What to know about the new breakfast, lunch spot in West Asheville
ASHEVILLE - The Smokin’ Onion has opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant with more plant-based offerings than what customers have come to know and love from its food truck.
On Jan. 20, The Smokin’ Onion officially welcomed diners to their new permanent location at 697 Haywood Road in West Asheville.
Not a vegan? No problem. The restaurant’s motto is “Damn good food that happens to be vegan.”
“Our food is for everybody, not just vegans," co-owner/head chef Parker Schultz told the Citizen Times. "It’s just good food that happens to be plant-based, and anybody will enjoy the food if they come out and try it."
Schultz founded the food truck with his wife, Keems, in 2021. Now with extra kitchen space the team has expanded its menu and services, introducing new scratch-made recipes and adding a breakfast menu.
The restaurant’s hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Monday. Breakfast and lunch are available all day.
The beverage program also has been enhanced with an assortment of soft drinks, and alcoholic options soon to come.
Here are a few of the items available at The Smokin’ Onion.:
Blueberry pancakes
A stack of three lemon blueberry pancakes cascading with berry compote and maple syrup.
Chick’n and waffles
A classic dish reimagined with sweet potato waffle accompanied by a buttermilk fried chick’n patty and amped up with Asheville hot spice blend, onion jam, smoked brown butter and maple syrup.
Biscuit and gravy
An anything-but-simple dish that is an herbed scallion biscuit topped with oyster mushroom breakfast gravy and a fried green tomato, then splashed with Frank’s hot sauce.
Bodhi bowl
A hearty all-in-one bowl of seared and steamed broccoli, kale, potato medley with onions, black beans, red bell pepper, avocado and drizzled with cilantro goddess dressing and chipotle Baja sauce. Add the house chick’n patty for an additional cost.
Brussel sprouts
For a light bite or meal add-on, the Brussels sprouts are a featured appetizer, prepared with a sweet and smoky mustard sauce and house bacun (vegan bacon).
Soup, salad and bread
Get a trio of items to make a complete meal. French onion soup is served with an option of Caesar or garden salad, plus a baguette from Back Porch Baking or substitute it for a gluten-free bread for a dollar more.
For the kids
Several plant-based dishes are available for children ages 12 and under only comically named with common expressions from young diners.
“I’m not hungry” is a pancake and fruit combo, “I don’t know” is a serving of avocado on toast, “I only want fries” includes fries as well as an Impossible patty and Follow Your Heart American cheese on a house bun, and “I wanna go home” comes with grilled tofu and a choice of two sides.
Gluten-free bread may be substituted.
Local drinks
Several area beverage companies can be found on the list of zero-proof libations, including handcrafted sodas from Waynesville Soda Jerks, iced and hot tea by Asheville Tea Co., and hot coffee from Penny Cup.
The Smokin’ Onion food truck is still in operation. Stop by from 12-8 p.m. Tuesdays at New Belgium Brewing in River Arts District.
The Smokin' Onion
Where: 697 Haywood Road, Asheville.
Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Monday
Info: For more, visit thesmokinonion.com and follow on Instagram @thesmokinonion.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: The Smokin' Onion opens: Here's what's on the breakfast, lunch menus
