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What to order at Mela Indian Restaurant
- Must order
- The lamb vindaloo with garlic naan; the lunch buffet on weekdays is one of Asheville's best deals.
- Signature dishes
- Lamb vindaloo, Chicken tikka masala, Vegetable thali
- Editor tip
- Book on the operator site for dinner. The lunch buffet runs 11:30-14:30 Mon-Sat.
Signature dishes: Lamb vindaloo, Chicken tikka masala, Vegetable thali
Must order: The lamb vindaloo with garlic naan; the lunch buffet on weekdays is one of Asheville's best deals.
Tip: Book on the operator site for dinner. The lunch buffet runs 11:30-14:30 Mon-Sat.
Book food experiences in Asheville
Asheville: Rooftop Sunset Tour with Cocktails and Mocktails
Experience a guided sunset rooftop tour in Asheville. Enjoy panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and skyline, with a handcrafted cocktail or mocktail at each stop.
Asheville: Rooftop Bar Tour with Cocktails and Mocktails
Explore Asheville's rooftop bars on a guided tour. Enjoy a sample cocktail or mocktail at each stop, learn about the city's history, and take in stunning views from above.
Location
Address: 70 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Also in downtown
Buxton Chicken Palace ★ 4.3
Buxton Chicken Palace inside the S and W Market in Asheville is the Elliott Moss and Meherwan Irani spinoff dedicated to the Bon Appetit-anointed Buxton Hall.
Signature: Buxton fried chicken, Hot honey biscuit, Chicken sandwich
Order: The hot honey chicken sandwich with a side of slaw.
Tip: Counter service inside S and W Market. Grab a seat upstairs at the bar or take it to go.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar ★ 4.2
Tupelo Honey opened on College Street in downtown Asheville in 2000. The original location of the regional Southern chain, the room locals still send.
Signature: Fried chicken biscuit, Shrimp and grits, Sweet potato pancakes
Order: The fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy, plus the sweet potato pancakes for brunch.
Tip: Book on the operator's reservation page; weekend brunch waits run 60-90 minutes without one.
Early Girl Eatery ★ 4.4
Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street in Asheville opened in 2001 as the downtown Southern farm-to-table benchmark, with sweet potato hash and stone-ground grits.
Signature: Sweet potato hash, Stone-ground grits, Pimento cheese omelet
Order: The sweet potato hash with two eggs, plus a side of stone-ground grits.
Tip: Walk-in only. Arrive at 08:00 or after 14:00 to skip the weekend queue.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani ★ 4.4
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.
More casual dining in Asheville
Buxton Chicken Palace ★ 4.3
Buxton Chicken Palace inside the S and W Market in Asheville is the Elliott Moss and Meherwan Irani spinoff dedicated to the Bon Appetit-anointed Buxton Hall.
Signature: Buxton fried chicken, Hot honey biscuit, Chicken sandwich
Order: The hot honey chicken sandwich with a side of slaw.
Tip: Counter service inside S and W Market. Grab a seat upstairs at the bar or take it to go.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar ★ 4.2
Tupelo Honey opened on College Street in downtown Asheville in 2000. The original location of the regional Southern chain, the room locals still send.
Signature: Fried chicken biscuit, Shrimp and grits, Sweet potato pancakes
Order: The fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy, plus the sweet potato pancakes for brunch.
Tip: Book on the operator's reservation page; weekend brunch waits run 60-90 minutes without one.
Early Girl Eatery ★ 4.4
Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street in Asheville opened in 2001 as the downtown Southern farm-to-table benchmark, with sweet potato hash and stone-ground grits.
Signature: Sweet potato hash, Stone-ground grits, Pimento cheese omelet
Order: The sweet potato hash with two eggs, plus a side of stone-ground grits.
Tip: Walk-in only. Arrive at 08:00 or after 14:00 to skip the weekend queue.
Chai Pani ★ 4.7
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: Sloppy Jai, Kale pakoras, Bhel puri
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.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani ★ 4.4
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.
Limones ★ 4.5
Hugo Ramirez's Limones on Eagle Street in Asheville opened in 2004 as a Mexican and Californian-inflected room, open Tuesday to Sunday from 17:00.
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.