Fried green tomatoes are one of those Southern dishes that can go a hundred different ways, and North Carolina cooks have turned it into an art form. Some serve them plain and crispy, others stack them with pimento cheese, bacon jam, or creamy grits.
From beach towns to mountain cities, you can find kitchens that treat this humble appetizer like the star of the plate. Here are eight spots across the state where ordering the fried green tomatoes is a smart move, along with what else makes each one worth the trip.
1. Bounty Farmhouse Kitchen & Tap, Fayetteville, NC
Farm-to-table isn’t just a buzzword at this Fayetteville spot on Sycamore Dairy Road. The kitchen leans into local flavor and honest ingredients, calling itself a pasture-to-plate restaurant and brewery.
The fried green tomatoes here come dressed up with bacon jam and homemade pimento cheese, which turns a simple starter into something you’ll talk about later. It’s a creative twist on the classic rather than a plain plate.
Beyond the tomatoes, the menu covers comfort food done well, including burgers, steak, and garlic parmesan mashed potatoes. There’s a full vegetarian menu, small plates, and a solid drink lineup if you’re settling in for a while.
The setting is casual and cozy, good for groups or solo dining, with outdoor seating and a bar onsite. It’s open daily, with reservations accepted and free parking that’s usually easy to find.
Friday and Saturday evenings run busiest, so plan ahead if you want a quieter table.
2. State Farmers Market Restaurant, Raleigh, NC
Right at the edge of Raleigh’s State Farmers Market sits a bright, no-frills spot built for Southern country breakfasts and lunches. The location alone makes it a natural stop if you’re already browsing fresh produce.
The fried green tomatoes work best as one of your two vegetable sides, alongside options like crowder peas, collard greens, fried okra, and homemade mashed potatoes. Pair them with fried chicken or a veggie platter for a full country plate.
Breakfast fans get biscuits, NC country ham biscuits, and sausage gravy, plus all-you-can-drink iced tea that keeps the price friendly at around ten to twenty dollars per person.
The vibe is casual and historic, family-friendly, with counter service and both indoor and outdoor seats. It opens early, closes by mid-afternoon, and doesn’t take reservations, so expect a wait on busy Saturday mornings.
Parking is free and usually plentiful.
3. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, Asheville, NC
Downtown Asheville has plenty of dining choices, but few put fried green tomatoes front and center the way this College Street kitchen does. The dish even earns a spot on the menu under the name Famous Fried Green Tomatoes.
What sets them apart is the plating. Crispy, hot tomatoes arrive over a bed of goat cheese heirloom grits with a layered roasted red pepper sauce, so you get creamy, tangy, and crunchy in one bite.
The all-day menu covers Southern comfort food with a creative twist, from shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles to Southern shakshuka and crispy Brussels sprouts. There’s a full vegetarian menu here too.
Expect a trendy, casual room that welcomes college students, families, and out-of-town visitors. Reservations are recommended for brunch and dinner, and there’s usually a wait.
Parking downtown is paid, so budget a little extra time to find a spot.
4. Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, Greensboro, NC
Greensboro diners looking for Southern food with a little polish tend to end up on Westover Terrace. Lucky 32 pairs farm-to-table cooking with a deep wine and craft beer list in a relaxed setting.
The fried green tomatoes here get the full treatment. The appetizer builds crispy tomatoes over a smoked tomato reduction, then adds creamy pimento cheese, smoky bacon, and bright pickled onions for a plate that’s both flavorful and nicely presented.
The seasonal menu rotates through Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, cornmeal-crusted catfish, she-crab soup, and fried chicken with cornbread and greens. Vegan and vegetarian eaters have real choices, including black bean cakes.
Atmosphere leans a touch upscale but stays comfortable, with outdoor tables and occasional live music. The restaurant is closed Mondays, and reservations are recommended for brunch and dinner.
Parking on-site is free and usually easy.
5. Granny’s Country Kitchen (Carolina Beach), Carolina Beach, NC
A morning at the beach pairs well with a homestyle breakfast, and this family-run spot on Lake Park Boulevard delivers exactly that. It’s a bustling little kitchen focused on Southern favorites for breakfast and lunch.
The fried green tomatoes here have earned a reputation, and they come with Granny’s sauce that regulars go back for. They land on the menu as a highlight rather than an afterthought.
Breakfast is where the place really shines, with fluffy pancakes, biscuits and gravy, omelets, and the French Toast Club. Lunch brings burgers, patty melts, shrimp and grits, and even a meatloaf sundae for the curious.
The room is small, weathered, and cozy in the way beach diners tend to be. Prices stay in the ten to twenty dollar range, it’s good for kids, and dogs are welcome on the patio.
Saturday mornings run busiest, and it closes Tuesdays.
6. Granny’s Country Kitchen – Claremont, Claremont, NC
Out in Catawba County, in the small town of Claremont, you’ll find a country kitchen that keeps things simple and generous. The name pretty much promises grandma’s Southern cooking, and the plates back it up.
Fried green tomatoes come as part of the lineup of good-portion country cooking, right alongside the kind of meat-and-three fare you’d expect. Onion rings and cheese grits round out the sides nicely.
The larger menu runs deep into comfort territory with country-style steak, country fried chicken, chicken livers, and Granny’s pork chop breakfast. There’s a full vegetarian menu too, which isn’t always a given in a spot like this.
Expect a casual, clean, quiet room that’s family-friendly and easy on the wallet at ten to twenty dollars per person. Hours stretch from early morning into the evening most days, with free parking and both takeout and delivery available.
7. Succotash Southern and Creole Kitchen., Durham, NC
Creole and Southern cooking meet in one comfortable Durham dining room off Old Chapel Hill Road. That blend is exactly why the fried green tomatoes here feel a little different from the rest of the list.
The tomatoes arrive as a plate paired with succotash, and often served over mixed greens with pickled red onions. Order them alongside the gumbo, which fans regularly single out, and you’ve got a strong start to any meal.
The menu roams from jambalaya and red beans and rice to smoked brisket, seafood po’boys, fried catfish, and beignets for dessert. There are full vegan and vegetarian options, so mixed groups do well here.
The setting is casual and trendy with a patio and dogs welcome, plus live music on occasion. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, with dinner reservations recommended and free parking on hand.
8. Scratch Kitchen & Taproom, Cary, NC
Cary’s downtown gets a fun twist at this Cedar Street kitchen, where Southern comfort food meets Asian fusion flavors. That mash-up carries straight through to how the fried green tomatoes are handled.
You might find them served as a stack, or even with a coconut crust that sets them apart from the traditional cornmeal version. Either way, they make a memorable opener to the meal.
The rest of the menu is playful and made from scratch, with a bibimbap bowl, pork belly bites, a crispy chicken sandwich, cast-iron chicken, and several loaded fries. Vegetarians and vegans both get full menus here.
The room is casual and trendy, good for groups, with outdoor seating and a bar onsite pouring a solid beer selection. It’s open daily, dogs are welcome outside, and parking includes both free and paid lots nearby.
Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest.
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