ROADSIDE
EATS
70 PLACES
JUST OFF
THE ROAD
C O M P IL E D B
Y
JE FF R E Y TU
RNER
& SA R A H P E
R RY
Checklist
FROM
WEST
TO
EAST
Bryson City
Skyland
Spruce Pine
Nabers Drive In
1245 Main Street
(828) 488-2877
French Fryz
2109 Hendersonville Road
(828) 684-0416
City Drive In
670 Oak Avenue
(828) 765-4480
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 19
What to order: Hamburgers, fried
chicken, and ice cream. Nabers is a
classic drive-in with a 50-year-old
reputation for being one of the best
places in Bryson City to stop for a quick
bite. The fried chicken and roasted corn
combo is your best bet here, although
the fries are allegedly something worth
fighting for.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 240
What to order: Hamburgers. And you
can add your own cinnamon to the thickcut sweet potato fries, or blend two of
the best flavors ever created to make
the best milk shake ever created: peanut
butter and chocolate. Get your sugar fix
for the road.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 19E
What to order: Burgers and hot dogs.
Park beneath the wavy, blue, tin roof
along with the rest of the classic cars
you might find here. Well, the classic
cars aren’t always here, but the carhop
who delivers your order will be.
Pisgah Forest
Dolly’s Dairy Bar
124 Pisgah Highway
(828) 862-6610
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 276
What to order: Ice cream. For a treat on
your way into Pisgah Forest, stop here
and find nearly every flavor of ice cream
you can imagine — the names reflect the
many summer camps in the area.
Asheville
City Bakery and Cafe
60 Biltmore Avenue
(828) 252-4426
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 240
What to order: Breakfast and lunch. The
made-from-scratch bagels and Cheddar
biscuit sandwiches are an easy and
delicious meal on your way home from
the mountains. So good, in fact, that you
may want to circle back.
Hendersonville
Harry’s Grill and
Piggy’s Ice Cream
102 Duncan Hill Road
(828) 692-1995
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 64
What to order: Come in for the banana
split and leave with a 40-year-old tractor
sign. While ice cream and antiques are a
pair you don’t often see, somehow the
combination works. Head on down the
highway with your souvenir, either the
antique one or the edible one.
Flat Rock
Dean’s Market and Deli
2770 U.S. Highway 25
(828) 692-5770
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 25
What to order: Biscuits and sandwiches.
In this gas station, you can have fine
food that wasn’t shipped in on a truck
three weeks ago. Try the Big Momma
sandwich and sit surrounded by pictures
of the Flat Rock Playhouse.
Morganton
Allison’s Family Restaurant
1010 Burkemont Avenue
(828) 438-3662
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Livermush-and-egg
sandwich for breakfast or a hamburger
or hot dog for lunch. And don’t
leave without a scoop of homemade
ice cream, especially if blueberry
cheesecake is in season. They’ll even put
it in a cone for you: one hand for driving;
one hand for eating.
Shelby
Taste-T Drive In
322 East Marion Street
(704) 482-3936
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 74
What to order: Burgers and milk shakes.
This drive-in is actually more of a
walk-up. At the window, order a freshly
ground hamburger and one of the best
chocolate milk shakes you can find in
Cleveland County. Get a long straw, and
sip it with the windows rolled down.
Gastonia
Cornelius
Tony’s Ice Cream
604 East Franklin Boulevard
(704) 853-0018
Tenders Fresh Food
18341 Statesville Road
(704) 895-6017
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 74
What to order: Hot dogs and ice cream.
What is it about driving that gives you
a sweet tooth? Polish off a hot dog,
and then try one of the 28 flavors of ice
cream. We like the mysterious cowboy
crunch or the only-at-Tony’s grape flavor.
If you want more, go ahead and order by
the half-gallon; just be sure you packed
the cooler in the car.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 77
What to order: Fried chicken sandwich.
The lightly breaded, juicy chicken is the
biggest hit at Tenders, and the hand-cut
fries and house-made salad dressings are
worth sampling.
Claremont
Claremont Café
(& Pool Room)
4485 South Depot Street
(828) 459-2190
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 70
What to order: Burgers and sandwiches.
For less than $15, three people can fill up
on tomato sandwiches and pork burgers.
Kid-friendly tater tots make this a good
stop for families.
Mount Holly
Neighbor’s Brightstar
Drive In Grill
205 Madora Street
(704) 827-0212
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 85
What to order: Lunch (including buffet)
and dinner. Here, the rock ’n’ roll radio
station may draw you through the doors,
but the simple LottaBurger — a freshly
grilled burger made to order — wellstocked salad bar, and pizza buffet will
have you stopping here on every trip you
make down I-85.
Statesville
Jay Bee’s
320 Mocksville Highway
(704) 872-8033
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 77
What to order: Hot dogs. You’ll find a
wide variety of hot dogs here, including
the Prairie Dog, a foot-long slathered in
barbecue sauce, chopped onions, and
cheese. Make it a game: you start eating
at one end, your passenger starts at the
other, and you meet in the middle, Lady
and the Tramp-style.
Mooresville
Bob’s Grill
252 North Main Street
(704) 664-3099
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 21
What to order: Breakfast and lunch. The
comfort food served here will keep your
belly full all day. Opt for the homemade
apple pie for extra satisfaction. Also,
bring cash and expect to stand if it’s
busy. After being in the car for a while,
though, you might appreciate the leg
stretch.
The Dairy Center
407 West Lebanon Street
(336) 786-2349
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 52
What to order: Hot dogs and milk
shakes. The ground-steak sandwich at
the Dairy Center has earned this diner
a devoted following in Mount Airy for
decades. And a pineapple-coconut milk
shake rounds out the meal here.
Snappy Lunch
125 North Main Street
(336) 786-4931
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 52
What to order: We bet we don’t even
have to tell you — get the pork chop
sandwich. This famed spot — yes, this is
the same Snappy Lunch mentioned on
“The Andy Griffith Show” — has been
around for nearly a century. Andy Griffith
himself used to frequent Snappy Lunch
because his high school didn’t have a
cafeteria.
Mocksville
Big Bite’z Grill
843 Williamson Road
(704) 663-2439
Miller’s Restaurant
710 Wilkesboro Street
(336) 751-2621
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 77
What to order: Sandwiches with a Greek
twist. And something called the Trout
o Burger. If that doesn’t pique your
interest, then the fist-size, made-fromscratch onion rings will.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 64
What to order: Breakfast (all day) and
lunch. Miller’s has been around for more
than 60 years, and in their time, the
owners have learned a thing or two.
They learned to put pimento cheese
on a cheeseburger to make it one of
their signature items, and they haven’t
forgotten that people still love a classic
bologna sandwich.
Fat Boys
114 Days Inn Drive
(704) 663-7089
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 77
What to order: Buffet. It offers all the
classic items — fried chicken, green
beans, macaroni and cheese. It’s difficult
not to eat too much.
Mount Airy
Speedy Chef
1516 South Main Street
(336) 789-2396
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 52
What to order: Burgers and ice cream.
Known for its cheap, tasty food and
quick service, Speedy Chef is also
popular for its hot-fudge cake — a
giant portion of cake, vanilla ice cream,
walnuts, and syrup for only $2.49.
Salisbury
Hap’s Grill
116 North Main Street
(704) 633-5872
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 70
What to order: Hot dogs. Yes, plural. The
lines here frequently extend out the door,
and locals say it may be one of the best
hot dog spots in the state so you’ll want
more than one. Park, order, and plan to
eat in your car — there’s only room for
about six people inside the restaurant.
Pilot Mountain
Willard and Wilmoth
Sandwich Shoppe (AKA The
Squeeze Box)
200 East Main Street
(336) 368-2289
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 52
What to order: Burgers and hot dogs.
The restaurant is in an old trailer, and
you’ll have to squeeze into one of
the 12 seats at the counter to see the
cooks flip your burgers.
King
Dairi-O
365 East Dalton Road
(336) 983-5560
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 52
What to order: Burgers and hot dogs.
Many fast-food places offer deals like
two hot dogs, fries, and a soda for less
than $6. But Dairi-O stands out for
another, extra-special reason — they
offer packets of Texas Pete to spice up
your hot dog.
Kernersville
Doss’ Old Fashioned
Ice Cream
406 North Main Street
(336) 996-1930
Where you’re coming from: U.S.
Highway 421
What to order: The homemade
pimento cheese sandwich and
Brunswick stew are good reasons to
stop in at Doss’s. But the menu offers
plenty of good-tasting, homemade
fast food, like burgers, hot dogs,
barbecue, and hand-dipped ice cream.
High Point
Dog House
668 North Main Street
(336) 886-4953
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 74
What to order: They don’t serve your
food on plates here. Instead, you eat
your chili dog or your fried-bologna
sandwich on wax paper. And they don’t
take credit cards; it’s a cash-only place.
Corner Grill
1600 West Lexington Avenue
(336) 887-6191
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 74
What to order: Breakfast and lunch.
Corner Grill is difficult to spot, but
once you find it, order a healthy-size
burger for lunch or a liver-puddingand-egg sandwich for breakfast. At
lunch, be sure to ask for the Glenn
Special — a hamburger patty on a bed
of lettuce, loaded with cheese, bacon,
chili, slaw, and onions.
Archdale
Archdale Soda Shop
11206 North Main Street
(336) 431-2813
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 85
What to order: This is a throwback
to the old-timey burger joints before
there were big-box burger joints.
Grab a seat in a booth, order a
cheeseburger, and wash it down with
a Cheerwine. Now that’s something
you won’t find everywhere. You’ll know
when it’s time to get back on the road
by the Cheerwine clock on the wall.
Asheboro
The Biscuit Co.
558 Albemarle Road
(336) 629-5822
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 220
What to order: The name of the place
says it all: You’re going to want to get
a biscuit. A convenient drive-through
makes it so you don’t even have to
get out of the car; three bucks gets
you two sausage biscuits that’ll keep
you full until you get to where you’re
going. If you go inside, order the
biscuits with gravy — those are a little
too hard to eat while driving.
Greensboro
Big Burger Spot
3750-A Battleground Avenue
(336) 617-3777
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 220
What to order: The “almost” size
is big; the “big” size is bigger. And
the hand-pattied Angus beef comes
however you like it: classic style
(lettuce, tomato, mayo), Carolina
style (chili, mustard, slaw, onions); or
pimento cheese style (we don’t need
to explain that one). The white truffle
fries are unlike anything you’ve ever
had from a fast-food joint. Plus, this
burger spot adjoins a gas station. Fill
up after you’ve, well, filled up.
Beef Burger
1040 West Lee Street
(336) 272-7505
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40; U.S. Highway 220
What to order: Burgers and hot wings.
Open since 1961, everything about this
place says classic ’50s and ’60s drivein. An old-school Roto-Red Broiler still
grills beef patties and toasts buns. And
the secret burger sauce — you won’t
find it anywhere else — keeps people
coming back.
Liberty
Kidd’s Drive-In
171 South Greensboro Street
(336) 622-4338
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 421
What to order: Chili cheeseburger, all
the way. It’s what the locals suggest.
Make it a meal with fries and a soda.
You’ll feel patriotic eating an American
classic in a town named Liberty.
Pinehurst
The Villager Deli
6 Chinquapin Road
(910) 295-1005
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 501
What to order: Build your own
sandwich. Choose from three meats
and two cheeses, and finish it off with
a slice of Kentucky Derby pie — this is
horse country, after all.
Siler City
Sanford
Chapel Hill
Brownie-Lu Restaurant
919 North Second Avenue
(919) 663-3913
Fairview Dairy Bar
109 Carbonton Road
(919) 775-5721
Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
1305 East Franklin Street
(919) 933-1324
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 421
What to order: A chicken salad
sandwich. That and an order of fries
cost less than $5. The moist and
crunchy fried chicken is good, too.
Burlington
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 421
What to order: Ice cream and
homemade desserts. Open since 1954,
Fairview Dairy Bar serves home-cooked
meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
— and dessert. Try the banana split,
brownie-bottom pie, milk shake, or Oreo
cheesecake.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: This drive-throughonly place begins serving its famous
fried-chicken biscuits at 6 a.m. Most
days they run out, so if you’re passing
through, make sure it’s early and expect
to wait in line.
Zack’s Hot Dogs
201 West Davis Street
(336) 226-4746
Scoops
815 Wicker Street
(919) 774-8872
501 Diner
1500 North Fordham Boulevard
(919) 933-3505
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Hot dogs, burgers, and
breakfast. A Greek immigrant named
Zack Touloupas started this restaurant
in 1928. The chili, dark and meaty, is his
own recipe. And Zack’s grandson and
namesake is the third generation to run
the family business.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 1
What to order: Two hot dogs, $2.60.
They’ve got a sausage dog, too. Scoops
keeps it simple: drive-through or walkup. There’s no seating, so you’ll have
to eat in your car. Lick your fingers
good before you put them back on the
steering wheel, though.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Cornflake French toast.
With a dash of powdered sugar and a
side of fresh fruit, this crispy anytime
dish is not to be missed. Exit now.
Fayetteville
Carthage
Pittsboro
The Biscuit Kitchen
128 Grove Street
(910) 483-8982
Ronnie’s Chuckwagon
306 Monroe Street
(910) 947-5435
S&T Soda Shoppe
85 Hillsboro Street
(919) 545-0007
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 15-501
What to order: Burgers, hot dogs,
country cooking. Hot dogs for 90 cents,
and a seafood plate for less than $10.
There’s plenty of parking here, even for
big trucks. And Fido can join you on the
patio outside.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 64
What to order: Milk shakes and the
banana split. Both are large enough to
share with your travel companion.
Bear Creek
The Old Place Restaurant
289 Elmer Moore Road
(919) 837-5131
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 421
What to order: Have all you care to
eat at the Old Place’s lunch and dinner
buffets. And be sure to take a country
ham biscuit to go.
Al’s Diner
535 West Street
(919) 542-5800
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 64
What to order: Burgers and hot dogs.
Order a basket of onion rings and just
listen to the stories the waitresses tell
you across the counter. Locals say the
staff members here are some of the
nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Hillsborough
Village Diner
600 West King Street
(919) 732-7032
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 85
What to order: A buffet is served
Monday through Friday with some of the
best country cooking imaginable: fried
chicken, barbecue, and country-fried
steak. Food like this has kept the doors
open for more than 30 years, making this
the oldest restaurant in town.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 95
What to order: Try a cinnamon roll.
These don’t even need that sugary,
white frosting like you see in a plastic
wrapper. They’re fine just the way they
come: hot and wrapped in foil.
Fuquay-Varina
Elliotts Pharmacy
202 South Main Street
(919) 552-2277
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 401
What to order: A homemade pimento
cheese or egg-salad sandwich and an
orangeade. This old-fashioned soda
fountain will take you back to an era
when cars had fins.
Whiteville
Ward’s Grill
706 South Madison Street
(910) 642-2004
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 701
What to order: Burgers and hot dogs.
The line usually goes out the door. By
that measure, this take-out-only place
is worth the stop downtown. It’s easy to
miss, so look for the blue awning.
Raleigh
Meadow community
Char-Grill
618 Hillsborough Street
(919) 821-7636
Meadow Village Restaurant
7400 N.C. Highway 50 South
(919) 894-5430
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Oh, this is a good
burger. Park your car, walk up to the
window, write down your order, and slip
your ticket to the cook. He’ll prepare a
mouth-watering, flame-kissed burger
right before your eyes. Nine franchises
are open in North Carolina, but this is
the original.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Country cooking and
desserts. There’s a buffet full of them
here. You won’t have to decide between
pie, cake, or pudding.
Dunn
Ernie’s Buffet
1008 West Cumberland Street
(910) 892-2225
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 421
What to order: Fried chicken, stewed
potatoes, corn fritters, and strawberry
shortcake. The list could go on and on,
so the best thing is to stop in here and
see for yourself.
Benson
Miss Maude’s Cafe
206 East Main Street
(919) 207-9000
Smithfield
Cricket’s Grill
506 East Market Street
(919) 631-3059
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 95
What to order: Don’t let the humble
appearance of this trailer-home-turnedtake-out place fool you. Locals say
the hot dogs and steak sandwiches
are can’t-miss. Add a side of fries and
lemonade, and you’ve got a meal.
Wilmington
South College
Sandwich and Deli
332 South College Road
(910) 392-0002
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 301
What to order: Homemade spaghetti
with a side of buttery toast. The sauce is
meaty, like chili. It’s the right way to fill a
travel-weary belly.
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Beef on weck sandwich.
Never heard of it? It’s a recipe for a
roast beef sandwich, imported from
Buffalo, New York. The meat is cooked
rare, served inside a kummelweck roll,
au jus.
Wake Forest
Wilson
Shorty’s Famous Hot Dogs
214 South White Street
(919) 556-8026
The Creamery
Family Restaurant
1616 South Goldsboro Street SW
(252) 243-2934
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 1
What to order: Hot dogs. Shorty’s
meaty chili makes a great Southern dog.
Eat one and wash it down with a cold,
glass-bottle of Coca-Cola.
Dunn
Brock’s Grill
8353 Newton Grove Highway
(910) 567-2158
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 421
What to order: A made-to-order
breakfast and a cafeteria-style lunch.
This back-road treasure is a favored
gossip spot for locals.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 264
What to order: Burgers and country
cooking. Be sure to finish with a hotfudge sundae.
Dick’s Hot Dog Stand
1500 Nash Street North
(252) 243-6313
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 264; Interstate 95
What to order: Hot dogs topped with
mustard, chili, and onions. It’s the same
chili recipe that’s been used for 92 years
at this iconic eatery, and it’s still the best
way to top your dog.
Flo’s Kitchen
1015 Goldsboro Street South
(252) 237-9146
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 795
What to order: The cars wrap around
this tiny building and servers lean out
the drive-through window to deliver
enormous biscuits (and we’re not
exaggerating). Try the pork tenderloin;
it’s lightly breaded and pairs well with a
large sweet tea.
Rocky Point
Paul’s Place
11725 U.S. Highway 117 South
(910) 675-2345
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 40
What to order: Hot dogs with red relish.
When beef was rationed in World War
II, Paul invented this tangy topping as
a substitute for chili. If you ever drove
U.S. Highway 117 to the beach before
the days of Interstate 40, you remember
Paul’s.
La Grange
Ken’s Grill
7645 U.S. Highway 70 West
(252) 566-4765
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 70
What to order: Apple turnover with
ice cream. And if you’re here on a
Wednesday or Saturday, there’s fresh
barbecue and crispy pork skins.
Rocky Mount
Central Cafe
132 South Church Street
(252) 446-8568
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 64
What to order: Burgers and hot dogs at
this hometown institution, where the hot
dogs are bright red and the hamburgers
are juicy. Chat with the locals — you’ll
hear a good story.
Highway Diner
910 North Winstead Avenue
(252) 451-5270
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 95
What to order: Try the Construction
Burger. Top it with slaw, chili, mustard,
sautéed onions, and bacon. You can’t
miss this place right off the road; it
looks for all the world like a silver bullet.
Roanoke Rapids
Jacksonville
Washington
Browning’s Grill
2066 West 10th Street
(252) 537-1106
Angie’s Family Restaurant
233 South Marine Boulevard
(910) 989-1990
King Chicken Drive-In
601 Carolina Avenue
(252) 946-4594
Where you’re coming from:
Interstate 95
What to order: Pull your car into the
dirt parking lot, and someone will
come out and take your order, just as
they’ve done for a half century.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 17 Business
What to order: Country cooking and
breakfast. Laminated menus indicate
what kind of place this is. It’s the right
spot to stop in for breakfast.
Kinston
Greenville
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 264
What to order: Fried chicken. This
take-out-only food stand sells chicken
by the piece. Put a chicken leg in one
hand, a cup of sweet tea in the other,
but don’t you dare put the car in gear.
This meal is worth taking a moment
to enjoy.
Byrd’s Restaurant
196 N.C. Highway 58 South
(252) 523-3422
Pop’s old fashioned
cheeseburgers
1011-F Charles Boulevard
(252) 329-0048
Bill’s Hot Dog Stand
109 Gladden Street
(252) 946-3343
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 264
What to order: Beef for the
hamburgers here comes from local,
grass-fed cattle. That makes the
burgers a little different. They’re
down-home in every sense. You’ll
understand what we mean after the
first bite.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 264
What to order: A hot dog with
spicy, white-bean chili. It’s the one
uncommon ingredient at this favorite,
familiar hot dog shop. To eat one is
to taste a piece of history because
since 1927, hot dogs have been the
cornerstone of Bill’s success.
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 70
What to order: Pork tenderloin-and
gravy biscuit. It’s — dare we say it? —
better than Grandma’s, and it’s the size
of a saucer. And the cheese biscuit, it’s
exclusive to eastern North Carolina —
with hoop cheese baked inside.
Farmville
Little Rocket
4200 South Main Street
(252) 753-3722
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 264
What to order: There’s a walk-up
window, out of which comes a warm
cheese biscuit for breakfast. Time
how quick you’re able to get back
in the car.
Manteo
Big Al’s Soda Fountain
and Grill
716 South Highway 64
(252) 473-5570
Where you’re coming from:
U.S. Highway 64
What to order: Big Al’s BBQ Bacon
Burger. It’s topped with pulled pork,
bacon, Cheddar cheese, an onion ring,
and Al’s Coca-Cola barbecue sauce.
It’ll hold you over until you get to
where you’re going.