What to know about Taco Billy's new eatery in Asheville, food and beer festivals

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
Updated ·7 min read
Hunter Berry has opened Little Billy, a food truck counterpart to Taco Billy, at Little Jumbo cocktail bar at 241 Broadway St.
Hunter Berry has opened Little Billy, a food truck counterpart to Taco Billy, at Little Jumbo cocktail bar at 241 Broadway St.

ASHEVILLE - A West Asheville restaurant debuts permanent eatery at a Montford cocktail bar; a culinary arts festival opens ticket sales window early for locals; an inaugural beer festival set for June with rare brews from local to international breweries; new restaurants and a coffee shop open along Brevard Road.

Taco bites, cocktail nights

The West Asheville restaurant, Taco Billy, has introduced yet another way for hungry patrons to get a taste of their signature tacos.

Little Billy, a food truck counterpart, has officially opened on the back patio of Little Jumbo cocktail bar at 241 Broadway St.

Nathan Drysdale puts a tray of sweet potatoes in an oven as Taco Billy owner, Hunter Berry, looks on at the Little Billy food truck May 15, 2023.
Nathan Drysdale puts a tray of sweet potatoes in an oven as Taco Billy owner, Hunter Berry, looks on at the Little Billy food truck May 15, 2023.

The food truck’s hours are limited and subject to change in its early days of operations. Currently, the hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4 p.m.-Midnight Friday and Saturday.

Taco Billy’s brick-and-mortar locations in West Asheville and Black Mountain aren’t open on Mondays but the mobile eatery will have extended hours that include daily service. Breakfast and lunch service will begin soon.

Little Billy’s menu features breakfast and specialty tacos with veggie options available. The offerings will change weekly with staple items to remain.

View the menu and order online at tacobilly.com and select “Little Billy Food Truck.”

Little Jumbo’s hours are 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more, visit littlejumbobar.com.

Little Billy, a food truck counterpart, has officially opened at Little Jumbo cocktail bar at 241 Broadway St.
Little Billy, a food truck counterpart, has officially opened at Little Jumbo cocktail bar at 241 Broadway St.

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Chow Chow locals only presale

Chow Chow Food and Culture Festival will return Sept. 7-10 with multiple events, workshops and opportunities to taste some of the best bites and beverages in the region.

The 2023 Chow Chow Food + Culture Festival is slated for Sept. 7–10 and will consist of dinners, workshops, performances, tastings, talks and demonstrations that will be hosted across the city of Asheville and downtown at Pack Square Park.
The 2023 Chow Chow Food + Culture Festival is slated for Sept. 7–10 and will consist of dinners, workshops, performances, tastings, talks and demonstrations that will be hosted across the city of Asheville and downtown at Pack Square Park.

Chow Chow will feature dinners, brunches, classes, seminars, demonstrations, tours, tasting bites and sips, live entertainment, a food truck rodeo, panel discussions, an Artisan Makers’ Market, main stage attractions and more to make the ultimate culinary arts experience celebrating Southern Appalachia and Asheville’s creative economy.

Events will be hosted at Pack Square Park and other venues across Asheville.

The popular series brings in diners near and far but those closer to the festival’s home may have first dibs on claiming their tickets.

Through May 21, locals may purchase early access general admission and VIP tickets and passes using the code PRESALE23 at chowchowasheville.com.

More events are to be announced. Sign up for Chow Chow’s newsletter and follow on social media for updates, facebook.com/chowchowavl and @chowchow_avl.

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The Whale Invitational

The Whale Collective, a beer hub housing a multitude of rare brews from around the world, will host its inaugural beer invitational featuring more than 60 brewers to “celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship of the best breweries of all time.”

The Whale Invitational will be from 1 p.m. (12 p.m. for VIP ticketholders) to 5 p.m. on June 3 at The Mule, the taproom at Devil's Foot Beverage’s warehouse at 131 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville. The event is in celebration of The Whale's fifth anniversary.

The Whale Invitational, a beer festival, will be from 1-5 p.m. on June 3 at The Mule, the taproom at Devil's Foot Beverage’s warehouse at 131 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville. The event is in celebration of The Whale Collective's fifth anniversary.
The Whale Invitational, a beer festival, will be from 1-5 p.m. on June 3 at The Mule, the taproom at Devil's Foot Beverage’s warehouse at 131 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville. The event is in celebration of The Whale Collective's fifth anniversary.

“Every ounce of effort we've put into organizing this event has been with the goal of making it the best beer festival we’ve ever been to. We're going full-send and can't wait for everyone to experience it,” Andrew Ross, co-owner of The Whale, said in a news release.

Guests may sample one-of-a-kind, hand-selected brews from local, national and international breweries including Cantillon (Belgium), Other Half, Jester King, The Veil, Trillium, 450 North, Zebulon and DSSOLVR.

Music, entertainment, food and vendors will be on deck.

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General admission tickets are $100 and include festival admission and special glassware. VIP tickets are $125 and include early admission, special glassware, Whale bottles and VIP access to the Whale Lounge.

"Curating the brewery lineup for this festival has been an absolute blast, and I'm thrilled with the awesome selection we have in store. I have no doubt that beer lovers are in for a treat, and it's going to be a truly unforgettable experience, " Jesse Van Note, co-owner of the Whale, said in a news release.

View the full list of participating breweries at thewhalecollective.com/events/the-whale-invitational/ and purchase tickets at eventbrite.com.

Brevard Road restaurant boom

Brevard Road has several new food and beverage options to persuade commuters to make a stop to refuel.

Overlook Coffee Collective, a locally owned coffee shop inspired by the Appalachians, has opened at Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Road, suite 677.

Overlook Coffee Collective, a locally owned coffee shop inspired by the Appalachians, has opened at Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Road, suite 677.
Overlook Coffee Collective, a locally owned coffee shop inspired by the Appalachians, has opened at Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Road, suite 677.

“The reason I named my shop Overlook is because as a teen mom I didn’t have much money (and) going to the Parkway was a relatively inexpensive way to spend time with my daughter,” Carrie Prado, owner, said in an email. “We’ve even celebrated quite a few birthdays at various overlooks. It was in those times I would promise her one day we would do great amazing things, she could be anything. Looking down from above it didn’t matter if we were rich or poor, we all owned a million miles of sky (and) we were free to dream the biggest dreams. Overlook Coffee Collective is here to showcase all the local treasures hidden in Appalachia (and) beyond.”

Overlook Coffee Collective sources quality brews from an assortment of roasters and origins on monthly or bi-monthly rotation, including Cooperative Coffee Roasters, Independent Bean and Little Waves Coffee Roasters in Durham. In addition to coffee drinks, the shop offers locally sourced smoothies, nutrition bars, tea blends from businesses such as Asheville Tea Co., and baked goods from Backporch Baking Co. Home goods, art and other merchandise are available for retail sale, too.

“My go-to drink is an iced Three Ridges latte with macadamia milk ... a latte with a house-made lemon white mocha sauce and lavender syrup. It really enhances the boldness of our house Gravity coffee roaster by Cooperative," Prado said, adding that there is a vegan option.

An iced Three Ridges latte with macadamia milk at Overlook Coffee Collective in Asheville.
An iced Three Ridges latte with macadamia milk at Overlook Coffee Collective in Asheville.

The menu features vegan pastries and gluten-free treats. Alternative milk and sugar-free syrups are available at no extra charge because “Inclusivity in the beverage industry should not be an afterthought,” Prado said.

The hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Follow on social media at facebook.com/overlookavl

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Cedeno Food & Mac Bar has opened in the outlet mall’s food court, in suite 650. The locally owned restaurant puts the diner in control with its Build-Your-Own Mac & Cheese Bowl. Topping options include proteins and vegetables, plus a list of sauces and seasonings to take it up a notch. Sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken tenders and fries are available, too.

The hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Follow Cedeno Mac on Facebook.

For more about Asheville Outlets, visit shopashevilleoutlets.com.

Chipotle is now open at 879 Brevard Road with its Chipotlane drive-thru pickup lane for digital orders ― the company’s first in Asheville. The hours are 10:45 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Next door, Popeyes will open soon at 881 Brevard Road.

If looking for more fast bites ― and prizes ― head over to McDonald’s at 35 Hendersonville Road to celebrate the opening of the Biltmore Village restaurant’s lobby. From May 17-24, customers may enter a raffle for a chance to win prizes including a Yeti cooler, two Coke Zero thermal bookbags, a $100 McDonald’s gift card, and two Biltmore House tickets. Customers must have a receipt from the location for purchases between May 17-24, 2023 and submit it with their name and phone number to enter.

Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Taco Billy's, Overlook Coffee opens, food and beer festivals