Where to Eat in West Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
- Ian Wasserman
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
And now, the conclusion of this delectable series on the best places to eat in Asheville, NC. We’ve covered east, south, and north, and so now we finally turn to west, one of the hippest parts of town, brimming with plenty of eateries, breweries, and local hangouts all along its main drag, Haywood Road.
It's a great place to discover some of Asheville’s very finest restaurants, with many iconic downtown locations having sister-spots out here in the west, plus a fine assortment of west Asheville exclusives. So let’s get right into business, breaking down some of the best places to sit back, relax, and enjoy some killer food out here in west Asheville.
Maybe it's because I’m always writing these things in the morning, but I find breakfast is seldom far from my mind. Wherever I go, I’m on the lookout for diners, brunch spots, and unpretentious, down-to-Earth cafes.
And here at Sunny Point, we’ve got not only one of the best places for breakfast in west Asheville, but in my hometown as a whole. Each platter is caringly crafted to encompass the epitome of comfort food, providing that crucial nourishment you need to start your day. We’re talking biscuits and gravy, pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes; all the South’s greatest hits.
That said, Sunny Point’s not what you’d call a greasy spoon. With ingredients sourced directly from their garden, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, a breakfast here isn’t intended to put you back to sleep, but to give you the vim and vigor you need to go out there and carpe diem.
Try and aim to visit on a day with nice weather, to make the most of their expansive patio seating. As to parking, their lot can fill up during the regular weekend crowds. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I leave my car at the Ingles up the way.
Hours: 8:30am to 2:30pm, every day.
This laid-back neighborhood restaurant has long been one of my top picks in west Asheville. Good food, good service, and like Sunny Point, plenty of outdoor seating, to best enjoy that fresh mountain air.
On top of all that, they serve tater-tots. And any spot with good ‘tots rockets straight to the head of my lists, I’ll tell you what. It's the perfect accompaniment for a menu chock-full of pub favorites, including wings, pressed Cubans, and the “U-Joint burger,” piled high with Monterey jack, jalapenos, bacon, and ranch.
Now even with the tater-tots a visit here wouldn’t be complete without something from the taps. Here they’re pouring out pints of locally-brewed beers and ciders, making the U-Joint the perfect place to start off a night of exploring west Asheville’s many bars, breweries, and music venues.
Hours: 11:30am to midnight, every day. Open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
For my money, there’s nothing better in this world than a ramen egg. The noodles and broth and so on are plenty fine too. But I’ll tell you, I still remember the day I first had a ramen egg from Itto’s, as vividly as any other crucial event in my life. Its as if it were yesterday.
And it very well may've been yesterday when I had ramen here, as it is one of my most-frequently visited dinner spots in west Asheville. Typically I’m springing for the Itto Deluxe, its savory broth emphasized with black garlic oil in a delightful celebration of umami at its finest.
But let’s not forget the tapas here, folks. When I’m in the mood for a lighter meal, or just can’t make up my mind, the only thing to do is roundup some friends and family, order some small plates, and pass them around. Edamame and jalapeno yellowtail are a must, naturally. Throw in some gyoza, crab rangoon, and tremendous takoyaki, and you truly have yourself a west Asheville meal to remember.
Hours: 11:30am to 10pm. Closes at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Moving on to the subcontinent, Botiwalla is an offshoot of downtown’s famed Chai Pani, one of Asheville’s best Indian restaurants. Here in west Asheville, they apply their signature spices and top-rate service to a more casual, lunch-oriented kind of place, in the style of India’s Irani Cafes.
To start with, you’ve got their street-foods: bhel puri, vada pav, and my own favorite, the okra fries. Perfect for a light snack on your tour of west Asheville, or to pair with a cool mango lassi or hot cup of chai. For the main event, Botiwalla focuses on sigri-grilled chicken and lamb, rolled up in tikka, and garnished with plenty of spices and chutney.
All-in-all, a fantastic lunch spot in west Asheville, perfect if you’d like a taste of what Chai Pani’s cooking, but without so much of a line.
Hours: 11:30am to 9pm. Open until 9:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Closes at 8pm Sundays.
Now finally we come to Gan Shan. Voted not only the best takeout spot in WNC, but also one of the best in Chinese, this stylish west Asheville eatery serves sophisticated Asian-fusion with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients.
I find their dishes are always recognizable, but with a little added pizzazz; their own original take on it. Banh mi with pork pate, for instance. Drunken noodles with pineapple. And a monthly variation on chicken shio ramen, featuring confit cherry tomatoes. It wouldn’t occur to me to put tomatoes in ramen, but it occurred to Gan Shan, and by golly, it works.
And let's not forget the weekly specials. Half-price sake, every Sunday? Sign me up. Eight-dollar dumplings on Wednesdays? I’m there, man. Me and Gan Shan are having a great time.
Hours: 4pm to 8:30pm. Open until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Closed on Mondays.
Businesses Mentioned
Sunny Point Café
(828)-252-0055
626 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Universal Joint
(828)-505-7262
784 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Itto Ramen Bar & Tapas
(828)-505-0860
630 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Botiwalla (West)
(828)-505-0163
697 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Gan Shan
(828)-417-7402
285 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
