10 North Carolina Biscuit Joints That Could Take On A National Competition
North Carolina knows a thing or two about biscuits, turning a simple breakfast staple into a golden, buttery masterpiece.
From fluffy layers to perfectly crisp edges, these joints serve biscuits that could impress even the toughest national judges.
Whether smothered in gravy, stacked with fillings, or enjoyed plain with a pat of butter, these spots show that North Carolina takes its biscuits seriously, proving that small-town charm and big flavor can go hand in hand.
1. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen – Chapel Hill
Cars line up around the block at this iconic drive-thru, where biscuit magic happens in a tiny kitchen smaller than most living rooms.
Founded in 1978, this Chapel Hill institution serves biscuits so fluffy they practically float off your plate. The chicken biscuit reigns supreme here, but don’t sleep on their country ham option.
What makes these biscuits special? The dough is still hand-kneaded daily using a recipe that hasn’t changed in over four decades.
2. Flo’s Kitchen – Wilson
Hidden in plain sight along a country road, Flo’s has been slinging homemade biscuits since 1953 when Florence Williams started serving breakfast to hungry tobacco farmers.
Regulars swear the secret ingredient is love – that and lard cut into the flour with practiced hands. Their signature sweet potato biscuits pair perfectly with country ham.
The place opens at 4am and often sells out by 10am, proving that some traditions are worth waking up early for.
3. Biscuit Head – Asheville
Forget everything you thought you knew about biscuits. This Asheville hotspot serves them “cat-head” size – as big as a feline’s noggin! The jam bar alone features seven homemade spreads that’ll make your grandma jealous.
Their gravies come in flights, letting you sample everything from traditional sawmill to sweet potato coconut.
The Mimosa fried chicken biscuit with sriracha slaw draws food pilgrims from across state lines, proving innovation and tradition can deliciously coexist.
4. Biscuitville – Greensboro
Never trust a chain restaurant? Biscuitville will change your mind faster than their 15-minute biscuit turnover policy.
Born in Greensboro, this local chain makes biscuits from scratch every 15 minutes – any older and they’re considered past their prime.
Family-owned since 1966, they source ingredients from local farms within 100 miles. The ultimate test?
Their ultimate country ham biscuit – simple, unadorned, and absolutely perfect when paired with a squeeze bottle of honey.
5. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken – Durham
Started by a CIA-trained chef who traded fancy cuisine for flour-dusted counters, Rise brings culinary precision to humble biscuit-making.
Their biscuit dough undergoes a 24-hour cold fermentation process that develops flavor compounds you never knew belonged in breakfast.
The righteous chicken biscuit with honey features free-range birds brined overnight. For the adventurous, try their seasonal creations like peach cobbler biscuits in summer or apple butter varieties in fall.
6. Baker’s Kitchen – New Bern
Located in historic downtown New Bern, Baker’s Kitchen doesn’t just serve biscuits – they created an entirely new way to enjoy them.
Their famous butter syrup (yes, you read that right) transforms ordinary biscuits into a sweet-savory revelation that’ll haunt your dreams.
Family-owned for three generations, this riverside gem bakes biscuits in small batches throughout the morning.
The Dutch potato biscuits might sound strange until you taste how the added spuds create an impossibly tender texture.
7. The Biscuit Factory – High Point
Housed in a converted textile mill, The Biscuit Factory honors High Point’s manufacturing heritage while creating edible masterpieces.
Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate bakers working at antique wooden tables, cutting biscuits by hand using heirloom cutters.
Their signature “Furniture Market Special” features a split biscuit stacked with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and bacon.
Local furniture designers swear these biscuits fuel their creative process during the famous High Point Market when the restaurant stays open late.
8. Biscuit King – Lexington
While Lexington might be BBQ royalty, Biscuit King has quietly built its own morning empire.
Pull up to this no-frills spot where third-generation owner Jimmy Parker still uses his grandmother’s rolling pin to flatten dough to exactly three-quarters of an inch.
The livermush biscuit here converts even the most skeptical visitors.
A true local joint, the walls feature decades of local sports memorabilia and photos of regular customers. Cash only, and don’t even think about asking for the recipe.
9. Vicious Biscuit – Wilmington
Newcomers to the NC biscuit scene, Vicious Biscuit brings beach-town attitude to this mountain tradition.
Their biscuits are unapologetically huge – nearly six inches across and three inches tall before being loaded with creative toppings.
The “Shrimp & Grits Biscuit” transforms two Southern classics into one handheld masterpiece.
Located just blocks from the beach, they serve breakfast all day because nobody should have to check their watch before enjoying a perfect biscuit.
10. Biscuit Belly – Raleigh
Tucked into downtown Raleigh’s warehouse district, Biscuit Belly combines urban cool with rural tradition.
Their double-proofed biscuits take over 16 hours to prepare, creating layers that peel apart like buttery clouds.
The “G.O.A.T” biscuit sandwich featuring local goat cheese, fig jam, and prosciutto has developed a cult following among state capitol workers.
On weekends, their biscuit board – a charcuterie-style arrangement of mini biscuits, spreads, and toppings – turns breakfast into a social event.