12 Best North Carolina Towns For Wood-Fired Pizza Lovers
North Carolina’s food scene has exploded in recent years, and wood-fired pizza is at the forefront of this delicious revolution.
I’ve spent the last year road-tripping across the state with one mission: finding the absolute best wood-fired pizzas around.
From mountain towns with rustic ovens to coastal gems serving seafood-topped pies, I’ve discovered these 12 pizza havens that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy.
1. Asheville’s Pizza Paradise
My first bite of pizza at Fresh Wood Fired in West Asheville nearly brought tears to my eyes! The perfectly charred crust had that magical smokiness that only comes from a genuine wood-fired oven.
Asheville doesn’t stop there, though. Black Mountain and Fahrenheit Pizza & Brewhouse deliver equally amazing pies, each with their own twist on the classics. The brewhouse even pairs their pizzas with house-made craft beers – heaven!
What makes Asheville special is how these pizza artisans source ingredients. Most use local farms for toppings, creating seasonal masterpieces that change throughout the year. Pro tip: visit during fall harvest when the heirloom tomato pies are absolutely mind-blowing.
2. Winston-Salem’s Napoletana Treasure
Mission Pizza Napoletana isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a religious experience for pizza lovers. The owner trained in Naples, Italy, and it shows in every heavenly bite. Their commitment to authenticity borders on obsession!
Walking in, you’ll immediately notice the massive imported Italian oven dominating the open kitchen. It reaches blistering temperatures over 900 degrees, cooking each pizza in just 90 seconds. The result? That perfect leopard-spotted crust with the airy, chewy interior that pizza dreams are made of.
My personal favorite is their Margherita DOC – so simple yet transcendent with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Pair it with their Italian wine selection for the full experience.
3. Highland’s Mountain-Top Pizza Experience
Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar sits perched in the charming mountain town of Highlands, where I stumbled upon it during a foggy afternoon hike. Talk about a delicious reward! The restaurant’s stone-and-timber architecture perfectly complements the rustic, smoky flavors coming from their wood-fired oven.
Their dough ferments for 72 hours, creating complex flavors you simply can’t rush. The mountain spring water they use makes all the difference – locals swear by it.
Beyond pizza, they offer wood-fired vegetables that will convert even the most dedicated carnivore. The roasted mushroom and truffle pizza pairs perfectly with the misty mountain views, especially from their outdoor patio. Even in winter, they keep it cozy with outdoor heaters.
4. Shelby’s Pleasant Surprise
Pleasant City Wood Fired Grille turned my quick gas station stop into an unexpected three-hour dinner adventure! Tucked away in historic downtown Shelby, this unassuming spot houses one of the state’s most magnificent wood-fired ovens.
The restaurant occupies a beautifully restored 1920s building with exposed brick walls that radiate warmth. Their signature pies feature unexpected combinations – the BBQ pulled pork pizza had me questioning everything I thought I knew about proper pizza toppings.
What really sets Pleasant City apart is their community focus. They source ingredients from farms within 30 miles and host monthly pizza-making classes for kids. The restaurant buzzes with energy from families, couples, and friends all sharing in the wood-fired goodness.
5. Surf City’s Beachside Pizza Haven
Sand between my toes, salt in my hair, and Wildfire Pizza in my belly – that’s my definition of coastal bliss! This Surf City gem combines two of life’s greatest pleasures: beach views and wood-fired pizza.
The open-air dining area lets you hear the ocean waves while watching pizzaiolos toss dough with theatrical flair. Their seafood pizzas are legendary – the clam and garlic pie uses shellfish harvested that very morning. You can literally see the fishing boats that supplied your dinner ingredients!
Sunset is prime time here, when the wood oven’s glow competes with nature’s own light show. They don’t take reservations, so expect a wait during summer months. Trust me though – one bite of their crust with that hint of oak smoke makes any wait worthwhile.
6. Wilmington’s Italian Connection
Cugino Forno Pizzeria transported me straight to Southern Italy without leaving Wilmington! Housed in a renovated cotton mill, the soaring ceilings and industrial chic vibe create the perfect backdrop for pizza perfection.
The three cousins who own this place (“cugino” means cousin in Italian) imported their massive oven directly from Naples. It weighs over two tons and burns at temperatures that would make the devil sweat! Each pizza cooks in under two minutes, creating that magical contrast between crisp exterior and tender interior.
Their commitment to authenticity extends to ingredients – San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, and flour from the Italian countryside. The simplicity of their Marinara showcases their philosophy: when ingredients are exceptional, less is definitely more.
7. Black Mountain’s Fresh Take
Fresh Wood Fired Pizza in Black Mountain captures everything I love about small-town pizza joints. The restaurant itself is tiny – just a handful of tables – but the flavors are enormous!
The owner, Mark, knows everyone by name and probably knows their usual order too. He sources his ingredients from farms so local you can practically see them from the restaurant windows. The seasonal rotation means the menu changes constantly, keeping regulars coming back to discover new combinations.
Their signature sourdough crust develops for three days before meeting the intense heat of mountain oak and hickory. The result has a complexity that factory-made dough could never achieve. My favorite is their foraged mushroom pie topped with wild ramps in spring – a combination so good I’ve literally planned road trips around it.
8. Marshall’s Community Pizza Nights
Smoke Signals in Marshall isn’t your typical restaurant – it’s a pizza-centered community gathering that happens to serve the best wood-fired pies in Madison County! Located in a converted riverside warehouse, their communal pizza nights have become legendary among locals and visitors alike.
Every Friday, the massive community tables fill with strangers who become friends over shared pizzas and local beer. The oven, built by hand using river rocks, gives the crust a distinctive mineral quality you won’t find elsewhere.
What makes this place special is its unpretentious nature. There’s no menu – just a chalkboard listing whatever ingredients arrived that day. The chefs create combinations based on what’s fresh and available. It’s pizza as a creative, communal experience rather than just a meal.
9. Cary’s Urban Pizza Escape
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza in Cary saved my sanity during a particularly stressful business trip. I stumbled in, laptop in hand, desperately needing comfort food and a change of scenery from my hotel room.
Unlike some chains, each Brixx location maintains its own personality. The Cary spot features an open kitchen where you can watch the pizza ballet – dough stretching, topping arranging, and the careful maneuvering of pies in and out of the blazing oven.
Their whole wheat crust option was a revelation! Nutty and substantial without being heavy, it’s the perfect foundation for their creative topping combinations. The staff didn’t rush me as I camped out for hours, working through emails and steadily making my way through their craft beer selection. Their late-night hours make this a perfect spot for night owls.
10. Chapel Hill’s College Town Pizza Revolution
“Wood-fired pizza near a college campus? Isn’t that just fancy drunk food?” my friend asked skeptically. One bite of Brixx Wood Fired Pizza’s Chapel Hill location changed her mind forever!
This location brilliantly balances upscale pizza with student-friendly prices. The vibe mixes academic intellectualism with casual comfort – professors debate philosophy while students celebrate exam victories, all over exceptional pizzas.
Their vegan cheese option actually melts properly (a miracle!), and they offer gluten-free crusts that don’t taste like cardboard. The outdoor patio becomes Chapel Hill’s hottest spot during spring evenings, especially during their legendary happy hour. The staff – mostly UNC students – bring boundless energy and genuine pizza enthusiasm that elevates the whole experience.
11. Greensboro’s Industrial Chic Pizza Joint
The Greensboro location of Brixx Wood Fired Pizza occupies a converted textile mill that perfectly balances industrial heritage with modern comfort. Massive windows flood the space with natural light, highlighting the beautiful brick oven at the heart of the operation.
What surprised me most was their commitment to sustainability. Everything from their locally-sourced toppings to their compostable takeout containers reflects thoughtful environmental choices. Even the wood for their oven comes from sustainable North Carolina forests.
Their signature “Carolina BBQ Chicken” pizza brilliantly merges Italian tradition with Southern flavors – tangy vinegar-based sauce, smoked chicken, and caramelized onions create a pizza that could only exist in North Carolina. After dinner, explore the surrounding neighborhood, which has transformed from industrial decline to artistic renaissance.
12. Boone’s Mountain-Style Pizza Adventure
I nearly missed Lost Province Brewing Company while hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains, but the aroma of wood smoke and baking dough lured me into this Boone treasure. Half brewery, half pizzeria, it’s the perfect marriage of mountain town essentials.
Their sourdough crust uses a starter that’s been alive longer than most of the college students who frequent the place! The high altitude affects fermentation, creating a distinctive tang you won’t find in lowland pizzerias. Their commitment to local ingredients reaches fanatical levels – even the mushrooms come from mountain foragers.
Live bluegrass music fills the space most evenings, creating the perfect soundtrack for mountain pizza enjoyment. The “Trailblazer” pizza with local venison sausage, foraged mushrooms, and pickled ramps offers a true taste of Appalachia. Don’t miss their house-brewed porter – it pairs perfectly with their smokier pies.