I Hit The Backroads Of North Carolina To Try 11 Old-School Biscuit Joints (And 5 Were Life-Changing)
North Carolina is famous for pulled pork and sweet tea, but the real treasure hiding on those winding backroads?
Biscuits that’ll make you want to slap your grandma (in the nicest way possible). I spent weeks hunting down old-school joints where folks still make everything from scratch, and let me tell you, some were good, but five literally changed my life.
Here’s the full rundown of all eleven spots I visited.
1. Flo’s Kitchen (⭐ Life-changing pick)
Tucked away in a tiny strip mall that time forgot, Flo’s Kitchen doesn’t look like much from the outside. But step through that door and you’re hit with the smell of butter and pure magic.
The biscuits here are so fluffy they practically float off your plate. Flo or her longtime staff still run the kitchen most mornings, cranking out golden beauties that crumble perfectly with every bite. Her secret? Cold butter, hot oven, and zero shortcuts.
Order the sausage gravy special and thank me later. The biscuits are known for their size and flavor; gravy availability may vary by day, and when it soaks into that tender biscuit, you’ll understand why people drive two hours just for breakfast. This place earned its life-changing status on flavor alone.
2. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen (⭐ Life-changing pick)
Chapel Hill’s worst-kept secret operates out of a building smaller than most people’s garages. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen opens at 6 AM, and by 6:15, there’s already a line snaking around the block.
What makes these biscuits life-changing? They’re made to order, every single one. You can actually hear them crackling as they come out of the oven. The fried chicken biscuit is legendary—crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned.
Don’t expect fancy seating or Instagram-worthy decor. This is grab-and-go perfection in its purest form. They are drive-thru only, but payment methods may vary, and absolutely worth waking up early. The buttery layers alone could make a grown person weep with joy.
3. Biscuit Head (⭐ Life-changing pick)
Asheville’s Biscuit Head brings old-school biscuits into the modern age without losing an ounce of soul. The “biscuit bar” concept lets you pick from wild toppings like blueberry crisp butter and apple butter that tastes like autumn in a jar.
Their Cat Head biscuits are massive—seriously, they’re the size of your fist. Fluffy on the inside, perfectly golden on the outside, and made with local ingredients whenever possible. The fried green tomatoes on a biscuit? Pure genius.
Sure, it’s more polished than your typical backroad joint, but the quality speaks volumes. Lines get crazy on weekends, so arrive early or prepare to wait. Worth every single minute, though.
4. The Buttered Biscuit
Sometimes a biscuit is just really, really good without being earth-shattering, and that’s okay. The Buttered Biscuit delivers solid, dependable comfort food that’ll fill your belly and make you smile.
Their biscuits are thick and sturdy—perfect for soaking up runny egg yolks or holding together a hefty pile of bacon. Everything tastes homemade because it is. The staff treats you like family, even if it’s your first visit.
While it didn’t quite reach life-changing territory for me, plenty of locals swear by this place. They specialize in large homemade biscuits; specific variants like sweet potato biscuits may not always be available. Definitely worth a stop if you’re nearby.
5. Blue Ridge Biscuit Company
Nestled in the foothills with mountain views that’ll make your heart skip, Blue Ridge Biscuit Company serves up decent biscuits in a gorgeous setting. The atmosphere alone makes this spot memorable.
Their biscuits lean toward the denser side—not fluffy clouds, but hearty and satisfying. Menus can change; toppings such as honey or bacon jam may vary by season or location.
While the biscuits didn’t blow my mind, the whole experience was pleasant. Good coffee, friendly service, and a patio that begs you to linger. Sometimes that’s enough. Plus, the local honey they sell makes a great souvenir for biscuit-making back home.
6. Biscuitville (⭐ Life-changing pick)
Wait, a chain made the life-changing list? Hear me out. Biscuitville isn’t your typical fast-food joint—they make fresh biscuits every twenty minutes, all day long. Many locations allow you to see biscuit-making through the kitchen window, though layouts vary.
The biscuits are light, buttery, and surprisingly authentic for a place with multiple locations. Their fried chicken biscuit rivals any mom-and-pop shop, and the gravy biscuit bowl is dangerously addictive. Everything’s made from scratch daily.
What pushes it into life-changing territory? Consistency and accessibility. No matter which location you hit, you’re getting quality biscuits made right. For North Carolinians, Biscuitville is a beloved institution for good reason. Don’t sleep on this one.
7. Franklinville Diner
Franklinville Diner feels like stepping into 1955, complete with a nostalgic small-town diner feel. The biscuits here are old-fashioned in the best way, simple, honest, and made without fuss.
They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, just making good breakfast food the way it’s been done for decades. The biscuits are a touch dry compared to the top contenders, but the gravy helps. Portions are generous, and prices are stuck in the past (in a good way).
Locals pack this place on Saturday mornings, swapping gossip over coffee and biscuits. The vibe is unbeatable, even if the biscuits themselves are just above average. Worth visiting for the experience.
8. King Chicken Drive-In
King Chicken brings serious nostalgia with its old-school drive-in setup though service style may vary by location and time. The biscuits are basic but tasty, served alongside some seriously good fried chicken.
Honestly, the chicken steals the show here. The biscuit is more of a supporting actor—a vehicle for getting that crispy, juicy poultry into your mouth. It does the job without much fanfare.
If you’re craving that classic drive-in experience with decent food, this is your spot. The biscuits won’t change your life, but the whole vibe might make you grin like a kid. Plus, eating in your car always tastes better somehow.
9. Baker’s Kitchen
Baker’s Kitchen prides itself on making everything from scratch, and you can taste the effort. Their biscuits are tender and well-seasoned, with a nice golden crust that adds texture.
Menu variety is solid, but specific rotating biscuit flavors may vary and aren’t always listed publicly. The cinnamon honey butter is dangerously good—I may have eaten an entire biscuit with nothing else.
While solid, these biscuits didn’t quite reach the heights of the life-changing five. Still, Baker’s Kitchen is a reliable choice with heart. The owners clearly care about quality, and it shows in every bite. Great for families too.
10. Granny’s Kitchen (⭐ Life-changing pick)
Granny’s Kitchen looks exactly like the name suggests: floral wallpaper, checkered tablecloths, and biscuits that taste like your actual grandmother made them. Assuming your grandmother was an absolute wizard with dough.
These biscuits are perfection: tall, layered, and so buttery they leave golden fingerprints on your napkin. Granny’s is known for home-style buffet biscuits, though exact texture varies day-to-day. Pair them with the sausage gravy, and you’ll be planning your next visit before you finish eating.
What seals the life-changing deal? The love baked into every batch. You can feel it. This isn’t just cooking, it’s tradition, passed down and perfected over generations. Absolute must-visit.
11. Dan’l Boone Inn
Dan’l Boone Inn serves meals family-style at long communal tables, which means you’re sharing biscuits with strangers who quickly become friends. The biscuits arrive in big baskets, still warm from the oven.
They’re good: fluffy, buttery, and plentiful. But in the lineup of eleven, they fell somewhere in the middle. Maybe it’s because everything else on the table (fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans) was also competing for attention.
The experience itself is memorable, though. Eating elbow-to-elbow with other folks, passing dishes around, and laughing over endless biscuits creates something special. The biscuits are solid, but the atmosphere is what you’ll remember most. Still worth the trip.