I love this place. Favorite in all of west ashe! Have food favorites here (universal fries or tots). Never had bad service here. Highly recommended! Looking for good food or just a chill place for a beer, this is your spot. read more

We went with a group of 15 and no reservation, showing up at noon. Our server was patient, informative NC Friendly and welcoming. Our 4 orders of nachos were beautifully prepared with requisite spices, jalapeños, freshly cooked tortilla chips. Bowls of extra chips, extra plates were provided without asking. Somebody ordered almost everything you, and our picky seniors had no complaints. To me their signature dish should be their Tater Tots. Homemade freshly minced potatoes crispy fried to perfection. Never had anything like them. 5 Stars all the way!! read more

Great little quirky spot to grab a bite and a pint. Having never really stayed on this side of Asheville I was pleasantly surprised to find what will likely become a staple and place to visit when here from now on. Patio seating outside and quite the crowd inside was enough to tell me from the onset this place obviously had some fans. The food was delicious, beer was abundant and that leaves little room for disappointment in my world. Don't come here expecting a 5 star experience. It's a chill spot on a great corner for people, car and whatever watching which is always a plus in Asheville. Parking seems to be the same through Asheville....hard to come by so prepare for it. read more

Love this place great place to sit outside and enjoy some great beer and excellent Blackened Fish tacos so good try to always hit this place when in town keep up the great work. read more

Nice local joint in eclectic neighborhood. Large selection of beers. Hubby had Gyro and I had fish tacos. Served super fast! Reasonably priced. read more

Great place to chill and enjoy a bit to eat. You can also bring your dog for patio service. Love the vibe and the people who work there.

Great spot, the outdoor patio is a perfect place to grab dinner or end a night out. Good beer selection, standard pub fare menu, the burgers are definitely the star of the show, and for good reason. We really like the Old 1-2 and the California. Love that you can customize. Friendly staff. All around awesome place! read more

I love UJ's. Wesley is my favorite bartender . He sees me walk in and has my drink ready. The atmosphere is great and I always feel safe there! Definitely go there and say hi to Wesley! He'll make your visit a great experience! read more

Got the black bean California burger as a take out. It was a mess. The burger was mushy and not much taste to it...bbq sauce was maybe a teaspoons worth on one spot of the outer edge of the burger and the avocado was just 2 thin, smushed up sliver that looked like the short end piece. The tomato was plastic looking and tasteless. So very disappointed and for the price just...no. On top of everything I have a belly ache now. Two stars for the nice person on the phone. read more

Universal Joint - American Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

If I could give the place more than 5 stars, I would! My husband and I were looking for a nice, local date night spot since Buncombe Co. had reopened for dine-in, so I found this place on yelp. We elected to eat inside since there was no wait AND air conditioning on the warm night. Great selection of local beers and a full bar did not disappoint! We had the universal loaded tots for an appetizer and I had the chicken fajitas for dinner. It was all delicious! Didn't get a picture of my husband's dinner, but he said his moscow mule was the best one he'd ever had! We'll definitely be back here again, for sure! read more

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Needed a place for a group of 10 to meet without reservations. We went early on a Friday night and had a quick table. We all found something on the menu to enjoy and the waiter was helpful at suggesting local beers to try. read more

The bar staff is good. The food is...meh. I'm also a stickler for a good health inspection score after years of working in food service myself. The UJ's score is currently 91. Of course this is subject to change, but... read more

Nice spot! A lot of good bar food type options. It also looked like they had some good veggie/vegan choices. They were super busy but we were able to snag a first-come-first serve table for 8 outside. We started with the hummus and pimento cheese app- tasty but they gave us way more dips than bread. I liked the concept of also plating some diced cucumber, tomatoes, and onions to add to your hummus. More places should do that! For my entree I got the salad with grilled shrimp. My boyfriend got a burger and tots. We always love when places serve tots! Food was good across the board. Service was friendly but a bit slow... again they were very busy on a Friday night. Overall solid place for a group for drinks and dinner ...will be back! read more

Though it offers my favorite sandwich, service is poor We have been coming to Asheville for many years, and came across this formerly fun pub/restaurant several visits ago. The reason we keep returning is only because they offer a trout reuben that is delicious-usually. That love affair is now over. Last time we ate here, my husband's fish tacos were minus most of the fish, however the server never came back to check on us, and he was too hungry to wait. This time, all orders were cold. When we requested they be heated, they were returned to us on the same plates, still cold. We were with 2 others, their food was also cold. This was on a Sunday evening. Plates were left uncleared, flies all around. Stay away! read more

Food was just OK, the service wasn't great (server took our order and dropped the check, and that was all), the wifi didn't work, and we were told the drinks were one price buch charged almost 30 percent more than we were told. All in all, we wish we had chosen one of the many other restaurants on Haywood that eat at tonight. I don't think we'll be back. read more

This is one of our favorite spots in West Asheville. Their food is great and everyone on staff is so friendly & kind. The falafel is the best I've ever had (they make their own tzatziki!) and the chicken sandwich California style is a must. Definitely order the tater tots as your side, they're so crispy and delicious. But the best thing on the whole menu is the CHEESE CURDS!!! Every time I've ordered them they've blown me away. They're so good. TLDR: order the cheese curds. read more

Wow. Lots of choices here. No one will leave with an I just ate routine. Ordered cheese curds as a good appetizer that didn't disappoint but the star of the show was the trout Reuben - yes you read that right. AMAZING. WHOlLY CRAP GOOD. Everything else service and food wise was good. read more

We tried Universal Joint because of all the good looking food they put on Instagram. They did not disappoint! Quaint and cool little Joint. All types and ages of people. Very comfortable atmosphere. WONDERFUL food! We tried several items and all we amazing! If you are in West Asheville, this is a good lunch spot. read more

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Cool ambiance, good burgers, but there was literally a dog fight on the porch during our dinner. Whoa god bless progressive Asheville but good grief. I came to eat. None the less good food good beer n great Salsa. read more

Terrible. We order food and tipped the waiter 10 for one meal but he came with a bat and tried to beat my husband with a bat because we didn't tip him enough. read more

Hands down if you are looking for a burger in AVL do yourself a favor and stop in. Very cool old gas station converted into local restaurant. They still have local gas station decor everywhere which is pretty cool. The wait staff is super friendly and serves with a big smile and light conversation. Brunch - I went with a breakfast burger which is a burger with a egg attached...holy freaking cow I know the calories are up there but it was so worth it. Large portion but couldn't stop myself from eating this grease monkey!!!!! One of the best burgers I have had so far and for the price was well worth it. Coffee brew was Excellent as well so grab a cup of joe while you are there read more

I've visited UJ twice now, both in the later evening and have been impressed 2x. As you probably know, quality late night food is hard to find around these parts, unless your keen on Waffle House or IHOP. Thankfully UJ gives you a reprieve from these super greasy options and offers late night standards, ie burgers, fries, and quality apps. So far in my visits I've had the edamame, good but pretty standard as far as edamame go. The hummus plate, which was really good despite doubts related to the hummus and pimento cheese combo. It was a nice sized portion, perfect for sharing between a few ppl. The veggies were tasty, the hummus fresh and not overly garlicky and the pimento cheese (one of my new fav things since moving to the south), was not overly rich and had a crisp flavor, not heavy and too creamy like others I've had. The spicy eggrolls are very unique, filled with chicken, cream cheese and jalapeño. The combo comes together like a chicken salad almost and is tasty without being overwhelmingly heavy on the tongue. The burger was tasty and fresh, not a frozen tasting patty you might expect at a late night spot. Best of all were the tots, super crispy and not heavy on the grease, a tougher thing to achieve than you may think. The service is more on the ehh side, but a shortage of late night staff and large parties might be to blame. Like bob barker says, "the price is right", and the food is tasty enough for me to make this a regular late night stop. read more

I visited this place after 3 hours of canoeing on the French Broad, so that may skew my views a bit. I was a thirsty girl--so thirsty that I went straight for some iced tea instead of Asheville's preference for beer. Now, I've only been here once, and I am not a local, so you locals may have a different take on the place. I had the pimento cheese sandwich, which was very rich, but tasty--a little on the salty side--but good and the spinach salad. It just made me drink more iced tea. Now, on that note, the service left a little to be desired. My drink was empty for a long time...then, she went to get the tea pitcher but got distracted, so I waited a little longer. My friend really liked the trout ruben, and my other friend was a fan of the gyro. The atmosphere was awesome. We sat on the patio, and it was a nice breezy day. I'd go back and try it again. read more

I really wanted to sit on the patio, but all the seats were taken which I thought maybe was a good sign for the place. The service was slow but the joint was hopping. It took a while to get our drinks, a few of our drink orders were forgotten, but they all eventually did come in really large plastic cups. Everyone at our table had burgers, except one person had the special and it looked tasty. I had a veggie burger with the Mediterranean toppings and french fries. It was pretty good once they brought out the whole burger, they forgot the top bun with my order. The fries were okay, I ended up stealing my partners tater tots which were really good. The veggie burger was standard and the toppings were okay. The beer selection here seemed small but varied and those who had meat burgers said that they were okay as well. So this was an okay joint. read more

Parking is chaos. Keep that mind and may the odds be ever in your favor. Wait staff is rude-ish. Cheese curds were good but a little on the burnt side. The wings -mango habanero -were super spicy but the sauce had a watery taste. The egg rolls should really be called wontons. The universal fries were good. Quesadilla was disgusting. Burgers were good. Maybe add in flights of beer since you have so many available. Oh and charging $0.50 for a 2 oz. cup of ranch-stupid, especially when you didn't ask for extra ranch and you ordered two things that should have come with ranch but only got 1. read more

I always enjoy my meals and my time at the Universal Joint. it's quick, cute, and I never leave hungry. I have enjoyed plenty of dishes from this establishment but the Steinbeck Burger (burger cooked to order with pimento cheese, bacon, and jalapeno) is just WOW. The best part? They will substitute any of the burgers with chicken or a black bean burger! Tons of options for all of you vegetarians out there. UJ specializes in bar food but their healthy options are also great! Their gyro with falafel or lamb is delicious, and their shrimp salad is to die for. Oh! I mustn't forget about their Universal Fries! These french fries are drenched in cheese and topped with bacon, fresh jalapeno, and scallions. Do you see a running theme here? Anything with cheese, bacon, and jalapenos and I will be one happy chick. They always have a great beer special and they have a full bar so, no shortage of drinks. Enjoy sipping your beverage and indulging in your cheesy fries on the patio any time of the year! They have a closed off patio section with heat lamps that offers dog-friendly service all year round. The staff is friendly and fast! If you are only going to stop by on your lunch break, you will be in and out in no time. read more

A customer named jager gave me the best drink recommendation, the mean athena... bartender cam is really the man, he nailed my drink! My server Matt provided the best service, request to be seated in his section! My husband ordered the jade IPA a staff favorite, excellent beer. For food I would 10/10 recommend the bison california style with the spinach salad, lemon zest dressing is on point ! read more

Great beer selection and the burgers are good. They will cook them medium which in NC is almost unheard of. Most places cook them until they are black, crisp, dry, and terrible due to the arcane health laws of this state (I think a senator's son must have got sick eating a tainted burger a few years back). Got a U-Joint burger but was disappointed by the jalapenos they put on it... they had been chopped and deseeded so the had all the heat of a bell pepper. Come on people! If I order something with jalapenos on it, I'm looking for some heat! Had a brisket hash on another day which was fantastic. Amazingly enough there didn't seem to be 50 people on the patio smoking which seems to be the norm here in regard to outdoor seating (UGH!), so it may just be possible sit outside and enjoy the fresh air but that seems too good to be true. There is plenty of parking in this neighborhood but you might have to *gasp* walk a block or two. Don't worry, it won't kill you. This place is hopping, and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood! read more

Unfortunately fell far short of expectations for a Saturday lunch. First visit that may be the last. Shared the cream cheese/chicken egg rolls and a ribeye sandwich. The egg rolls should have been called cream cheese ones, as any chicken fragments were hard to find. The steak was not tender and not particularly flavorful. Mentioning this to a staff person there got a reply: "sorry". So am I. read more

Universal Joint is the place in west Asheville for good quality, and reliable bar food. Every single appetizer on the menu is worth getting if you like how it sounds. Sliders, loaded fries, egg rolls, you name it, all great. I love hot wings and in my option these are the best representation of the true buffalo style available in Asheville. The Burger menu is affordable and interesting, catering to many styles. The Steinbeck is a major favorite but don't sleep on the Smokehouse. To please all diets every style is available in not only beef but chicken, veggie, and bean patties. My most frequent order is either the fish tacos or the chili-garlic shrimp salad. Both are incredibly refreshing and flavorful! They provide a nice alternative to the heavier staples on the menu. The patio on the summer is the place to be and will give you a serious dose of vitamin d, but calling in take out wether during the rush hour or late night is always timely and can be incredibly convenient for those who live in the neighborhood. read more

Tater tots... Tater tots dude... Tater tots bruh... Those damn tater tots... Bloody Mary's are damn good too... Tip for UJ's: Tater tots... Tip for Yelp: GEAD read more

For starters, this place is our go-to for late night dining. Anytime we have friends from out of town, we always put U Joint at the top of our list. If we ever go to a show or other event in town, we typically plan to eat here because they are open later than most places in town. But the hours aren't the only thing that keep us coming back! Their menu is top notch. Other reviews mention the Steinbeck...and for good reason. This burger is my husband's favorite in town (one of the few meals he craves). I can also speak of its greatness; you won't be disappointed. I also really like the bleu cheese bacon burger. I've even fallen in love with a regular ol' cheeseburger because the quality of the meat used is enough to make any burger on the menu amazing. They even offer veggie burgers for our meat free people. The burgers aren't the only menu item of merit. I typically order the brisket tacos because a) brisket and b) taco. There is literally nothing better. The brisket is beyond juicy and tasty and when you put it in a soft tortilla there is nothing like it. I also really like the hot rib-eye sandwich. It's always super tender and you get to dip it in gravy. Sign me up! I almost always get tots as my side item because I'm sucker for potatoes in tot form (who isn't) and theirs are always crispy and delicious. They even offer loaded tots (universal tots on the menu) as a snack. Speaking of snacks, they have some killer starters! We LOVE the pimento cheese plate: heaping with hummus and pimento cheese and plenty of toasted ciabatta bread. It's awesome for sharing, and so is the sunset dip. And the egg rolls! You have to try them. They also have a daily dinner special which I've ventured to try on occasion. Once they had brisket taquitos (we all knew I'd like them) with fresh avocado. I would give anything to have them again. So good! The only down side to falling in love with the dinner special is having your heart broken when odds are you wont be able to have it again anytime soon. But hey, that's part of food culture, right? My only complaint about the menu is: no desserts!!! Aside from their awesome food menu, they offer a full bar complete with local draughts. They always one on special for about $3 as well. I really love the location too. Seating is first come first serve and during the summer I love sitting outside. Parking on this side of town is spread out, but most businesses won't tow after hours. We usually park at the bank across the street, but street parking is available as well. Since we only come late at night, we never have to worry about finding a spot. Basically what I'm getting at is you have to eat here if you haven't already. You will not be disappointed! read more

All right... I don't leave 5 stars often... and the UJ doesn't really make me go "Woohoo!" but it has earned my trust, and that ain't easy, kids. I'd say the 5 stars apply in context... specifically, the context of casual pubs in Asheville. I'd take this place over the WALK, Westville, the erstwhile Burgermeisters, and a handful of other "Burger/Taco/Beer Bars" in the area Hands Down. I also added an extra star to make up for the idiots who seem to basically be berating this place for choosing not to have a host or a garish seat yourself sign. If you walk into a restaurant, and you don't see a large menu behind the counter, a host stand, or a sign that says "wait to be seated" you should assume it is all right to seat yourself. The UJ's concept is that of a casual neighborhood bar. Most of the people there on a given night are locals, if not regulars, and do not need to be told what to do when they walk in, and frankly, that is the point. Casual to a t. Every time I have been to this establishment, I have been greeted and served promptly and pleasantly. That said, I should mention that I have NEVER been to the U Joint earlier than 10pm, and have certainly never been here during the dinner rush. I can imagine that the loose casual seating policy could get a bit more confusing for staff and guests a like when the place is crowded. I typically sit at the bar and have always greatly enjoyed the relaxed but friendly attitude of the bartenders. I like to sit quietly and not be bothered much when I dine alone at a bar, and the bartenders are totally willing to leave me be, but always ready to engage in conversation with patrons if the guest so desires. The food is by no means revelatory, but again, that's not the point. It's perfectly tasty, as far as I can tell, prepared with fresh ingredients, well balanced flavors, and most importantly CONSISTENT. I should stress this consistency note, because ultimately, for me, this is what sets the joint apart from other restaurants in the area with virtually the exact same menu((cough cough WALK cough)). When I go to the Ujoint for the 32nd time, and order the item I've enjoyed 10 times before, I can rest easy knowing that it will taste just the same this time. There seem to be a lot of restaurants in Asheville that can blow my mind with a dish on Thursday, and then ruin it on Friday, and I just don't get it. The UJ meets expectation every time. As far as specifics... Smoked Tofu Tacos - Yum... smoke makes everything better, especially for a meatless diet! I don't see them on the online menu but I swear I've had em and LOVED them. Pretty simple frankly, but it is the straight forward, clear flavored, non pretentious style that makes the food here work. Both the veggie burger and the black bean burger are great in terms of flavor, though the black bean burger can be a bit mushy. to be expected with a black bean patty. Falafel is where it's at. This is the best falafel I've had in Asheville in recent memory(*though I haven't been to Jerusalem Garden in a long time) Crispy outside, tender inside, and not too large to be manageable. Fries are totally decent, but the tots excel. 2nd only to Tod's tots. A final note, however, would be that I am a vegetarian. The menu is SUPER veggie friendly, which I love. But this does mean I cannot comment on the quality and execution of the burgers, which seems a point of complaint for some people. read more

You just got to go to understand. Universal tots loaded with white cheddar, bacon, scallions and jalapeños with an INCREDIBLE homemade ranch doping sauce. Their burger selection is off the charts.. But I highly recommend the Steinbeck Burger (pimiento cheese, bacon, jalapeños) read more

It is frustrating not having prices for items given on the online menu. Looking ahead before a visit or planning a take out order is difficult (for me) without prices. If leaving prices off the online marketing decision it fails to attract my business. I've enjoyed several meals at the Universal Joint in the past. read more

Universal Joint is the most happening restaurant in West Asheville. Situated in an old service station, it's a fun location on a busy corner on Haywood Rd. This is the place to be on a nice, sunny day or when you're just in the mood for a drink or a good burger. Sat outside on their hip patio, close to their front yard with cornhole boards and yard games. Service was really quick and in no time we received our lunch order. I ordered the UJoint Burger with jalapenos, cheddar cheese, bacon and ranch. It was an absolutely delicious and filling burger. I was hesitant to order a burger with jalapenos, but it the mix of all the toppings was perfect. I substituted tater tots for fries, really yummy. For $9 for burger and tots, I want to order it all over again. Their BLT wasn't as memorable, instead of whole slices of tomatoes, it featured diced tomatoes. The bread was fresh and yummy, but the ingredients not so. Bonus points for their large glasses, I know it doesn't sound like much, but they have oversized water glasses that means servers don't have to top off your glass as often (or at all). Overall, an uber-hip, uber-cool restaurant serving filling and delicious meals. read more

Universal Joint is basically a place saturated with locals. A place to hang with your dog(s), your friends, and your friend's dog(s). Most often, the service reflects the nature of this. Inside is clean-ish. Waitstaff sometimes engages in (I'd assume) risky health code behavior stuff like refilling ketchup bottles at the same table they're very obviously eating a meal at. The high chairs are wobbly to the point of being hazardous and are on major need of tightening. The highlight of their food has to be their deep fried "loaded" tots. Super decadent. Decent selection of beer. Open late. read more

The nachos at this joint are to die for! The bartender named Kait was super friendly and makes the best Cadillac margarita. The rest of the staff was welcoming, and I never to had to wait for service. 10/10 would recommend the universal joint if you are visiting West Asheville!! read more

Great when you want a greasy spoon. Perfect location. One of the better uses of "used to be a gas station." Again, the location is perfect. Especially if you find an outdoor seat in the summer time. The burgers and the gyros are quite tasty. However the food is not quite on par with other Asheville restaurants. Yet the combination of the location and solid food make it a fun spot in West Asheville. read more

We came to Asheville to see a show at the Mothlight & stayed at an AirBnB close by. Our hosts recommended UJ to have a quick bit before the show. We took their advice and were not disappointed. It has a kind of mountainy hipster vibe. There is both outdoor and indoor seating, craft beers and good pub grub. We ordered a bit too much food. We had the fries (loaded with cheese, onions, bacon, and yum), the sliders, and the buffalo chicken quesadillas. It was good, but we couldn't finish it all (no wonder). The service was good and our waiter was friendly. The beer was good. I enjoyed a bit of people watching, as well. We were in and out in about an hour, perfect for getting to our show at the Mothlight. read more