14 Tennessee Restaurants So Popular, The Wait Is Totally Worth It
In Tennessee, some restaurants have built legendary reputations that keep diners coming back again and again.
The aroma of smoky barbecue, sizzling skillets, and freshly baked desserts fills the air as eager crowds line up, anticipating every bite.
Each plate tells a story of tradition, flavor, and passion for food. Here, waiting in line transforms into part of the experience, making the first taste even more satisfying and unforgettable.
1. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken (Nashville)
Spice seekers, rejoice! Hattie B’s serves Nashville’s iconic hot chicken in heat levels from ‘Southern’ (no heat) to ‘Shut the Cluck Up’ (inferno in your mouth).
The chicken arrives with a gorgeous red-hued crust, perfectly crispy outside and juicy inside. Pair it with their pimento mac and cheese and banana pudding to balance the burn.
Weekend lines often stretch down the block, but the efficient staff keeps things moving, and that first fiery bite makes any wait worthwhile.
2. Prince’s Hot Chicken (Nashville)
Legends never die at Prince’s, the original Nashville hot chicken joint that started the city’s spiciest food trend nearly 100 years ago.
The no-frills spot serves chicken so legendary that locals and tourists alike brave hours-long waits. Family-owned since 1945, Prince’s recipe remains a closely guarded secret.
Their chicken comes wrapped in white bread with pickles to tame the heat. Even mild packs a punch here, so order carefully – this is the genuine article!
3. Loveless Cafe (Nashville)
Country cooking finds its perfect home at this Nashville institution, serving heavenly biscuits since 1951.
The secret biscuit recipe (passed down through generations) produces cloud-like pillows of buttery perfection that arrive hot at your table.
Famous for its down-home breakfast served all day, Loveless draws crowds for its country ham, red-eye gravy, and preserves made on-site.
The iconic neon sign welcomes visitors from across the globe.
Weekends see two-hour waits, but the country store shopping helps pass the time.
4. Monell’s (Nashville)
Family-style dining reaches new heights at this Nashville treasure housed in a Victorian mansion. Strangers become friends as everyone shares massive platters of Southern classics passed around communal tables.
The all-you-can-eat feast includes skillet fried chicken, green beans cooked with country ham, corn pudding, and flaky biscuits. No menus here – you get what they’re cooking that day, and it’s always spectacular.
Sunday brunch draws the biggest crowds, with wait times approaching two hours for their legendary comfort food.
5. Peg Leg Porker (Nashville)
Barbecue royalty reigns at this Nashville smokehouse run by pitmaster Carey Bringle, who lost his leg to cancer as a teenager (hence the name).
The dry-rubbed ribs – falling off the bone and kissed with hickory smoke – consistently rank among America’s best.
Don’t miss the BBQ nachos topped with pulled pork and tangy sauce or the uniquely delicious kool-aid pickles.
The Memphis-style ‘cue attracts barbecue pilgrims from across the country. The line moves steadily, but arriving early helps beat the lunch rush.
6. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint (Downtown Nashville)
Whole hog barbecue takes center stage at Martin’s, where pitmaster Pat Martin slow-cooks entire pigs over hickory coals for nearly 24 hours.
The downtown location features an impressive “pit room” where visitors can watch the smoky magic happen.
The pulled pork sandwich – topped with slaw and served on a humble bun – showcases Tennessee barbecue in its purest form.
Their famous “Redneck Taco” piles tender meat atop a cornbread hoe-cake.
Lines form early, especially during Nashville’s busy tourist season and weekends.
7. Biscuit Love (The Gulch, Nashville)
Morning hunger pangs meet their match at this breakfast phenomenon that graduated from food truck to brick-and-mortar sensation.
Lines form before dawn for their “East Nasty” – a buttermilk biscuit sandwich stuffed with fried chicken, cheddar, and sausage gravy.
Bonuts – fried biscuit dough tossed in sugar and served with blueberry compote – have achieved cult status among Nashville foodies.
The bright, airy space in trendy Gulch neighborhood buzzes with energy.vPro tip: weekday visits cut wait times significantly.
8. Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken (Downtown Memphis)
Crispy perfection awaits inside this unassuming Memphis institution where the chicken emerges with a thin, spicy crust that shatters with each bite.
Unlike Nashville’s hot chicken, Gus’s heat comes from within the batter itself, delivering a slow-building warmth rather than face-melting spice.
The downtown location’s humble diner setting belies the world-class chicken within. Sides of baked beans and slaw provide perfect counterpoints to the main attraction.
Celebrity fans include Nora Jones and Jerry Seinfeld, who make pilgrimages when in town.
9. Central BBQ (Downtown Memphis)
Memphis BBQ reaches its pinnacle at this beloved institution where ribs spend 24 hours marinating before meeting smoke.
The dry-rubbed ribs showcase a perfect pink smoke ring and bark (crust) that barbecue aficionados dream about.
Their pulled pork nachos – house-made chips loaded with meat, cheese, and BBQ sauce – have developed a fanatical following.
The downtown location near the National Civil Rights Museum offers a perfect post-sightseeing meal. Lines move efficiently, but arriving between traditional meal times helps avoid the rush.
10. Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous (Memphis)
Hidden in a downtown Memphis alley since 1948, this basement institution serves arguably the most famous dry ribs in America.
The charcoal-broiled ribs come coated in a secret spice blend with Greek and Cajun influences – a technique that breaks traditional BBQ rules yet creates something magical.
Presidents and celebrities regularly make detours to sample these uniquely Memphis-style ribs. The vintage décor features decades of memorabilia covering every wall.
Weekend waits can stretch two hours, but nearby Beale Street offers plenty of pre-dinner entertainment.
11. Cozy Corner BBQ (Memphis)
Smoke signals rise from this family-owned Memphis gem where Desiree Robinson (in her 80s) still oversees operations started by her late husband.
Their specialty – Cornish game hen – emerges from the smoker bronzed and succulent, offering a unique alternative to traditional barbecue cuts.
The unassuming cinderblock building houses serious barbecue magic.
Locals swear by the bologna sandwich, an elevated version of the lunchbox staple that will forever change how you view this humble meat. Cash only, so come prepared!
12. Pancake Pantry (Gatlinburg)
Mountain mornings begin beautifully at this Gatlinburg institution where pancakes reach art form status.
Twenty-four varieties of scratch-made flapjacks include standouts like wild blueberry, Swiss chocolate chip, and the legendary sweet potato pancakes topped with cinnamon cream.
Founded in 1960, the restaurant mills its own flour for unmatched freshness and flavor. The rustic cabin-like atmosphere perfectly complements the Smoky Mountain setting.
Summer tourists and leaf-peepers create lines wrapping around the building, but servers keep coffee flowing for waiting guests.
13. The Old Mill Restaurant (Pigeon Forge)
History flavors every bite at this Smoky Mountain landmark built around a working 1830s gristmill.
Massive portions of Southern classics arrive at your table alongside complimentary corn chowder, corn fritters, and preserves that have customers begging for the recipes.
The signature country fried steak with sawmill gravy uses flour ground on-site in the water-powered mill. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the mill’s massive water wheel turning in the adjacent stream.
After dinner, explore the surrounding craft shops housed in historic buildings.
14. Crockett’s Breakfast Camp (Gatlinburg)
Mountainous portions match the Smoky Mountain setting at this Gatlinburg breakfast spot named for frontiersman David “Crockett” Ogle.
The signature cinnamon swirl pancakes arrive larger than the plate they’re served on, while the griddle camp skillets could feed a family of hungry hikers.
Log cabin decor with vintage frontier tools creates a rustic atmosphere perfect for fueling up before mountain adventures.
Their signature “Crockett’s Breakfast” features thick-cut sugar-cured ham from a century-old recipe. Summer waits routinely exceed an hour, but the mountain views provide pleasant distraction.