Plant is a vegan restaurant in North Asheville, Asheville.
Plant on Merrimon Avenue has run innovative organic plant-based cuisine in Asheville since 2011. Editor pick on TableJourney with hours and the must-order.
Signature dishes: Coconut ceviche, Mushroom risotto, Raw chocolate torte
Must order: The coconut ceviche to start, then the seasonal risotto and the raw chocolate torte.
Tip: Book on OpenTable. Wednesday and Sunday are the easiest nights. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Address: 165 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Sovereign Remedies on North Market Street in Asheville pairs craft cocktails with modern American cooking in a multilevel historic building.
Signature: Bone marrow, Seasonal small plates, House pastas
Order: The bone marrow with sourdough.
Tip: Book a table on Resy. The downstairs bar takes walk-ins for the cocktail menu.
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.
Katie Button and Felix Meana's Cúrate in Asheville opened on Biltmore Avenue in 2011 and won the 2022 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding.
Signature: Jamón ibérico, Paella Valenciana, Patatas bravas
Order: The jamón ibérico with pan con tomate, plus the paella Valenciana for the table.
Tip: Book on Resy 30 days ahead. Bar seats and the chef's counter take walk-ins from 17:00; arrive at opening.
William Dissen's The Market Place runs modern Appalachian on Wall Street. Mark Rosenstein founded 1979; Dissen took over 2009. 2025 JBA Outstanding Chef semi.
Signature: Sunburst trout, Heritage pork chop, Foraged mushroom risotto
Order: The Sunburst Trout Farm trout from Canton, plus the seasonal foraged mushroom plate.
Tip: Book on the restaurant's own reservation page. The walk-up bar pours small plates from the main menu.
Meherwan Irani's Chai Pani opened in 2009 and won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award. Moved May 2024 to 32 Banks Ave on the South Slope.
Signature: Sloppy Jai, Kale pakoras, Bhel puri
Order: The Sloppy Jai (Indian sloppy joe with a Punjabi spice mix), plus a plate of kale pakoras.
Tip: Walk-in lunches Mon-Fri are fastest; weekend dinners get a 60-90 minute wait without a reservation.
Luminosa inside the Flat Iron Hotel in Asheville earned both a Michelin Green Star and a Bib Gourmand in the 2025 Michelin Guide American South, one of three.
Signature: Wood-fired pizzas, House-made pastas, Wood-grilled fish
Order: Whatever the wood-fired oven is running, plus a hand-cut pasta and the day's whole fish.
Tip: Book on OpenTable through the Indigo Road site. The bar takes walk-ins and serves the full menu.
