7 North Carolina Cafés That Locals Claim Have The Best Biscuits In The State
Nothing says Southern comfort quite like a warm, golden biscuit, flaky on the outside, tender on the inside, and rich with buttery goodness. In North Carolina, biscuits aren’t just breakfast food, they’re a point of pride, practically a cultural institution.
Over the years, I’ve crisscrossed the state in search of the very best, guided by passionate locals who know exactly where to find the real deal.
From small-town diners to bustling bakeries, these seven biscuit spots have earned legendary status. Whether slathered in gravy or stuffed with fried chicken, each bite is a reminder that here in North Carolina, biscuits are serious business.
1. Krankies Coffee – Winston-Salem
Walking into Krankies feels like entering your coolest friend’s living room – if that friend happened to be a biscuit-making genius.
The industrial-chic space housed in a former railroad warehouse serves up biscuits so fluffy they practically float off the plate. Local farmers supply the ingredients, and you can taste the difference.
Their classic biscuits with house-made jam showcase simple perfection, while adventurous eaters might prefer the pimento cheese and bacon version. I once drove 45 minutes out of my way during a rainstorm just to grab these biscuits for a family gathering. Worth every mile and raindrop!
2. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken – Durham & Raleigh
Rise isn’t playing around with their name – these biscuits truly elevate the breakfast game. Founded by a CIA-trained chef (that’s Culinary Institute of America, not the spy agency), Rise creates biscuits that strike the perfect balance between hearty and heavenly.
The menu rotates seasonal specials, but their classic buttermilk biscuit sandwich with fried chicken has a cult following.
On Saturday mornings, expect a line out the door filled with loyal fans willing to wait. My nephew claims these biscuits cured his homesickness during his first year at Duke. Southern comfort in carb form!
3. The Flying Biscuit Café – Charlotte, Raleigh & other NC locations
Grandma’s recipe book meets modern café at The Flying Biscuit. These creations live up to their whimsical name – impossibly light despite their substantial size. The secret? They’re baked throughout the day in small batches, ensuring maximum freshness.
Their signature biscuits come with cranberry apple butter that perfectly balances sweet and tart. Regulars swear by the shrimp and grits topped with a crumbled biscuit – a Southern fusion that works brilliantly.
During my last visit, I watched a tourist take one bite and immediately call home to announce she wouldn’t be returning north anytime soon!
4. Elmo’s Diner – Greensboro
Forget fancy – Elmo’s embraces old-school diner charm while serving biscuits that could make a Southern grandmother weep with joy. The no-frills atmosphere lets the food take center stage, especially those magnificent hand-patted biscuits.
Locals debate whether they’re best smothered in sausage gravy or simply split and buttered while still warm.
Either way, these dense-yet-tender creations have fueled Greensboro residents for generations. A server once told me they still use the original recipe from when they opened in 1991. Some things don’t need improvement – like these perfect golden pillows of happiness.
5. Cast Iron Kitchen – Wilmington
Chef Josh Petty transforms humble ingredients into coastal Carolina magic at Cast Iron Kitchen. His cathead biscuits (named because they’re as big as a cat’s head) have achieved legendary status among beach-goers and locals alike.
The made-from-scratch approach extends to everything that accompanies these monsters – from the locally-sourced honey to the house-cured bacon.
Their signature “Shipwreck” biscuit sandwich piles everything delicious between two biscuit halves. I once witnessed a table of hungover surfers fall completely silent when their biscuits arrived – the highest compliment in food appreciation!
6. Biscuitville Fresh Southern – Multiple locations across NC
Sometimes the most authentic Southern food comes from unexpected places. Biscuitville might be a chain, but don’t let that fool you – these biscuits are the real deal, made fresh every 15 minutes throughout the morning.
Through the restaurant’s viewing window, you can watch “biscuit makers” kneading, rolling, and cutting dough by hand.
The classic country ham biscuit represents North Carolina tradition on a plate. My grandmother, a biscuit purist who rarely compliments restaurant food, keeps Biscuitville gift cards in her purse “for emergencies.” If that’s not a testimonial, I don’t know what is!
7. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen – Chapel Hill & Louisburg
Housed in a tiny drive-through building that hasn’t changed much since the 1970s, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen proves great things come in small packages. UNC students and professors form a steady stream of cars each morning, willing to wait for what many consider the ultimate hangover cure.
Owner David Allen still uses his grandmother’s recipe, creating biscuits with a distinctive crisp exterior and cloud-like interior.
The chicken and egg biscuit has sustained generations of Tar Heels through finals week. Pro tip: Go early or prepare to wait in a line of cars that sometimes stretches around the block!