to take a moment to praise Huli Sue’s, their staff, and their phenomenal hostess. They handled what could have been an overwhelming night with grace and efficiency. They already had my business —but after that experience, I’ll make it a point to go even more often.“

“What a great place to celebrate our birthdays. Two from KY and two from Augusta GA to enjoy celebrating all four of us having birthdays. Stuart who waited on us was EXCELLENT. We asked him about the damage to Asheville and we could hear it in his voice how hurt he was because others suffered so much. He was very gracious that we chose Asheville to celebrate our birthdays. I had the best shrimp and grits ever and I'm 73. Every meal the fried oysters, salads, Reuben Sandwich there is no negative experience. I hesitated to order the banana pudding but was intrigued by the description. So glad I did, it was so different than what I've ever had but the BEST I've ever had. Thank you to everyone working that day on 1/22 that wished us Happy Birthdays and made this such a wonderful memory for all 4 of us. Very welcoming, great personalities but above all GREAT FOOD.“

“My friend and I decide to go to Little D's due to an extremely long wait at another establishment. I'm so glad this is where we ended up! EVERYTHING is top notch- decor, service, cocktails & food! We sat at the bar for immediate seating. There is not one dish we tried that needed anything! Perfectly seasoned and plated with innovative flavors, textures & artistry. Thank you for the amazing experience.“

“Amazing lunch. Swordfish sandwich. Incredible“

“Never disappoints, always consistent service with amazing food. Our favorite Asheville restaurant.“

“The host was extremely unwelcoming. We walked over once we had notification that our table was ready. On the walk I received a call from host that there was a table arriving after our reservation and we must be up from table by that time. Upon arriving at restaurant we were told once again that we could not stay in table past our reservation. It was extremely unwelcoming feeling and affected the whole evening. Host then reworked booking after us but did not inform us. Waitress was asking if we wanted deserts, but we explained we were told we had to leave before next reservation.“

“This was hands down one of the best breakfast spots we tried during our weekend getaway to Asheville. My boyfriend and I both got a bacon egg and cheese on a biscuit which was out of this world!! Reminded us of authentic southern homemade cooking, something hard to come by with many chain or franchise restaurants. Highly recommend giving this hidden gem a try!“

“I’ve eaten here 2 times in the last 2 months. The food is delicious , the service has been excellent and the atmosphere is so nice . I’ve enjoyed eating on their patio . I know I’ll be returning .“

“We are from out of town and love to try the local favorites. The food was fresh and delicious. The restaurant was unique and the service was friendly.“

“We had an excellent experience at Salt Face Mule! Our bartender, Kennedy, provided outstanding service. She was friendly, attentive, and made great recommendations. The food was fantastic too, fresh and full of flavor. Highly recommend stopping by! I got the blueberry waffles and added fried chicken to it.“

“Excellent job on the new lunch“

“We had absolutely wonderful service & delicious cocktails during our visit in Asheville. Meticulously crafted cocktails by a very knowledgeable mixologist (can’t remember his name). We will definitely be back next time we’re in town.“

“i walked several blocks in the rain to a brewery (and i dont even drink beer!) JUST to get supper at the Dino Grill because their food is THAT good! i dont even have a favorite, because every time a dish gets sold out and i have to pick a new dish to try, its just as delish as the last. This time i had jambalaya with shrimp and andouille, the sauce was perfectly seasoned to be spicy but not overpowering the more suble herbs and seasoning. The shrimp and andouille were temder but slightly grilled crisp, most places wouldnt go this extra step. There is a reason they keep winning awards!“

“Friendly atmosphere, good food.“

“Me and my wife are here at cornerstone restaurant today and the food was absolutely delicious again the spaghetti and the meatballs, the Snickers cheesecake and Claire our waitress. She was a diamond for sure. Great personality. Fast response brought our food out very quickly and everything was A+plus would like to give her a big shout out. Even if the food was bad ! We would come back because of her .“

“Food and service were fantastic!“

“Stumbled upon this gem while visiting Asheville. Close to a wonderful independent bookstore so stopped in for lunch and nostalgia. My husband’s BLT and my chicken salad were excellent. So fun to sit at the lunch counter and see and listen. One of my favorite parts was watching a worker make a steaming, frothy hot chocolate with a machine that looked like it was from the 60s. After enjoying lunch at a great price, I was able to walk through the art gallery. The Soda Fountain is definitely a cool place to go!“

“We were highly impressed with our first visit to Tall John’s! We had the Bravette Steak and Duck, both cooked to perfection! The cocktails were equally unique and tasty! Cool Vibes & yummy food! Oh, and we both have a gluten issue and were accommodated easily! We will be back ❤️“

“Michael was our server and he was truly amazing!! The atmosphere was so cozy and romantic and the service was immaculate! My husband and I had never experienced a dining experience like this. The hostesses were so friendly and kind, all the waiting staff were accommodating, and Michael worked so hard to make sure we had the best possible experience. The food was unlike any we had tried before and was fresh. It came out quickly and tasted like it was very well prepared by highly trained chefs. We absolutely will be returning in the future and recommend it to all that can make it.“

“I love this place!! best wings in town. always good daily specials and they happen to have great substitutions for vegetarians...you can sub tofu and tempeh for proteins. huge selection of drafts and beers, and even several delta-9 drinks. pool tables upstairs are free, along with darts. you can rent that upstairs space for private parties. off site catering is also available. And...plenty of parking!!! highly recommend!“

“We sat at the bar and the bartender Wes was top notch. Very personable, remembered our names when we came back in because we left a bag. Great experience and I highly recommend.“

“Have been eating at j&s for years, drove over today from Rockford, Tenn not disappointed, wish would come to Knoxville“

“We LOVE the one stop! The people, the place, the fans. Can’t wait to visit y’all again! 5 🌟“

“The Carolina dog is the best hotdog in the world. A dance between the devil with the chilli and onions and the angle of the sweet coleslaw just hits different. And the dog has a snap to it i have never enjoyed before. Jade is a sweetheart and makes them dogs quick and delicious. Must visit.“

“We love our outings to Creekside - Georgia loves the chicken and fries and I had buffalo wings this time which I really enjoyed. I usually get the salad with smoked chicken and its my all time favorite. The staff are great and the atmosphere is cozy. So if you are looking for a great place to eat, with a good atmosphere and great eats - Creekside is my favorite place in East Asheville.“

“Had a great Turkey Pita and White Ale on the patio with friends. Excellent wooded vibes and great food selection!

I would recommend 1) Something to keep the tables from wobbling. 2) A menu with accurate pricing. My bill was different than the menu suggested.“

“What a great brewpub! We were in town for three days and got dinner here each night, so we sampled lots of the fare. Slight of brews, all well made to style. Cocktails using their own distilled spirits, very well balanced and crafted. Food ranging from poutine to soups, nachos to sandwiches, consistently excellent. And I simply have to mention the Tallow Fries — best fries you will ever have!

The service was consistently excellent. The noise level quite low even when crowded, which is not easy to achieve with a high ceiling. All in all a comfortable place with top notch food, beverages and service.“

“Good service and food 🥘 the scenery is great too“

“Great place with a great welcoming staff.“

“We were a party of 8...in the summer...around lunchtime...so it was crowded but we were seated quickly..had biscuits right away and our food came out quickly...portions were huge..(.I think the meatloaf slice was a pound of beef by itself.)..Staff were courteous and helpful with our wheelchair and walkers.food was reasonably priced... our only "negative" comment would be that some desserts ran out :( but everything else was great!“

“Great food. Locally sourced. Friendly, well-trained staff.“

“We've visited the Biltmore Estate several times but dined at Cedric's for the first time today. It was wonderful! Our server, I believe his name was Tom, was very attentive and everything was delicious. We started with pretzel rolls and pickles and then for entrees had the lobster roll and fish and chips and a few kids meals. Truly the best fish ever! Cedric's will definitely be our go-to the next time we are at the Biltmore.“

“The stable is really cool inside. The menu doesn't have a lot of flexibility if you have any dietary restrictions but it does indicate options if you do. Wound up doing a flight and fries. Also the health rating was 92.5 - a bit concerning, especially on the Biltmore property.“

“We ate brunch at the Exchange and it was excellent. Food and service were great. Savannah took great care of us and even surprised us with a slice of cake for my wife's birthday. Definitely recommend the basket of pastries for the table.“

“The burgers and our service were amazing“