Where to Eat in South Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
I love nothing more than talking about food. It’s a universal language, an easy and efficient means of connecting with people, no matter their background. And here in Asheville, the Paris of the South, I like to think that food is our second language. After French.
If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Asheville, you must already know about all the great restaurants downtown. But the the whole rest of the city is waiting for you out there, chock-full of hidden gems.
Take South Asheville, for instance. It's is one of the more spread out sections of town, so it can be hard to locate the very best restaurants, given so much territory. But that’s where I step in, connoisseur that I am. So read on, and discover five of the best places to eat in South Asheville.
We’re starting strong here, with South Asheville’s Wild Ginger Noodle Bar. To my knowledge, they are my hometown’s only Vietnamese spot, but despite the lack of direct competition, I do not hesitate to call them best-in-class.
With their steaming banh-mis and rich pots of pho—perfectly for our frequent rainy days— Wild Ginger simply never disappoints. And don't even get me started in their sapin sapin. This traditional Filipino three-layer custard is one of my favorite desserts in Asheville, and paired with a cup of their Vietnamese coffee, it's a dynamite treat no matter the weather.
Keep in mind the word is very much out on this one. Wild Ginger draws tremendous weekend lunch crowds, and remains pretty busy through the rest of the week. My suggestion is to order take out, say forty-five minutes ahead, or aim for a dinner early in the week if you’re dead-set on sitting in.
Hours: 11:30am to 8pm, Wednesday through Mondays. Closed Tuesdays.
Pioneered by the prolific minds behind Filo and the East Village Grille, their newest restaurant opened in South Asheville back in 2017, and ever since has been a favorite spot for myself and my family.
On a day with fine weather, there’s nothing better than relaxing out on their big old patio for a meal of fresh salads and flatbreads. Inside, you’ll find spacious dining, well-suited to special occasions, plus a bar & lounge area perfect for a casual drink with friends.
Aside from the flatbread-salad situation, some of my other favorites on their menu include the Friday fried-fish lunch special, and their gyro with Greek fries. It's a fairly diverse menu, focused on pub fare and wings, punctuated by a slew of elevated weekly specials.
Hours: 11am to 9pm, Mondays through Thursdays. Open until 10pm Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Sundays.
Growing up, my dad was always on the hunt for the spiciest dish he could handle, so naturally, Thai food quickly became a treasured part of my palette.
My favorite Thai spot in town has changed many times over the years, with openings, closings, and new discoveries, but the latest and greatest in my estimation is South Asheville’s Khao Thai Cuisine. Incidentally, just down the way from Post 25.
I’m always starting out with a Thai tea, of course. That’s a non-negotiable. And in normal circumstances, I’m too thrifty to shoot for appetizers, but if I’m sitting down at Khao, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m grabbing some fried lotus roots, or some steaming hot curry puffs.
For the main course, my favorites are the catfish or a massaman curry. But the great thing about Thai food is the diversity. From their noodle dishes to stir fries, just about everything on the menu is worth a try.
Hours: Open for lunch, 11:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Open for dinner 4:30pm to 8:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Mondays.
Here we’ve hit one of those real iconic Asheville restaurants, on the scale of 12 Bones or Chai Pani. Wouldn’t be much of the Paris of the South without a powerful contender for one of the best fried chicken joints for miles around.
What more can I say? It's fried chicken, folks; tender and juicy on the inside, crisp and spicy on the outside. It’s that kind of fried chicken that makes you hesitate to make it at home, or order it anywhere else. It’s that life-changing kind of fried chicken.
As to the sides, we’re talking cole slaw, fried okra, mashed potatoes, green beans, and sweat potato casseroles. All the best barbecue all-stars.
With specials every day of the week, all the way from “Wing Wednesday” with discount wings and drinks, to "Tattoo Tuesday: (10%, with some ink), you got yourself here a real special place, the likes of which you’ll only find in South Asheville.
Hours: 11am to 9pm, every day of the week.
Last but not least: Stone Bowl Korean. Not many Korean restaurants here in Asheville yet. And I call that a shame, because it is downright one of my favorite culinary traditions.
Luckily, Stone Bowl is there to deliver up some of the best Korean I could ask for. Aside from their namesake “stone bowls,” served hot-and-spicy with a cracked egg, I like to start off with some fried dumplings or vegetable pancakes. Then comes the free banchan, of course, with the sweet-potato being my personal favorite. And for my number one recommendation: kimchi jjigae, a kimchi, pork and tofu stew, with a soul-stirring broth the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else.
Stone Bowl is often our go-to for familial get togethers. Take a visit down here, and I’m sure you’ll soon find why.
Hours: 11am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 9pm, Monday through Thursday. Noon to 9:30pm, Saturdays and Sundays.
Businesses Mentioned
Wild Ginger
(828)-676-1827
1950 Hendersonville Rd Ste 12
Post 25
(828)-676-2577
2155 Hendersonville Rd
Khao Thai Cuisine
(828)-676-0195 2145 Hendersonville Rd
Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack (828)-676-3222
3749 Sweeten Creek Rd
Stone Bowl (828)-676-2172
1987 Hendersonville Rd
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