Unearth The Voyage
North Carolina’s breakfast scene is packed with character, history, and some seriously good biscuits. From old-school diners serving up farm-fresh eggs to drive-thru legends slinging fried-chicken biscuits at dawn, the Tar Heel State knows how to start the day right. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, these eight spots deliver the kind of morning meals that’ll have you planning your next visit before you’ve even finished your coffee.
1. Big Ed’s (Raleigh)
Raleigh locals have been piling into Big Ed’s since the mid-20th century, and one look at the plates explains why. Pancakes here don’t just fill your dish—they practically cascade over the edges, golden and fluffy enough to make you rethink your usual breakfast order.
The walls and ceiling are crammed with antique farm tools, old signs, and quirky memorabilia that tell the story of North Carolina’s agricultural roots. It’s like eating breakfast in a living history museum, minus the velvet ropes. Multiple locations now keep the tradition alive, but the formula hasn’t changed: generous portions, friendly faces, and that unmistakable country-cooking comfort that keeps regulars coming back year after year.
2. State Farmers Market Restaurant (Raleigh)
Right next to Raleigh’s buzzing farmers market sits this cafeteria-style gem, a place that treats biscuits with the reverence they deserve. Scratch-made buttermilk beauties arrive hot and flaky, ready to soak up red-eye gravy or cradle a heap of country ham.
Open daily until 3 p.m., the restaurant sources many ingredients through North Carolina’s “Got to Be NC” program, so your grits and home fries come with a side of local pride. There’s no pretense here—just honest cooking, fast-moving lines, and the kind of breakfast that fuels farmers, families, and anyone smart enough to stop by before the biscuits run out.
3. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen (Chapel Hill & Louisburg)
Since the 1980s, Chapel Hill’s Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen has perfected the art of the drive-thru breakfast. Cars snake around the building each morning, drivers eager for those legendary fried-chicken biscuits that have earned cult status among locals and UNC students alike.
The Chapel Hill location stays true to its grab-and-go roots—drive-thru only—while the Louisburg spot offers indoor seating if you prefer to sit. Don’t let the line intimidate you; it moves surprisingly fast, and the payoff is worth every minute. Crispy chicken tucked into a tender, buttery biscuit? That’s how you start a Carolina morning right.
4. Smith Street Diner (Greensboro)
Downtown Greensboro’s Smith Street Diner is the kind of place where the waitstaff knows half the customers by name. Counter seats fill up fast at daybreak, regulars sliding in for their usual orders without needing to glance at a menu.
What keeps them coming back? Those hulking, cloud-soft biscuits that arrive hot from the kitchen, ready to be smothered in sausage gravy or paired with eggs cooked just how you like them. Everything’s made fresh, nothing fancy, just solid diner cooking done right. If you’re hunting for authenticity in a city that’s grown and changed over the decades, this spot remains refreshingly unchanged—simple, satisfying, and best enjoyed early.
5. The Dixie Grill (Wilmington)
Opened in 1901, The Dixie Grill has seen Wilmington grow from a quiet port town into a vibrant coastal city, yet it’s held onto that old-time diner magic. Vintage charm fills every corner—checkered floors, cozy booths, and a menu that’s comfortingly familiar.
Locals and beach-bound travelers alike stop in for hearty omelets, stacks of pancakes, and signature scrambles that hit the spot before a day on the water. The location’s a winner too, just a short stroll from the Riverwalk, making it easy to walk off your breakfast while taking in river views. More than a century later, The Dixie Grill proves that some traditions are too good to mess with.
6. Biscuit Head (Asheville area)
Biscuit Head didn’t just join Asheville’s breakfast scene—it helped put the city’s biscuit obsession on the national map. The star here is the cathead biscuit, massive and tender, served alongside a playful jam bar where you can mix and match house-made spreads and flavored butters to your heart’s content.
It’s Southern comfort with a creative twist, a place where tradition meets experimentation without losing sight of what makes breakfast special. The fried-chicken biscuit is a must-try, but don’t skip the jam bar—it’s half the fun. With a commitment to sustainability across its locations, Biscuit Head proves you can honor the past while looking toward the future, one delicious biscuit at a time.
7. Early Girl Eatery (Asheville; also in Charlotte)
Since 2001, Early Girl Eatery has championed the farm-to-table breakfast movement in Asheville, long before it became trendy. Stone-ground grits, multigrain pancakes, and scrambles bursting with seasonal vegetables showcase the best of what local farms have to offer.
The vibe is bright and casual, the kind of place where you linger over coffee and don’t feel rushed. Shrimp and grits are a standout, creamy and flavorful, while the ever-changing menu keeps pace with what’s fresh and available. The concept’s success even inspired a Charlotte location, spreading the Early Girl gospel across the state. If you care about where your food comes from and want it to taste incredible too, this is your breakfast home.
8. Lovick’s Café (Kinston)
Family-run since 1941, Lovick’s Café is the heartbeat of breakfast in Kinston. Generations of locals have grown up on its eggs, biscuits, and strong coffee, the kind of place where everyone seems to know everyone else, and newcomers are welcomed like old friends.
The menu is straightforward—no frills, no fuss—just classic breakfast done the way it’s been done for decades. Lovick’s is also known as the “Home of the Doughburger,” a quirky claim to fame that adds to its small-town charm. If you’re craving authenticity and a taste of North Carolina history, pull up a chair, order a biscuit breakfast, and soak in the stories that fill this beloved café.
