There are few things worth getting up before 7 a.m. on a Saturday for, but trust us—you’ll want to set an alarm for this. Imagine, against the background of the fuzzy morning light trickling through the trees and the melody of the songbirds, taking a deep breath, and inhaling the aroma of fresh-baked pastries, buttery biscuits, and locally roasted coffee. It must be time for the most important meal of the day: breakfast!
We asked our followers to vote for their favorite breakfast and brunch spots in the area, and boy did they come through! From our loyal fanbase of visitors and locals, here are some of the top breakfast restaurants in the Asheville area.
Sunny Point Cafe
Looking for food so good that people will gladly wait in the rain for a table? This West Asheville eatery has received a lot of national attention. Everyone from Fodor's to Southern Living have touted the amazing breakfast this place serves up.
What to order: Their Huevos Rancheros was a finalist in Good Morning America's Best Breakfast in America competition. It comes with savory black bean cakes, Snow Creek chorizo sausage, feta cheese, roasted tomatillo salsa, and herb tossed red skin spuds topped with two free-range eggs any style, cilantro crema, and crisp tortilla strips. Yum!
Tupelo Honey Cafe
Tupelo Honey is among the restaurants that have helped put Asheville's culinary scene on the map. This popular eatery has received acclaim from the New York Times, Frommer's, Rachel Ray, Garden & Gun and so many more. Known for its new south flair, the downtown hotspot has branched out, now with two locations in Asheville and other locations from Georgia to Colorado. Make plans to get here early as the line forms the moment the doors open.
What to order: Whatever you do, make sure to share an order of their Fried Green Tomatoes appetizers with the table. The tomatoes are served over goat cheese grits with fresh basil. Amazing! Wash it down with their signature rosemary-peach house-made lemonade.
Biscuit Head
Biscuit Head aims to put some "south in your mouth" with their fresh take on southern home cooking. With three locations in Asheville, Biscuit Head is a convenient way to start a day of exploring the city. The premise of a breakfast here is simple: begin with huge, fluffy cat-head biscuits, then add on everything from traditional eggs and bacon to more adventurous pairings like pulled pork with an egg on top. Choose from a wide variety of homemade jams and jellies to choose to sweeten the deal.
What to order: Given the location in Beer City, you have to try the "gravy flight." Pick three savory gravies and a warm, fluffy cat-head biscuit. Yes, it's as good as it sounds!
Moose Cafe
With the Western North Carolina Farmer's Market right next door, it's no wonder Moose Cafe features fresh, local vegetables daily. Their menu of home-cooked, southern-style comfort food has earned them a reputation as a place where locals love to eat. Their popularity even earned them a feature in Southern Living magazine. And, Miranda Lambert dined here during her visit to Asheville. Expect to be greeted with hot homemade biscuits and made-from-scratch apple butter at every meal. Not only is the food delicious, but the mountain views from the dining room will also hit the spot.
What to order: Pick a southern favorite—you can't really go wrong. Fried chicken, meatloaf, mac and cheese, and collard greens have all received high marks.
Early Girl Eatery
You know it's gonna be good when "Made from Scratch" is the restaurant's motto. This farm-to-table restaurant on downtown Asheville’s cool cobblestone Wall Street serves up southern comfort food and better yet, breakfast is on the menu all day long. Rachel Ray highlighted Early Girl on her popular "$40 a Day" series on Food Network.
What to order: Go big or go home! Their Porky Breakfast Bowl comes complete with homefries, BBQ pork, scrambled eggs and farmstead cheese smothered in Benton’s smoky bacon gravy.
Green Sage Cafe
Green Sage is known for its commitment to serving food that promotes health and supports a vibrant community. Their three locations feature menu items that are "nutrient-rich, chemical-free, 95% organic, and thoughtfully-sourced." Need accommodations? Most of the menu is easily modified for vegans, vegetarians, and those with dietary restrictions.
What to order: The Pura Vida Bowl is a classic with two sunnyside up eggs, black beans, sautéed kale/onions, root hash, brown rice, guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa verde. Other breakfast favorites include the Everything Avocado Toast, Breakfast Burrito and Appalachian Trail plate.
Honorable Mentions
Our Facebook fans agreed on one thing: the options are seemingly endless when it comes to breakfast in Asheville. While the eight restaurants above rose to the top in our poll, these two also received their fair share of love: Mayfel's and Posana.
