I love Silverball, but I haven't been able to get a sandwich in months because of the hours. I'm gonna have to skip out on work just to get a hoagie and play pinball.
Yep, same, their hours are a joke and it makes me worry they're gonna go out of business because if I can't make it there when they're open I wonder how many other people they're losing the business of. Then again, every restaurant's hours in Asheville are a joke. Why would you ever be closed on certain days when you can just have employees with different days off?
I'd even be happy with something (besides Waffle House and Taco Bell, though they have their place) that's open until ~3am. The last place I can remember was that tiny diner in the old Exxon at the 240 Merrimon exit. 😭 Anyone willing to deal with the crowds after the bars close--especially if they were close to downtown--would do well, I think.
In Burnsville I can get a breakfast sandwich, lunch sandwich, and soda for less than $8.00 at prices creek general store.
Somewhere selling basic food for a deal would be nice.
Locally owned places that make whatever type of cuisine they are passionate about.
Not some corporate place that appropriates some culture and produces a cheap facsimile of that food.
You should give La Rumba a shot! The owner is very involved in making cuisine from his region of Mexico. Very much not a Meximerican restaurant clone where you just order combinación #22 (although I do love me some of that). Big portions, awesome free elotes instead of chips/salsa, and the owner is super nice and knowledgeable.
Vietnamese is my favorite cuisine, maybe I’m spoiled because the city I moved from had a ton of Vietnamese restaurants, but there’s nothing here that scratches that itch.
Hi friend, I empathize. I grew up in & around NoVA & it's so so good, I don't think Wild Ginger compares honestly but I've only tried their house special pho.
One time I was craving some mangú and thought “maybe there’s a spot I’ve just never heard of” so I googled Dominican restaurants near me and google maps suggested red lobster. So yes. I agree.
I feel like there is a lack of good vietnamese around here, Wild ginger is ok. I was living in Houston and really discovered vietnamese food is so good.
I hate to sound low rent, but I'd love to see Hendersonville get a really good Chinese buffet restaurant. The DaVita place on 7th used to be China Seas and it was a Ryan's before that. We have a couple out here, but they're nothing to write home about. China Seas was really, really good. Maybe one day...
Authentic cultural food and experience. Not catering to any trend whatsoever for tourism’s sake. Something that feels intergenerational and not just strategically placed in downtown Asheville for $$$. I don’t know how else to describe what I’ve had in some of the cities I’ve lived in, but not here.
It was purely by accident for me while on a trip to Kingsport, TN. The gigantic burger and hot dog on the building immediately caught my eye and I had to stop. Now it's a tradition each time I travel out that way! I don't think I've ever had a bad meal from there.
I go every time I’m in Miami visiting my family. I used to go to Chicken Kitchen when I worked on Miami Beach, but I think the original owners sold it.
Have you been to Romeo Burger yet? They are a fully vegan burger place that just opened up on Merrimon above the Hop. They're not open super late but I think they're open til 10 and their burgers are amazing!
I'm not going to get picky about food, I just want someplace that isn't so bleeping loud. Have an actual ceiling with some dampeners and put in pleather booths (size friendly). A bar with stools that are more than just a place to rest a single cheek.
Chili's and TGI Fridays used to be the loud party restaurants but now even when they are full (granted that doesn't happen in Asheville) they are quieter than most of the newer restaurants that aren't intentionally meant to be loud.
I just want to have a freaking conversation with a comfortable butt.
There’s a small little Colombian restaurant in Greenville named Sachs’s Cafe. It’s cheap, the food is great, and the vibe is authentic. I want that here.
A local, regular-ass hamburger stand like when I was growing up. Burgers (not grass-fed. Gimme all the chemicals), onion rings, fries, and milk shakes. Tastes good, doesn't cost a zillion dollars, and doesn't have trendy ingredients.
Damn I always lamented leaving Asheville's food scene, but we've got almost all these things in little ol' Roanoke. Used to have a decent Ethiopian place but it went under with COVID.
I worked for a restaurant chain in Boston called life alive that made healthy grain bowls that were f*cking delicious and affordable. One of the CEOs from Panera ended up buying them and expanding all over the city now they just need to make it down here
Life Alive was great at the original Central Square location. I was less impressed with the other locations. I agree some vegetarian grain bowls would be nice. And fit right in my for Asheville.
I FUCKIN LOVE LIFE ALIVE
(Sorry for the yelling - I just grew up going to their OG location before they spread all over Boston. Definitely mixed feelings about the expansion but I love their food so much 😭 also Clover. Just like….relatively affordable compared to other options in the city, and fresh.)
This is pitiful. Half want chains because they want NC to look like just where they came from and half wants the the diversity of authentic ethnic food that only exists in an area with a long history immigration from various and diverse cultures…Asheville is a small mountain town in rural southern Appalachia with none of the typical draws that creates diversity of ethnic food like a major port, major universities, real hospitals, and real jobs. The closest you will get in NC is the Raleigh/Durham area…and it will still never compare to what your wet dream of what Asheville is supposed to be. The good restaurants we had sold out to corporations or closed some years back. Saw Horse was a recent beacon of hope that faded RIP.
I fully support Mama Wok opening an Asheville branch.
I've actually considered opening a vegan taco spot, maybe starting as a cart or truck. I just really don't want to deal with the financial headache.
Fresh Seafood (other than the ubiquitous mountain trout and scallops) that can put The Lobster Pot on the boil. Bonus points if fresh oysters are there for the slurping.
A French fry restaurant “poutine plus” that offers toppings: nacho cheese, peppers, onions, tomatoes, chorizo, shredded pork bbq, but also chili with meat and vegan, chili , white pepper gravy white cheese curds and curry gravy, turkey gravy. Maybe rotate toppings? Is there a place like that?
Tijuana Flats.
options past midnight. Or even just options past 9pm..
Chinese takeout thats actually good.
Cuban food: devil crabs, stuffed potatoes... Gimme a fucking breaded palomilla sandwich!!!!! Even just cuban bread...
Fusion stuff, where the hell do I get a bulgogi arepa sandwich around here?! Kimchi waffles... for a "food destination", I don't really ever see anything breaking the mold...
A halal spot that sells cheap fried shit till 4am.
Yeah tried that its ok, but prices are horrible. If you brought the appropriate prices with the dishes theyd catch on more? I'm used to a foot long packed breaded palomilla sandwiches for like $6. Theres is $14... and they use sirloin... like wtf. Palomilla is a cut of beef not a name of a sandwich... It should be the ass of the cow thinly sliced and hammered to hell for tenderness. You can find cow rump/butt here. Its doable...cafe con leche with starbucks pricing... I'll take one for 50 cents please...
In N Out. Like 6 things on the menu, always delicious, consistent and cheap. It’s a must for a trip out west. I know, I know. They won’t come. A guy can dream.
I don’t think Asheville is missing anything in particular I want, it’s just that almost every in the downtown doesn’t feel like a place I could just stay for hours and hang out with friends without it being excessively loud. It’s a hard balance to make a restaurant into a third place that works and most of the time it ends up being a crowded bar.
I really want a decent Korean restaurant.
And decent Chinese!
A succulent Chinese meal?
Get you hands off of my penis!
Democracy manifest
The lack of solid Korean food in Asheville is rough. Everyone always says stone bowl and it makes me wonder if they've ever had good Korean food.
dey havent, u rite
Stone bowl is at least “decent”
I disagree their food was so disappointing last time I went.
It’s definitely not Korean House 😭
Stone bowl down 25 is pretty fucjing dank
And good Pho
Wild Ginger seems to be the best around from what I can tell
Hole in the wall that isn’t trying too hard to be something
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I’d love to eat somewhere with my family and not spend a week’s worth of groceries on our meal.
A good deli for the love of god. Our sandwich game is trash when Ingles Boar’s Head is the best option
Silver ball is really good. The hours aren’t great but the subs are.
second for silverball. single-handedly holding down the sub game.
I love Silverball, but I haven't been able to get a sandwich in months because of the hours. I'm gonna have to skip out on work just to get a hoagie and play pinball.
Yep, same, their hours are a joke and it makes me worry they're gonna go out of business because if I can't make it there when they're open I wonder how many other people they're losing the business of. Then again, every restaurant's hours in Asheville are a joke. Why would you ever be closed on certain days when you can just have employees with different days off?
The amount of places closed Sunday is wild
RIP High Test Deli on Coxe Ave
Pub sub tried and true
Old School Subs in Biltmore or Black Mountain is quite good
Silverball is the best. Love living leicester
heard
Decent Korean, Szechuan Chinese, Peruvian chicken, something that’s actually open late
Szechuan!
Has anyone tried Kings Kitchen on Hendo Rd? It’s advertised as Szechuan. I’ve never been.
Will do. Need some good mapo tofu.
I also crave Szechuan. If you're up for an hour drive, Magic Wok in Johnson City has what you crave. Order off the Chinese menu.
The local buggy for Peruvian chicken!
Korean BBQ is something I miss from moving here.
So many in Nova.
From nova and I miss the Peruvian chicken and yuca fries!
There are so many of those places up there. My non chicken faves are weenie beanies and bbq at its best (four mile run near barcroft park).
I don't eat Chinese here cuz I'm from nova
At least 1 mid 24/7 restaurant, this is the first place I’ve lived that doesn’t have one
Pretty much all 24/7 stuff between Charlotte and Atlanta went away with the pandemic. Even in the big cities 24/7 is hard to come by these days
man when i was young, eating at one of those in charlotte after a long night of drinking was great. Used to be a few open 24/7
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You guys are gonna love Sheetz lol 24/7 mid/low food
I'd even be happy with something (besides Waffle House and Taco Bell, though they have their place) that's open until ~3am. The last place I can remember was that tiny diner in the old Exxon at the 240 Merrimon exit. 😭 Anyone willing to deal with the crowds after the bars close--especially if they were close to downtown--would do well, I think.
Late night dive bar food close to the river. Cheapish munchies chill dj or jukebox loaded with random punk. Open LATE.
Agreed. Huge shortage of open late divey stuff.
As a night shifter, there's a huge shortage of open late anything unfortunately. 1am is barely lunch time for me
Open late is key!
A chill dj spot fa shooo
Jewish deli, Korean bbq, Chicago hot dogs with Italian beef and pizza puffs
This person foods.
Wait, help me out here - are you saying they put Italian beef right on the hot dogs in Chicago?
and pizza puffs?
They do not. They are two separate, outstandingly good, sandwiches.
Greek food
Yess There’s nothing here :(
In Burnsville I can get a breakfast sandwich, lunch sandwich, and soda for less than $8.00 at prices creek general store. Somewhere selling basic food for a deal would be nice.
Check out Five Points Diner.
One of my favorite breakfast spots before 7am.
Dim Sum!
A good afghan or Pakistani kabob place
Locally owned places that make whatever type of cuisine they are passionate about. Not some corporate place that appropriates some culture and produces a cheap facsimile of that food.
You should give La Rumba a shot! The owner is very involved in making cuisine from his region of Mexico. Very much not a Meximerican restaurant clone where you just order combinación #22 (although I do love me some of that). Big portions, awesome free elotes instead of chips/salsa, and the owner is super nice and knowledgeable.
Vietnamese is my favorite cuisine, maybe I’m spoiled because the city I moved from had a ton of Vietnamese restaurants, but there’s nothing here that scratches that itch.
Yeah, we need more pho!!
Wild ginger is pretty dang good
It is pretty good but I've grown tired of paying for their constant remodels with ever increasing prices
Hi friend, I empathize. I grew up in & around NoVA & it's so so good, I don't think Wild Ginger compares honestly but I've only tried their house special pho.
Fresh, chewy, New York style bagels.
dominican food. I want some arroz con gandules, and pernil.
One time I was craving some mangú and thought “maybe there’s a spot I’ve just never heard of” so I googled Dominican restaurants near me and google maps suggested red lobster. So yes. I agree.
Vietnamese food. Been needing a rice noodle salad for years here now.
Bun bo Nam bo
I feel like there is a lack of good vietnamese around here, Wild ginger is ok. I was living in Houston and really discovered vietnamese food is so good.
For the love of gawd, some cheap, good Szechuan.
Yes!
I would like to see an authentic creole restaurant that is not a temporary offering or a food truck.
Doc Chey’s 🥺
Doc Chey’s forever!!!
RIP ❤️🥲
Oh man. Yeah.
I miss it.
And lucky otter
Pho
Crab Rangoon Central. I'm a slut for crab Rangoon.
NY style bagels 😭
Joeys Bagels in Hendo is super good and I heard they’re opening an Asheville location next year!!
Some pho. I miss pho so pho-king much
Real Mediterranean Italian, not sugary or heavy American overcooked pasta. Delicate, light, seasonal flavors. Something authentic.
High-end sushi.
I just ate at murakasi, it was really good!
Murasaki is "Asheville" good. It's good, don't get me wrong. But in most other cities, it would pass as "mid" sushi.
lol so true
Lebanese / middle eastern.
Eastern European.
I hate to sound low rent, but I'd love to see Hendersonville get a really good Chinese buffet restaurant. The DaVita place on 7th used to be China Seas and it was a Ryan's before that. We have a couple out here, but they're nothing to write home about. China Seas was really, really good. Maybe one day...
Jamaican is my vote. Y'all tell me if you know of a good place. I need some curried fish and palm hearts with cabbage!
I came here to say Jamaican! There used to be a decent food truck but they closed down a few years ago and I've been hungry ever since
Authentic cultural food and experience. Not catering to any trend whatsoever for tourism’s sake. Something that feels intergenerational and not just strategically placed in downtown Asheville for $$$. I don’t know how else to describe what I’ve had in some of the cities I’ve lived in, but not here.
Good Hot Pot
Good ramen, yes I’ve had Itto
Pal’s.
Yes!!!! I love that place. I definitely make it a point to stop when I'm near one in TN. I checked this post just to see if anyone mentioned Pal's!
Pal’s is the absolute best. How did you get first introduced to it? Haha. I am originally from SWVA, so I know all about the infamous Pal’s haha 🤣
It was purely by accident for me while on a trip to Kingsport, TN. The gigantic burger and hot dog on the building immediately caught my eye and I had to stop. Now it's a tradition each time I travel out that way! I don't think I've ever had a bad meal from there.
Pollo Tropical
Found the Florida transplants
I'm native to WNC but lived 3 years in Stuart and West Palm Beach. Definitely second the Pollo Tropical idea.
Chicken on the grill!
Its been almost 20 years since I have had it and still miss it. Chicken Kitchen was amazing too but i heard they are not the same anymore.
I go every time I’m in Miami visiting my family. I used to go to Chicken Kitchen when I worked on Miami Beach, but I think the original owners sold it.
Nothing but local ones. A few chains on tunnel rs is cool but I think we should keep downtown and west local only.
We don't want the chains in East AVL either!! 🤣
Food truck with no more than $5 peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
We need a Hot Pot place! The closest one is in Charlotte..
A nice Mediterranean/Greek restaurant
Anything that's not a chain.
A gluten-free bakery. Bonus if they have pizza! (Wishing Urban Peasants would spearhead this, they do amazing gluten-free artisan breads)
I’d love to see a Japanese style hot pot.
Solid, affordable Vietnamese downtown
Late night vegan trash or some kinda solid vegan deli. RIP trashy vegan. (I love smokin onion but I can never make it to the brick and mortar.)
Have you been to Romeo Burger yet? They are a fully vegan burger place that just opened up on Merrimon above the Hop. They're not open super late but I think they're open til 10 and their burgers are amazing!
I'm not going to get picky about food, I just want someplace that isn't so bleeping loud. Have an actual ceiling with some dampeners and put in pleather booths (size friendly). A bar with stools that are more than just a place to rest a single cheek. Chili's and TGI Fridays used to be the loud party restaurants but now even when they are full (granted that doesn't happen in Asheville) they are quieter than most of the newer restaurants that aren't intentionally meant to be loud. I just want to have a freaking conversation with a comfortable butt.
There’s a small little Colombian restaurant in Greenville named Sachs’s Cafe. It’s cheap, the food is great, and the vibe is authentic. I want that here.
A single decent Hibachi place. They're a dime a dozen in Raleigh. Nowhere here.
Plot twist: there are no decent hibachi places.
A local, regular-ass hamburger stand like when I was growing up. Burgers (not grass-fed. Gimme all the chemicals), onion rings, fries, and milk shakes. Tastes good, doesn't cost a zillion dollars, and doesn't have trendy ingredients.
Get your ass up to Centerville luncheonette
I love going to French Fryz on Hendo. They’ve got good burgers, fries and shakes
And $1 hot dogs on Monday. Inflation proof dogs.
We love hot dog Mondays
Cook out?
I asked for American cheese at farm burger and was practically shamed.
Farm burger tastes weird to me. I don't know what it is. I thought it might be the HNGF patty so I went and bought some and, nope, it's them.
You’re describing French Fryz
Also, if we could bring Grata back that would be great.
A roller rink. in west asheville.
Peruvian food and some good Korean food, please god
Damn I always lamented leaving Asheville's food scene, but we've got almost all these things in little ol' Roanoke. Used to have a decent Ethiopian place but it went under with COVID.
I just want the real Tastee back
Korean food
Jet’s Pizza
Might be too far for you but there is one in Brevard!
Normally priced.
I worked for a restaurant chain in Boston called life alive that made healthy grain bowls that were f*cking delicious and affordable. One of the CEOs from Panera ended up buying them and expanding all over the city now they just need to make it down here
Life Alive was great at the original Central Square location. I was less impressed with the other locations. I agree some vegetarian grain bowls would be nice. And fit right in my for Asheville.
Yess I lived right there in central square 2011-13 That was my jam I can still smell it if I close my eyes
It’s not exactly the same (green bowls and smoothies as well as grain bowls) and it’s farther … but have you tried Green Fetish in Greenville?
I FUCKIN LOVE LIFE ALIVE (Sorry for the yelling - I just grew up going to their OG location before they spread all over Boston. Definitely mixed feelings about the expansion but I love their food so much 😭 also Clover. Just like….relatively affordable compared to other options in the city, and fresh.)
Yesss clover is so good too. I am pretty much craving a swami wrap from life alive 24/7, I make my own but it just doesn’t hit the same
I worked at the one in central square it was such a blast, the former CEO is still one of the coolest most badass business women
This is pitiful. Half want chains because they want NC to look like just where they came from and half wants the the diversity of authentic ethnic food that only exists in an area with a long history immigration from various and diverse cultures…Asheville is a small mountain town in rural southern Appalachia with none of the typical draws that creates diversity of ethnic food like a major port, major universities, real hospitals, and real jobs. The closest you will get in NC is the Raleigh/Durham area…and it will still never compare to what your wet dream of what Asheville is supposed to be. The good restaurants we had sold out to corporations or closed some years back. Saw Horse was a recent beacon of hope that faded RIP.
Preach!
some affordable vegan options (thanks romeo's!)
I’d love to see a vegan place that’s not just “American” cuisine. Like an all vegan taqueria or Chinese place would go harddddd.
Vegan Italian restaurant….
That Gemelli vegan lasagna tho...
I fully support Mama Wok opening an Asheville branch. I've actually considered opening a vegan taco spot, maybe starting as a cart or truck. I just really don't want to deal with the financial headache.
Sichuan Chinese with hotpot!
Vegan barbecue
Freebirds. Its hell when you're craving and you have to choose between Chipotle and Moe's for your burrito fix.
Nopales Fresh Mex makes a pretty dang good giant burrito
Not a restaurant per se but I’d love a Dutch bros.
I saw a Dutch bros in TN, in between here & Knoxville I believe. I grew up in Southern Oregon & had no idea they had they made it out this far.
Yea I stop every trip in Oregon and have been to the one in Tennessee, I hope they make it to Asheville.
Nandos
Upscale sushi
Fresh Seafood (other than the ubiquitous mountain trout and scallops) that can put The Lobster Pot on the boil. Bonus points if fresh oysters are there for the slurping.
Hot pot/Korean barbecue
peruvian chicken!!!
Really anything that isn’t expensive as hell 😭
Only locally owned ones.
A salad bar
I would like to see some diners. And no, I don’t mean like IHOP or Denny’s. Actual real diners.
Decent tex fucking mex
Liege street waffles. Just basic waffles
Authentic New Mexican Southwest. Sadie's (Albuquerque).
54 grill
Vietnamese restaurant that's not in south Asheville
i heard a rumor that w asheville is getting a banh mi shop
Holy shit I would be so happy. I think banh mi is objectively the perfect food 🤩
can’t b more specific right now, but look for one to b open by the end of the year
Something affordable
A good breakfast coffee spot that isn’t overpriced!
A French fry restaurant “poutine plus” that offers toppings: nacho cheese, peppers, onions, tomatoes, chorizo, shredded pork bbq, but also chili with meat and vegan, chili , white pepper gravy white cheese curds and curry gravy, turkey gravy. Maybe rotate toppings? Is there a place like that?
There was. It was called Bad Happy. For various reasons it struggled, probably could have survived as a food truck though.
Whataburger
Second that!
Tijuana Flats. options past midnight. Or even just options past 9pm.. Chinese takeout thats actually good. Cuban food: devil crabs, stuffed potatoes... Gimme a fucking breaded palomilla sandwich!!!!! Even just cuban bread... Fusion stuff, where the hell do I get a bulgogi arepa sandwich around here?! Kimchi waffles... for a "food destination", I don't really ever see anything breaking the mold... A halal spot that sells cheap fried shit till 4am.
I was hoping Guajiro was going to be a decent hole in the wall Cuban spot, but it has been consistently “meh” and the prices are outrageous.
Yeah tried that its ok, but prices are horrible. If you brought the appropriate prices with the dishes theyd catch on more? I'm used to a foot long packed breaded palomilla sandwiches for like $6. Theres is $14... and they use sirloin... like wtf. Palomilla is a cut of beef not a name of a sandwich... It should be the ass of the cow thinly sliced and hammered to hell for tenderness. You can find cow rump/butt here. Its doable...cafe con leche with starbucks pricing... I'll take one for 50 cents please...
Any peruvian chicken spot
Bring Fuddruckers back
In N Out. Like 6 things on the menu, always delicious, consistent and cheap. It’s a must for a trip out west. I know, I know. They won’t come. A guy can dream.
GOOD NY STYLE PIZZA
L&L Hawaiian BBQ
Gyu-Kaku
I don’t think Asheville is missing anything in particular I want, it’s just that almost every in the downtown doesn’t feel like a place I could just stay for hours and hang out with friends without it being excessively loud. It’s a hard balance to make a restaurant into a third place that works and most of the time it ends up being a crowded bar.
Late night bakery 😍