Here's Where You Can Find the Best Carrot Cakes in the South

The Pit
Photo: Facebook/The Pit Authentic BBQ

There's a reason Southerners love carrot cake. Perhaps it's the spiced, nutty flavor, or possibly the tender, ultra-moist layers, or maybe the sweet, silky cream cheese frosting…okay, there might be a lot of reasons. As much as we love carrot cake and our many delicious recipe variations, it's also quite hard to pass it up when we spot it on a menu. According to Yelp, we aren't the only ones. With data provided from Yelp, we've rounded up the top 15 places to get carrot cake in the South, ranked using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning carrot cake at non-chain restaurants. With mouthwatering versions ranging from Warm Buttermilk Glazed Carrot Cake to Carrot Cake French Toast, these spots don't disappoint when it comes to serving up top-notch homemade carrot cake in all shapes and sizes. We don't know about you, but we're already checking to see which places are within driving distance.

01 of 15

Secreto Kitchen & Bar

Secreto Kitchen & Bar
Facebook/Secreto Kitchen & Bar

Alpharetta, Georgia
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You can't go wrong with a mouthwatering slice of this Georgia hotspot's Warm Buttermilk Glazed Carrot Cake topped with orange-cream cheese frosting.

02 of 15

Fireman Derek's Bake Shop & Café

Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop & Café
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop & Café

Miami, Florida
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Once you get past the impressive selection of beautiful pie slices (including a colorful birthday-inspired Sundae Slice!), you'll happily land on their praline-coated carrot cake with classic cream cheese frosting.

03 of 15

Baked & Wired

Baked & Wired
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Washington, D.C.
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This Georgetown spot is known for making decadent small-batch baked goods for D.C. residents and visitors, but the spiced carrot cake is mighty hard to pass up on any visit.

04 of 15

Herban Fix – Vegan Kitchen

Herban Fix – Vegan Kitchen
Yelp via Kirsten O.

Atlanta, Georgia
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This Atlanta restaurant is part plant-based, part Asian fusion—and while the desserts largely coast under the radar on their website, Yelp reviewers rave over the beautiful presentation and not-too-sweet flavor of the carrot cake.

05 of 15

Founding Farmers – D.C.

Founding Farmers – D.C.
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Washington, D.C.
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You'll find this punny place just three blocks west of the White House. The urban farmhouse-style restaurant boasts an epic menu, but the carrot cake stands out with its deliciously whipped cream cheese frosting.

06 of 15

Killen's BBQ

Killen’s BBQ
Facebook/Killen’s BBQ

Pearland, Texas
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If you're cool with getting your five-star barbecue served on a classic cafeteria tray and with a few slices of plain white bread, then this Texan barbecue joint is for you. Top off the visit with a hearty stack of their carrot sheet cake.

07 of 15

South Congress Café

South Congress Café
Facebook/South Congress Café

Austin, Texas
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This old-school café wows the Texas crowd with variations of carrot cake, such as its Carrot Cake French Toast that makes us want to make the trip for Sunday brunch.

08 of 15

Southside Grill

Southside Grill
Yelp via W.B.

Surfside Beach, South Carolina
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This place is one of those that doesn't look like much on the outside, but only because all the good stuff is located inside! The little café is over 20 years old, and customers are still raving about the carrot cake.

09 of 15

Graze on Main

Graze on Main
Yelp via Sharon R.

Wytheville, Virginia
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You'll find a classic, yet reimagined Southern menu at this Virginia establishment, with dishes like hot pimiento cheese dip and beer-braised collards. We found ourselves drooling over their almost bread-like carrot cake that's topped with a dollop of frosting and dusted with cinnamon.

10 of 15

Ocean Prime

Ocean Prime
Ocean Prime

Orlando, Florida
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This upscale steakhouse is no stranger to rave reviews all around, but its carrot cake makes a real statement with ten, thin layers.

11 of 15

The New Vegan

The New Vegan
Yelp via Silvana M.

Delray Beach, Florida
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While the falafel burger might be a standout item on this plant-based menu, the 'crazy' carrot cake with ice cream doesn't disappoint either.

12 of 15

Café Le Crumbs

Café Le Crumbs
Yelp via Jolie W.

Nashville, Tennessee
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You won't find a reviewer of this café that doesn't mention the carrot cake, with reviews citing terms like "to die for," "worth the trip alone," and "the real deal." We're convinced.

13 of 15

DeVivo Bros. Eatery

DeVivo Bros. Eatery
DeVivo Bros. Eatery

Keller, Texas
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In this eatery, you'll find a counter full of homemade cakes under big clear domes that look straight out of Mama's kitchen. The carrot cake is a must try.

14 of 15

The Pit

The Pit
Facebook/The Pit Authentic BBQ

Raleigh, North Carolina
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This authentic North Carolina barbecue spot in the downtown warehouse district of Raleigh tops their classic carrot cake with a warm drizzle of caramel.

15 of 15

Danielle's Desserts

Danielle’s Desserts
Yelp via Tawfeeq K.

McLean, Virginia
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Like our famous Hummingbird Cake and Best-Ever Carrot Cake, this carrot cake packs in some pineapple for an extra-moist finish. The lightly spiced batter rounds out the flavor just perfectly.

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