A retired battery plant supervisor opened a North Carolina restaurant. Its fried chicken has since made a national list of America’s 75 best, more than once. Talk about a second act.
The recipes go back generations in one family. A national magazine later named it the best place to eat in the state.
He went from batteries to butter, and now his kitchen runs on patience instead of power.
The dining room is small and covered in family photos, so it feels like eating at a relative’s house. The cornbread is his wife’s recipe, and it might be the best-kept secret in the building.
Most retirees take up fishing. He took up frying, and the whole state is still feeling the power surge.
A Retirement Plan That Turned Into Famous Fried Chicken
Most people retire and take up golf. Don Simmons retired from Energizer Battery in Asheboro in 2009 and opened Magnolia 23 instead.
He started with catering first, then grew it into a full restaurant. That’s a bold second act, and it clearly worked out.
Magnolia 23 sits in downtown Asheboro, North Carolina, and it’s still a family operation. Don and his wife, Doris, built it from scratch. Ownership has since passed to their daughters, Brittany and Crystal Simmons.
The family connection isn’t just a nice story for the menu. The recipes themselves come from generations of family cooking. They’re rooted in the North Carolina towns of Norman and Ellerbe.
Don calls the food country cooking, which is refreshingly honest. There’s no fancy label or trendy twist here. Just Southern home cooking made the way his family has made it for years.
He also stays busy outside the restaurant. Don led the cleanup of Odd Fellows Cemetery and organized the Crowder Baseball Camp. Clearly, sitting still was never part of his retirement plan.
That community spirit shows up in the dining room too. You get the sense this place was built for neighbors first.
The Fried Chicken Earned A Spot On A National Best List
Fried chicken is the headliner here, and it has the paperwork to prove it. TheDailyMeal.com listed it among America’s 75 Best Fried Chicken Spots.
That ranking happened in more than one year, too. It landed at number 63 one time and number 57 another.
That’s a real accomplishment for a small-town kitchen. Big cities with huge restaurant scenes compete for those same spots.
Parade Magazine also voted Magnolia 23 the Best Place To Eat In North Carolina. That’s the whole state, not just the county. Pretty impressive for a dining room this cozy.
The chicken comes from family recipes and gets made from scratch. You can choose white or dark meat, depending on your loyalty. Pick your sides and you’ve got a full Southern plate.
Here’s a smart tip for first-timers. Order the chicken even if something else catches your eye. You can always come back for the rest of the menu.
And you probably will come back. A meal this rooted in tradition tends to stick with people. Good luck trying just one piece and calling it a day.
Doris Makes The Cornbread, And That Matters
Every great Southern meal needs bread, and dinners here come with a choice. You can pick a biscuit or cornbread with your plate.
Choose carefully, because the cornbread has a story. Doris Simmons, Don’s wife, is the one behind that recipe.
It’s been described as melt-in-your-mouth, which is exactly what cornbread should aim for. Nobody wants a dry square that crumbles into dust. This one has a reputation for doing things right.
Butter comes along with it, naturally. Spreading it on warm cornbread is one of life’s small, simple joys. It also pairs beautifully with a pile of greens.
Cornbread has deep roots in North Carolina cooking. It shows up at Sunday dinners, church suppers, and family reunions. Having it made by a family member keeps that tradition alive.
Can’t decide between biscuit and cornbread? That’s a tough spot, honestly. Some folks solve it by bringing a friend and sharing.
Either way, use that bread wisely. Save a piece to scoop up the last bits of your sides. Your plate will look like it was licked clean, and nobody will judge.
Chicken And Dumplings Might Steal The Show
Fried chicken gets the headlines, but the dumplings deserve their own spotlight. Chicken and dumplings is one of the most talked-about dishes on the menu.
It’s a classic comfort meal that feels like a warm blanket. Rainy day or not, it hits the spot.
The entree list goes well beyond chicken, though. Magnolia 23 also serves chicken pie, stew beef, and country style steak. Baked ham, pork chops, meatloaf, and catfish round things out.
That’s a lineup straight out of a Southern grandmother’s recipe box. Each dish is cooked from scratch using family recipes. Nothing here is trying too hard to be trendy.
The menu does change regularly, so availability can shift. That’s part of the fun of eating somewhere that cooks like home. Some days bring different surprises than others.
A good strategy is to come with a group. Everyone orders something different, and you sample across the table. Suddenly you’ve tasted half the menu in one sitting.
Just be ready for some friendly debate. Fried chicken fans and dumpling fans rarely agree on a winner. Both sides have a very strong case.
Sides So Good They Could Be The Main Event
Collard greens, candied yams, and mac and cheese walk into a plate. That’s not a joke, it’s just a good lunch at this Asheboro spot.
The sides menu reads like a Southern family reunion spread. Stewed potatoes, lima beans, and pinto beans all make appearances.
Green beans, white beans, and rice are on the list too. Picking only a couple feels almost unfair. You’ll want to try them all eventually.
Collards are especially popular, and yams aren’t far behind. Both are staples of North Carolina home cooking. They balance a crispy piece of chicken perfectly.
A smart move is to pair one savory side with one sweet. Try collards with yams for that classic contrast. The tangy greens and sweet yams play off each other nicely.
Bean lovers have plenty of choices here. Lima, pinto, green, and white beans all show up. That’s a whole lot of beans for one menu.
Don’t be shy about building a veggie plate either. These sides have enough personality to carry a meal alone. Add cornbread, and you’ve got pure Southern comfort.
Save Room For Persimmon Pudding And Fried Apple Pie
Persimmon pudding isn’t something you find on many restaurant menus. Magnolia 23 serves it when it’s in season, and that alone makes dessert worth planning for.
It’s an old-fashioned Southern treat with roots in the Carolina Piedmont. Getting to try it here feels like a little piece of history.
Fried apple pie is another favorite on the dessert list. It’s a handheld pie with a golden, buttery crust. Simple, sweet, and very Southern.
Chocolate fans have the Hershey Bar Cake to look forward to. Butter pecan cake also makes regular appearances. Picking just one dessert might be the hardest decision of your day.
Here’s a tip that saves trouble later. Plan your meal so you still have room for something sweet. Those sides can fill you up faster than expected.
Desserts are homemade, which fits the whole spirit of the place. These are the kinds of cakes that show up at Sunday suppers. They taste like someone’s family recipe because they are.
Can’t finish? Take a slice home. Tomorrow’s version of you will be very grateful for that choice.
Family Photos Make The Dining Room Feel Like Grandma’s House
Old family photos line the walls of this cozy dining room. It’s been compared to eating in your grandmother’s dining room.
That’s exactly the mood a place like this should have. Southern comfort food just tastes right in a homey setting.
The space is small, so it feels intimate rather than grand. Tables sit close, and the atmosphere stays warm. It’s a family-run restaurant, and the room reflects that.
The service fits the setting perfectly. Don Simmons is known for greeting diners and chatting with them. It’s the kind of hospitality that makes strangers feel like regulars.
Drinks keep things classic too. Sweet tea and lemonade are the go-to choices here. Both feel right at home next to a plate of fried chicken.
Since the room is cozy, seating is first come, first seated. Arriving early, right at opening, is a smart plan. Lunch rushes can fill those tables quickly.
When the weather cooperates, there’s also outdoor seating on a rustic patio. It’s a nice option on a pleasant North Carolina afternoon. Either way, you’ll feel welcome.
Plan Your Visit Around These Hours
Timing matters here, because the kitchen keeps a short schedule. Showing up on a Saturday will only get you a locked door and a sad stomach.
You’ll find Magnolia 23 at 23 S Fayetteville St, Asheboro, NC 27203. It’s right in the heart of downtown Asheboro.
Lunch runs Wednesday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM. Dinner follows on those same days from 5 PM to 8 PM. Sunday brings lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM.
The restaurant is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday. Mark that on your calendar before planning a road trip. Nobody wants to drive in hungry and leave disappointed.
Sunday lunch is a classic Southern tradition, and this place honors it. Expect it to be a popular time, especially after church. Getting there early helps.
Takeout is also available if you’d rather eat at home. That’s handy for feeding a family or a busy crew. Fried chicken travels surprisingly well in a to-go box.
Asheboro is easy to reach from much of central North Carolina. A lunch stop here makes any drive feel worth it.