Tennessee is known nationwide for its trademark Southern eats and spirits, from hot chicken to biscuits to Tennessee whiskey. The state is a whiskey hotspot, with live music and local charm adding ambience to many of its distilleries. And of course, the state has its own take on many of the most mouth-watering comfort foods. From scratch-made pancakes to slow-cooked barbecue to sugary MoonPies, here’s where groups can find the state’s signature cuisine.
Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee’s whiskey scene is ever-growing, with more distilleries being added to the Tennessee Whiskey Trail each year. From large labels to local makers, each distillery crafts its whiskey with care. At Nearest Green Distillery, an unlikely friendship created maybe the greatest story you’ve never heard. Tour the distillery in Shelbyville and taste Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, which honors the world’s first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. After a tour of the distillery, guests can head to its on-site restaurant and venue, Humble Baron. They can sit at one of the restaurant’s 202 bar stools to enjoy live music and a meal at the world’s longest bar. Humble Baron is also available for private group events.
For a taste of ultra-local bourbon, visit Old Glory Distillery in Clarksville. Old Glory’s founders grew up right in Clarksville and carry out every step of the process from grinding the grains to aging right on-site. Tour the distillery, then try some of Old Glory’s whiskey, bourbon or even their Tennessee vodka.
Over on the eastern side of the state, Chattanooga Whiskey offers tours of their Experiment Distillery, where they work on unique whiskey creations you can only try there. Groups can check out the visitor’s center before enjoying a guided tour and a tasting.
And of course, no whiskey-themed adventure is complete without a trip to the nation’s oldest registered distillery: Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, a short drive from Nashville. Take a tour of the distillery and pay a visit to the nearby Lynchburg Hardware & General Store, where travelers can stock up on Jack Daniel’s merchandise and keepsakes.
Barbecue
You can’t visit Tennessee without trying some local barbecue. Get started in Memphis with two must-visit classics: Rendezvous and Central BBQ. Rendezvous has been a staple for more than 75 years and is known for its top-notch dry rub ribs. The eatery takes reservations for large groups and is also available for private rentals. Central BBQ hit the scene in 2002 and was founded by two experienced pitmasters on the competitive barbecue circuit. Central BBQ offers a robust menu and even a few uncommon-for-Memphis sauce options.
Travelers visiting nearby Brownsville can’t miss Helen’s Bar-B-Q. (And if Brownsville wasn’t in the travel plans, well, Helen’s alone is enough reason for a detour.) Here, beloved pitmaster Helen Turner whips up classic staples, including her signature rib sandwich and her own legendary hot sauce.
In Nashville, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint is all about west Tennessee-style whole-hog barbecue. Martin’s central Nashville location is expansive and features a beer garden with games and a stage for live entertainment. This location also features private dining spaces for groups.
Good barbecue isn’t just a western-Tennessee find. Another great barbecue hotspot across the state is The Firehouse in Johnson City, an old firehouse converted into a restaurant, which has been serving up hickory-smoked dishes since 1980. Grab a barbecue platter or a tasty barbecue sandwich featuring tender Carolina pulled pork or beef brisket.
Southern Comfort Foods
From fried catfish to succulent country ham, Tennessee has its own twist on the Southern comfort staples. Find a taste of the Smokies at Dancing Bear Lodge & Appalachian Bistro, an eatery in the mountains where farm-to-table Appalachian classics are served. On warm nights, relax around Dancing Bear’s firepit for even more of a classic misty mountain experience.
In Pigeon Forge, the Old Mill Restaurant offers up iconic local flavors at the site of a historic 1780s mill. The Old Mill’s bucolic dining room is the perfect setting for comfort food served family-style. Country fried steak and chicken and dumplings are popular menu staples.
For even more Southern favorites, pay a visit to Applewood Farmhouse Grill in Sevierville. Applewood is Sevierville’s oldest restaurant and has been serving country classics since 1986. The restaurant is especially known for its apple fritters and its apple juleps, which are served with every meal. Applewood has a special group menu that features the restaurant’s most beloved dishes.
The state’s major cities also have their share of soul food. For authentic Southern fried catfish, Soul Fish Café in Memphis is a go-to spot. Since opening its first location in 2006, Soul Fish has been serving its signature catfish and hush puppies. To try some of the tastiest chicken and biscuits in Tennessee, visit the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, which has been serving these classics — along with delectable barbecue and other Southern favorites — for over 70 years.
Hot Chicken
Tennessee — Nashville, specifically — is the birthplace of hot chicken. While the phenomenon has spread across the country, it just tastes better in Tennessee. Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville pioneered the dish and is still open today. As the story goes, nearly a century ago, a scorned girlfriend of a man named Thornton Prince whipped up the dish and served it to him as revenge, hoping the intense spice would put him out of commission for the day, but it was so delicious it became a statewide phenomenon. Today, Prince’s great-niece runs the restaurant that started it all, and it’s still churning out chicken as fresh and spicy as the day it first opened.
A newer arrival onto the hot chicken scene is Hattie B’s, which was founded in 2012 by a father-son team. Now the restaurant has several locations in Nashville, as well as one in Memphis and a few in neighboring states like Alabama and Georgia. It’s popular for not only its hot chicken but also menu items such as pimento macaroni and cheese, and banana pudding.
For a more whimsical approach to hot chicken, groups should visit Party Fowl, which offers fun-loving twists on favorite chicken dishes and a lively atmosphere. Party Fowl also features boozy slushies and local draft beer.
Sweets
From sweet breakfast dishes to full-on desserts, travelers won’t want to miss Tennessee’s iconic treats. Tennessee is home to two especially popular confections: Goo Goo Clusters and MoonPies.
Goo Goo Clusters were created in 1912 and are now known as a Nashville classic. These round, chocolate-covered candies are loaded with marshmallow nougat, peanuts and caramel. Today, visitors can make their own customized clusters at Goo Goo Chocolate Co. in Nashville. A digital kiosk will guide guests through choosing their dream Goo Goo ingredients, which will be handmade by a chocolatier at the on-site chocolate bar.
MoonPies are among Tennessee’s most beloved exports — and for good reason. These treats consist of marshmallow filling sandwiched between graham crackers and coated in chocolate — and once you’ve had one, you’ll only want more. MoonPies have been a classic since 1917, and while they’re distributed across the U.S., they’re made in Chattanooga. Pay a visit to the MoonPie General Store for a vast selection of flavors, as well as MoonPie memorabilia and gifts.
When it comes to sweets that can double as a full meal, the Smoky Mountains region is known for its top-of-the-line pancakes. Since the Smokies’ days as a logging industry center in the early 20th century, pancakes have been a local go-to for a filling, hearty breakfast. Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin in Gatlinburg is a great place for groups to try Appalachian-style pancakes hot off the griddle.
