Chai Pani is an indian street food restaurant in South Slope, Asheville.
Meherwan Irani's Chai Pani won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award. Moved May 2024 to 32 Banks Ave (South Slope). Indian street snacks, thalis.
Signature dishes: Sloppy Jai, Kale pakoras, Bhel puri
Must order: The Sloppy Jai (Indian sloppy joe with Punjabi spice) and a plate of kale pakoras.
Tip: Walk-in lunches Mon-Fri are fastest; weekend dinners run 60-90 minutes without a reservation.
Address: 32 Banks Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Botiwalla by Chai Pani on Battery Park Avenue is Meherwan Irani's tribute to the late-night sigri (grill) cart culture of India. Counter-service kababs.
Signature: Chicken tikka kabab roll, Bombay grilled cheese, Lamb seekh kabab
Order: The chicken tikka kabab roll with mint chutney, plus the Bombay grilled cheese.
Tip: Order at the counter, take a seat. The 697 Haywood Road sister room is the West Asheville extension.
Hugo Ramirez's Limones on Eagle Street in Asheville opened in 2004 as a Mexican and Californian-inflected room. Editor pick on TableJourney with hours.
Signature: Mole poblano, Esquites, Carnitas tacos
Order: The mole poblano served over chicken, plus an order of esquites for the table.
Tip: Book on OpenTable; bar seats first-come from 17:00. Closed Mondays.
All Souls Pizza in the River Arts District has run wood-fired pies on Clingman Avenue since 2013. Daily-changing seasonal pies, a large patio with kitchen.
Signature: Seasonal pies, Daily salads, Soft serve
Order: Whatever the seasonal pie of the week is, plus the soft serve for dessert.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive at opening or after 20:30 for the easiest seats. Closed Mondays.
Anthony Cerrato's Strada Italiano on Broadway Street in Asheville runs Piemonte, Tuscan, Campanian, Pugliese and Sicilian recipes alongside Italian-American.
Signature: Hand-tossed pizzas, Scratch-made pastas, Italian-American classics
Order: Whatever pasta is on the daily-cut sheet, plus a glass off the Italian biodynamic list.
Tip: Book on Resy. The rooftop Social Lounge upstairs takes walk-ins for cocktails and pizza late.
White Duck Taco's downtown Asheville location on Biltmore Avenue runs globally inspired soft tacos: Korean bulgogi, Bangkok shrimp, jerk chicken, smoked duck.
Signature: Korean bulgogi taco, Crispy fish taco, Bangkok shrimp taco
Order: Three tacos: the Korean bulgogi, the crispy fish and the Bangkok shrimp.
Tip: Order at the counter and take a seat. The Riverside Drive River Arts location is under reconstruction in 2025.
Farm Burger's downtown Asheville room on Patton Avenue, just off Pack Square, runs Hickory Nut Gap grassfed burgers, order-at-the-counter format, since 2014.
Signature: Grassfed cheeseburger, Farm fries, Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich
Order: A double cheeseburger with farm fries; build-your-own with the No 5 (oxtail marmalade) is the move.
Tip: Counter service. Order pickup ahead online; counter line moves fast.
