50 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.“

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

“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.“

“Fantastic service, ambiance and especially the food. My favorite place for a nice dinner.“

“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.“

“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 ❤️“

“the food is fantastic 10 out of 10 would eat there again.“

“We highly recommend Posana for celebrating special occasions. We were there for our 27th wedding anniversary and they gave us many nice touches -- glasses of champagne, a signed card from the staff, a small starter and small dessert -- that made the dining feel even more special. Our server was wonderful and all the staff were kind and attentive. Scrumptious food and gorgeous presentation.“

“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 .“

“Absolutely fantastic experience!! From the greeting when we walked in - to the bar .. we were so blown away by the service! I got a hazy IPA that came out more hazy than usual. The bartender gave me a different IPA but someone in charge of brewing also saw our interaction, fixed the keg and brought me a new beer!! Such a great team!!

The restaurant was super clean & inviting. We will be back!!“

“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.“

“Happy hour: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm M - F
If you love beer or cocktails and you need an early dinner, this is a great happy hour. You can get a huge chicken sandwich that tastes high quality for $9 or a delicious burger for $12. Drinks range from $3 - $10. They have plenty of cocktail and beer options during the happy hour as well. The only thing I wish they did was a red and white house wine with the happy hour menu as well. Other than that this is perfect for people who want a fancy delicious experience without the high price tag.

The happy hour definitely made me want to come back for the full dinner menu! I will 100000% be back.“

“Excellent job on the new lunch“

“Incredible food, drinks, and views! Definitely make a reservation and catch the sunset. 10/10 experience.“

“Just had the burger and slaw ❤️❤️❤️ great good and wonderful owners. Highly recommend. All the dogs say hi as well“

“Fantastic meal last night at Jargon! The ginger carrot 🥕 soup was incredible. We paired it with Asparagus and risotto. The strawberry dessert was amazing and the after dinner drinks with espresso beans were perfection.“

“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.“

“We were on our way through Asheville and found this little gem after our first choice was closed. Do glad we did. \n\nThey were quite full/busy but they fit us in and were very kind and gracious about it. \n\nThe entire experience was special. About four different staff members checked on us throughout our evening. \n\nTheir knowledge of the menu was incredible, and especially their very extensive wine list. \n\nWe started with their “Darling” bread and butter. Absolutely amazing. I would have been happy with just that. \n\nTheir offerings of different locally grown greens was amazing. \n\nWe had the lamb kebabs and rabbit pasta for our main. Our outstanding sever recommended two incredible wines to pair. \n\nAn incredible experience from start to finish.“

“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 .“

“Went in with high expectations - my pancakes were not warm and a bit too sweet Coffee was ok - egg meal was large and my kids liked it I thought it was pricey compared to other meals I had in Asheville“

“If nostalgia is your thing, then the Woolworth Soda Fountain absolutely hits the mark. The second you walk in, it feels like you accidentally wandered into a simpler time where calories didn’t count and people still drank Coke from glass bottles (bonus points if you spot it in photo).

Inside, you’re surrounded by local art and vintage charm, so technically you could place your order and browse while waiting. But Ray and I are still one of those couples who actually sit and talk to each other, so we claimed our seats and settled in for lunch with our boys.

We’re both foodies, but I’m definitely the designated dessert person in this relationship, and their banana split fully understood the assignment. The mindset quickly shifts from, “We should probably eat healthy,” to, “You only live once, pass the whipped cream.” 🍒

We’ve been here about four times now, so I feel qualified to say the food has been consistently delicious every single visit. The employees, however, are a little more like a game of Yahtzee. Sometimes you get warm and chatty, sometimes you get “friendly-ish,” where they’re polite but look emotionally unavailable until their next break.

Still, the food always comes through and somehow smooths everything over.

Parking is not exactly easy, so we always use the parking garage nearby. Honestly, after finishing a banana split the size of a toddler, the extra walking probably counts as cardio anyway.“

“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!“

“My friends and I ate here during our visit to Asheville in August 2024 and I can’t stop thinking about it. It was so good! I cannot wait to have another opportunity to go back“

“Came to the biltmore after a rough travel day to spend time somewhere with ambiance and class. I got in late so Cedric’s was the only place taking orders. I ordered the bean soup and home made pickles. The soup was ok, but the pickles were outstanding!

Food aside, I had the most amazing service from Haley and Maddie. Thank you for the sweet treat.“

“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.“

“As someone from Chicago, I don’t usually get excited about hot dogs. My friend insisted, “Josh, you have to try Farm Dogs,” and I’m so glad I listened.

I ordered the chili dog with mustard and onions on the potato bun, and it was incredible. The wasabi mustard is absolutely phenomenal and adds such a unique flavor without overpowering the dog. The potato bun is soft and delicious, and the hot dog itself has this satisfying snap when you bite into it that makes it feel truly artisanal.

The real standout, though, is Jade. She is incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about what she does. You can tell she puts creativity and care into every hot dog she makes, and that passion comes through in the food. It’s rare to meet someone who clearly loves their craft as much as she does.

Farm Dogs completely changed my expectations of what a hot dog can be. I’ll definitely be back, and I’ll be bringing friends with me.“

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

“I honestly couldn't have had a better lunch while touring Biltmore than at the Inn lounge. My best friend and I are visiting Biltmore for a few days as it's his first time and I looked online and saw this restaurant had the same prices as the ones down at Antler Hill so I figured I rather have a great view and better ambiance . The burger was phenomenal and sauce was an absolute genius masterpiece. But honestly what made our experience an once in a lifetime was our sever Gregory. Not only did he give us the hospitality you expect from this quality of an hotel but he was down to earth and really made us feel welcome to the Biltmore Estate despite not being guests of the Inn. He had the most amazing stories of his experiences of meeting celebrities (like the avengers in one night ask him about it), which is something everyone wishes they had a friend like that. All through out the house tour everyone learns how great lengths George Vanderbilt went through to make his guests experience one to remember , Gregory gave us the Vanderbilt experience today and we will never forget it. In fact, we are considering coming for breakfast tomorrow after our Falconery and even maybe stay at the Inn if people like Gregory are on staff just like George would have for his guests. George would be proud of Gregory for continuing to give his hospitality to this day. Thank you for a wonderful experience, and we hope to see you again soon.“

“Five Points is on point! Bathrooms were nice and clean, staff was polite and attentive, & the food was really tasty, with generous portions! I highly recommend if you’re in the Montfort area of Asheville that you bring your appetite and enjoy a meal here. Will definitely be back for more! 🍽️ 😋“

“This place was great! The burger and fries were delicious. The atmosphere was laid back and comfortable. We also had great service on what seemed to be a pretty busy night.“

“The dining room has delicious creative food for the sophisticated palate. The entree selection is a bit smaller than many places but each one is very unique. Our party of four each raved about their meal. Would not recommend for children younger than teens.“

“Great place with a great welcoming staff.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Joe was fantastic and so was the cider. Definitely will be back!“

“The burgers and our service were amazing“

“Go see Dave if you want an incredible meal and experience! We had the best dinner here and I couldn’t be more impressed.“

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

“The food was wonderful, the service was good at first, and then became nonexistent. I had to leave the table to go in search of a refill of sweet tea. When I located our waiter, he became belligerent, got the tea, slammed it on the table, and never returned. He left the check on the table as he walked past, without even looking at us or asking if we wanted desert. He didn't come back to collect our payment, so we left it on the table. The food was great, and we would return for another meal here. If we have a similar experience with the service, we won't be back a second time.“

“We dined at Zambra for a birthday celebration while visiting Asheville and were blown away by the fantastic flavor combinations, creative menu and the vibe of the restaurant. The service was amazing as well, so that always brings a great meal together. I’d highly recommend Zambra and will dine there again next time I’m in town“

“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!“

“The food was spot on, and the service was excellent. The interior has a really cool atmosphere. One thing to note is that the photos make the restaurant look much larger than it actually is—it's a small, intimate space with vaulted ceilings, which I personally enjoyed. The menu is also intentionally small, allowing them to focus on quality, and it appears they rotate the offerings regularly.“

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

“Great dog friendly restaurant with a covered patio. They provide a water bowl. Staff is friendly. Food and drinks were excellent!“

“My daughter and I stopped in Mt pleasant location today for the first time ! It was yummy ! Can’t wait to go back ! The pork belly was off the chain !“

“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.“