13 Tennessee Food Sayings That Sound Strange If You’re Not Local

Step into a Tennessee kitchen and you’ll hear phrases that sound like riddles until a plate lands in front of you and suddenly everything makes sense. I fell hard for the warmth, the wit, and the easy confidence behind these sayings, where food is never just food but a shared language passed down without much explanation.

Nothing is rushed, nothing is overthought, and every phrase carries a promise that something good is coming your way.

Listen closely and you’ll notice how casually it all rolls off the tongue, as if everyone was born knowing exactly what a proper supper should look like. Meaning reveals itself the moment sweet tea hits the table, followed by something warm, filling, and meant to be eaten slowly.

The words stop sounding strange once you realize they’re rooted in habit, memory, and kitchens that have seen generations come and go.

Before long, the lingo becomes second nature, tied to flavors you didn’t know you were missing and customs that feel oddly familiar. Come hungry, stay curious, and let these sayings guide you through meals that value comfort over fuss.

By the time you’re done, those once-confusing phrases won’t need translating at all – they’ll simply feel like home.

1. Meat And Three

Nothing confuses newcomers like hearing meat and three and being handed a decision tree. You pick one protein and three sides, then sit back as a symphony of comfort arrives.

Expect crunchy fried chicken beside creamy mac, silky green beans, and a scoop of mashed potatoes wearing brown gravy.

For the classic experience, Arnold’s Country Kitchen dishes it out cafeteria style, with lines that move quick at 605 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203. The magic is in the balance, where tangy turnip greens cut through buttery squash casserole.

You’ll learn that the sides matter as much as the meat.

Order with confidence and ask what’s hot out of the pan. You might swap in stewed okra or a bright tomato casserole when the mood strikes.

Before long, meat and three will feel like a love letter written in starch and salt.

2. All The Fixin’s

Folks say all the fixin’s when they mean every glorious sidekick that turns good into great. Think peppery white gravy, tangy slaw, crunchy pickles, chow chow with a little bite, and warm biscuits that steam when torn open.

It’s the edible confetti that makes a plate feel complete.

When you hear it at Loveless Cafe, you’ll see what the fuss is about at 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221. The biscuit basket is a parade float carrying preserves, honey, and butter.

Add a smear of blackberry jam, then chase it with salty country ham for the full contrast.

Ask for extra chow chow if beans are on your plate. That sharp, mustardy snap wakes everything up like a cymbal crash.

You’ll start saying all the fixin’s without blinking, because you won’t want to leave a single supporting player behind.

3. Hot Chicken

Hearing hot chicken sounds cute until the first bite hits like a firecracker. It’s cayenne heavy, oil slicked, and layered with heat that blooms then lingers.

Served on white bread with pickles, the sweetness and crunch try to keep you steady.

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack is the legend, still drawing believers to 5814 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211. Order your heat level carefully, because medium here would be extra elsewhere.

The bread isn’t decoration, it’s a sponge for spice and a lifeline for your taste buds.

Grab milk if you overshoot bravery. You’ll still chase the burn because the flavor underneath is smoky, slightly sweet, and addictive.

Welcome to the cult, where pain and pleasure share a plate and you grin through the glow.

4. Cathead Biscuit

Locals call them cathead biscuits because they’re as big as a cat’s head, and the size is no joke. These are tender inside, lightly crisp outside, and split into steamy layers that beg for butter.

A drizzle of sorghum or honey turns breakfast into a quiet moment of bliss.

For a shining example, hit Biscuit Love in the Gulch at 316 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203. The biscuits rise tall and proud, ready for gravy or fried chicken.

You’ll see folks cradle them like small treasures, trying not to lose a crumb.

Ask for a side of seasonal jam and take your time. The biscuit will hold up under sausage gravy without collapsing.

After one, you’ll understand why size matters here and why softness is the true flex.

5. Come Back Hungry

Hearing come back hungry sounds like a tease, but it’s pure hospitality. It means you’re family now and the second visit will be even better.

You’ll leave full, then plan your return while licking a bit of sauce from your thumb.

Monell’s makes that promise feel real at 1235 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208. Meals are served family style, bowls passed around long tables while strangers trade stories.

By the time dessert appears, you’ll be leaning back and smiling like a regular.

Schedule extra time because conversation is part of the menu. The fried chicken crunches, the casseroles cozy up, and you’ll want a nap afterward.

Come back hungry becomes a personal invitation, and you’ll mean it when you say you will.

6. Sweet Tea (By Default)

Ordering tea in Tennessee usually gets you sweet by default, no questions asked. The sugar is brewed right in, melting into a caramel kiss that rides over ice.

It tastes like shade on a hot afternoon and pairs with everything salty.

At Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, the pour rarely stops at 500 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219. Servers keep the refills coming like clockwork, and lemon wedges add a sunny lift.

Ask for unsweet if you must, but the house favorite wins many converts.

Pair it with pulled pork or fried catfish, letting the sweetness calm the savor. The clink of cubes becomes its own soundtrack.

Locals sip it slow, like there’s nowhere else they need to be. By the time you leave, tea will mean sweet unless you add a polite edit.

7. Church Supper

Say church supper and you’re talking about a potluck where recipes are heirlooms. Long tables fill with deviled eggs, casseroles crowned in crunchy crumbs, and pies with perfect crimped edges.

The room hums with chatter and the clink of serving spoons.

You’ll find this spirit alive at The Cookery, which supports community at 1827 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203. Plates feel generous and purposeful, drawing neighbors to the table.

It’s not a church basement, but the heart beats the same way.

Bring an appetite and a kind word, because seconds are expected. Taste the macaroni pie, then nod approval like you were raised on it.

Church supper is less an event than a feeling that follows you out the door.

8. Plate Lunch

Plate lunch means quick comfort arranged neatly in a clamshell. You get a protein, two sides, and a roll, then head back to work with a smile.

It’s the noon-hour hero for folks who measure lunch in minutes.

Silver Sands Cafe has the rhythm down at 937 Locklayer St, Nashville, TN 37208. The line inches forward while steam fogs the glass, revealing meatloaf, smothered pork chops, and greens.

You’ll find yourself bargaining for extra gravy like it’s currency.

Grab a banana pudding if it’s hiding near the register. That little dessert fixes any afternoon slump before it starts.

Regulars eat fast but linger just long enough to trade nods and small talk. Plate lunch may look humble, but it lands with the weight of care and routine.

9. Skillet Cornbread

Skillet cornbread arrives sizzling, the edges crisp like a good memory. The crumb is sturdy, slightly sweet or not at all depending on the cook.

Butter melts into the nooks and carries a whisper of smoke from the iron. You smell it before you see it, a cue that comfort is about to land.

Order a round at The Loveless Cafe at 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221, where the cast iron never cools. The slice lifts with a soft sigh, steam curling into the air.

A swipe of sorghum turns every bite into porch swing poetry. Regulars know to ask for it hot, straight from the pan, no waiting.

Try it crumbled into beans or under a ladle of chili. The texture holds, soaking flavors without losing itself.

It’s the kind of side that quietly steals the show. Skillet cornbread is a handshake from the kitchen, firm, warm, and unmistakably Southern.

10. Turnip Greens

Turnip greens taste like the earth got a second wind, dark and soulful. They arrive silky from a long simmer with a whisper of smoke.

A dash of pepper sauce wakes them up like sunlight on dew. The flavor settles in slowly, deepening with every bite instead of rushing to impress.

At Swett’s Restaurant, the greens shine beside roast turkey at 2725 Clifton Ave, Nashville, TN 37209. The pot liquor is gold, begging for a crumble of cornbread.

You’ll see locals tilt bowls to catch the last drops. No one leaves that flavor behind.

Add chow chow if available for brightness. The gentle heat and tang do a little two-step with the greens.

It’s a balance learned over time, not written down. Once you get it, you’ll crave that honest, mineral comfort on rainy days and clear ones too.

11. Fried Apple Pies

Fried apple pies look innocent until the first bite sends warm cinnamon fog into the air. The crust shatters delicately, giving way to tender apples that taste like fair season.

They’re best still warm, when the filling wants to escape. That heat carries nostalgia with it, the kind that pulls you back to roadside stops and shared treats.

You’ll spot them at the Loveless Cafe shop at 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221. Pack a couple for the road, because the drive encourages snacking.

If you wait until later, a quick reheat brings the sparkle back. Most locals don’t wait long enough to test that theory.

Pair with black coffee for contrast. The sweet and bitter handshake makes the spices sing louder.

On a good day, the sugar dust sticks to your fingertips and becomes its own small souvenir.

12. Sack Lunch

Sack lunch sounds simple, but it’s shorthand for practical kindness. Someone packed it, thought about your hunger later, and tucked in a surprise.

The bag crinkles like a friendly wave when you open it. It’s food meant to travel, carrying a bit of care wherever the day takes you.

At Mitchell Delicatessen, you can build the dream version at 1306 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37216. Load up a turkey avocado or a roast beef with horseradish, then add a cookie for morale.

The counter folks move fast, and the bread stands tall under any fillings. Regulars know exactly when to show up and what to order without breaking stride.

Grab chips and a cold drink, then find a shady spot. Take that first bite and feel the world slow down a notch.

Sack lunch proves luxury can be portable, thoughtful, and wrapped in wax paper.

13. Supper Instead Of Dinner

Hearing supper instead of dinner tips you off to timing and tone. Supper is evening, often lighter, and more about gathering than grand gestures.

It sounds gentler, like a porch light clicking on at dusk. The word itself slows the moment, suggesting there’s no rush to clear the table or check the clock.

In small towns around Knoxville, you’ll see the word on chalkboards near Market Square at 400 Main St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Plates might be fried catfish on Fridays or a vegetable plate that leans seasonal.

Menus change with habit rather than trends, shaped by what’s ready and who’s coming through the door.

Use the word and watch shoulders relax. It invites conversation to linger over the last biscuit crumb.

Supper wraps the day in soft cotton, leaving you ready for tomorrow without fuss.