5. Thai Orchid ($) - Okay, okay. You're already asking, "Why the hell would you put this on this list?!?" but give me a minute to explain! Thai Orchid is one of the first restaurants I sampled in Asheville, and I was not disappointed. For starters, it is one of the only Asian restaurants I've ever been to that has an appropriate variety of spice levels. There's "Mild," "Medium," "Hot," "Thai Hot," and the infamous, "Make Me Cry Hot." This latter sauce is made every morning by the manager of the restaurant, and is not recommended for the faint of heart. I found my perfect combination with Thai Hot Drunken Noodles, with a side order of the Make Me Cry Hot sauce. That way I can put as much kick as I want into my own dish. The manager gave me a funny look the first time I tried to order the spiciest of the spices, so we settled on an appropriate alternative. But don't be afraid to hold your ground! If you like Asian, and you like it hot, this is the place to go.
4. White Duck Taco ($$) - This little outdoor staple near the river is a true gem. Located just west of downtown, its picnic-style bench seating and cheese queso will leave you feeling warm from the inside out. White Duck Taco offers you a myriad of different taco choices, each with its own unique ingredients. I always order 3 different plates, and my combinations/permutations are never the same. Try the Bangkok Shrimp, Roasted Duck Confit w/ Mole, Lamb Gyro, Lump Crab, or my personal favorite, the Fish Taco. Don't forget to pick up the unreal chips and queso, and then wash it down with one of Asheville's local beers. Tecate bottles are only $2 if you're feeling the summer heat.
3. Zambras / Curate ($$$) - Now putting these two restaurants together is a total cop out, and I'm sorry (but, I'm not sorry). I only had the opportunity to dine at each of these tasty locations once or twice, and thus I cannot rate one better than the other. Both are amazing tapas restaurants that (if you don't have reservations) you may have to wait hours for a table. They feature unique combinations that will leave your palate satisfied, confuzzled, and yearning for more. At Zambras try the char-grilled octopus with arugula, blackberries, and balsamic vinegar, or the grilled scallops. At Curate I recommend the trout (if it is on the menu) or the rossejat. A bottle of nice Spanish wine will only add to the gaiety of the evening.
2. Sunny Point Cafe ($) - Now we're talking, you say! Sunny Point is legendary in West Asheville, and for some, weekly dining is not only compulsory, but a religion. One of the residents at MAHEC actually went there almost every Saturday morning for 4 years. If you sleep in late on Saturday, expect a wait, but just grab a cup of coffee and frolic with the other patient patrons on the porch, and the time will pass quickly. Two of the best plates in the world are made here: the huevos rancheros and the breakfast burrito are TO DIE FOR. Come hungry, leave happy; you won't have to eat again until dinner time. Make sure to add a biscuit to the entree, as their warm/fluffy/doughy insides will make even the most stringent vegan a Saturday-brunch-sinner (cough, cough, Kelly). It's worth the gluttony though; seven Sunday morning Hail Marys and you're scot-free until next weekend.
1. The Admiral ($$$) - This place takes the cake in my mind; if only I could afford it more often! I took my parents here when they came to visit, and warned them that it's a total dive. An inauspicious brick building with zero fanfare hosts the most exquisite dishes in Buncombe County. Whether you're a displaced Northerner looking to sample expensive bottles of wine and a variety of small plates, or you're like me and have to sit at the bar drinking PBRs while scraping every last calorie off the beef tartare cutting board (pictured above), don't go home without trying this place once. The flank steak with pesto seasoning is another one of my favorites (which by the way also tastes great paired with PBR). The place is very Asheville, and you can feel like a local eating there... even though you probably aren't.
Some might ask, "What about Limones? Where is Mela or 12 Bones?" Well, they're in Asheville, but they aren't on this list. So take it or leave it. My final week in Asheville will include eating at three of these six locales (capping the year off with real reservations at The Admiral!). The food is one of the things I will truly miss about Asheville. But I'll have my list when I return.
$ - cheap, expect to pay around 10 bucks for dinner
$$ - under 20 bones total, but if you have a big appetite you won't pay under 10
$$$ - yeeeah, wait til your parents are in town so they pick up the check
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