I’m really not sure why it took me so long to write this post. We live about 15 minutes from here and visit the restaurants in Mount Airy, NC all the time.
If we are going on a date night or taking friends out to eat then we typically head to Mount Airy or the restaurants in Elkin.
Mount Airy is probably best known as Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show and Andy’s hometown. Over the last few years we’ve had some great new restaurants open which have been a nice addition to the tried-and-true options that have been here for years.
I have to say, when I moved to Pilot Mountain about five years ago I was pleasantly surprised by Mount Airy. I didn’t know there was so much here.
So here are a few of our favorite places to eat in Mount Airy, NC.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for keeping Stuck On The Go going!
12 Best Restaurants in Mount Airy, NC
No matter what you’re visiting for, I hope you plan to enjoy many of the local restaurants in town. There are plenty of good ones to choose from!
1. Kazoku Sushi and Bar
- Address: 121 Franklin St
- Price Range: $-$$
- Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi
Kazoku is by far one of the Mount Airy restaurants that we visit the most.
They serve some of the best Japanese food I’ve had. I love their hibachi plates and Tyler typically gets sushi – both are always incredible.
Their fried rice is absolutely delicious and the sweet carrots… YUM. They have some really great fancy sushi rolls too. The Dynamite and Downtown rolls are go-to’s for Tyler and I also love the Mt. Airy roll.
While you might think that Mount Airy is a sleepy little town, you will want to make reservations here, especially on a weekend. And absolutely make reservations if you have more than two people. This place stays crazy busy.
They only have indoor seating and the restaurant is on the small side. They do have bar seating but it stays pretty full too.
2. Mi Casa on Main
- Address: 243 N Main St
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: Mexican
Mi Casa on Main is a fun spot right on Main Street downtown. Come here for specialty tacos – the bang bang shrimp are amazing. They also have burritos, bowls, and quesadillas.
You’ll also find great drink options here and they do margarita flights. They’re only open for dinner except on Saturdays when they have brunch starting at 11 am. Then you can get mimosa flights too.
I love the colorful and funky decor of this place and it also fills up pretty quickly on the weekends. They do have outdoor seating options.
3. Thirsty Souls Community Brewing
- Address: 238 Market St
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: Pizza
This is our go-to for pizza in the area. It’s actually my mom’s favorite pizza of all time – she says they have the best red sauce.
I tend to agree. I think the crust is the perfect thickness, the sauce tastes amazing, and they use quality fresh ingredients.
The cheesy bread appetizer is also *chef’s kiss*. If you’re the type that loves salad with your pizza they also have salads. I have yet to try them because their pizza is just too good to eat anything else.
Thirsty Souls is, of course, a brewery also so in addition to amazing pizza they serve great beer. I’ve tried many of their beers over the last few years and while there are some that I like more than others, there haven’t been any that I’ve outright hated.
My favorites are probably the Hazy Future IPA, Cryptic Kolsch, and Her Name’s Amber Lager. Their beers rotate often though so there is always something new when I go in.
They have some indoor seating but my favorite place to sit is their outdoor patio at their picnic tables. Some of the tables are covered by a large tent.
They are dog friendly so we bring Barley here often and eat. If you’re bringing your pup just note that the patio is all asphalt which will get hot in the summer.
4. Soho Bar & Grill
- Address: 134 Franklin St
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: Asian
Soho is a little unique because they have a bit of everything. For example, they have Asian dishes, tacos, sandwiches & wraps, burgers, and sushi.
When they first opened, a friend recommended that we try their Japanese food. We did and that’s what we stick with every time because it’s pretty good.
Again I get the hibachi, and Tyler typically chooses a couple of sushi rolls. My sister has gotten the noodles before and she really liked those.
I will say – the last time I visited they changed the seasoning they used on their hibachi chicken and I didn’t like it as much but Tyler thought it was still good.
I also love their coconut shrimp appetizer – the sauce is great and the breading on the shrimp is so crispy.
I can’t really attest to anything else that they have on their menu other than the Japanese food.
This is another very lively spot on the weekends as they have a full bar, great drink specials, and bring in a DJ with karaoke. This starts at 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
If it’s a busy night for them, service does get very very slow. But the food is consistently good and they have plenty of drink options so we usually don’t mind waiting.
5. Old North State Winery
- Address: 308 N Main St
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: American
This is probably the fanciest restaurant in Mount Airy and it’s located right along Main Street.
Old North State is one of the most popular Yadkin Valley wineries and their restaurant is top-notch from the food to their drink menu.
The menu changes seasonally but they always have the ONS Burger on the menu which is one of my favorites. I also love their grilled chicken sandwich and crab cakes.
We typically come for lunch because it’s more budget-friendly and I love their sandwiches.
For dinner, their menu is pretty upscale with things like lamb loin, fish, or steak. We typically save dinner here for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.
They also have one of the most varied drink menus in town serving craft beer, wine, and cocktails. You can even typically find beer from some of the Winston-Salem breweries here.
The building itself is pretty cool as it’s an old hardware store that was built in 1890. They kept the original oak floors and the pressed tin ceiling. With the exposed brick walls, the building has a really cool vibe.
It’s said that the basement is haunted, which is why one of their wines is named Restless Soul.
If you’re on the search for upscale dining then this is one of your best picks for restaurants in Mount Airy, NC.
6. The Loaded Goat
- Address: 247 City Hall St
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: American
The Loaded Goat is where I go when I want a huge cheeseburger. I mean, they won Best Burger Joint in North Carolina in 2018 and 2021.
It’s a casual spot that has great burgers and lots of craft beer options. They also have domestic beer and wine if you aren’t a craft beer fan.
In addition to burgers, they have other sandwiches, hot dogs & brats, and salads. It’s one of my favorite lunch restaurants in Mt. Airy.
They closed for a bit at the end of 2022/early 2023 but they are now open again! They previously hosted events like karaoke and live music so you may want to check their Facebook page for event dates.
7. O’Dell’s Sandwich Shop
- Address: 1224 W Pine St
- Price Range: $
- Cuisine: American
This is an old-timey drive-in where you order from your car and they bring it out to you. They are known for their burgers and great prices.
It’s been around since at least the 1950s and really is a fan favorite from young kids to grandparents. The nostalgia brings people in and the good food keeps them coming back.
If you’re visiting on a budget then this is the perfect place to eat in Mount Airy for you.
8. Mill Creek General Store
- Address: 541 W Pine St Suite 200
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: American
Mill Creek is the Amish store in Mount Airy but they have a deli counter where you can get sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Look at the size of that sandwich!
You can get sides like potato salad, pasta salad, or you can pick up a bag of chips. To order, you walk up to the far end of the counter and they have slips of paper that you fill out to choose what you want.
Most recently, I tried the Mabry Mill Signature Sandwich and I honestly couldn’t believe how good it was.
They have some indoor seating and their furniture is actually Amish furniture that’s for sale. If you chose to dine-in then once you give them your paper, you can take a seat and they bring your food out and call your name.
This is the perfect place to grab a picnic lunch if you plan on exploring the local wineries or driving up on the Blue Ridge Parkway though.
9. Leon’s Burger Express
- Address: 407 N Main St
- Price Range: $
- Cuisine: American/Diner
This downtown Mount Airy restaurant is a real throwback. It’s a family run diner with big portions and great prices.
Everyone loves their breakfast and for lunch they are known for their California Burger. It comes with lettuce, mayo, grilled onions, and tomato.
You really can’t beat the prices here. They have great omelets, egg plates, and sandwiches for breakfast and in addition to burgers for lunch they have other sandwiches, salads, and meat & veggie plates.
10. 13 Bones
- Address: 502 S Andy Griffith Pkwy
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: American/BBQ
13 Bones is always a solid lunch or dinner choice with a wide variety of options on their menu. If you’re looking for a casual option that locals frequent then this is it.
They’re definitely known for their ribs, steaks, and chicken. While I’ve only been to their restaurant a couple of times, I’ve had their food when they cater local events as they are very popular around here.
Even if they’re busy the service is typically quick and you won’t have to wait too long for a table. Servers are always incredibly friendly here too.
11. Snappy Lunch
- Address: 125 N Main St
- Price Range: $
- Cuisine: American/Diner
This little diner serves breakfast and lunch and their most famous dish is the pork chop sandwich. It’s been open since 1923 so you know they’re doing something right.
The pork chop sandwich comes with chili, slaw, mustard, onion, and tomato but you can get it with mayo and lettuce instead if you prefer.
For breakfast, you can get breakfast sandwiches on a biscuit or egg platters with your choice of meat. At lunch they serve other sandwich items like burgers, ham & cheese, and hot dogs.
What was the Restaurant in the Andy Griffith Show?
Snappy Lunch was the only restaurant mentioned on the Andy Griffith Show! This is its big claim to fame and one reason that people love eating here.
12. Boo’s Kitchen
- Address: 237 N Main St
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- Cuisine: American/Italian
This is a brand new option for restaurants in Mt. Airy! You can’t even find them online yet – they are located at 237 N Main Street.
They serve American and Italian food so cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, and sandwiches on the American side and subs, chicken parm, and other pasta dishes on the Italian side.
Don’t miss their amazing desserts either! This is an adorable spot that could use some support as a new business.
Bonus: Luna’s Trail Farm/Big Creek Lodge
I added this as a bonus because it’s not in Mount Airy but it is well worth a drive if you can make it. ***Reservations are required here***
Luna’s Trail is a popular wedding/event venue in Westfield which is about 20 minutes from Mount Airy but they also have a restaurant called Big Creek Lodge.
You can check their calendar to see what nights they are able to serve dinner. I am assuming they only do dinner on nights when they don’t have an event scheduled. They offer dinner on Thursday – Sunday nights when available.
They also do a Sunday Brunch Buffet that you can make reservations for. Breakfast is the only meal you don’t need a reservation for and they serve it Friday – Monday.
Their menu changes weekly but everything that I have eaten here has been blow-your-mind-good so I don’t think you can make a bad choice!
Wrap Up: Restaurants in Mount Airy, NC
As you can see, there are lots of great restaurants in Mt. Airy, NC! Whether you want sushi, tacos, or a good ol’ cheeseburger, you can find it here.
We’ve also got a great variety for your budget whether you’re looking for fine dining or a budget-friendly meal.
Either way, I hope you have fun on your visit here and enjoy these places to eat in Mount Airy!
