Cardinal Drive-In

Reviews

• Steve W.

  star star star star star 10 September 2026

  On vacation out here in the mountains and stopped in for lunch.   Let me just say it was great drive in food.
  So, yes a little inconvenient cash-only but there is an ATM.   Not a big deal.
  
  Burgers are really great.  You know when the burgers have been cooked on a really hot griddle and there is that layer of char on the outside?   Yeah- really good.  Butter toasted buns.  Go for the double.
  
  My son had chicken tenders- thick breading but really good and juicy.  I tried some of his.  
  
  Fries- not really impressive.   But the tater tots and hand-made onion rings were fantastic    Onion tings are full onions- sweet and crunchy on the outside.   Needs a little salt
  
  Wife had the double chili cheese dogs and liked them as welll

• Tim K.

  star star star star star 6 September 2026

  Best onion rings and chocolate malts ever !!! Use to enjoy them and live here as a kid. First place I went when got in town and they are still as amazing as I remembered

• Bry M.

  star star star star star_border 4 September 2026

  Cardinal Drive - In is an institution for our family right up with Dolly's Dairy Bar! First starting coming here as a child attending summer camp over in Cedar Mountain and loved the milkshakes. The business has been independently owned since 1981 after it was originally built as a Sonic a few years prior.
  
  Food is decent for a greasy spoon old-school drive-in fare...my personal favorite is the chicken sandwich with l,t,o & pickles with fries...all washed down with a strawberry milkshake.
  
  Staff is friendly and service is medium speed but it's about the experience at this vintage joint! It is on the way to some great climbing and hiking spots and off the beating path. Interior is cheesy but they had a fire back in summer 2012 where most of the decor was replaced. Go give it a try and let us all know your thoughts on the overall experience.

• Candy G.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 31 August 2026

  Never ever again!!!
  We are new to the Asheville area but we love visiting Brevard. We normally go to Rocky's but on this day it was closed so we decided to try Cardinal for the first time and it was our last time. Inside was dated and there was an ATM because they only accept cash inside. The phone where you order food was dirty and nasty. Since it was our first time there we weren't sure how the menu worked ya know if drinks were included or sides and such. So we picked up the phone and asked if a server could come to our table. When she arrived and we stated it was our first time there she simply looked and said "yeah" and did not smile or say welcome or anything. She acted like we were bothering her. So not friendly and had the personality of a stick. Actually a stick has more personality. So now for the food(brace yourselves). My husband ordered burger and fries. Burger was ok but fries were just generic crinkle cut you can buy at any grocery store and cold and bland.  Now I ordered the chicken dinner. It came with fries,coleslaw and a roll. The chicken was so dry and tough. It was like it was from the day before and had been re fried. It was like trying to eat leather except leather wouldn't have been that tough. Even my husband had a tough time trying to eat it. We looked like Clark Griswald in Christmas Vacation trying to eat the turkey that Ed's wife cooked. My husband even tried dipping it in ketchup and didn't help. The coleslaw tasted like pure mayonnaise and was disgusting. And the roll tasted like it had been left out overnight and then microwaved. The drinks were good but hey water is usually pretty good. Don't waste your money on this place because we certainly won't ever again!!!!!!

• Sandra R.

  star star star star star 27 August 2026

  BLT was packed full of bacon!  Onion rings really are the best!  Chocolate shake - A+  Cool little drive-in!  Bite:  Cash only!