Welcome to our guide to the best breakfast sandwiches in Asheville. It includes everything from coffee shops with great food to an Asheville-fancy restaurant with a $16 croissant sandwich. Yep, you read that right.
There are so many great breakfast and brunch spots in Asheville. Whether it’s a long brunch with a mimosa or a quick bite, you are sure to find something awesome for breakfast in Asheville! But if you are looking specifically for a breakfast sandwich, this guide should do the trick. It shares our top picks and why we love them.
But first, a map!
where to find the best breakfast sandwiches in Asheville
10 of our favorite breakfast sandwiches in Asheville
And now onto our list of the ten best breakfast sandwiches in Asheville. We started with Tiger Bay because you can always count on them for a hot, fresh and delicious sandwich. Plus, you can order online!
Breakfast Bagel from Tiger Bay Cafe
The breakfast bagel from Tiger Bay Café is phenomenal. This everything bagel is loaded with cream cheese, scrambled eggs, and fresh avocado and tomatoes. A little bit of fresh ground pepper just puts it over the edge.
If you’re not a bagel person, the breakfast panini is also a great option. It is topped with herb mayonnaise and delicious any time of day.
Make sure to order online before arriving. And when you get there, grab a coffee from BattleCat Coffee Bar (located in the same building.)
Croissant “Bikini” from La Bodega by Curate
Here’s the deal: this sandwich is $16.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way… Leave it to La Bodega by Curate to make the most gourmet breakfast sandwich on our list.
The griddled croissant is packed with flavor with their jamon casero, caramelized onion, mushrooms sauteed in sherry, manchego, and aioli (my mouth is watering!)
La Bodega is a great spot for breakfast in downtown Asheville because they offer both counter-service and a seated brunch. Their counter downstairs opens at 9 but you can’t grab a seat upstairs until 11. There is seating downstairs, though, and out front.
Build Your Own Breakfast Sandwich from The Rhu
The Rhu puts together a delicious breakfast sandwich just the way you want it. You can select from biscuits (including gluten-free), bagels or English muffins and top them with you local cheddar cheese, scrambled egg and your choice of bacon, sausage or veggie sausage.
We also love their ham and jam biscuits! And they have bagels + cream cheese, too.
Build Your Own Breakfast Sandwich from Geraldine’s Bakery
This is one that somehow feels like a secret! Did you know that you can build your custom breakfast sandwich on one of Geraldine’s fresh baked goods? You can choose from rolls, croissants and bagels and add your choice of meat and cheese.
While you’re there be sure to grab a donut (or a dozen) for later- they’re on our list of best donuts in Asheville! We specifically love their Boston Cream donut, though all are great.
Geraldine’s is also a fun place to get a box of festive Christmas cookies during the holiday season in Asheville.
Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich from Well-Bred Bakery
Well-Bred Bakery is a great restaurant for breakfast or lunch in Biltmore Village. It’s also a fun place to enjoy a leisurely dessert and espresso drink.
As far as breakfast sandwiches go, we love their egg + cheese sandwich on a croissant. The flakey croissant combined with the melty cheese is not to be missed. We definitively recommend adding bacon to yours!
Well-Bred is one of the only quick breakfast places in Biltmore Village. Corner Kitchen is just across from Well-Bred, but it’s a sit-down restaurant with daily brunch.
And can’t mention Well-Bred without adding this: try the seasonal cheesecake with ginger crust if available!
Lumberjack Breakfast Panini from Mosaic Cafe
If you are in need of something that will fill you up for a long time, Mosaic Cafe’s Lumberjack Breakfast Panini won’t disappoint. It comes with ham, bacon, sausage, egg and swiss on a pretzel roll. The Lumberjack is a go-to if we’re headed south of Asheville for a hike. It really is one of the best breakfast sandwiches in Asheville.
Mosaic also has plenty of other paninis, wraps and bagels to choose from if this one feels a bit too much for you. They also have cinnamon rolls and other pastries available.
You’ll find Mosaic Cafe in South Asheville’s Biltmore Park Town Square shopping center. There are a ton of other shops and restaurants around, but not many other than Mosaic are open for breakfast.
Cheshire Ham & Cheese Croissant from OWL Bakery
This list wouldn’t be complete without the magic of OWL Bakery. OWL is truly our top recommendation if you can only go one place in Asheville. Their pastries and coffee are on another level.
If we were to zero in on a specific breakfast sandwich at OWL, it would have to the Cheshire Ham & Cheese Croissant. The ham and cheese are baked inside of the croissant, so it’s super portable.
We love getting them to-go and taking them as a picnic lunch while hiking. Their Charlotte Street location is pretty close to Town Mountain Road which takes you to the Blue Ridge Parkway. From there you can easily head to Craggy Gardens or Craggy Pinnacle with your ham + cheese croissant in hand.
Sunrise Bagel from Ultra Coffeebar
Ultra Coffeebar has a range of options including our favorite breakfast sandwich: the Sunrise Bagel. It’s topped with egg, garlic herb cream cheese, tomato, pickled onion and spinach.
You’ll find Ultra in the River Arts District. It’s the only coffee shop in the area with a full food menu. Grab a fun caffeinated drink and a delicious bagel sandwich and you’ll be set for a day strolling around RAD!
Ultra also has an extensive vegan breakfast menu.
Bacon, egg and cheese biscuit from City Bakery
City Bakery makes an awesome cheddar and scallion biscuit. And it’s made even better when you add egg and bacon to it. Their food is always delicious and you can order online to keep it easy.
We love grabbing a loaf of their French bread for sandwiches while there. They also have pastries and cookies available, as well as coffee and espresso drinks.
You’ll find tons of seats inside and a few to the side of City Bakery as well. While you’re in the area, stop by local butcher Chop Shop! It’s in the same shopping area and has great people, product and pricing.
Breakfast Taco from Taco Billy
For the purpose of this list– tacos count as breakfast sandwiches! They have to because we couldn’t leave out one of our favorite breakfast spots in Asheville: Taco Billy.
Taco Billy has an awesome breakfast menu! They have several to choose from ranging from a classic bacon, egg and cheese to a sweet potato + goat cheese taco. Their plantain tortillas are great for breakfast.
Not only do we enjoy the food, but it’s a really laidback spot for a casual breakfast in West Asheville. You’ll find self-serve coffee and seating both indoors and on the back patio.
