ASHEVILLE - New Japanese restaurants open in Asheville with sushi, hibachi and more; a macaron shop opens with other treats and locally made goods; the city's pioneer brewery celebrates 30 years of its popular seasonal brew with a weekend-long shindig; and more upcoming events to add to the calendar.
Sushi, sushi and more sushi
Sushi Kingdom is rolling out the royal treatment for guests with its all-you-can-eat sushi deal.
On Oct. 4, the new Japanese sushi and hibachi restaurant debuted at 48 Westgate in the Westgate Regional Shopping Center in West Asheville.
"We feel like this area has a lot of potential and we wanted Sushi Kingdom to become part of this local community," said Tim Zhang, the owner, manager and a sushi chef.
He said the all-you-can-eat model lets guests try
different sushi instead of limiting them to one kind.
"They can order whatever they want, as many as they want, just no waste," Zhang said.
The all-you-can-eat sushi lunch is $19.95 per adult, $11.95 for children ages 8-12 and $7.95 for children ages 5-7. The all-you-can-eat sushi dinner is $35.95 per adult, $19.95 for children ages 8-12, and $9.95 for children ages 5-7.
Zhang said Sushi Kingdom's sushi chefs have each worked in the profession for more than 20 years in New York and have something special to offer Asheville diners.
Asheville's Sushi Kingdom offers an extensive menu of classic and hand-rolled sushi, specialty rolls, sashimi and bento boxes. The Asheville Roll is prepared with shrimp tempura topped with crab meat, mayonnaise and a chef's special sauce.
The dinner menu offers hibachi, teriyaki, fried rice, lo mein, udon with protein options including chicken, steak, vegetable, shrimp -- the hibachi proteins also include lobster, filet mignon, salmon ― with combination plates available.
Zhang also recommends starting a meal with the potato cake, shumai (dumpling), and the crispy calamari.
"Asheville has a great food culture, and they appreciate different kinds of food," Zhang said.
The sole dining room offers booth and table seating ― no hibachi grill tables. Adult beverages ― beer, wine and sake ― are offered.
The hours 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. View the menu and order online at sushikingdomayce.com.
Sushi Kingdom is Zhang's sole restaurant and is not associated with the Japanese eatery of the same name in Greenville, South Carolina.
More restaurant openings in Asheville
Diners can find more sushi and other Japanese cuisine at Ichiban, which is opening to the public on Oct. 12.
The soft opening, the week prior, required reservations, which were fully booked.
The Japanese hibachi and sushi bar's former building in Biltmore Village was flooded during Tropical Storm Helene. Its new home, at 130 Hospitality Way in the former Cracker Barrel in East Asheville, offers more hibachi grill tables, a higher dining room seating capacity, and a full bar of spirits, beer, wine and sake.
Follow the Citizen Times for more about Ichiban's comeback story and what diners can expect when they return.
On Oct. 1, French Broad Chocolates' Macaron & Gift Boutique opened adjacent to its Chocolate Lounge at 10 S. Pack Square downtown. The hours of operation are 12 p.m.-8 p.m. daily.
The revamped boutique's menu features a new lineup of sweets and beverage treats, including handcrafted and hand-painted macarons and ice cream sandwiches made with macarons, as well as cookies, brownies and coffee drinks. The retail shelves feature locally made products, including from East Fork Pottery, Spicewalla and Hickory Nut Gap Meats.
For more, visit frenchbroadchocolates.com and follow @frenchbroadchocolate on Instagram.
30 years of Highland Brewing's Cold Mountain
On Nov. 12-16, Highland Brewing, Asheville's oldest brewery, will celebrate the 30th season of its seasonal brew, Cold Mountain Winter Ale, a 5.9% ABV spiced winter ale, with notes of vanilla, hazelnut, dark fruit and cinnamon.
The milestone year's events will include new and limited anniversary beers, music and festivities.
Chef Taylor Montgomery will prepare the 7th Annual Cold Mountain Beer Dinner, a curated multi-course dinner paired with Cold Mountain releases and specialty offerings. He is the co-founder of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester and the 2026 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southeast. The event is $178 per person.
"For decades, the release of Cold Mountain Winter Ale has brought people together at a special time of year," Nikki Mitchell, vice president of brand development, said in a news release. "It's incredible how a seasonal beer has become a tradition shared by our team, our community and generations of Highland fans across the Southeast. For the 30th anniversary, we’re continuing to honor the traditions that make Cold Mountain a legacy brew while creating unforgettable experiences with new spinoff flavors, bottle offerings and surprises on campus.”
Cold Mountain's original and coconut varieties will return, with the new Chocolate Orange Cold Mountain -- rich chocolate with bright citrus notes ―and Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Mountain ― cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and coffee notes. New releases will also include the Double Barrel-Aged Bourbon Pecan Cold Mountain (13% ABV), Highland's first bottled double barrel-aged Cold Mountain, featuring bourbon and toasted pecan notes. And the Barrel-Aged Cold Mountain (11% ABV), a whiskey barrel-aged with notes of vanilla, cinnamon and hazelnut.
Chai, Sour Cherry, Apple Cider Donut and Imperial Cold Mountain will also be available on draft. Select Cold Mountain beers will be offered for retail sale.
Cold Mountain tickets are required for Nov. 13-15. Weekend passes cost $30, or purchase individual day passes for $10-20, all ages. On Nov. 16, the brewery will be open to the public, and admission will cost $10.
For more about Highland Brewing, at 12 Old Charlotte Highway in East Asheville, and Cold Mountain beers and events, visit highlandbrewing.com.
Food and beverage events to add to the calendar
Fall fun is upon us in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Head to these events to experience more Asheville food and beverages.
- Appfest and Appalachian Makers Collective. Wicked Weed Brewing's annual Appfest is scheduled for every Saturday in October at the brewpub at 91 Biltmore Ave. downtown. The artists and makers market will run from 12-5 p.m. The live music lineup will change each of the five weekends, with local performers playing from 2-5 p.m. Special activities and appearances by community partners will include free pumpkin paint and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy group. The event is free and open to the public. wickedweedbrewing.com
- Equal Plates Project's Harvest Ball. The nonprofit combating food insecurity celebrates the farmers, chefs, volunteers, supporters and community partners who continue to support its meal preparation and distribution outreach with a farm-inspired dinner at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road. Chef Taylor Montgomery, Chef Elana Pearlman of Piccolina, and Chef Casey Ruiz of Marshall will prepare the meal. Jackson Grimm and Clint Roberts of Holler Choir will perform live music. Guests may participate in a live and silent auction. The cost is $125 per diner, which includes two drink tickets for beer, wine or cocktails. Purchase tickets at givebutter.com/c/eppharvestball. Learn more about Equal Plates Project at htequalplatesproject.org.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Co., covering the food and beverage industry, including the James Beard Awards, Michelin Awards, restaurant openings, closings and other hospitality industry news and events. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: All-you-can-eat sushi in Asheville, Cold Mountain weekend, more
