10 Tennessee Roadside Spots That Don’t Look Fancy But Serve Incredible Food
There’s something magical about pulling off the highway and stumbling into a place that looks like it hasn’t changed since your grandparents were young. You know the type – weathered signs, gravel parking lots, maybe a screen door that slams behind you.
But then the food arrives, and suddenly none of that matters because what’s on your plate is absolutely phenomenal.
Tennessee is packed with these hidden gems, tucked along country roads and forgotten stretches of asphalt. From smoky barbecue joints to old-fashioned diners serving up biscuits the size of your fist, these spots prove you don’t need fancy decor to create unforgettable meals.
I’ve tracked down ten of the best no-frills roadside restaurants across the state, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
1. Ridgewood Barbecue
Smoke billows from the back of this unassuming cinderblock building, and the aroma alone could make you pull over from miles away. Ridgewood has been slow-cooking pork shoulders over hickory wood since 1948, and they’ve perfected every detail of their craft.
The vinegar-based sauce cuts through the richness of the meat in a way that makes you understand why people drive hours just for lunch.
You’ll find this legendary spot at 900 Elizabethton Highway in Bluff City, right off Highway 11E. The interior is wonderfully basic – wooden booths, paper plates, and not a single pretentious touch in sight.
Order the pork plate with their famous slaw and beans, and you’ll taste why generations of families have made this a weekly tradition.
What sets Ridgewood apart is their commitment to doing things the old way, even when modern shortcuts tempt everyone else. The meat falls apart at the slightest touch of your fork, and the smoky flavor penetrates all the way through.
2. Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
Crispy doesn’t even begin to describe the crust on this chicken. When you bite through that golden-brown exterior, the crunch echoes in your ears before the spicy, peppery heat hits your tongue.
Gus’s started in Mason, Tennessee back in 1953, and the original location still operates in a modest building that could easily be mistaken for someone’s house.
Head to 310 South Main Street in Mason to experience the magic firsthand. The dining room is small and unpretentious, with mismatched chairs and walls covered in photos and newspaper clippings.
But nobody comes here for the ambiance – they come for chicken that’s been marinating in a secret spice blend that the family guards fierciously.
Each piece emerges from the fryer with a crackling crust that somehow stays incredibly juicy inside. The heat builds gradually, warming your mouth without overwhelming the flavor.
Pair it with their tangy coleslaw and baked beans for a meal that’ll haunt your dreams.
3. Arnold’s Country Kitchen
Meat-and-three restaurants define Southern comfort food, and Arnold’s in Nashville has mastered the art better than anyone. Walking through the door feels like stepping into your grandmother’s kitchen, assuming your grandmother could feed two hundred people at once.
The cafeteria-style line moves fast, but you’ll want to slow down and consider every option carefully.
Located at 605 8th Avenue South in Nashville, this James Beard Award-winning spot serves breakfast and lunch in a building that’s seen better days architecturally but shines in every other way. The daily menu rotates, but you might find fried chicken, meatloaf, turnip greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread that crumbles perfectly.
Choose your meat and three sides, grab a sweet tea, and find a seat at one of the communal tables.
Everything tastes like it was made with genuine care and time-tested recipes. The vegetables aren’t afterthoughts – they’re seasoned beautifully and cooked just right.
You’ll leave satisfied but already planning your return visit.
4. Loveless Cafe
Biscuits here aren’t just good – they’re a religious experience wrapped in flaky, buttery layers. The Loveless started as a motel and cafe in 1951, and while it’s grown over the years, the food remains rooted in simple Southern tradition.
Their biscuits come with homemade preserves in flavors like blackberry and peach that’ll make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about jam.
You’ll spot the red-and-white building at 8400 Highway 100 in Nashville, about twenty minutes from downtown. The exterior looks like it belongs in a different era, with vintage signs and a sprawling front porch.
Inside, the walls are covered with autographed photos of country music stars who’ve stopped by over the decades.
Order the country breakfast with eggs, bacon, grits, and as many biscuits as you can handle. The fried chicken is also exceptional, with a peppery crust that shatters when you bite down.
Don’t skip the preserves – they’re made on-site and available for purchase if you want to take some home.
5. The Beacon Light Tea Room
Bow ties pasta might seem like an odd specialty for a Tennessee roadside spot, but once you taste The Beacon Light’s version, you’ll understand the cult following. This family-run restaurant has been serving their signature dish since 1936, long before pasta became trendy in the South.
The noodles are tossed with a secret tomato-based sauce that’s tangy, slightly sweet, and completely addictive.
Find this hidden treasure at 6276 Bon Air Drive in Bon Air, just outside Kingsport. The building is small and unassuming, with a homey dining room that seats maybe forty people on a busy day.
Reservations aren’t accepted, so expect to wait during peak hours – but trust me, it’s worth every minute.
The menu is refreshingly short, focusing on a few things done exceptionally well. Besides the famous bow ties, they serve excellent fried chicken, country ham, and homemade pies that change with the seasons.
Everything arrives family-style, encouraging sharing and conversation. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, like dining at a friend’s house.
6. Litton’s Market & Restaurant
Walking into Litton’s feels like time-traveling to 1946, which is exactly when this combination market and restaurant opened its doors. The checkered floor, vintage cash register, and handwritten menu boards create an atmosphere that’s genuinely nostalgic rather than artificially retro.
But the real star is the burger – a half-pound of perfectly seasoned beef cooked on a flattop griddle until the edges get crispy and caramelized.
Located at 2803 Essary Drive in Knoxville, Litton’s sits in a residential neighborhood where you might drive right past if you weren’t looking carefully. The dining area is tiny, with just a handful of tables and a counter with swivel stools.
They also operate as a full grocery store, so you can grab milk and bread after demolishing your burger.
Order yours with everything – lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and their special sauce that tastes like a tangier version of Thousand Island. The fries are hand-cut and fried to golden perfection.
Cash only, so hit the ATM first.
7. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Whole hog barbecue is an art form that’s slowly disappearing, but Martin’s keeps the tradition alive with dedication and skill. They cook entire pigs over hickory coals for nearly twenty-four hours, basting and tending the fire through the night.
The result is meat that ranges from crispy, almost bacon-like skin to fall-apart tender shoulder, all infused with deep smoke flavor.
The original location stands at 3108 Nolensville Pike in Nashville, housed in a building that looks more like a large shed than a restaurant. Picnic tables fill the outdoor area, and the smell of smoke hangs permanently in the air.
Inside, the ordering process is straightforward – choose your meat, pick your sides, and prepare for something special.
Their vinegar-based West Tennessee sauce complements the pork without drowning it, letting the smoke and meat flavors shine through. The cracklin’ – crispy bits of skin and fat – is available while supplies last and disappears quickly.
Sides like white beans and slaw are made from scratch daily. Come hungry and come early, especially on weekends.
8. Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen
Before you think I made a mistake, yes, there’s a Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen in Tennessee – specifically in Memphis at 670 Jefferson Avenue, inspired by the North Carolina original but beloved in its own right. This tiny takeout window serves breakfast biscuits that’ll ruin you for the frozen kind forever.
The biscuits are made fresh throughout the morning, emerging from the oven tall, flaky, and impossibly tender.
There’s no dining room, just a walk-up window and a few parking spaces where people sit in their cars devouring breakfast. The menu is beautifully simple – choose your protein (sausage, bacon, country ham, or chicken), and they’ll tuck it inside a buttered biscuit that’s still warm.
The country ham biscuit is legendary, with salty, savory ham that contrasts perfectly with the slightly sweet biscuit.
Get there early because they close when they run out of biscuits, which happens more often than you’d think. Everything is made to order, so expect a short wait, but watching them work is half the fun.
Grab extra napkins – these biscuits are gloriously messy.
9. Merridee’s Breadbasket
Sometimes you need a break from heavy Southern fare, and Merridee’s provides exactly that without sacrificing quality or flavor. This bakery and cafe started in a small cottage and has grown into a Franklin institution, though it’s maintained its unpretentious, welcoming atmosphere.
The bread is baked fresh daily using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients you can actually taste.
Located at 110 4th Avenue South in Franklin, Merridee’s occupies a charming building that fits perfectly into the historic downtown area. The interior is cozy and bright, with display cases full of pastries, breads, and desserts that all look impossibly tempting.
The lunch menu features soups, salads, and sandwiches built on their exceptional bread.
The Viking bread – a hearty whole grain loaf – makes the best sandwiches, while the cinnamon rolls are legendary among locals. Soups change daily and are made from scratch using seasonal ingredients.
The tomato basil soup paired with a grilled cheese on sourdough is comfort food perfection. Save room for dessert because the cakes and cookies are all outstanding.
Everything here tastes homemade because it genuinely is.
10. Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant
Originally a grocery store dating back to 1953, Puckett’s has evolved into a beloved restaurant while maintaining its down-home character and commitment to Southern comfort food. The original Leiper’s Fork location at 4142 Old Hillsboro Road captures everything special about small-town Tennessee – friendly faces, live music on the weekends, and food that tastes like someone’s grandmother spent all day cooking.
The building still has that old general store feel, with wooden floors and shelves stocked with local products and souvenirs. But the real action happens in the dining room and on the back patio, where locals and tourists alike gather for plates piled high with Tennessee classics.
The pulled pork is smoked on-site and served with tangy sauce that lets the meat flavor shine.
Their breakfast is equally impressive, especially the biscuits and gravy that could feed two people easily. The fried green tomatoes make a perfect appetizer, and the banana pudding for dessert is creamy, sweet perfection.
Live music most evenings adds to the experience, with local musicians playing bluegrass and country in an intimate setting. Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere.