ButterPunk
Asheville’s Loudest, Flakiest Biscuit: ButterPunk
If you are looking for the absolute peak of the Asheville biscuit scene, you’ll find it at the intersection of leopard print and floral. Located on Depot Street in the River Arts District, ButterPunk is a neon-colored, high-energy bakery and cafe that is serving up what might be the best biscuits I have ever had. Period.
The Masters Behind the Butter
This isn’t just a neighborhood shop; it’s the brainchild of two heavy hitters in the pastry world. Beth Kellerhals and Dana Amromin bring nearly 20 years of experience from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Between Beth’s background at the French Pastry School and Dana’s tenure at Le Cordon Bleu—not to mention their time developing desserts for culinary icons like Roy Choi and Brooke Williamson—the technique here is world-class. While Beth is the driving force behind the "Butter Bomb" biscuits, Dana is pulling double duty as a co-owner here and as the Chef at West Asheville’s Potential New Boyfriend. If you've been to PNB, you already know the level of creativity and quality she brings to the table.
The Main Event: The Biscuit
The biscuit itself is a masterpiece. It is incredibly buttery and tender, with just the right hit of salt to make it perfect on its own. While it’s great with their house-made jam or submerged in their savory, creamy sausage gravy, the breakfast sandwiches are the real move.
My Go-To Order:
The OG Breakfast Sammie: A fluffy soufflé egg, sharp cheddar, and their signature charred scallion mayo.
The Add-ons: I always add the homemade sausage and get a "gravy shot" on the side.
Pro Tip: I order it with sausage, and add the sausage gravy — because that’s what everyone reccomends. But I just tried their Candied Bacon version for the first time, and do not sleep on that. It is DELICIOUS, and might even be better than the sausage version. I need to compare side by side before I can make that call though.
The team at ButterPunk usually rotates in a savory special as well, and if you see the Meatloaf Biscuit Sandwich, drop everything and order it. This isn't the dry, 1950s TV-dinner loaf you grew up with. We’re talking a thick, juicy slice of tender beef served on one of their signature biscuits with creative, gourmet toppings.
My personal favorite version featured a plum-glazed loaf stacked with pickled pineapple, purple cabbage slaw, and a hit of creamy ramp aioli. It is a messy, flavorful, technical marvel that perfectly encapsulates their "elevated comfort" style.
Beyond the Biscuit: The Pastry Case
While the biscuits get top billing, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't look at the pastry case. The selection at ButterPunk is highly seasonal and changes daily, reflecting whatever creative spark Beth and Dana are feeling that morning. It’s a masterclass in taking nostalgic flavors and presenting them in a new, creative way — like instead of a chocolate chip cookie topped with sea salt, they use potato chips.
Depending on when you roll in, you might find a lineup that looks like this:
The Sweet & Inventive: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cinnamon Rolls, Blueberry Muffin cookies with cornmeal, or a decadent Chai Brown Butter Blondie.
The Sophisticated Scone: They move way beyond basic flavors with options like Ramp Pesto n’ Goat Cheese, Earl Grey & Pistachio, or a perfectly tart Blackberry Lemon.
The Texture Plays: My personal favorite to look out for is the Fudgy Brownie mixed with toasted pecans on housemade pretzel shortbread, topped with even more crushed pretzels for that salty-sweet crunch.
The Classics, Elevated: From a "snacking" Carrot Cake to an Andes Candy Mint Brownie or a simple, nostalgic Chocolate Cake with rainbow sprinkles, there is always something that hits that "afternoon pick-me-up" sweet spot.
Because the menu rotates so frequently, it’s one of those places where you just have to trust the bakers. Whatever is sitting in that case is going to be fresh, balanced, and super delicious!
Sips & Sweets
The drink menu is as creative as the kitchen. Don't miss:
Miso Caramel Latte: A little sweet, a little salty—it’s the perfect caffeine kick.
Hong Kong Milk Tea: A nod to Beth’s time teaching in China, this black tea and sweetened condensed milk blend is a total treat.
The Treats: If you have room, grab a potato chip-encrusted chocolate chip cookie for the road.
The Verdict
Honestly, ButterPunk is just a vibe. It successfully ditches the sleepy "country porch" thing for something way louder, flakier, and a lot more fun. It’s easily one of the most exciting food stops in Asheville right now, and they’ve nailed that perfect balance of technical skill and messy comfort.
Whether you’re there for a "Butter Bomb" biscuit drenched in gravy or, sweet treat, or their unique miso caramel latte, you’re getting the absolute best! If you’re in Asheville and want a breakfast that’s as colorful as it is delicious, this needs to be your top priority. It is a must visit!
