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Magnolia 23
Review
About
Features
CUISINES
American
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Highchairs Available
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Seating
Table Service
Takeout
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Parking Available
Is this an ice cream shop?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed today
Sunday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
Closed
Contribute
4.8
417 reviews
Excellent
359
Very good
37
Average
20
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Jim G
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • family
While in Asheboro for a soccer tournament, I searched for a recommended restaurant and came across Magnolia 23. My grandsons wanted burgers, but I was craving homemade Southern cooking—Magnolia 23 did not disappoint.
My wife ordered a vegetable plate, while I went for the classic meat-and-three. The fried chicken was fantastic, paired with flavorful collard greens, delicious lima beans, and, of course, crowder peas. And let’s not forget the cornbread—lawd have mercy! It reminded me of my mama’s cooking.
The owner walks through the magnolia-adorned dining room, chatting with guests, and we had a great conversation. To top it all off, my wife and I shared a fried pie—absolute perfection.
If you’re looking for great Southern cooking, I highly recommend Magnolia 23. You won’t be disappointed!
Written February 21, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David K
Jonas Ridge791 contributions
Sep 2024 • couples
So I had heard a great review of this restaurant last year, and we planned on stopping to visit friends on the way home from a beach trip. Those plans fell through but we got to meet them this year. They are local but had not ate here. It was obvious that it was busy so that told me it was likely good, We had to wait about 10 minutes as it was packed, but that didn't seem unreasonable. Once seated we waited for menus but found out that the daily items (only about 4 or 5) were written on chalkboards near us. We all ordered a little different-the ladies both got chicken and dumplings with different sides, my friend got country style steak , and I had the St Louis Ribs. The items came out fairly fast and were off-the-chain good! Everyone commented that their individual meals were better than they had even expected or hoped. I can only vouch for the St Louis Ribs. I'm in my 50s and have been a fan of this style rib for 25+ years. These were without a doubt the best I've ever ate! The flavor, texture, and taste were second to none. The meat-to-fat was the highest I've ever ate also. I can't say enough good about these ribs! The owner (Don?) came out and checked on us (as well as all diners) an it turned out he knew our local friend's family.
We were just at the coast of NC (Swansboro, Emerald Isle, Cedar Point) and ironically, this was the best meal of the trip!
Written September 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shellyo98
189 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
My family lives in the area and have been raving about this wonderful establishment. We went on a Sunday about 30 minutes after opening and there was a line to be seated. We waited for about 5 minutes before getting a table. The owner came by to greet us. Our orders and food were served right away. My young son is a picky eater and demolished his fried chicken plate. We will be back again before returning home.
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
warfster
298 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
Food was good. Waitress was very nice. Fried chicken and the collards were most liked. Catfish was a small portion of 2 thin pieces. Suggest a larger portion. A wait staff person that goes around refilling drinks and making sure everyone has what they need during the busy hours would have been helpful. We ate 1/2 our meal without any drink refills. .Very busy place suggest getting there early. Parking lot in the back or you can park on the street. Also, come in the back door to get in line not the front. Nice place. Owner was very nice. Pictures on the wall in the back of the owners and newspaper articles about the restaurant. Highly recommend just very busy on a Friday night and it’s small on the inside so somewhat of a tight squeeze when crowded. Homemade desserts.
Written October 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charliespr
Raleigh1459 contributions
May 2024 • family
We had lunch at Magnolia 23 last week, and we very much enjoyed it!
We had fried chicken with lima beans, stewed potatoes, green beans, gravy, and cornbread, and we ended our meal with an old-timey fried apple pie. Everything was delicious!
We arrived just before 11 AM, and we are glad that we did, as the restaurant began to fill up very quickly! This place seems to be very popular with the locals!!
The restaurant is lovely inside, and we very much enjoyed the owner coming over and chatting with us. Thank you for an enjoyable lunch!
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chickadee40
Lexington98 contributions
May 2023 • couples
Fabulous Southern Country Cooking like your family reunion! The fried chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. They have every southern vegetable side you can think of. We had fried chicken, limas, collards, slaw and yes-crowder peas! We took home a slice of chocolate pound cake which was also delicious. Great service with the friendliest staff. The locals welcome us out of towners with recommendations of their favorites and one of the owners is walking around cleaning tables and chatting with everyone to make sure you are well taken care of and your sweet tea is topped off. Can’t say enough good about this place. We’ll be back to try the country fried steak we heard rave reviews about on our next visit to the area. Definitely a 10 here!
Written May 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy W
Aldie35 contributions
Oct 2023 • friends
The fried chicken was very good! My mother enjoyed the croaker (it had bones, so I was not as thrilled). The ribs were tender and tasty, but not "fall off the bone" if that is what you are looking for. We loved the collards and my mom said the sweet potatoes tasted like her mother's. The persimmon pudding and fried apple pie (served hot!!) would have been even better with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream. Expect a wait. People love this place. The owners were there, checking in on diners and making sure everyone was happy!
Written October 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jorg R
4 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
My wife and I have now dined at Magnolia 23 twice since we found out about this restaurant in Our State Magazine. We have NOT been disappointed! Each time we traveled 45 minutes from Pittsboro for the express purpose of dining here. The first time we both ordered the fried chicken breast. My wife and I agree that they were the best we'd ever eaten. Recently, we returned and ordered the Chicken Pie and Chicken and Dumplings, sharing them with each other so we could each enjoy the flavor of both. Any of the sides we ordered were also simply perfect and delicious. What a relaxing and satisfying experience. Magnolia 23 has become our favorite restaurant in the region, and although we no longer reside temporarily in Pittsboro, we plan on making it a stopping locale whenever we return to the area on visits from our home in Western North Carolina. Thanks for feeding us such Manna from Heaven, for it surely satisfies both our tummies and our souls!
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NC Snorkel Guy
Leland9 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
This is an authentic Southern food restaurant with great service and family atmosphere in downtown Asheboro. Menus are chalked on a board and you pick your entree and two sides. We had tasty meatloaf with sides of mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, cole slaw. Corn bread was also included. The owner took the time to make the rounds to chat and make sure we liked our food. The coconut cake for dessert was a great end to our meal.
Written February 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda B
20 contributions
Sep 2022 • friends
The atmosphere is friendly. Food was delicious. It is small but worth the wait. The folks are so nice. Did I say the food was delicious. Our group had a variety. Fried chicken was butter and crispy like grandma makes. Stewed potatoes and green beans like home. The chicken salad sandwich was a perfect southern style and the spring salad with grilled chicken was very fresh and tasty with their own dressing. We will make the drive to come back. We wished we had room for dessert because the list was mouthwatering.
Written September 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annissam
Mills River10 contributions
Oct 2024 • family
Don't walk, run to this restaurant. Not only is the food amazing, but the owners are the nicest human beings on the planet. Their fried chicken is super juicy inside, perfectly crunchy outside. I had the vegetable plate - holy moly - candied yams are amazing, green beans perfection. Service is amazing. It's a small restaurant with a huge heart.
Written October 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
neildouce
Wooster3 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
Magnolia 23 was exactly the kind of local restaurant my wife and I try to find while traveling. We arrived a few minutes before they opened, so we were first seated at 5pm. The dinner menu selections are printed on calk boards (& on their facebook). My wife had the chicken and dumplings with sweet potatoes, coleslaw & corn bread. I had the country fried steak with rice, potatoes salad & corn bread. We both very much enjoyed our southern home cooked meals. We both also had dessert...fried apple pie with ice cream & Hershey cake. Both very good. The service was very good, friendly & fast. The owner made sure he got a chance to talk to us before we left. We could quickly tell that Magnolia 23 is a favorite with locals. We enjoyed the atmosphere and food so much that time seemed to go by too quickly.
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon P
Raleigh15 contributions
Sep 2021 • family
If you are traveling to the Carolina Zoo or spending the day shopping for pottery at Seagrove, make time for a meal at Magnolia 23. Don and his staff pan-fry outstanding southern fried chicken with all the soul food sides like collards, pintos, delicious green beans, mashed potatoes and yummy potato salad. There is a shady, spacious area for outdoor dining next to the restaurant where you get friendly, caring service. My husband and I ate a filling lunch that even included persimmon pie for under $30. We will definitely return to this charming, local gem!
Written September 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marshelle F
Wake Forest2 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
I was spending the day with my adult nephew, and I spotted this place on the internet for lunch -- it sounded interesting, so we headed to it. It was incredible! The owner was moving around making sure everyone had what they needed. This restaurant has been written up in Our State magazine for their fried chicken. I don't normally choose fried, but I'm glad I did. This was honestly the best fried chicken I have ever eaten! Moist on the inside, crispy on the outside...and the yams were awesome! My nephew had the smothered chicken and he was practically licking the plate! The meal was great, the price reasonable, and the atmosphere delightful. I will be back!
Written March 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsey C
Thomasville34 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
One of the best spots I've ever eaten southern soul food - and I've had a lot of that over the years. From the fried chicken down to the sides, it's mouthwatering and does not disappoint. Don and his family are SIMPLY THE BEST. The customer service is just as good as the food. It's a real gem downtown and I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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