10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Asheville

Sunny Point Café is a popular American restaurant serving classic comfort food in West Asheville. It’s become a local institution that’s best known for its all-day breakfast menu.

The family-owned café serves up Southern-inspired meals, like shrimps and grits, as well as healthier options like breakfast salads. If you find yourself here later in the day, you can enjoy something from its extensive drinks list with cocktails, beer and wine available. Choose to sit indoors or out under a covered patio, though it can be hard to find a spare seat in the mornings.

12 Bones Smokehouse is one of the best restaurants in the River Arts District of Asheville. It has more recently gained national attention after serving the Obamas several times, but locals have raved about this barbeque eatery for years.

It’s a no-frills establishment surrounded by warehouses and artist studios, making it a perfect casual dining option. Its meat is slowly smoked for hours over selected hardwoods before being served up with delicious sauces. Whether you’re craving pulled pork to baby back ribs, all are best paired with your choice of sides. The queues can be lengthy from 11 am onwards but the food is worth the wait.

Cúrate is a Spanish restaurant and bar housed in a former 1927 bus depot in the city centre. Led by Chef Katie Button, who has trained in Catalonia and New York, the restaurant is one of the most celebrated culinary ventures in Asheville.

Cúrate’s menu is dominated by tapas of cured meats and cheeses, as well as Spanish favourites like paella and cochinillo (suckling pig). The drinks menu is also worth a mention, offering a curated list of sherry, vermouth, cider and all-Spanish wines. Seats fill quickly at peak times so it’s worth booking ahead for this wildly popular place.

Cucina 24 is an upscale Italian restaurant in the commercial heart of Downtown Asheville. The polished modern interior and Mediterranean-inspired menu have made it a local's top choice for romantic date nights. 

The ever-changing menu features classic Italian dishes and innovative fusion meals based on regional produce. The real highlight is the homemade pasta, which you can watch being made as you sit at the glass-front bar. Cucina 24 is also a popular place to sit for a drink, with a great mixologist serving outstanding cocktails. The place usually fills up fast from around 5 pm, so it’s best to arrive early.

The Market Place has been a favourite among locals since it opened in Downtown Asheville in 1979. It’s recognised for its farm-to-table approach, serving seasonal produce grown within a hundred-mile radius of the city.

The menu changes with the seasons, though you can find a contemporary mix of European and American inspired cuisine. As well as the fine food, the Market Place offers an extensive wine and cocktail list. It’s a great option for a casual dinner or weekend lunch with a reasonably priced menu, though reservations are recommended.

Gan Shan West provides an Asian-fusion flair to Asheville’s food scene. It’s located in West Asheville and offers a casual dining experience. Chef and owner, Patrick O’Cain is an Asheville native and focuses on locally sourced ingredients for his otherwise Asian-inspired menu.

Dishes are mostly noodle-based, with ramen being its signature dish. You can also find affordable bites to eat, such as dumplings and chicken wings, making it an excellent place for group meals. If you prefer a night-in, all dishes in Gan Shan West are offered as takeaway options too.

The Admiral in West Asheville is a fine-dining experience that some regard as the best in the city. The restaurant and bar occupy an unassuming cinderblock building. Behind the rough exterior, you’ll find an everchanging global menu of high-class food in a chic interior setting.

The modern menu changes weekly, but local favourites include the beef tartare, trout fillet, and grilled pork. The Admiral also boasts a long wine list and delightful cocktails. Even if it’s only open for dinner 4 nights a week, it's one of the city's best options for a special occasion.

The White Duck Taco Shop is a taqueria outpost in the River Arts District of Asheville. The affordable and yet innovative and delicious taco shop has become a popular local haunt. Since it first opened in 2011, additional branches have been set up in other locations around the city.

There's often a long queue but you can find plenty of picnic tables in a picturesque waterfront position. There are usually around 12 different tacos on offer, with varieties like Bangkok shrimp and lamb gyros. It also has house-made sangria and local craft beers to pair with your tacos.