6 Tennessee Chicken Fried Steak Plates So Huge They Hang Over The Edges
I’ll never forget the first time I ordered chicken fried steak in Tennessee and watched my server approach carrying what looked like a medieval serving platter.
The golden-brown beauty practically cascaded over the edges, defying the laws of plate capacity.
Tennessee doesn’t mess around when it comes to Southern comfort food, and these restaurants prove that bigger is always better when it’s smothered in creamy gravy and surrounded by mountains of sides.
1. Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen – Nashville, TN
Walking into Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen feels like stepping into your Southern grandmother’s dining room—if your grandmother cooked for an army battalion. They serve everything family-style here, which means platters arrive at your table loaded with enough food to feed four adults, even when you’re flying solo. The chicken fried steak comes out looking like it bench-presses smaller steaks for fun.
Plates so full you can’t see the table underneath isn’t just clever marketing—it’s an accurate warning label. The crispy coating stays crunchy even under rivers of gravy, and the meat inside is fork-tender perfection. I once tried to photograph my plate and couldn’t fit the whole thing in the frame, which pretty much sums up the experience.
2. Arnold’s Country Kitchen – Nashville, TN
Arnold’s operates on the classic meat-and-three cafeteria model, where you point at what you want and pray your tray can handle the weight. Their country fried steak has achieved cult status among Nashville locals who know good food when they see it spilling over plate edges. The kind of serving that makes you loosen your belt before you start is basically their unofficial motto.
What sets Arnold’s apart is the no-nonsense approach to flavor—they let the perfectly seasoned, hand-breaded steak do the talking. The gravy here leans toward the peppery side, cutting through the richness with just enough spice to keep things interesting. Fair warning: ordering this requires commitment and possibly a food coma contingency plan for later.
3. The Old Mill Restaurant – Pigeon Forge, TN
Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains sits a restaurant where portion control apparently never made it past the hostess stand. The Old Mill has been feeding hungry tourists and locals since forever, and their chicken fried steak is legendary for all the right reasons. Golden, crispy, and drowning in enough gravy to fill a swimming pool, this beast literally hangs off your plate like it’s trying to escape.
One bite and you’ll understand why people plan naps into their afternoon itinerary. The meat is tender enough to cut with a fork, and the peppery gravy adds just the right kick. This isn’t just dinner—it’s a full mountain-sized experience that’ll have you unbuttoning your jeans before dessert even arrives at the table.
4. Loveless Café – Nashville, TN
Sure, Loveless Café built its reputation on biscuits that could make angels weep, but their chicken fried steak deserves its own fan club. This golden, crispy masterpiece arrives at your table looking like it’s auditioning for a role in a food documentary about excess. The plate isn’t big enough for what they’re serving, and honestly, I’m not sure any plate would be.
Every inch of that steak gets coated in a perfectly seasoned crust that stays shatteringly crispy despite the gravy tsunami. The meat underneath is so tender it practically dissolves on your tongue, making every calorie absolutely worth it. Pro tip: save room for those famous biscuits, or just embrace the inevitable food coma with open arms and zero regrets.
5. Puckett’s Restaurant – Nashville/Franklin/Columbia, TN
Puckett’s brings that authentic roadhouse vibe where live music competes with the sizzle from the kitchen, and somehow the food still steals the show. Their chicken fried steak portions are what I’d call “aggressively generous”—the kind that make you question whether the kitchen staff understands basic geometry. Half the fun is figuring out how to fit it all on one plate, though spoiler alert: it doesn’t fit.
The breading here has serious crunch factor, staying crispy even when you’re halfway through your meal and completely stuffed. They don’t skimp on the gravy either, ladling it on with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely wants you to experience maximum comfort food bliss. Between the toe-tapping music and plate-overflowing steak, Puckett’s nails the whole Tennessee experience.
6. Monell’s – Nashville, TN
Forget everything you know about restaurant dining, because Monell’s operates on a completely different wavelength. You don’t get your own plate—you get a share in the feast, sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers who quickly become friends over communal platters. The chicken fried steak arrives on serving dishes that look like they were borrowed from a medieval banquet, piled high and passed around until everyone taps out.
There’s something magical about watching a platter of golden-brown, gravy-drenched steak make its way around the table while everyone takes their share. The family-style setup means you can try multiple things without committing to one massive plate, though let’s be honest—you’ll still leave stuffed. This is Southern hospitality at its finest and most delicious.