MomSkoop
North Carolina has earned its reputation as the heart of Southern comfort food, and nowhere is this more evident than in its legendary biscuits. From flaky buttermilk classics to innovative twists on traditional recipes, the Tar Heel State serves up some of the most beloved biscuits in the South. Local food lovers consistently rave about these seven cafés that have mastered the art of perfect biscuit making.
1. Krankies Coffee
Winston-Salem’s beloved Krankies Coffee has built a devoted following with their artisanal approach to both coffee and comfort food. Their handcrafted biscuits arrive warm from the oven each morning, featuring a perfectly golden exterior that gives way to fluffy, buttery layers inside.
What sets Krankies apart is their creative biscuit sandwich combinations that blend Southern tradition with modern flavors. The café sources local ingredients whenever possible, ensuring each bite delivers authentic North Carolina taste.
Regular customers often arrive early to secure their favorite biscuit before the morning rush depletes the daily batch.
2. Cast Iron Kitchen
Huntersville’s Cast Iron Kitchen brings farm-to-table freshness to their famous buttermilk biscuits that have locals lining up before dawn. Each biscuit is made from scratch using a closely guarded family recipe that produces incredibly tender, sky-high results.
The kitchen team hand-cuts every biscuit to ensure consistent quality and that signature flaky texture. Their scratch-made sausage gravy has become equally legendary among breakfast enthusiasts throughout the Charlotte metro area.
Food bloggers frequently praise Cast Iron’s commitment to using locally sourced flour and farm-fresh butter, which elevates their biscuits above typical café offerings.
3. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
Multiple locations across North Carolina have made Rise a household name for biscuit excellence that consistently wins over even the most discerning Southern palates. Their signature seven-layer biscuits require precise technique and timing to achieve those distinct, fluffy layers.
Each morning begins with bakers hand-folding dough multiple times to create the restaurant’s trademark height and texture. Rise offers both traditional and innovative biscuit options, from classic buttermilk to seasonal specialties featuring local honey or herbs.
The combination of their perfectly seasoned fried chicken nestled between warm biscuit halves has earned recognition from food critics statewide.
4. Elmo’s Diner
Since opening its doors, Elmo’s Diner in Durham has maintained an unwavering commitment to old-school biscuit perfection that transports diners straight to their grandmother’s kitchen. The secret lies in their traditional lard-based recipe that creates unmatched richness and flavor depth.
Every batch follows the same time-tested method passed down through generations of Southern cooks. The result is consistently tender biscuits with crispy bottoms and pillowy soft centers that practically melt in your mouth.
Local food enthusiasts consider Elmo’s biscuits the gold standard for authentic Southern breakfast fare throughout the Triangle area.
5. The Flying Biscuit Café
Charlotte’s Flying Biscuit Café has revolutionized expectations with their unique sweet potato biscuits that offer a delightful twist on traditional Southern fare. These vibrant orange-hued creations provide subtle sweetness while maintaining the classic biscuit texture locals crave.
The café’s innovative approach extends to their diverse biscuit menu, featuring options like cranberry maple and herb varieties alongside traditional buttermilk. Each recipe balances creativity with respect for Southern baking traditions.
Weekend brunch crowds consistently rank Flying Biscuit’s offerings among Charlotte’s most Instagram-worthy and delicious breakfast options, with many customers becoming weekly regulars.
6. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
Chapel Hill’s legendary Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen operates from a modest building that belies the extraordinary biscuits created within its walls daily. Owner and head baker maintains strict quality control by personally overseeing every batch using equipment and techniques unchanged for decades.
The no-frills approach focuses entirely on perfecting the fundamental elements of great biscuits: premium ingredients, proper technique, and consistent execution. Their cat head biscuits earn their name from their impressive size and irregular, homestyle appearance.
University students and longtime locals alike consider Sunrise an essential Chapel Hill institution worth any wait time required.
7. Biscuitville Fresh Southern
Regional chain Biscuitville has earned widespread acclaim across North Carolina by maintaining strict standards for their made-from-scratch biscuits prepared fresh every twenty minutes throughout the day. This commitment ensures customers always receive warm, perfectly textured biscuits regardless of visit timing.
Each location features an open kitchen concept allowing diners to witness the biscuit-making process firsthand. The consistent quality across dozens of locations demonstrates their successful standardization of traditional Southern baking methods.
Food critics consistently praise Biscuitville for proving that chain restaurants can maintain authenticity and quality while serving thousands of satisfied customers daily.