New & Notable - Winter 2023

Taco Boy - Asheville
Forget about just grabbing tacos: Taco Boy is bringing everything to the table. Two new locations coming to West Asheville and Biltmore Park in January will serve fresh Mexican-inspired plates and custom drinks in a lively space made for enjoying local art, music, and entertainment. This diet-sensitive restaurant promises a casual atmosphere to enjoy flavorful tacos, fajitas, and quesadillas for lunch and dinner, as well as a brunch menu to kick off your weekend. Originally from Charleston, restaurateur Karalee Nielsen Fallert has exciting plans for not only a unique in-house tortilleria, but also the Asheville community at large through nonprofit collaboration. Not to mention the recipes and techniques from its Culinary Director, Chef Francisco Alvarez (pictured above middle). Trained in Los Angeles, Alvarez brings authenticity and artistry to Taco Boy’s menu. 521 Haywood Rd.; 2 Town Square Blvd. #130; tacoboy.net

Master BBQ - Asheville
When Paul Pike of Los Angeles visited Asheville, he fell in love. Pike first started serving delicious authentic Filipino food in November of 2021, but decided to bring that little-known flavor to the mountains of North Carolina all the way from the West Coast. With a food truck in the works, Master BBQ has partnered with local breweries like Zillicoah and HiWire to host pop-ups prepped to bring delectable beer and finger food to customers. This culinary story starts with Pike’s great-grandmother’s 1941 recipe for meat—something Pike doesn’t want to change. His goal is to “introduce an authentic Filipino kitchen” to Asheville, where fusion foods abound and barbecue doesn’t come on skewers. For now, Master BBQ is calibrating to the palate of the locals while offering simple and traditional dishes like lumpia (ground pork and veggies wrapped in a spring roll) and adobo (marinated and simmered beef) to enjoy with a glass of beer. 120 River Walk Drive; (562) 682-5851; masterbbqusa.com