The 9 Tastiest Hidden Gems To Eat In Tennessee

Y’all won’t believe the mouth-watering treasures I’ve discovered while eating my way through Tennessee! From smoky barbecue joints tucked away in Memphis alleys to charming family-owned cafes nestled in the Smoky Mountain foothills, this state is bursting with culinary surprises. I’ve compiled my absolute favorite under-the-radar eateries that locals cherish but tourists often miss. Grab your appetite and let’s explore these 9 delicious hidden gems across the Volunteer State!

1. Arnold’s Country Kitchen: Where Nashville Royalty Gets Their Meat-and-Three

If walls could talk, Arnold’s bright red cinder block building would tell tales of music legends, politicians, and everyday Nashvillians who’ve stood in its cafeteria line since 1982. Unlike fancy downtown eateries, this

James Beard Award-winning meat-and-three doesn’t put on airs – just puts out incredible Southern cooking.

Walking through the door, you’re immediately hit with the intoxicating aroma of fried chicken, roast beef, and at least a dozen vegetable sides simmering away. The daily-changing chalkboard menu keeps regulars coming back to try whatever Mrs. Rose Arnold and family feel like cooking that day.

Somehow, their cornbread tastes exactly like my grandmother’s – slightly sweet, crispy-edged, and perfect for sopping up pot likker from their heavenly turnip greens. Cash only, so come prepared, but at these prices, you’ll eat like Tennessee royalty!

2. Bongo Java: Memphis’ Caffeinated Cultural Hub

However unlikely it seems, this funky coffee shop has become the beating heart of Memphis’ arts district. Housed in a converted Victorian home with mismatched furniture and local artwork covering every inch of wall space, Bongo Java feels more like your eccentric aunt’s living room than a cafe.

Beyond their exceptional coffee (roasted in small batches just outside the city), what keeps me coming back is their breakfast menu that somehow manages to be both health-conscious and indulgent. Their “Elvis Lives” breakfast sandwich – banana, peanut butter, and bacon on homemade bread – pays perfect homage to the King while fueling creative conversations.

Though often packed with musicians, writers, and artists sketching in notebooks, the staff remembers regulars’ orders and creates an atmosphere where lingering is encouraged. Don’t miss their famous “Protest Cookies” – oversized treats with clever political messages written in icing that change with current events!

3. Tupelo Honey: Knoxville’s Southern Comfort Reimagined

Nestled in Knoxville’s Market Square, Tupelo Honey serves Southern classics with unexpected twists that’ll make your grandma jealous and your taste buds dance. While the restaurant has expanded to other cities, this location maintains its soul with locally-sourced ingredients and a devotion to Appalachian culinary traditions.

Their fried green tomatoes arrive stacked like a savory layer cake with goat cheese and basil in between each crispy slice. Meanwhile, the sweet potato pancakes – topped with spiced pecans and apple cider bacon – blur the line between breakfast and dessert in the most delightful way.

Behind the bar, mixologists craft cocktails featuring Tennessee whiskey and honey harvested from their own rooftop beehives. Though tourists occasionally discover this gem, locals know to arrive early for Sunday brunch when biscuits the size of your fist come with blueberry jam made from berries picked in the Smoky Mountains just hours before.

4. City House: Nashville’s Italian-Southern Love Child

If Italy and Tennessee had a baby, it would be City House – a restaurant that marries Old World techniques with Southern ingredients in Nashville’s historic Germantown. Chef Tandy Wilson, a James Beard Award winner, creates magic in a renovated 1901 home where exposed brick walls and an open kitchen invite you into the culinary process.

Though everyone raves about their wood-fired pizzas (rightfully so), I’m obsessed with their belly ham pizza topped with house-cured pork, mozzarella, and a cracked farm egg. The menu changes constantly, but always features unexpected combinations like catfish served over creamy grits with pickled ramps or cornmeal-crusted sweetbreads that convert even the most offal-averse diners.

Sunday suppers here are legendary among locals – family-style feasts with no menu, just whatever inspired the chef at the farmers market that morning. Come hungry and trust the process, as every bite tells the story of Tennessee’s agricultural bounty through an Italian lens.

5. The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden: Nashville’s Prescription for Hunger

Hidden behind an unassuming facade in East Nashville, The Pharmacy serves up what might be the best burger therapy you’ll ever experience. Their farm-to-table philosophy isn’t just trendy talk – they grind their meat in-house daily and bake their buns from scratch.

What makes this place magical is their old-school soda fountain where pharmacists (okay, they’re really mixologists) craft homemade sodas and milkshakes that’ll transport you straight back to childhood. Though the garden seating area fills up faster than a Tennessee swimming hole in July, it’s worth the wait to enjoy your burger under twinkling lights and tall trees.

My personal prescription? The Farm Burger topped with country ham, bacon, and a farm egg, paired with their handcrafted root beer. Your taste buds will thank you for this delicious medicine!

6. Five Daughters Bakery: Franklin’s Cronut Kingdom

Whoever said “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” has clearly never tried a 100 Layer Donut from this family-owned bakery in downtown Franklin. As the name suggests, the Doyle family (with five daughters) creates pastries that have developed a cult following throughout Middle Tennessee.

Their signature creation takes three days to make – a croissant-donut hybrid with layers so distinct you could actually count them if you weren’t too busy experiencing pastry nirvana. Flavors rotate seasonally, but the Maple Glaze studded with locally-sourced bacon bits has caused more than one customer to shed actual tears of joy.

Though lines often stretch around the block on weekends, the pink interior with its hand-painted murals and the intoxicating aroma of butter and sugar make waiting almost as enjoyable as eating. My insider tip? Their “Rescue Donuts” (slightly imperfect but perfectly delicious) go on sale an hour before closing and sell out within minutes!

7. The Tomato Head: Knoxville’s Veggie-Forward Pioneer

Before plant-based eating became trendy, The Tomato Head was quietly revolutionizing Knoxville’s food scene from a tiny spot on Market Square. Since 1990, this locally-owned restaurant has proved that vegetarian food can be hearty enough to satisfy even the most dedicated carnivores.

Their signature Kepner Melt – a sandwich stuffed with smoked tofu, pesto, and roasted red peppers -converted me from a tofu skeptic to an evangelist in one bite. Meanwhile, their pizza dough, made fresh daily and topped with unexpected combinations like sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, and blue cheese, has ruined me for ordinary pizza forever.

What truly sets this place apart is their commitment to local artists – the rotating gallery walls feature Knoxville creatives, while local musicians perform on weekend evenings. Even their bathroom walls are covered in customer-written poetry and philosophical musings! Come for lunch, but be prepared to stay until dinner as this community gathering spot tends to inspire lingering conversations.

8. Hog & Hominy: Nashville’s Italian-Southern Fusion Masterpiece

Childhood friends Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman turned their Italian grandmothers’ recipes and Southern upbringings into Nashville’s most exciting restaurant concept. Located in a converted ranch-style house, Hog & Hominy’s casual atmosphere belies the sophisticated culinary magic happening in its open kitchen.

Their wood-fired oven produces pizzas that would make a Neapolitan proud, but with toppings that reflect Tennessee’s agricultural bounty. The “Red Eye” pizza – topped with pork belly, egg, and coffee-spiked sugo – somehow makes perfect sense despite sounding like a breakfast gone rogue.

Though many come for the pizza, regulars know their pasta steals the show. Handmade daily, their pappardelle with Tennessee-raised rabbit ragu maintains perfect textural balance while honoring both Southern and Italian traditions. The restaurant even maintains its own vegetable garden out back, where diners can enjoy bocce ball while waiting for a table. Worth noting: their cocktail program featuring house-infused spirits pairs perfectly with the bold flavors of their food.

9. Central BBQ: Memphis’ Smoke-Infused Paradise

Though Memphis boasts countless barbecue joints, locals consistently line up outside Central BBQ’s original location on Central Avenue. Why? Because owners Craig Blondis and Roger Sapp spent years perfecting their dry rub before opening in 2002, and they still smoke their meats the old-fashioned way – low and slow over hickory and pecan wood.

Unlike other establishments that focus solely on pork, Central excels at everything smoky. Their fall-off-the-bone ribs – dry rubbed with 14 secret spices and smoked for hours – require no sauce, though their homemade options range from sweet to tangy to “holy-moly-my-mouth-is-on-fire” hot. Meanwhile, their smoked turkey might be the most underrated item on the menu, remaining impossibly juicy while absorbing all that wonderful smoke flavor.

For the full Memphis experience, order the BBQ nachos with house-made chips, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and their legendary cheese sauce that locals would drink straight if socially acceptable. Just remember: no discussion of Memphis barbecue is complete without mentioning their perfectly charred, dry-rubbed wings!