Best Brunch in Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
- Ian W.
- May 20, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 5
If you polled people on their favorite meal, I reckon brunch would come out miles ahead. You got all the best parts of breakfast, plus you don’t even have to wake so up early. Some places don’t stop brunching until three in the afternoon; that’s practically dinner time.
If you ask me, brunch is a win-win, and many of my fellow Ashevilleans seem to agree. Just about every restaurant worth it's salt around here offers up brunch at least once a week. But with so many opportunities to satisfy your longing for eggs benedict and celery garnishes, it may be hard to pick the right spot. I get it; it’s a lot of pressure for ten in the morning.
Fortunately for you, I have chosen five of the best spots for brunch in Asheville and laid them out right here. Read on, and may you brunch blissfully.
Ukiah has come up many times in passing, typically when I’m talking about Asheville’s famous South Slope brewing district. But by golly, any place with the boldness to combine Japanese delicacies with classic Southern barbecue and good ol’ breakfast food deserves some real recognition.
Start with some edamame, then indulge in eggs benedict with yuzu hollandaise, salmon sashimi, pork and shiitake gyoza, Japanese sweet potatoes with miso butter, and finally their crowning accomplishment: breakfast ramen.
Typically when I have ramen for breakfast, it's a sign I need to go to the grocery store. But if I could make it Ukiah-style, with maple shichimi bacon and a sunny side egg, now that’s a breakfast I would be proud of.
And of course, as any self-respecting South Slope restaurant, Ukiah sports a robust drinks menu, including local draft beers, Japanese imports, and seasonal cocktails. That’s a heck of a brunch place if you ask me.
Brunch Hours: Sundays 10am to 3pm. Reservations recommended.
Whereas Ukiah expands the meaning of brunch, Cornerstone is more of that classic downhome breakfast vibe we all know and love. I’m talking biscuits and gravy, baby. The kind of brunch that fills you with all the energy you need to take on the day like a thunderstorm, or alternatively, sit back on your porch and fall asleep. Whatever floats your boat.
And what typically floats my boat is their peaches and cream French toast with a side of bacon and eggs. Or if you're more of a banana man, order some pancakes banana-foster style; there’s no better brunch place in town to get it. Other menu highlights include build-your-own omelets, fried chicken benedicts, country fried steak, and meatloaf hash.
As you can see, Cornerstone serves brunch with authority. And as they sit on Asheville’s eastern edge, it's a great place to fuel up for a day spent exploring Black Mountain, one of the many great small towns near Asheville.
Brunch Hours: Open seven days a week, from 7:30am.
Any veteran brunch-goer will tell you that ambience is half of the fun. Biltmore Village's famous Corner Kitchen has it in droves, blending its turn-of-the-century architecture with a homey, small-town-kitchen feel, making it for brunch infused with sophistication and relaxation in equal measure.
As I've mentioned, the Corner Kitchen has long been Asheville's star brunch-spot in Biltmore Village. Like Cornerstone, they specialize in southern breakfast favorites, namely biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits. And if on the odd chance you've got room for dessert, I heartily recommend some grand marnier crème brulee, with a portion of each sale going to local charities.
Yes, I do say a brunch at Corner Kitchen is the perfect way to start off a day of exploring Biltmore Village, or better yet, a prelude to entering the grounds of the Biltmore Estate. But keep in mind, with the popularity of this place and its limited seating, you're certainly going to want reservations.
Brunch Hours: 9:30am to 2:30pm, seven days a week.
4: All Day Darling
When it comes to brunch in Asheville, I'm doing my darn'd-tootedness to supply you with locations that are genuine local favorites. No chains, no tourist traps, just genuine Ashevillean breakfast.
Well here at All Day Darling, they serve up just that, all while lying within walking distance of both downtown and historic Montford Park. It doesn't get any more local than that, I'll tell you what.
As the name suggests, they're serving breakfast and brunch out here all day, from open to close, featuring shakshuka, lox, patatas bravas, and fried chicken on Hawaiian rolls, alongside your typical bacon-and-eggs. Just about everything's served with a nice portion of greens as well, which balances out the savory dishes nicely.
Brunch Hours: 7am to 8pm, every day of the week.
If you ask a local, especially one from West Asheville, chances are the Sunny Point Cafe’s their prime pick for brunch. It’s an Ashevillean institution, a family-owned restaurant cooking with ingredients from their very own garden. That’s about as local as it gets.
Now getting a table at Sunny Point on the weekend is bound to require some patience. It’s a popular place. But if you’re willing to endure the wait, or visit early in the week, say Monday or Tuesday in order to skip the lines, then you’ll be treated to just about the best Southern brunch you can find anywhere in western North Carolina.
Pound cake bites, fried green tomatoes, stuffed French toast, biscuits and gravy, carrot hotcakes, shrimp and grits, a chicken-and-waffle sandwich; it’s all there, the brunch you know and love, cooked to perfection.
Add on a selection of vegan options, dynamite specials, and a spread of refreshing cocktails, and you’ll see there’s no mystery why this place is a brunch-time favorite for locals and travelers alike.
Brunch Hours: 8am to 2pm, seven days a week.
If you're planning on waking up bright and earlier to take advantage of these awesome Asheville brunch-spots, then all that's left is to find a place for a good night's sleep. I've tried to sleep over at the restaurants themselves, but apparently there's rules about these things.
Fortunately, Asheville Cottages lies just a short drive away from all the top spots mentioned on this list, while offering top-of-the-line private amenities, including full kitchens, hot tubs, grilles, and even heated bathroom floors.
Book a stay yourself and see just why Asheville Cottages is rated number one on trip advisor, with plenty of five-star reviews.
Businesses Mentioned
Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse
(828)-470-7480
121 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Cornerstone
(828)-236-0201
102 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
The Corner Kitchen
(828)-274-2439
3 Boston Way, Asheville, NC 28803
All Day Darling
(828)-505-3701
102 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Sunny Point Café
(828)-252-0055
626 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
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