West Asheville Food Scene: Beyond Sunny Point Cafe
Dining in West Asheville has shifted from “on the rise” to a food destination in its own right with plenty of creative flair and culinary genius to go around. Haywood Road is the epicenter for many West Asheville restaurants, including global dining options like Nine Mile, Thai Pearl, Botiwalla by Chai Pani, and Gan Shan West, which delight the palate with bold flavors and boundary-pushing bites. Gan Shan West specializes in Asian comfort food that’s just as delicious for dine-in as takeout. In fact, it was rated the #1 Best Takeout in Asheville! Discover the best eats in our Ultimate Guide to West Asheville.
West Asheville Fine Dining
For fine dining, The Admiral and Jargon have a longstanding reputation for amazing cuisine. The former is stationed in a modest cinder-block building, but don’t let it fool you: this is the “restaurant that launched a thousand more.” We can’t get enough of their fresh Oysters and decadent pasta dishes like Rigatoni with milk-braised pork sugo, fennel, and fried sunchokes. Likewise, Neng Jrs, a James Beard Award finalist, serves up mind-blowing Filipino and southern fusion in an intimate 18-seat dining room housed in a former arcade.
Jargon offers an eclectic and ever-changing menu of modern American fare, complemented by an award-winning wine list. Some of our favorites include the Joyce Farms Duck Breast, followed by a dessert of Black Sesame Carrot Cake or a dessert cocktail amusingly called the Irish Goodbye, with Vanilla whiskey, Five Farms Irish Cream, amaretto, cold brew coffee, and nutmeg. With innovative flavors and seasonal offerings (with ingredients sourced from local growers), it is perfect for a date night or gathering with friends. Speaking of revelry, Jargon also has an event space next door called The Argot Room, perfect for a catered party of up to 50 people celebrating everything from graduations to birthdays to baby showers.
Lowkey West Asheville Eats
For more lowkey spots, check out Universal Joint, W.A.L.K., and Haywood Common, casual establishments with solid pub food, burgers, and tacos. Speaking of tacos, Taco Billy, with its storied breakfast and lunch tacos and iconic orange goat paintbombing Bob Ross-style landscapes, is always bustling. We also love Finest, a new dining spot that blends “classic Italian-American deli flavors with modern Asheville charm.” West Asheville also has a legacy of award-winning breakfast and brunch spots. We know we said “beyond Sunny Point Café,” but come on—it’s an Asheville staple for good reason! Their Huevos Rancheros have even made it onto Michelin Recommended lists. Usually busy, Sunny Point is best visited early, and while you’re waiting, grab a coffee and pastry next door at The Rabbit Hole to tide you over.
A weekend morning on Haywood Road is also likely to include sightings of hungry patrons filing around the storefront of Biscuit Head by its Rainbow Kitten Surprise mural (not to be confused with the Appalachian-based band of the same name that frequently performs in WNC). This crave-worthy breakfast spot with “cathead” biscuits like The Filthy Animal and a full suite of jams draws endless crowds and has been featured in Southern Living and Food and Wine magazines. If you’re pressed for time but still craving something tasty, we recommend grabbing a bacon egg and cheese biscuit from The West End Bakery or Butter Punk. The latter is located closer to the heart of RAD on Depot Street but is worth the detour for the best (and most buttery) biscuits in Asheville.
West Asheville: A Canvas for Flavor
If you prize art just as highly as you do food, West Asheville is the place for you, and if you're wondering which neighborhood near Haywood Road is for you, our West Asheville's top neighborhood comparisons will help you decide. Colors, flavors, and history converge in this eccentric enclave of Asheville, which never has a shortage of new things to explore: whether that’s an art exhibit, craft beer district, or a a local “hole in the wall” restaurant. West Asheville will keep you on your toes, keen to see and explore what beautiful creations are taking shape inside its unique galleries, restaurants, and storefronts. It’s truly a community for trailblazers and visionaries who are always hungry for more!