Ask anyone in Virginia about breakfast and the country ham biscuit will come up fast. It is salty, simple, and tied to the state’s long ham-curing roots, from Smithfield to the mountains.
This list covers eight spots across Roanoke, Richmond, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Norfolk, and Smithfield where that humble sandwich still pulls people back. Some are tiny counters, one is a butcher shop, and a couple serve their biscuits on a board.
1. Scratch Biscuit Company, Roanoke, VA
Size is the first thing to know about the biscuits on Memorial Avenue. They are big, and the country ham biscuit is the one that keeps Roanoke coming back.
Scratch Biscuit Company makes its biscuits in-house, and you can build the country ham version up with egg and cheese. If ham is not your thing, the menu also covers a brisket biscuit, a Nashville hot chicken biscuit, pancakes, French toast, and egg plates.
Sides lean Southern, with fried apples and hash browns, plus a cinnamon roll for anyone with a sweet tooth. Coffee is a strong point too.
Service is counter style, and there are no reservations. Weekend mornings get busy, so I would save this one for a weekday when the line is shorter.
Hours run 7 AM to 2 PM Monday through Saturday and 8 AM to 2 PM on Sunday. Parking is usually easy, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating.
2. Taste of Smithfield Restaurant | Southern, Smithfield, VA
Eating a ham biscuit in Smithfield is a little like eating a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. The town’s name is practically stamped on Virginia ham, and this Main Street restaurant leans right into that heritage.
The star here is country ham tucked into sweet potato biscuits. Ask about apple butter and molasses on the side, a combination that brings sweet and salty together in one bite.
Beyond biscuits, the menu includes Virginia ham dinners, BBQ sandwiches, pigtail fries, and shrimp and grits. A small shop inside sells peanuts, another Virginia classic worth carrying home.
The restaurant is closed Monday and serves lunch and dinner most other days, with a break in the afternoon. Reservations are accepted, and a kids’ menu makes it easy for families.
3. Shorty’s Diner – Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
Chrome, kitsch, and a 6 AM opening time make Shorty’s the early riser’s pick in Williamsburg. The look is 1950s diner, and the menu matches.
The country ham biscuit comes with thin slices of ham cooked well, and the sausage patties earn plenty of attention too. Portions on the ham can run a bit light, so add a side if you are hungry.
Bigger appetites usually head for the Hangover plate, a hearty pile of hash with biscuits and gravy. Omelets, pancakes, a Country Benedict, and a triple decker club fill out the rest.
Here is a fun extra. Shorty’s also serves soft-serve ice cream and many flavors of shaved ice, which is handy after a long day of sightseeing.
It runs daily from 6 AM to 2 PM, with free parking nearby and no reservations.
4. Early Bird Biscuit Co. The Fan, Richmond, VA
Plan your morning carefully for this one. Early Bird keeps short hours, closing at 1 PM on weekdays and noon on Saturday, and it is shut Sunday and Monday.
The Fan District bakeshop is small, and the biscuits are large. Country ham works well with cheese and tomato added, and the shop also rotates seasonal and daily flavor biscuits.
Other favorites include the BAP on a Biscuit, pimento cheese and bacon on a biscuit, and a plain buttermilk biscuit for purists. Pair any of them with a cappuccino.
There is no table service and no restroom, so think quick bite rather than long brunch. Street parking in the neighborhood can be tight, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
5. STOCK PROVISIONS, Charlottesville, VA
A butcher shop might seem like an odd place to chase a biscuit. In Charlottesville, it is one of the first stops people suggest when visitors ask for a signature local bite.
Stock Provisions on West Main Street sells pasture-raised meats, and its ham biscuit has become a calling card. It is the kind of thing you grab, eat, and then go back in to buy a second for later.
Since this is a shop and not a sit-down restaurant, treat it as a quick visit. While you are there, browse the meat case for something to cook at home.
Hours are 9 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Friday and 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday, and catering is available.
6. Old Virginia Ham Shop, Norfolk, VA
Friday is the only day on the calendar for this Norfolk favorite. The Old Virginia Ham Shop opens just from 10 AM to 3 PM that day, which makes a visit feel like a weekly ritual.
The shop specializes in country and Smithfield hams, the old-fashioned salty kind that defines Virginia ham. That same ham goes into its biscuits, including sweet potato versions.
You can eat your ham biscuit at the store or take it to go. Many folks also leave with ham to serve at home, and delivery is offered.
Set a reminder for Friday. Miss it, and you are waiting another week.
7. Farm Bell Kitchen, Charlottesville, VA
Brunch in Charlottesville gets a little dressy at Farm Bell Kitchen. The dining room has an upscale Southern style, yet the biscuits and country ham keep things grounded.
The Biscuit Board is a popular way to share, and pulled pork gravy can join the spread. Fried chicken and waffles arrive with real maple syrup at no extra charge, which is a nice touch.
Other picks include a crab cake Benedict, the Farm Bell Benedict, breakfast tacos, and banana beignets. Vegetarian and vegan diners have full menus to choose from.
Doors open daily from 8 AM to 2 PM. Reservations are recommended, and parking can be tricky, so book ahead and arrive early.
8. Amber Ox Public House, Williamsburg, VA
Not every great ham biscuit comes wrapped in paper. At Amber Ox, you build your own from a ham board loaded with giant biscuits, bacon jam, and honey juniper berry.
That mix of sweet, smoky, and salty is what sets this Williamsburg spot apart. The modern pub setting, with a long bar and banquettes, makes it a good choice for a group that wants to share.
There is also a separate Biscuit Board, a sticky bun, shrimp and grits, poutine, and oak smoked wings. The menu changes with the seasons, so it pays to check what is new.
Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM, and the pub is closed Tuesday. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekend evenings.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.