11 Places That Prove Nowhere in the US Does Breakfast Like Asheville

Biscuit Head

Established in 2013, Biscuit Head is husband-and-wife duo Jason and Carolyn Roy’s take on classic Southern breakfast food. Their Biscuit Head enterprise has since grown to three Asheville locations; one restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina; and a Biscuit Head cookbook. So what makes this place so special? It all starts, naturally, with the biscuits. Made in the traditional Southern “cathead” style — so named because they’re about as big as a cat’s head — Biscuit Head’s enormous, fluffy, golden beauties are the Southern staple at its best. Specialty biscuits are piled high with anything from brisket and pickled onion to mimosa fried chicken and sriracha slaw. Top it off with one of over a dozen specialty jams and preserves at the jam bar, or get a flight of three gravies with flavors such as espresso red eye and sweet potato coconut. A word of caution: Servings here are so massive that this may be the only meal you eat all day.

What to get: The Pulled Pork Biscuit, piled high with slow-roasted pork, jalapeño pimento cheese, bacon, poached egg, and topped with maple syrup. Wash it all down with locally roasted PennyCup coffee or the house specialty Maple Bacon Latte.

Where: 733 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806; 417 Biltmore Ave #4f, Asheville, NC 28801; and 1994 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

5 Points

This retro diner serves simple breakfast classics like platters of bacon and waffles topped with a fried egg. 5 Points is known for its friendly staff, huge portions, and expansive menu (which also offers lunch and dinner). It’s so busy among locals that a line has been known to form outside. It’s a no-fuss dining experience that doesn’t look upscale or fancy but will still be satisfying.

What to order: Biscuits, eggs benedict, French toast

Where:  258 Broadway Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801

Early Girl Eatery

Located on the cobblestoned Wall Street across from the historic Flatiron building, Early Girl Eatery has been serving up made-from-scratch Southern breakfasts since 2001. Using locally sourced ingredients, Early Girl features new specials every day, as well as a seasonal menu. The restaurant was farm-to-table before it was cool, and while the menu is rooted in Southern tradition with classics like biscuits and gravy and shrimp and grits, there are also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Breakfast is served all day, seven days a week, but as with all good things you may have to wait. This popular spot can be slammed on the weekends.

What to get: Spinach and potato cakes topped with tomato gravy and served with two eggs any style, plus a biscuit or toast. Have a cup of organic Dynamite Coffee, roasted in nearby Black Mountain.

Where: 1020 Merrimon Ave Suite 104, Asheville, NC 28804; 444 Haywood Rd #101, Asheville, NC 28806; and 8 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801

Tupelo Honey

Winner of “Best of the Best” Brunch Spots in 2021 from TripAdvidor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards, Tupelo Honey offers Southern cuisine classics like shrimp and grits and fried chicken and waffles. Executive Chef Eric Gabrynowicz is a James Beard award semifinalist, so you know quality is guaranteed. There’s also a wide variety of flavored mimosas and Bloody Marys, including one garnished with pickled jalapeño, green bean, cherry tomato, and celery.

What to order: fried green tomatoes, Mac-N-Cheese Waffles with Asheville Hot Fried Chicken, Southern Shakshuka

Where: 12 College St Asheville, NC 28801

Sunny Point Cafe

Sunny Point Cafe is the preeminent brunch spot in trendy West Asheville. Cozy and charming, Sunny Point’s limited seating is often dwarfed by its crowds. But don’t let a long wait turn you away. The shady patio waiting area is one of the most-Instagrammed spots in Asheville, and you can enjoy a coffee or Mimosa while you wait. There’s even live music on the weekends, making the wait as much a part of the experience as the meal itself. During the growing season, chefs source ingredients from the garden plot adjacent to the restaurant. The eclectic menu borrows from Mexican, French, and classic American cuisine, and if you ended up waiting past noon, don’t worry — breakfast items are available all day.

Sunny Point is more than just a force for good food. It’s also a source of good in the community. Every table features a donation envelope in which customers can leave a gift for the local charity of the month. Sunny Point will pass along all donations and match up to a certain amount per month. In 2018, the restaurant raised $20,517 for environmental non-profits, disaster relief, and more.

What to get: Try the massive breakfast burrito, filled with eggs, chorizo, chiles, peppers, and onions, and topped with red salsa and cilantro crema. If you’re not too buzzed from that mimosa you had while you were waiting, try the craft Bloody Mary.

Where: 626 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

HomeGrown

The motto of HomeGrown is “slow food right quick,” and it boasts a truly local atmosphere. According to the website, the restaurant serves “local food, cooked by local people.” Supporting community farms, from which the restaurant sources many of its ingredients, is also important here, so your meal won’t just taste good, it will support a good cause, too. In addition to Southern classics on the menu, you’ll also find delicious vegan and vegetarian options, including barbecue tofu and a tempeh patty melt.

What to order: Open Face Fried Chicken Biscuit with Cheddar, Sausage Gravy

Where: 371 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

Ultra Coffee Bar

In the heart of Asheville’s bohemian River Arts District, this modern coffee shop with a full espresso bar serves up house-made pastries and baked goods along with some of the best breakfast sandwiches in all of Asheville. Ultra Coffee Bar also has some of the best vegetarian and vegan options, such as the Viva la Vegan bagel with tofu egg and vegan cream cheese or the Vegan Rad with tempeh bacon and a balsamic glaze. If you eat inside, check out the dozens of artworks for sale, all created by local artists. Sit outside when the weather is nice and watch the trains go by, then take a walk to some of the nearby art studios, such as the Odyssey co-op ceramic gallery or the North Carolina Glass Center.

What to get: The Brekkie Wrap: sausage, egg, cheddar cheese, spinach, tomato, and chipotle mayo, grilled and pressed in a spinach herb tortilla. To drink, try one of the specialty coffee drinks, such as the Nitro Cold Brew or the Rick James, which is a double shot of espresso with Mexican coke and vanilla syrup.

Where: 242 Clingman Ave Ext, Asheville, NC 28801

Tastee Diner

In a food scene dominated by craft aiolis, artisanal goat cheeses, and avocado everything, Tastee Diner is refreshingly unpretentious. A classic, no-frills American flat-top diner, Tastee Diner may not have the most innovative menu around, but the place knows what it is, and the chefs cook up a damn good breakfast. With lots of fried eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, and waffles, it’s true-to-form greasy spoon fare done uncommonly well. If the weather is nice, the picnic tables outside are excellent for people watching on West Asheville’s busy Haywood Road thoroughfare. Take a look at the vintage photos of Asheville inside to see the way it was before breakfast food was trendy.

Where: 575 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

What to get: It’s hard to beat the Hangover Hash-browns, a big pile of breakfast potatoes topped with two eggs, cheddar cheese, chili, and onions. And if you really are nursing a hangover, get yourself mimosas served by the pitcher.

Village Social

Village Social bills itself as the spot to enjoy a hearty breakfast before venturing out into Asheville to explore the city. Winner of Open Table Diner’s Choice Award in 2019, diners can expect a more relaxed atmosphere at Village Social paired with a more creative take on breakfast: There’s an egg scramble dish filled with crab and pesto, for instance. Village Social is located on the Biltmore Estate. The sprawling grounds feature the magnificent home built by George Vanderbilt, a winery, gardens, and a hotel.

What to order: Biscuits and gravy, pecan waffle, crab and pesto egg scramble

Where: 445 Winery Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

TacoBilly

Drive around Asheville for long enough and you’re sure to see an orange goat sticker slapped to the back of someone’s Subaru. That would be the calling card for TacoBilly, the newest adventure for journeying owners Hunter and Beth Berry. A product of their Texas roots and the four years they recently lived in Mexico, TacoBilly’s menu mixes Tex-Mex fare like migas and agua fresca with down-home classics like bacon and potatoes. Handmade tortillas are sourced from a local tortilleria, and most meats, eggs, and cheeses are sourced from local farms. The Berry’s obviously went all-in on the goat theme. A giant orange goat mural covers the side of the blue building, and on the inside, an assortment of thrift-store oil paintings on the wall are dotted with the restaurant’s bright orange mascot. Many of the menu items are even named after famous “Billy’s.” Seating can be tight inside, but the cozy patio out back is the best place to sit anyway.

What to get: The tacos are filling, but they’re so tasty that you’ll probably want two or three. The migas — piled high with fried tortilla, eggs, onions, tomato, jalapeño, and cheese — is a must, and you can’t go wrong with the Billy Joel: a classic combination of bacon, egg, and cheese. Wash it all down with a cantaloupe agua fresca and some PennyCup coffee.

Where: 201 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

Vortex Doughnuts

The only doughnut shop to make the list, Vortex is located in the same building as the award-winning Buxton Hall BBQ and local favorite Catawba Brewing in the bustling South Slope area of downtown. Made with flour sourced from a local mill, Vortex offers cake, yeast, and vegan doughnuts in a variety of flavors, glazes, and toppings. The offerings rotate on a weekly basis, but you can expect creative treatments like cream cheese thin mint or blueberry streusel. The spot has even been known to use malts from local breweries. Vortex also features a full-service espresso bar with barista creations.

What to get: The menu changes weekly, but keep an eye out for anything that has a glaze featuring nearby French Broad Chocolate Lounge products.

Where: 32 Banks Ave #106, Asheville, NC 28801

A version of this article was previously published on January 28, 2019, and was updated on April 5, 2022, with more information.