With all the amazing outdoor activities available near Maggie Valley, you will definitely work up an appetite. And there’s no shortage of mouthwatering places to eat – a lot of them right down the street from the Meadowlark Motel. Read on to discover our top picks for the best restaurants in Maggie Valley!
Arthur’s
Maggie Valley is home to some of the best trout fishing in the Smoky Mountains. But if you’d rather not fry up your own catch, then head to J. Arthur’s Restaurant on Soco Road. People rave about their fresh North Carolina Rainbow Trout. It’s served with a house-made sweet tomato jam that adds the perfect flavors to the delicate texture of the fish. For the non-fish lovers in your party, they also offer delicious steak and chicken dishes as well as a great kids’ menu. And each special entree is served with warm rolls, side salad, and potato or vegetables.
Pop’s Butts on the Creek
Satisfy your cravings for the best hickory-smoked meats in the mountains at Pop’s Butts on the Creek. Dive into award-winning homemade sauces at Maggie Valley’s oldest BBQ restaurant. Order a sandwich plate or a large picnic-style meal and grab a table on the outdoor deck. Soak up scenic views and mountain breezes as you pig out beside the burbling Jonathan Creek. And don’t skimp on the sides. You’ll get fresh seasonal vegetables, and the mind-blowing desserts – like all the other items on the menu – are always homemade. Hungry for more BBQ? Check out more of our favorites here.
Joey’s Pancake House
Don’t forget about the most important meal of the day! Stack your breakfast high and tall with a helping of golden flapjacks from Joey’s Pancake House, right down the road from the Meadowlark! A Maggie Valley breakfast staple since 1966, you can have your fill of old-fashioned pancakes with a choice of delicious syrups and classic southern sides. Enjoy endless rounds of coffee while you chat with the locals or swap stories with your fellow travelers. All you have to do is come hungry – owners Joey and Brenda and their team will take care of the rest.
Elevated Mountain Distilling Company
Wash down your meal with a dram of that good old mountain dew at Elevated. With a nod to Haywood County’s median elevation of 3,600 feet (the highest of any county in the eastern US), Elevated is run by third generation whiskey makers, Dave and Sue Angel. For decades, moonshiners have taken advantage of the high-altitude pristine mountain springs to produce some of the purest moonshine in the Smoky Mountains. And now you can tour the corn-to-whiskey process at Elevated to learn how it’s made. Their custom pot and towering 23-foot column still take the process to the next level (and sort of looks like something out of Willy Wonka).
Foraging
And finally, if you’re looking for a real dining adventure, dive into Maggie Valley’s Appalachian culture and history by foraging for your own food. The whole of nature becomes your restaurant, when you discover delicious food hiding in plain sight! A delectable edible bounty is right at your fingertips…if you know what you’re looking for. Check out our extensive list of wild edible plants in North Carolina, many of which can be found growing right here near the Meadowlark Motel. From roots to petals, you’ll be amazed at the wonders of what is available for foraging in Maggie Valley. Discover the rich and fascinating nourishment opportunities that our Appalachian ancestors practiced as they learned to live off the land.
Make the Meadowlark Motel your home base as you taste your way through Maggie Valley. Check out our rooms and cabin rentals and book your stay here!
Want to learn more about Maggie Valley? Check out this episode of the Gateway to the Smokies podcast, where Meadowlark Motel owner Joseph Franklyn McElroy talks with Teresa Smith from the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce & Area Visitors Bureau.
