Whether you call it comfort food, soul food or southern food, there is no mistaking the pavlovian response when someone mentions buttermilk biscuits and crispy fried chicken. Finding the best southern food in Asheville can be quite the challenge with so many finger lickin' good places to choose from. While many Asheville restaurants offer southern food entrees and sides on their menu, there are a select few that provide a true southern food experience, complete with sweet tea and fried okra.

Many Asheville restaurants source local ingredients from Western North Carolina farms, providing a fresh, farm-to-table experience, even if it all gets fried! 


Tupelo Honey's Shrimp & Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes and fresh biscuits. 

The South goes big for breakfast, serving up stick-to-your-bones kinda meals and sending you on your way. Southern brunch dishes like chicken & waffles, biscuits & gravy, shrimp & grits, country ham and fried green tomatoes will certainly fuel your day of exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Authentic southern lunch and dinner plates may include bone-in fried chicken, meat loaf, country fried steak, ribs, pork chops and more. Sides include fried okra, mac-n-cheese, collard greens, cheesy grits, mashed potatoes with gravy, hush puppies, sweet potato casserole, coleslaw, baked beans, cast-iron cornbread and more. 

Below you'll find the best places to get your southern comfort food fix in Asheville, with a little bit of Appalachian flavor.