Name: Riyen Roots
Start: 2026-11-08T18:00:00.000-05:00
End: 2026-11-08T18:00:00.000-05:00
Location: Thunder Burgerz

Riyen Roots plays Thunder Burgerz West Asheville on Sunday, November 8 at 6:00 PM. Get there a little early if you want a good spot.

Thunder Burgerz is a 1950s-style burger diner from owner Roy Trantham III, with the original Thunder Burgerz Grill at 301 Smokey Park Hwy and Thunder Burgerz West at 521 Haywood Rd in West Asheville, which opened in August 2026. The idea comes from Thunder Road, the 1957 Robert Mitchum movie filmed in Asheville, where Trantham's father appeared with his 1936 Ford, and the diner leans into his family's Asheville racing history. Expect chargrilled cheeseburgers, smashburgers, the Chili Billy Burger, jumbo wings, tenders, pizza, hand-dipped Hershey's ice cream and milkshakes, plus breakfast like hot honey chicken and waffles.

Locals like the old-school diner feel, the checkered baskets and prices that stay friendly for a family meal.

Thunder Burgerz

Asheville's food scene is mostly local, and this guide walks it neighborhood by neighborhood. Start with our [Asheville Food Guide](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/242-asheville-food-guide-where-to-eat-asheville-nc) for Michelin picks. For specials by day and happy hours, see the [Dig Deeper guide to deals, specials and free things to do](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/142-deals-specials-free-things-to-do-asheville-nc). Downtown, [Posana](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/34-posana) on Biltmore Avenue builds its menu around local farms, [Bargello](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1883-bargello) makes hand-rolled pasta on Pack Square, [Old Europe Pastries](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1716-old-europe-pastries) has made Hungarian pastries since 1994 and now sits on Broadway, and [Capella on 9](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1369-capella-on-9-rooftop-bar-and-lounge) serves tapas on the roof of the AC Hotel. On the South Slope, [Tiger Bay Cafe](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2068-tiger-bay-cafe) cooks Latin and West Indian food inside Ben's Tune Up, and the [Funkatorium](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1134-the-funkatorium) on Coxe Avenue pours sour beer. Haywood Road in West Asheville has [Biscuit Head](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1753-biscuit-head), [Thai Pearl](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1985-thai-pearl-west-asheville), [Finest](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4262-finest) and [Westville Pub](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/118-westville-pub). Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville has [plant](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1574-plant), [Mountain Madre](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1186-mountain-madre), [Mother Ocean Seafood Market](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2187-mother-ocean-seafood-market) and [828 Family Pizzeria](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/962-828-family-pizzeria). In East Asheville, [RendezVous](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1907-rendezvous) serves French bistro food on New Haw Creek Road. [Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1185-rocky-s-hot-chicken-shack-west-avl) fries Nashville-style hot chicken on Patton Avenue in West Asheville and on Sweeten Creek Road in South Asheville. For vegan kitchens and meat-free menus, see the [Dig Deeper guide to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Asheville](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/2-best-vegetarian-food-in-asheville-nc).

Riyen Roots

The Scoop