On my two separate trips to Tennessee, I got a chance to experience what true southern hospitality means. From the cuisine to their massive portion sizes and in this post, I’ll share all my favorite spots that stuck with me even after I landed back in Seattle and wouldn’t hesitate to go back to try them again.
Yes, that’s how good some were!
In this blog post, you will find a list of eateries between Nashville and Pigeon Forge, because these were my two main bases in Tennessee on two separate trips. On these trips, we got to try many amazing spots that are worth adding to your list no matter what city you’ll be visiting, as you never know these restaurants might bring you to those cities.
One thing to note is that portion sizes at several restaurants were much larger than we expected. If you are visiting as a couple or group, consider sharing a few dishes instead of ordering everything individually.
What Is a Classic Southern Plate?
You can’t write about Tennessee food without the meat-and-three. It’s the classic Southern lunch plate: you pick one meat, then three sides, and it usually comes with cornbread or a roll and a glass of sweet tea. It’s like a Southern thali, a main, a few sides, everything on one plate, and nobody leaves hungry.
The sides are where it gets fun. Mac and cheese, collard greens, green beans, fried okra, mashed potatoes, and turnip greens are all common. Yes, mac and cheese counts as a vegetable here, and I’m not going to argue with it.
Arnold’s Country Kitchen is the meat-and-three that Nashville locals send first-timers to. It’s a no-frills cafeteria-style spot where you grab a tray and move down the line, choosing your meat and sides as you go. The roast beef and fried chicken are the usual go-to mains.
Top Food Spots in East Tennessee
Dolly Parton’s Stampede
Dinner shows are one of Pigeon Forge’s biggest attractions, and there are plenty to choose from. On my weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, we made Pigeon Forge our base and picked Dolly Parton’s Stampede as a small tribute to one of our favorite country artists. After a few days in the national park, it was a lively change of pace.
You can read all about it in my review post here, but this is where I tried Memphis-style barbecue for the first time and absolutely loved it. And I ate a whole chicken by myself, which was quite a fun and unique dinner experience.
Where: 3849 Parkway, Pigeon Forge
Mountain Breakfast
Mountain Breakfast is a popular Gatlinburg spot, and we stopped here after an early drive along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The wait often runs past 20 minutes, but we got a table before the lines started.
The creekside setting was my favorite part. We sipped coffee and ate eggs Benedict to the sound of running water, which was the perfect way to slow down after the drive. If you’re exploring Roaring Fork in the morning, it makes a convenient breakfast stop.
Where: 544 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg
Gorilla Taco
Gorilla Taco is one of the quirkier places we tried in Pigeon Forge. It was started by the same people behind the Tennessee chain Blue Moose Burgers and Wings.
We ordered the Fajita Plate, which came with complimentary chips and salsa, and the portion was huge. We also loved the ambiance and branding, which has far more personality than your average taco stop. Everyone there was friendly, and we ended up chatting with the staff about the designs.
Where: 115 Music Mountain Dr, Pigeon Forge
Calhoun’s
Calhoun’s is a long-standing East Tennessee favorite, owned by the Copper Cellar Family Restaurant group, which runs several other restaurants in the area. We visited the Pigeon Forge location hoping to try the ribs, but they had sold out by the time we arrived.
Lesson learned: if you have your heart set on one dish, arrive early.
However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we ended up trying a lot other dishes, like their house salad, chicken wings, fish and chips and, grilled prawns, and honestly the ribs were not missed. Everything was delicious.
Where: 2532 Parkway, Pigeon Forge
Smoky Mountains Brewery
We ended up at Smoky Mountains Brewery by accident. Calhoun’s had a long wait, so we started walking to kill time and stumbled upon its sister property. The line here was long too, but the bar seats were free.
We did a quick tasting flight and found a new favorite beer, Cherokee Red Ale. If you’re looking for solid beer and pizza, this is your place.
Where: 2530 Parkway, Pigeon Forge
Top Food Spots in Central Tennessee
Cracker Barrel
You can find Cracker Barrel almost everywhere in the USA, but the store-and-restaurant combo started right here in Tennessee, off Interstate 40 at Highway 109. The idea was simple: serve southern-style hospitality to travelers, and they’ve been doing it ever since.
I had wanted to try one every time I passed by, and I finally got my chance on the Smokies trip. We stopped for brunch, and the portions were so big we didn’t need dinner. My favorite part was the complimentary bread basket with a variety of southern breads. Every one was delicious.
Where: 23 Executive Dr, Crossville
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Prince’s is the original. This is where Nashville hot chicken was born over 100 years ago, thanks to a scorned lover who tried to punish Thornton Prince by serving him chicken doused in hot spices. Joke was on her, he loved it, and the rest is history.
The chicken at Prince’s is no joke. It’s spicy, it’s juicy, the breading is thick and craggy and holds onto all that heat. We got the medium (which is already pretty hot) with a side of crinkle-cut fries and white bread to soak up the grease. The pickles on top cut through the heat just enough to keep you going back for more. It’s served on humble paper-lined trays, and the whole vibe is no-frills, just-good-food. Exactly what hot chicken should be.
Where: Assembly Food Hall, Nashville
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s is the more polished, slightly more accessible version of hot chicken. They have multiple locations around Nashville, the lines move faster, and the space is a bit more modern. But don’t let that fool you. The chicken is still damn good. Hattie B’s also has a great patio, so if the weather’s nice, grab a table outside and just lean into the experience.
We tried the “Damn Hot” level (they have Southern, Mild, Medium, Hot, Damn Hot, and Shut the Cluck Up). Damn Hot was our sweet spot, enough heat to make your lips tingle and your nose run, but not so much that you can’t enjoy the flavor. The chicken is tender, the batter is crispy, and the sides (we got mac and cheese and baked beans) are comforting and necessary after all that spice.
Where: 112 19th Ave S, West Nashville
Pepperfire Hot Chicken
We didn’t make it to Pepperfire this trip, but it came highly recommended from every local we talked to. It’s known for being less touristy than Prince’s or Hattie B’s, and the locals swear the chicken is just as good, if not better. They’re in East Nashville, which is a bit more off the beaten path, but if you have time, it’s worth the detour.
Where: 1000 Gallatin Ave, East Nashville
Pho Kitchen
I know this is an unusual recommendation for Tennessee, but I wanted to mention this since I loved everything about this place. We stopped here on our way back from Pigeon Forge to the airport and got a to-go order of a bowl of traditional Pho and a Vermicelli bowl. We were craving something light and soupy and Pho is the first thing that comes to my mind always. Therefore, after a lot of searching, we came across this in Cookeville, which by the way has many other highly rated food spots, so if you’re around you can definitely consider stopping by. Both the dishes were true to their flavor and delicious.
Where: 109 N Cedar Ave, Cookeville
Tennessee is a big food state, and I only scratched the surface across these two trips. Still on my list for next time: dry-rub ribs in Memphis (Rendezvous and Central BBQ are the names everyone mentions), biscuits at Biscuit Love or Loveless Cafe, a stack of pancakes at Pancake Pantry, a Goo Goo Cluster as a Nashville candy souvenir, and apple fritters at the Apple Barn Cider Mill in Sevierville.
If whiskey is more your speed, check out my Nashville Whiskey Tasting blog post. Have a Tennessee food spot I should add to my next trip? Let me know in the comments.
