Ben's Tune Up

Really good sake drinks! Came in here on a Friday night and did not expect it to be as loud as it was, but hey I didn't mind! Just keep in mind it kinda goes into a club vibe a bit later in the night on the weekends!!

Ever wanted to go to one of the Japanese back-alley restaurant bars like you see in the movies, but can't afford a trip to Japan? Well if you live in Asheville or are visiting, you're in luck: just go to Ben's Tune Up instead. Divey, but in a good way and a huge outdoor space in addition to a good-sized indoor area. We came here for both the food and the sake. I've only ever had sake in a Japanese restaurant and it is always served warm/room temperature. I didn't dislike it, but never anything to much like about it either. This place brews their own sake and serves it on their terms. No boring room temperature sake here. I got a flight of 2 traditional sakes (the natural nigori and black label premium) and 2 infused sakes (lemon ginger and painkiller nigori, which has pineapple, orange, coconut and nutmeg). All were served chilled. I loved the natural (so this is what sake is supposed to taste like!). The black label was good, but had more of a bite like drinking a straight shot of alcohol. The lemon ginger was very refreshing, like a beer from local brewery Ginger's Revenge. The painkiller was a great way to end the flight and the meal -- almost like a dessert in a drink. Complex flavors that really worked well together. Now to the food. I'm a French fry lover and theirs gave me some lovin' back. A little on the salty side (which I like), but crispy outside and potatoey on the inside. Some of the best fries in AVL. I had the gochujang chicken thigh sandwich. I have never had a thigh as tender and tasty as this one. Excellent. The sauce was nicely spiced -- not really hot spicy, but still a little zing. My husband had the braised pork shoulder sandwich. He said it was good, but was expecting a little more something-something from the blueberry sauce. Service was average. Now here's the thing about that -- and what kept me from giving them a full-on 5 star. I noticed on the bill that they automatically add a service charge. What? Is this Europe? And the default tip amounts set in their payment app started at 20%. Keep in mind you order at the bar and bus your own table. I have nothing but respect for hospitality workers and restaurant owners (my dad ran a restaurant). I tip 15-20% even when I order at the bar and bus my own table. BUT I don't like it when there is a service charge added and when my tip seems like an obligation, not a choice that I make to show the staff I appreciate their service and recognize they should make a livable wage here in AVL. I'll go back (great place to go with a group of friends I think), but I'll tip what I want and mentally include the service charge in the tip amount.

SO FUN!The bartender let us sample different sake flavors before committing to a full cup. I really enjoyed the Cranberry Spritz. It was like drinking a tart cranberry juice. They even have food here including dumplings, nachos, fries, and more! The vibes were great and so was the crowd. They had a DJ playing on a Saturday night and everyone was dancing and having a good time. Ambiance and vibe is a key factor in if I would return to a bar, and this definitely fits my criteria! I'd definitely return again.

Came in to try the sake and wasn't disappointed! 3 different varieties and all were great (: Very chill atmosphere too. Nice local spot for sure!

Such a cool and unique venue, even for Asheville standards! This bar is tucked away and secluded but has such a fun vibe on the inside. They carry mainly sake, but also have beer and cider as well. There is plenty of room to sit, talk, or play ping pong. They venue also frequently hosts shows and charges a cover fee at the door for certain performances. Overall, it's a great venue with good drink options. I recommend!

Very nice vibezzz with beer options as well as house-made sake. My first time trying the sake seltzer. DJ started playing at 8? Saturday night. The crowd seemed friendly. I think they start charging cover later in the night so if you want to go earlier, there was no cover to get in.

We had a BLAST here while spending the weekend in Asheville. We tried a sake flight and my boyfriend had a few beers, not sure which ones. The atmosphere was super chill and the music was all 90s hip hop and r&b which is my vibe forsure. Bailey was fantastic! She kept our drinks flowing and gave great recommendations for sake and food when my boyfriend wanted to order something to eat. We will definitely be back whenever we visit again.

My favorite Asheville brewery and it's not beer! The service is great. The ambiance is casual and fun. This is the best spot to bring people from out of town.

We stopped here on the way to another brewery and was a very unique place and had many game options. I like the outdoor area, but it was a little colder the day we stopped.I've never seen a Scrabble board the size they made one out back.

Ben's has a cool vibe with great ambiance. It was a warehouse converted into a bar. It has indoor seating and outdoor patio. There is so much to see. They have a large selection of sake and flights. Their beer selection was decent. We ordered a few appetizers and was pleasantly surprised at how good they were. The potstickers were crispy and light, not overly fried. The sauce was soy based. We also tried the egg rolls. I liked the way they sliced them in half, but the long way. They also were very good, but the sauce was exceptional. Overall, a nice relaxed vibe for drinks and appetizers.