20+ Wonderful Restaurants in Waynesville NC and Nearby + Map

Published by Christina. Last Updated on August 8, 2024.

Disclaimer: This site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. Revenue from our advertising and affiliate links goes back into our business and toward supporting communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Please visit our Disclosure and Privacy Policy pages for further explanation.

After numerous visits to this beautiful mountain town near Asheville, we’ve created this guide to feature the best restaurants in Waynesville, NC, and elsewhere in Haywood County. Of course, that includes the town of Maggie Valley and more neighbors, including Clyde and Canton.

However, this guide mostly features Waynesville restaurants, from your next favorite breakfast joint to cultural eateries and upscale dinner spots. We’re excited to share them with you and can’t wait to hear about your top picks.

If you’re a new resident, a frequent visitor, or a local and are wondering, “What are the best restaurants near me?” we know this guide will help you!

Waynesville NC Restaurant Map

Waynesville NC Map of Surrounding Areas created by NC Tripping via Google Maps — Waynesville NC Map of Attractions Created with Google Maps.

Save This Article!

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

You can visually plan your next Waynesville NC food adventure with the following maps:

List of Restaurants in Waynesville

These Waynesville NC restaurants are listed in alphabetical order and do not reflect our ranking.

Beach Mountain Diner
Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen
Boojum Brewing Co
The Buttered Biscuit
The Chef’s Table
Clyde’s
The Cuban Guy
Dillsboro Chocolate Factory
Fat Buddies
Frog Level Brewing Company
Haywood Smokehouse
Orchard Coffee
Sauced
Sweet Onion
Watami Sushi & Noodles

Our NC food guides are constantly growing, and our stomachs are only so big. So if we missed a place to eat in Waynesville, please let us know KINDLY, and we’ll take a closer look!

Beach Mountain Diner

Address: 429 Hazelwood Ave, Waynesville, NC 28786

Barry and Cason Adeeb are experienced restaurateurs, owning four award-winning Beach Diners in Florida. In 2020, Barry Adeeb visited his vacation home in Waynesville and spotted a “for sale” sign in town, sparking the idea for a new diner.

They combined two of their favorite spots, the beach, and the mountains, to create the unique Beach Mountain Diner.

The sleek and modern restaurant has become a hit breakfast restaurant in Waynesville. Locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy their classic yet elegant diner food.

The menu has something for everyone, from traditional chocolate chip pancakes and waffles to delightful dishes like steak, eggs, and shrimp omelets.

Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen

Address: 111 N Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786

Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen opened its doors in 2017 when master chef Nicolas Peek decided to bring authenticity back to Southern cuisine, which he said had become “muddled.”

Peek envisioned an authentic farm-to-table restaurant, using local ingredients to celebrate Appalachian and Southern cultures.

Today, Birchwood Hall has gained a reputation for fine Southern dining in Waynesville. The elegant menu includes fried chicken, salmon, filet mignon, meatloaf, and more.

Birchwood Hall, named for a Civil War-era home downtown, is the perfect location for a refined dining experience. Revitalize your palette with its upscale menu!

Boojum Brewing Co

Address: 50 N Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786

Boojum Brewing is highly regarded as a great brewery, but it’s also one of the best Waynesville restaurants! Located on Main Street in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, Boojum is the go-to place for great meals, drinks, and entertainment.

This Waynesville restaurant serves burgers, sandwiches, and upscale dinner entrees to pair with their selection of 16 taps of Boojum Beer. There is a permanent lineup of beers, a rotating selection, and wine and cocktails. Enjoy a delicious meal here in the backdrop of local music entertainment.

The Buttered Biscuit

Address: 1226 Dellwood City Rd, Waynesville, NC

For the best start to your day, take a trip to The Buttered Biscuit, one of our favorite breakfast restaurants in Waynesville! This Southern kitchen is open six days a week from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm and serves breakfast all day and lunch after noon.

The biscuits are made fresh each morning and satisfy your morning biscuit cravings.

In addition to all flavors of biscuits, The Buttered Biscuit offers breakfast items like omelets, eggs, and pancakes, as well as lunch items like burgers and sandwiches. It’s a popular local stop that you have to visit!

The Chef’s Table

Address: 30 Church St, Waynesville, NC

You can’t go wrong with The Chef’s Table for luxury dining in downtown Waynesville, paired with an exceptional bottle of wine. This cozy dining space is renowned for its gourmet meals and extensive wine collection.

Executive Chef Josh and his wife purchased The Chef’s Table in 2009 and adopted the “Slow Food Movement” philosophy, where they grow many crops and herbs used in their meals on their farm.

Chef Josh constantly updates the menu to adapt to local harvest and crops, guaranteeing that customers will always be delighted with new options. The menu includes upscale salads, seafood, filet mignon, duck, and customizable pasta dishes.

And, as mentioned, be sure to pair your meal with one of the restaurant’s 250 wine varieties!

Clyde’s

Address: 2107 S Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786

You can’t miss Clyde’s Restaurant, just south of downtown Waynesville. This old-fashioned diner features homemade Southern food, fast and friendly service, and a cozy environment.

Check out the rotating daily specials, including fried chicken, turkey, fried flounder, and more. The permanent menu consists of burgers, chicken entrees, and fish and chips.

Finish your meal at this family Waynesville restaurant with a slice of homemade pie!

The Cuban Guy

Address: 42 Montgomery St, Waynesville, NC

Look no further than The Cuban Guy for a savory and quick bite! This eatery is tucked in a small plaza off Main Street and promises a delicious meal.

The Cuban Guy is one of the only Latin American restaurants in Waynesville, but it has made quite the name for itself by winning the local town Chili Cook-Off competition.

The Cuban Guy serves authentic Cuban food, including Cuban sandwiches and burrito bowls. Stop by for a mouthwatering breakfast or lunch in Waynesville!

Dillsboro Chocolate Factory

Address: 170 N Main St, Waynesville, NC

Enjoy award-winning chocolate at the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory’s downtown Waynesville location. The factory only uses single-bean cacao in their chocolate, meaning the products have a refined and luxurious taste not found in regular candy bars.

Grab some truffles, bark, or fudge from here to fulfill your sweet tooth!

Fat Buddies Ribs & Barbecue

Address: 193 Waynesville Plaza, Waynesville, NC

Fat Buddies Ribs & Barbecue brings that perfect mix of Southern hospitality and delicious food. You can’t go wrong at this Waynesville restaurant, whether it’s the tried and true ribs, sliced barbecue pork, smoked brisket, or anything else on the menu.

There’s a second Fat Buddies nearby in Franklin, but first, do yourself a favor and stop by this location for one of the best Waynesville food experiences!

Frog Level Brewing Company

Address: 56 Commerce Street, Waynesville, NC 28786

A visit to Waynesville is never complete without a foray into the historic Frog Level district, where you’ll also find Frog Level Brewing Company!

The Frog Level district is one of the oldest in Waynesville and was built around the first railroad depot to the town. Locals named the district Frog Level due to the low-lying location along the Richland River and its proneness to flooding.

Frog Level Brewing Company is one of the most modern structures in the district. The micro-brewery offers 21 taps to enjoy inside with walls lined with contemporary art or on the outdoor shaded patio by the creek.

Sip on their beers while snacking on their delicious pub food, including wings, sandwiches, quesadillas, and more. While you may come for the beer, you’ll leave with the impression that this is one of the best restaurants in Waynesville, with outdoor seating.

Haywood Smokehouse

Address: 79 Elysinia Ave, Waynesville, NC 28786

With three locations across Western North Carolina, Haywood Smokehouse has made its name one of the region’s best BBQ places.

The Waynesville-based restaurant prides itself on serving the best Texas-style barbecue outside of Texas and its dedication to the highest quality slow-cooking process.

We’ve enjoyed a meal here several times and cannot recommend the place enough! Haywood Smokehouse has fantastic service and invariably smoky and savory food.

We’ve tried the brisket, pulled pork, and collards and look forward to returning for more!

Orchard Coffee

Address: 39 Depot St, Waynesville, NC

Orchard Coffee is one of the first places I stopped downtown, and it remains the best coffee shop in Waynesville. You may be wondering why we’d include a coffee shop here, and I can explain.

While Orchard Coffee is primarily known for starting your day with excellent espressos and drip coffee, there’s a great food menu to uncover here, too. Grab a breakfast sandwich or one of their scratch-made baked goods, and you’ll agree that this belongs on the list of the best Waynesville restaurants.

Sauced

Address: 188 N Main St, Waynesville, NC

Sauced is a fast-service eatery in downtown Waynesville and is home to the best comfort food. The place has a spacious interior and a few outdoor seats for you to enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with building your own pizza or ordering one of the specialty pizzas, but you can also eat some tasty Tex-Mex cuisine. Try shrimp or steak quesadillas, chimichangas, fajitas, or one of the highly-rated tacos.

Sauced is the perfect Waynesville restaurant for a quick yet delicious meal.

Sweet Onion

Address: 39 Miller St, Waynesville, NC 28786

The Sweet Onion is a creative Waynesville dinner restaurant specializing in classic Southern food with a twist. It’s located on a small street branching off Main Street and next to Mast General Store, an old-timey must-visit shop.

Sweet Onion’s upscale menu is revitalizing Southern cuisine. Sample dishes like blackened catfish, peach sour-n-sweet grilled salmon, and signature pasta meals. It’s a great restaurant with an expansive and delicious menu.

Watami Sushi & Noodles

Address: 33 S Main St #101, Waynesville, NC

There are many excellent restaurants in Waynesville, but we think Watami Sushi & Noodles could be the best.

You’ll find an incredible array of sushi and sashimi, and you can order as many as you want. Choose from individual pieces ala carte or huge party trays to feed your family and friends.

The rest of the menu features familiar Chinese, Japanese, and Thai favorites, making your choices even harder. But, of course, you could go all in and make this place your day’s only meal in Waynesville.

What Are Your Favorite Waynesville Restaurants?

We love finding food in Waynesville because each restaurant presents a fun culinary journey. From local favorites like Clyde’s and the Buttered Biscuit to the Chef’s Table and Watami, we don’t think you’ll go away hungry from this small town.

If you’ve spent some time here, what are your favorite restaurants in Waynesville? Feel free to let us know if there’s a spot that we need to check out and possibly add to our list.

You can tell us in the comments or send us an email. Also, don’t forget to share your Waynesville food adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!

More Restaurants Near Waynesville NC

Butts on the Creek Maggie Valley — Butts on the Creek.

Scoping out the best Waynesville restaurants is a fun adventure, but there are food scenes nearby that you should check out, too. Here are a few neighboring towns in Haywood County and some suggestions for each place:

Canton
- Bearwaters Brewing Company: Riverside (101 Park St, Canton, NC)
- J-RO’S Burgers & Subs (90 Main St, Canton, NC)
- Southern Porch (117 Main St, Canton, NC)
Clyde
- Blue Rooster Southern Grill (207 Paragon Pkwy, Clyde, NC)
- Coffee Cup Cafe (48 Haywood Park Dr, Clyde, NC)
- Sherril’s Pioneer Restaurant (8363 Carolina Blvd, Clyde, NC)
Maggie Valley
- Butts on the Creek BBQ (1584 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC)
- Joey’s Pancake House (4309 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC)
- Pop’s Place (3253 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC)

More Things to Do (Beyond Restaurants in Waynesville NC)

We’ve created many more NC travel guides that feature these places to eat in Waynesville and beyond! Here are a few of them:

20+ Wonderful Restaurants in Waynesville NC and Nearby!