7 North Carolina Cafés That Make Biscuits Worth Waking Up For
Nothing says Southern breakfast like a perfectly made biscuit, fluffy on the inside, golden-crisp on the outside, and ready for butter, gravy, or jam. North Carolina takes this breakfast staple seriously, with cafés across the state perfecting their recipes over generations.
From mountain towns to coastal communities, these spots serve up biscuits so good you’ll set your alarm early just to beat the crowds.
1. Biscuit Head – Asheville, NC
Mountain mornings taste better at this Asheville hotspot where biscuits are literally the size of your head! Locals line up before doors open for these cathead-sized cloud-like creations.
What sets them apart is their gravy flight, yes, you read that right, featuring varieties like espresso red-eye and sweet potato coconut. Their jam bar with house-made spreads lets you customize your biscuit experience exactly how you want it.
2. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen – Chapel Hill, NC
Drive-thru biscuit heaven exists in Chapel Hill! This tiny roadside kitchen has been serving breakfast from car windows since 1978, proving good things come in small packages.
Their classic chicken biscuit has achieved legendary status among UNC students and locals alike. Made fresh daily using a generations-old recipe, these golden-brown beauties strike the perfect balance between flaky and substantial, sturdy enough to hold generous fillings without crumbling apart.
3. The Flying Biscuit Café – Charlotte & Raleigh, NC
“Why limit biscuits to breakfast?” seems to be the philosophy at this Atlanta-born, North Carolina-embraced café. Their signature orange-scented biscuits bring unexpected brightness to the traditional recipe.
Served all day alongside Southern favorites, these uniquely fragrant creations come with a side of cranberry apple butter that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about biscuit toppings. The cheerful, art-filled spaces in both Charlotte and Raleigh locations add to the experience.
4. Krankies Coffee – Winston-Salem, NC
Housed in a former industrial warehouse, this Winston-Salem gem combines third-wave coffee culture with serious biscuit craftsmanship. The unexpected pairing creates magic in the morning!
Their buttermilk biscuits achieve the holy grail texture – crunchy exterior giving way to layers that pull apart with gentle resistance. Order the “Bodega” with egg, cheese, and avocado for a North-meets-South fusion, or go traditional with sausage gravy made in-house daily.
5. Cast Iron Kitchen – Wilmington, NC
Chef Josh Petty’s coastal comfort food haven brings inland flavor to Wilmington’s breakfast scene. His grandmother’s biscuit recipe stars in creations that would make any Southern matriarch proud.
The “Southern Benedict” showcases these buttery masterpieces topped with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, and poached eggs. Each biscuit emerges from their namesake cast iron with the perfect golden bottom crust – crisp yet tender, ready to soak up every last drop of hollandaise.
6. Flo’s Kitchen – Wilson, NC
This unassuming roadside spot in Wilson has been a biscuit institution since 1953. No frills, no fancy coffee – just biscuit perfection that keeps generations of families returning.
Flo’s famous “Cheese Biscuit” isn’t what outsiders might expect. These unique squares come filled with hoop cheese, a regional delicacy that melts into molten pockets within the dough. Locals know to arrive early – when they’re gone, they’re gone, and the tiny restaurant closes by mid-morning.
7. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken – Durham & Raleigh, NC
What began as a biscuit revolution in Durham has expanded throughout the Triangle and beyond. Rise combines old-school techniques with chef-driven creativity for biscuits that respect tradition while embracing innovation.
Their menu rotates seasonal specialties alongside staples like the “Righteous Chicken” – brined, buttermilk-dipped, and perfectly fried. Sweet-toothed visitors shouldn’t miss their donut-biscuit hybrids either! The cinnamon biscuit roll transforms the humble breakfast bread into a dessert-worthy indulgence.
