Psst. Hey you. You with the entrepreneurial spirit and the culinary degree. You wanna make the big bucks in Asheville? Have I got a deal for you.
Ready? Here's the concept: a 24-hour Ethiopian diner. I'm talking wat and injera at 2 a.m.
Look, it doesn't have to be anything fancy: Asheville eaters love self-serve joints -- just check out how well Mamacita's and Asiana fared against their sit-down competitors in the Xpress' Best of WNC poll.
Don't worry if you can't find space downtown: Get a little storefront over on Haywood Road, and you're golden. That street's a culinary Walk of Fame, leading from big winner Sunny Point Cafe all the way west to this year's most underrated joints Tomato Cucina Latina and 28806.
But there won't be any underrating for you, my friend. Everyone's going to go ga-ga for a place that stays open late. Because even in chain-adverse Asheville, where locally owned restaurants topped all but three categories in the Best of WNC poll, Carrabba's and Taco Bell are tearing it up with their night-owl hours.
The proof's in the poll: Hungry readers want Ethiopian food, and they want it later. You can't lose.
Cheap Lunch
77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080
Various locations (www.urbanburrito.com)
116 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 232-0738
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220
Chinese
153 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville, 667-0410 and 1968 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 654-8879
4 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-7098 and 1378 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-0108
3 W. Pack Square, Asheville, 250-9898
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220
Barbecue
5 Riverside Dr., Asheville, 253-4499
48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-5812
384 McDowell St., Asheville, 254-4253
Bakery
88 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-4289 and 60 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-4426
757 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-9378
Various locations (www.thesistersmcmullen.com)
26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300
Breakfast
626 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-0055
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292
12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863
32 Broadway, Asheville, 236-3553
Burger
697 Haywood Road, Asheville, 225-2920
130 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-2161
705 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 255-7767
Burritos
77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080
Various locations (www.urbanburrito.com)
11 Broadway, Asheville, 253-2422 and 1950 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 687-2873
Candy/Sweets
36 Haywood St., Asheville, 258-2353
15 Biltmore Ave., Asheville (and locations throughout WNC), 232-1883
8 E. Walnut St., Asheville, 251-7277
Coffee/Espresso
144 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-0021 and 221 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-0999
74 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 258-2004
Various locations (www.starbucks.com)
Dessert
41 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-0001
70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5440
5 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-0775
26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300
Diner/Home-Style
570 Brevard Road, Asheville, 255-0920
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292
258 Broadway, Asheville, 252-8030
Greek
485 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-3582 and 1025 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-0080
1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 299-3032
183 Haywood St., Asheville, 253-4971
337 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, 645-3309
Ice Cream
14 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-5579 and 1840 Hendersonville Road, 277-0575
640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 252-8362
1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 296-1234
129 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville, 296-0004
1 Page Ave., Suite 111, Asheville, 225-7200
Italian
10 Buckstone Place, Asheville, 281-2300
1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 299-3032
10 N. Market St., Asheville, 254-4698
946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709 and 1854 Hendersonville Road, 277-0004
Indian
70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-8880
156 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-5001
1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 254-9411
Japanese/Sushi
19 Broadway, Asheville, 225-2551
640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 225-6033
87 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-7761
2 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, 252-8300
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5339
104 River Hills Road, Asheville, 299-3750
Various locations (www.mcdonalds.com)
50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800
Late-Night Munchies
111 Broadway, Asheville, 232-0738
51 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 258-1670
Various locations (www.tacobell.com)
Mexican/Taqueria
77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080
Various locations
1000 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-9070 and 1821 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, 692-9915
10 Biltmore Plaza, Asheville, 277-8779
Most Underrated
1455 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-5046
1328 Patton Ave. A, Asheville, 252-5664
791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181
Pizza
946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709 and 1854 Hendersonville Road, 277-0004
675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5339
50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800
Restaurant Still Needed
Seafood
35 Patton Ave., Asheville, 350-0505
105 River Hills Road C, Asheville, 298-6530
Various locations (www.redlobster.com)
Service
791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181
28 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-1510
641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-1077
48 College St., Asheville, 254-8980
290 Macon Ave., Asheville, 252-2711
Sub Shop/Sandwiches
Various locations (www.jerseymikes.com)
132 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-9955
Various locations (www.subway.com)
Sunday Brunch
626 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-0055
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292
12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863
Takeout
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220
1143 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 299-8282
www.blueridgetogo.com, 252-1221
Thai
1 Page Ave., Suite 151, Asheville, 258-0036
535 Merrimon Ave. C, Asheville, 251-1960
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220
Vegetarian
40 Wall St., Asheville, 252-3445
111 Broadway, Asheville, 232-0738
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292