10 North Carolina Restaurants Serving Chicken And Dumplings Worth The Drive Once November Turns Cold
Ask for chicken and dumplings across North Carolina, and the answer depends on where you stand. Some kitchens drop puffy dumplings into simmering broth.
Others roll thin pastry that soaks up every drop. Which camp gets your vote?
I love that a humble bowl can spark such friendly debates. Grandmothers, diner cooks, and lunch counters all seem to have strong opinions.
This list covers mountain cafes, city diners, and small-town lunch spots. Some serve dumplings daily, while others save them for a weekly special.
A few kitchens have fed hungry crowds for decades. Who knew a former gas station could ladle out such comfort?
So which North Carolina bowl deserves your gas money this November? Grab a spoon and find out.
1. Moose Cafe
Chicken and dumplings share the menu here with fried chicken and trout. That’s a lot of comfort on one page.
The Asheville cafe cooks Southern-style food with locally grown vegetables. So your dumplings can land next to fresh green beans or cabbage.
Biscuits with apple butter, cornbread, and pinto beans round out the table. Sweet tea fits right in, and the Moose Cake waits for dessert.
The doors open at 8 AM and stay open until 7 PM every day of the week. That makes this a handy stop for a chilly lunch or an early supper.
Weekend mornings and afternoons tend to be the busiest stretch. Weekday visits are usually quieter, and reservations aren’t accepted, so just show up and put your name down.
Families fit in easily, with high chairs and a kids’ menu on hand. Groups can settle in as well, and the parking situation is usually friendly.
Dumplings and green beans may sound like an odd pair. In North Carolina, it’s a classic that makes plenty of sense once you take a bite.
Dine in or grab a takeout box for the road. Delivery isn’t offered, so plan to pick up your own bowl.
Address: 570 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
2. Lupie’s Cafe
Mark your calendar for Thursday. That’s the day chicken and dumplings take the spotlight at this Charlotte kitchen.
The cafe calls itself a down-home spot with old-school comfort eats. Meatloaf shares the billing, and chili mac is on the menu too.
A wall of framed black-and-white staff photos hangs in the back. It tells you this place has a history worth a look.
Hours are shorter than at most diners. Lunch and early afternoon are the window, from 11 AM on weekdays and noon on Saturday, and the doors close at 4 PM.
Sunday is a day off. Plan your trip around that, or you’ll be staring at a closed door.
Menu items go beyond the main attraction. Think Cincinnati chili, mac and cheese, a chili slaw burger, and a quiche of the day.
Afternoons from Tuesday through Saturday draw the biggest crowds. Reservations aren’t taken, so arrive with a little patience.
Kids are welcome, with high chairs and a kids’ menu ready. Dine in, take it to go, or have it delivered.
Address: 2718 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
3. Southern Lunch
Since 1948, this Lexington restaurant has been feeding folks hearty Southern plates. That’s a long run for any kitchen.
The setting is unassuming, and the food does the talking. Chicken dumplings sit beside meatloaf, stew beef and rice, and hamburger steak.
Sides make the plate. Mashed potatoes, cabbage, fried okra, squash casserole, and mac and cheese all show up on the menu.
The schedule is the one tricky part. It’s open Tuesday through Friday, from 7 AM to 8 PM, and closed on weekends and Mondays.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons tend to be the busiest. Reservations are accepted here, which helps if you’re bringing a group.
Breakfast is served too. So you could start the day with coffee and finish with dumplings, if you really commit.
Dessert fans can look for the Brownie Surprise. A house salad and a super chef salad are also on the list.
Counter service and table service are both options. Takeout works well if you want to eat your dumplings at home.
Address: 26 S Railroad St, Lexington, NC 27292
4. Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant
Look up when you sit down. Funky antiques and metal objects hang from the ceiling, and retro signs cover the walls.
This Raleigh cafe sits in the historic City Market. It serves Southern breakfast and lunch plates in a laid-back room.
Chicken and pastry is the dumpling-style dish to chase here. It’s the Eastern North Carolina take on the classic, with flat pastry in broth.
Homestyle sides can join the plate. Butter beans, collards, cornbread, and apple crisp all fit the Southern spread.
The menu also covers morning favorites. Country ham biscuits, sausage gravy over home fries, and chocolate chip hot cakes are on it.
Hours run from 7 AM to 2 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Monday is a day off.
Weekend mornings are the busiest. Reservations aren’t accepted, and a wait is common.
Parking can take some effort downtown. Free street spots exist, along with paid lots and paid street parking.
Dine in or take your order to go. Delivery is also an option.
Address: 220 Wolfe St, Raleigh, NC 27601
5. Dee’s Diner
Order the chicken pastry and you’re eating the Eastern North Carolina version of dumplings. Rolled pastry swims in hearty broth.
This Goldsboro diner puts the dish front and center on its menu. Meatloaf, fried shrimp, and country fried steak sit nearby.
Breakfast through dinner is the plan here. Homemade desserts wait at the end of the meal.
Hours stretch long on most days. Monday through Thursday it’s open 7 AM to 8 PM, and Friday runs until 8:30 PM.
Weekends are shorter. Saturday closes at noon, and Sunday wraps up at 3 PM.
A private dining room is available. Reservations are accepted, which is handy for a family gathering.
Outdoor seating is available, and dogs are allowed outside. Free Wi-Fi is on hand if you want to check the map for your next stop.
Choose dine-in, curbside pickup, takeout, or delivery. The coffee and tea are worth a mention too.
Address: 1314 W Grantham St, Goldsboro, NC 27530
6. The Seahorse Restaurant
Chicken pastry shows up on the lunch specials list in Greenville. It’s right there with hamburger steak and fried chicken.
Pair it with yams and Lima beans, a combination that fits the Southern plate. Fried okra, macaroni and cheese, and grilled chicken breast also appear on the lunch list.
The menu goes beyond lunch. Steaks, seafood, crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and fried oysters are all options.
Homemade cakes finish things off. Lemon is one flavor on the dessert list.
Doors open at 11 AM, Tuesday through Saturday. Closing is 8 PM midweek and 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Sunday and Monday are days off. Reservations are accepted, and the atmosphere is on the quiet side.
There’s a self-serve salad station and a private dining room. Curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery are available.
Parking is typically easy with a free lot. Breakfast is on the menu too.
Address: 2301a Stantonsburg Rd, Greenville, NC 27834
7. Cagney’s Kitchen of Greensboro
Check the calendar before you go. Chicken and dumplings is a weekly special at this Greensboro restaurant.
The menu is big, and the portions match. Home-style comfort food comes with a huge selection of sides.
Banana pudding can even be ordered as a side. That’s a fun twist for anyone who likes dessert early.
The restaurant sits near the Greensboro airport. It’s large, so groups find room.
Hours start at 6 AM, Monday through Saturday, and run until 9 PM. Sunday is shorter, from 7 AM to 2 PM.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served. Coffee and dessert are part of the lineup.
The dumplings are described as full of flavor and homemade in style. They’re filling too, so pace yourself.
Dine in, sit outside, order takeout, or have it delivered. Kids get high chairs and a kids’ menu.
Address: 7360 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC 27410
8. Cagneys Kitchen – Old Salisbury Rd.
Breakfast all day and a menu with pizza, Stromboli, and flounder burgers. This Winston-Salem diner doesn’t pick just one lane.
Chicken and dumplings is on the list of home-cooked comfort dishes. Large portions are the norm here.
Fettuccine carbonara and Greek salad also appear on the menu. It’s a wide spread for a casual diner.
Hours start at 6 AM, Monday through Saturday, and run until 9 PM. Sunday is 7 AM to 2 PM.
Sunday mornings and afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Monday and Friday evenings can fill up as well.
Mornings midweek are quieter. Reservations are accepted, which helps for bigger tables.
A full vegetarian menu is available. Great coffee, tea, and dessert round out the options.
Choose dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Families can count on high chairs and a kids’ menu.
Address: 2291 Old Salisbury Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27127
9. Concord Family House
Chicken dumplings take top billing at this Concord family restaurant. It’s a sit-down spot built around comfort food.
Weekday lunch and dinner are when the dumplings show up. A large ham salad also appears during the week.
Lasagna is the Monday pick. That gives the schedule a nice rhythm.
The doors stay open every day, from 11 AM to 9 PM. That’s a friendly window for an early lunch or a late supper.
The restaurant is set in a plaza on Copperfield Boulevard. A free parking lot and free street parking make the stop easy.
Dessert is on the menu, and the room is casual. Groups fit well, and kids are welcome.
Dine in or take your food to go. Either way, you get a bowl of North Carolina comfort.
Fans compare the dumplings to a well-known chain. That’s a bold claim, so try them yourself.
Address: 290 Copperfield Blvd NE ste 10, Concord, NC 28025
10. Lindley Park Filling Station
Gas pumps once stood here. Today, this Greensboro hangout serves sandwiches, burgers, and brunch from a former service station.
Chicken and dumplings arrives as a soup. It’s rich and made from scratch.
Roasted garlic red pepper bisque is another soup on the list. Fried green tomatoes and sweet potato chips sit nearby on the menu.
The patio is a big part of the draw. Outdoor seating works well when fall weather turns sunny.
Hours run from 11 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday. Sunday closes at 8 PM.
Evenings tend to be busy, so plan ahead. Reservations aren’t accepted.
Vegetarian and vegan menus are both available. Tater tots and French toast add variety.
Dogs are allowed, and kids get a menu of their own. Takeout and curbside pickup are available.
Address: 2201 Walker Ave, Greensboro, NC 27403