Healthy eating choices in Asheville
Your long-awaited Asheville mountain getaway is finally happening. Hikes and drives through gorgeous forests, extravagant gardens, and overwhelming overlooks await you. But the age-old question still remains - where are we gonna eat?
Good news, our luxury rental cabins are located minutes from the greatest eateries Asheville has to offer. Take it from the locals. Here are some of the best restaurants in Asheville that never fail to deliver healthy options and superior taste.
Beginning, of course, with the most important meal of the day, breakfast in Asheville is an exciting time. Whether you are an early riser or a brunch connoisseur, Asheville has the spots just for you.
A staple of Asheville dining, the Green Sage is a must visit for anyone looking to fully engage in the Asheville experience. Their menu has many gluten sensitive, vegetarian and vegan options, along with hearty brunch plates and omelets.
Popular choices among the locals include the summer special Reggae Bowl, the Strawberry Fields Smoothie, and the Pura Vida Bowl with avocado salsa.
With three locations in the most exciting parts of Asheville (we suggest the original downtown location), breakfast at the Green Sage is the perfect way to leap into a day of adventure and memory-making!
Another terrific morning stop, the Broken Egg Cafe is located in the lively Biltmore Park in South Asheville and provides a wide menu full of diverse and exciting choices. Under their “Sensible Selections” are plates such as the granola, fruit, and quinoa power bowl and many other healthy eats.
Pancake lovers are sure to find their heart’s match with fun choices of hotcakes including peach cobbler to gluten- friendly flapjacks.
The Broken Egg also boasts Asheville’s best seafood brunch selection, from delicious Smoked Salmon Benedict to the Lobster and Brie Omelets. Located a minute walk from shops such as REI, Barnes and Noble, and other Biltmore Park boutiques, the Broken Egg Cafe is a great foundation for an Asheville day.
Our final suggestion for a great Asheville breakfast is the Sunny Point Cafe nestled in the eclectic aroma of the West Asheville arts and food district. From sweet potato empanadas to avocado toast, Sunny Point never fails to deliver exciting options to the table. Their four-egg omelets are a perfect choice for any adventure-seekers in the group.
The cafe’s most renown meal is without a doubt their sumptuous shrimp and grits plate, a Southern staple that has claimed various awards for many years. Our personal suggestions include the huevos rancheros and breakfast salad.
Some of our other favorite breakfast spots include Biscuithead (free coffee from 7-8 am!), Tupelo honey Cafe, Corner Kitchen, and the Early Girl Eatery.
From healthy artisan eats to top-tier smoked meats, Asheville has much to offer for your midday meal. Whether you’re looking for a quick pause in your day of adventure or you’re just heading out of our cabins for the start of your day, you’re sure to find whatever you’re looking for. Equipped with a fully vegan menu with much acclaim from locals and visitors, Nectar is a great place to explore and expand your palette.
Our favorite Nectar dishes include the build your own pasta bowl and the vegan mac and cheese, and they also offer smoothies as well. Another healthy stop is the Laughing Seed Cafe, boasting one of the most comfortable and welcoming atmospheres in town. Their completely organic vegetarian menu never fails to bring us a new favorite dish.
Local favorites include Thai Panang Curry, the Dragon Bowl, and the Harmony Bowl.
On the other end of the spectrum, for the best lunch meateries, check out 12 Bones Smokehouse (only open for lunch, so don’t miss it!) and Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, both on Sweeten Creek Road.
Rocky’s and 12 Bones are two of the most acclaimed restaurants in the area, and they offer a diversely delicious menu.
The top three taco shops in Asheville are White Duck Taco with locations downtown and in South Asheville, Taco Temple on Charlotte St. by the Grove Park Inn, and Bartaco downtown by the Orange Peel. All three shops have their own distinct styles but are all excellent lunch choices for artisan taco enthusiasts.
Other exciting lunch stops include the eccentric Mellow Mushroom of Asheville, unlike another other around, Rosetta’s Kitchen, and the Posana Cafe. Every restaurant listed above is located within fifteen minutes of our rental cabins, so you’ll never have to stall your adventure to find some good grub!
For your final meal of the day, settle down at an outside table at Twisted Laurel downtown and reflect on your day of adventure before returning to our luxury cabins. Twisted Laurel is one of our favorite spots for not only enjoying a terrific meal but also the infectious spirit of the city.
From build your own stone hearth pies to Peloponnesian spaghetti, Twisted Laurel is sure to satisfy the Mediterranean cravings of your soul. They also offer plenty of healthy options including vegetarian pizzas to tremendous salads.
Another dinner hotspot located downtown a few minutes from our cabins is Red Ginger, serving dim sum and tapas you’re sure to never forget. Their whole menu is terrific, a few of our favorites including the mushroom dumplings and the pineapple bun with pork.
There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, and their often the tastiest options!
Those searching for the quintessential Southern cooking experience should look no further than the acclaimed Tupelo Honey Cafe.
From roasted Carolina mountain trout to their sweet tea brined pork chops, Tupelo will make
you reminisce on the good ol’ days of American cooking.
With plenty of delicious healthy options on the menu and two locations in Asheville, your day of mountain adventure will find a perfect ending at Tupelo Honey. Some of our other favorite dinner stops include Pack’s Tavern, the Lobster Trap, Chestnut, and Calypso Caribbean cuisine.
