Published by Christina Riley. Last Updated on February 25, 2024.
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From the moment we set foot in this adorable mountain town, we’ve loved all the fun things to do and especially the fantastic restaurants in Hendersonville NC that we’ve encountered!
Suppose you’re familiar with this part of North Carolina. Then you’ll also know that it’s filled with delicious culinary experiences, including down-home Southern cooking, excellent date night eats, and amazing smokehouses!
Our guide shares our favorite Hendersonville restaurants and where to eat in surrounding Henderson County towns like Flat Rock.
We’ve also included a few great places to grab a drink, whether it’s beer, cider, or wine! Mills River features prominently here, too.
So no matter where you are in the Henderson County area, we’ve got your answer to the question, “where are the best restaurants in Hendersonville NC?”
With so many options and places to cover, we’ve organized the guide into the following sections:
- List and Map of Restaurants in Hendersonville
- Downtown Hendersonville NC Restaurants
- Hendersonville Restaurants Not Downtown
- Flat Rock Restaurants
- Mills River Restaurants
- The Best of the Best (NC Tripping’s Top 5)
- Bonus Wine and Craft Beer
You can scroll ahead to find something specific or keep reading about our favorite downtown places for dining in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Read More: Western North Carolina (and 100+ Wonderful Places to Visit)
List and Map of Restaurants in Hendersonville NC
Read More: Hendersonville NC Map of Attractions (+ 5 Surrounding Counties!)
We offer more details about these places to eat in Hendersonville and in a few surrounding towns in Henderson County. For now, here’s a list of them:
- Downtown Hendersonville Restaurants
- Mezzaluna
- Mike’s on Main Street
- Shine
- White Duck Taco
- Bonus: Kilwin’s
- Hendersonville Restaurants Not Downtown
- Bay Breeze Seafood
- El Paso Mexican Restaurant
- Flat Rock Wood Room
- Haus Heidelberg
- HenDough Chicken & Donuts
- Hot Dog World
- Pi-Squared Pizza
- Tequilas Bar & Grill
- Flat Rock Restaurants
- Hubba Hubba Smokehouse
- Mills River Restaurants
- Bold Rock Hard Cider
- Burning Blush Brewery
- Mills River Brewing
If your favorite Hendersonville restaurants didn’t make it on the list, know that our stomachs are only so big and that our travels are never over!
In the meantime, you can visually plan your next Hendersonville food adventure with our Western North Carolina Map.
Read More: 75+ Fun Day Trips from Asheville (Within a 2-Hour Drive)
Downtown Hendersonville NC Restaurants
Any of these restaurants in downtown Hendersonville are usually near the top of our list. Here’s a breakdown of each one in more detail.
Mezzaluna
Address: 226 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC
Website
We think you’ll want to start with a brick oven pizza and fresh, delicious Italian food, which is why Mezzaluna is a perfect first choice! Mezzaluna is an excellent spot for friends, families, and couples with a beautiful interior and friendly wait staff.
With plenty of options for vegetarians, this Italian restaurant in downtown Hendersonville provides fine dining and a lively atmosphere.
Read More: 10 Amazing Apple Orchards in Hendersonville (Apple Picking and More!)
Mike’s on Main Street
Address: 303 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC
Website
Step back in time and settle in for a delicious comfort meal at Mike’s on Main Street. Then, marked by the vintage Coca-Cola mural on the side of the building and jukebox, grab a booth and enjoy a simpler time.
The former drugstore has transformed into one of the best spots for casual dining in Hendersonville NC. You’ll admire the memorabilia all around and also the barstools that’ll invite you to sit and enjoy a hand-made milkshake.
Read More: Hiking in Hendersonville (30+ Great Trails Within 1 Hour)
Shine
Address: 202 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC
Website
If you are looking for a meal with a relaxed, upbeat vibe, Shine is the place to be. It’s one of the most talked-about restaurants in Hendersonville.
Here you can devour a shrimp co*cktail chased with a Manhattan and eat the best-grilled duck you’ll find in North Carolina. Then, step inside, and you’ll see why Shine is incredible for any time of day, especially on a date night.
Read More: How to Reach Jump Off Rock near Hendersonville (+ Everything You Need to Know)
White Duck Taco
Address: 500 7th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC
Website
White Duck Taco got its start in the River Arts District of Asheville and has expanded to include Hendersonville among its prized locations.
We can’t really decide on a favorite menu item, but WDT’s Pork Belly Taco and Fish Taco are worth it for first-timers. Of course, if you want to go exotic and creative, order a Korean Beef Bulgogi or Bangkok Shrimp.
Read More: 25+ Incredible Asheville Restaurants for Your Next Meal Out!
Bonus: Kilwin’s
Address: 506 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC
Website
Bonus! If you need more ice cream, there’s a Kilwin’s in downtown Hendersonville, too! While it’s not a local-to-NC establishment (born in Michigan), Kilwin’s is a fixture throughout our small towns.
You may already know the intoxicating confectionary smells that await inside a Kilwin’s. Their fudge is made in-house, and you can always watch them creating more sweet treats around the store!
Hendersonville NC Restaurants Not Downtown
While these Hendersonville restaurants are away from the historic downtown, each is worthy of a special trip.
Bay Breeze Seafood
Address: 1830 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC
Website
Bay Breeze is one of the best seafood restaurants in Hendersonville, and you’ll agree after dining here. You can choose from broiled seafood, fried platters, and land-lover options like steak.
This place is great for lunch or dinner in Hendersonville, no matter when you choose to visit.
El Paso Mexican Restaurant
Addresses: 105 Sugarloaf Rd, 112 Sugarloaf Rd (El Paso Mariscos & Taquería), and 807 Spartanburg Hwy
Website
El Paso Mexican Restaurant has multiple locations scattered throughout Hendersonville, with each offering a delectable menu. Grab a burrito, some tacos, or a chimichanga (Carl’s favorite) and you won’t be thinking about any other meals that day.
In fact, you may just be thinking about the next time you visit one of these amazing Mexican restaurants in Hendersonville!
Flat Rock Wood Room
Address: 1501 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC
Located just outside downtown Hendersonville, the Flat Rock Wood Room is unlike any North Carolina restaurant we’ve visited! I mean, where can you find both wood-smoked barbecue and Neapolitan pizzas?
Their Memphis-style barbecue (dry rubs and herbs instead of vinegar-based sauces) gives you a choice between melt-in-your-mouth ribs, candied burnt ends, or both. You decide.
Add in a great family-friendly environment, and you can see why we think this is one of the best restaurants in Hendersonville NC!
Haus Heidelberg
Address: 630 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC
Website
Haus Heidelberg is an amazing German restaurant in Hendersonville and has been serving tasty food since 1994. Their food is sourced from local farmers’ markets, which is another reason to love this spot.
Familiar favorites like schnitzel and sausages headline the menu, but there are even more options to devour. The deli next door has hard-to-find German staples, including coffee, wine, beer, and much more!
HenDough Chicken & Donuts
Address: 532 Kanuga Rd, Hendersonville, NC
We have to say. There aren’t many places where you can get both delicious donuts AND moist fried chicken! Maybe go a little crazy at HenDough and get both on a sandwich? If you aren’t that bold, then don’t worry!
There are still plenty of delicious and traditional biscuits and sandwiches for you to try at this Hendersonville restaurant.We opted for the smothered biscuit- which is a local favorite!
A giant fluffy biscuit topped with hand-breaded fried chicken and covered with their homemade gravy!
Hot Dog World
Address: 226 Kanuga Rd, Hendersonville, NC
We admit that hot dog joints don’t land on our restaurant lists as often as they should. That’s why we think Hot Dog World is worth a stop!
Of course, you’ll find more than hot dogs at Hot Dog World. Go for any of their burgers, salads, and shakes, and you’ll go away happy.
Read More: The Best of NC 2022 Award Winners
Pi-Squared Pizza
Address: 1972 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville, NC
Website
Pi-Squared is one of the best places to grab a pizza in Hendersonville. Their Detroit-style square pies (or Pi’s) honor Motor City’s fabulous contribution to the world of pizza.
You can order more than delicious pizzas here, too. Wings, subs, and salads are a few of the yummy complementary items that await on Pi-Squared’s menu.
Tequilas Bar & Grill
Address: 300 Freeman St, Hendersonville, NC
Facebook Page
Tequilas is part of the El Paso empire and another worthy choice for your adventures dining in Hendersonville. This Mexican restaurant serves up tasty burritos, enchiladas, and more specialties to its loay customers for lunch and dinner.
Steak Ranchero and Tacos Birria are two dishes that are always on my mind. Don’t foget that Tequilas also has vegetarian options, including Poblanos and a nice Avocado Wrap.
Flat Rock Restaurants
We were sad to learn that Honey and Salt (a Facebook Group favorite!) closed after years of providing delicious meals. However, there’s still a spot that we always have in mind when thinking about restaurants in Hendersonville’s neighbor Flat Rock.
Hubba Hubba Smokehouse
Address: 2724 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, NC
We’re absolute suckers for barbecue, and Hubba Hubba Smokehouse does not disappoint! Their open courtyard for dining includes chalk and plenty of space for kids!
Order your food from the window and wait with the smell of wood, fire, salt, and meat.
What do we recommend at Hubba Hubba? All of it. Seriously.
Read More: North Carolina Barbecue (27 Iconic Restaurants, History, and More)
Mills River Restaurants
In this section, we’re sharing a few great places to sip on cider, beer, or wine in the area. We think they pair nicely with the above Hendersonville NC restaurants.
Bold Rock Hard Cider
Address: 72 School House Rd, Mills River, NC
While Bold Rock Hard Cider calls Virginia its original home, the Mills River location accounts for 70 percent of the company’s total production!
Bold Rock presses 80 tons of apples each week, including those from 11 local orchards.
The tap house is also huge and offers plenty of space for you to stretch out and relax with a tasty cider. You can even watch the production line from the mezzanine.
Enjoy a flight and enjoy some bites from the on-site food truck!
Burning Blush Brewery
Address: 4891 Boylston Hwy, Mills River, NC
Do you think Edgar Allen Poe and craft beer belong together? Then Burning Blush Brewery is your place.
This Mills River brewery’s gothic romantic atmosphere is genuinely unlike any other brewery in North Carolina. A variety is produced here, including German-style beers as well as English Bitters.
Whether you’re a newb or a beer lover, we think this brewery near Hendersonville is worthy of a visit.
Read More: 25+ of the Best Breweries in Asheville (South Slope, Downtown, and Nearby Towns!)
Mills River Brewing
336 Banner Farm Rd, Mills River, NC
Mills River Brewing started in Arden, south of Asheville. After years of steady growth, the owners were able to move to today’s space in Mills River. This 8,600-square-foot production facility and taproom pumps out tasty IPAs, ales, and other styles.
Of course, the Mullinax (Dry Irish Stout) is the first beer produced here and a well-deserving menu mainstay.
Mills River Brewing also offers food to complement the beers. Their menu changes according to what’s fresh and available.
The Best Hendersonville Restaurants (Our Top 5)
With so many delicious places to eat, it was very difficult to narrow down to the best restaurants in Hendersonville. However, here they are in alphabetical order:
- Flat Rock Wood Room
- HenDough
- Mike’s on Main Street
- Mezzaluna
- Shine
Bonus: Wine and Craft Beer near Hendersonville
These places might not qualify as Hendersonville restaurants but they’re the perfect spots to unwind after a meal.
Burntshirt Vineyards
2695 Sugarloaf Rd, Hendersonville
You’ll find some of North Carolina’s best wineries in Hendersonville, and one of our favorites is the family-owned Burntshirt Vineyards. If you’re hiking Chimney Rock State Park or just happen to be in the Chimney Rock area, you can visit them there, too!
With a pastoral scene of grapevines cascading downhill, Burntshirt Vineyards produces delicious wines. We recommend starting with a tasting that will take you on a journey through their best wines!
Read More: 25 Wonderful Wineries Near Asheville (Vineyards Within 2 Hours)
Oklawaha Brewing Company
147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville, NC
Oklawaha Brewing Company makes small-batch brews that Hendersonville locals and visitors both come to enjoy. Once you enter this downtown brewery, a spacious warehouse will greet you along with a long line of taps.
It’s impressive that Oklawaha Brewing features 16 diverse beers on tap, considering their small production setup.
Live music is very much a part of the Oklawaha scene, which is another reason why this is one of our favorite breweries in Hendersonville!
Hungry to Explore these Hendersonville NC Restaurants?
It was hard to write this guide without getting hungry. But, as you can see, some exceptional restaurants in Hendersonville are waiting for you to visit.
Whether you are looking for a classic hot dog, a wood-fired pizza, or a date night spot, there are some great options. We hope you enjoy these places to eat in the area.
If you have any Hendersonville restaurants to add, we’re happy to hear about them. Please feel free to share in the comments or by email to keep the secret between us.
Don’t forget to share your Hendersonville food adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!
More Things to Do (Beyond Hendersonville Restaurants)
We’ve created many more NC travel guides that include these amazing restaurants in Hendersonville and nearby! Here are a few of them.
