City guide

Where to eat in Knoxville

56 hand-picked places in Knoxville, chosen for people who are in town for something and have one night to get dinner right.

Open Knoxville in THE SET LIST

Coming up in Knoxville (2)

Top Tables in Knoxville

J.C. Holdway Restaurant · $$$ · Downtown
James Beard winner Joseph Lenn cooking wood-fired Appalachian food. The best-dressed room in East Tennessee, two blocks from Market Square.
501 Union Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902
The Kennedy Restaurant · $$$ · Downtown, Gay Street
Chef-driven American plates and a serious cocktail list at 4.7 stars across 362 reviews, three blocks from the Tennessee Theatre.
430 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Lilou Brasserie French restaurant · $$$ · Downtown, Gay Street
French brasserie with an in-house fromager building the cheese board, and the oxtail bourguignon is the order.
428 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902

Late Night in Knoxville

Gus's Good Times Deli Deli · $ · The Strip (UT campus)
Vols institution slinging steamed sandwiches until 3am on weekends. Peyton Manning ate here. So will you, at 1am, gratefully.
815 Melrose Pl, Knoxville, TN 37916
Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria Pizza restaurant · $$ · Old City
Kitchen and taps run until 2am Friday and Saturday with live music downstairs and pool upstairs, 4.4 stars over 406 reviews.
200 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Scruffy City Hall Bar · $$ · Market Square
Three floors of bars open to 3am on weekends, with a rooftop that runs live comedy and music most nights.
32 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902

Fast Food in Knoxville

Litton's Market & Restaurant $$ · Fountain City
Family-run since 1946 and the burger every Knoxvillian measures all others against. Expect a wait. Worth it twice over.
Sam & Andy's West Sandwich shop · $ · Farragut, 20 min west of downtown
The Vol Burger lineage dating to 1946, now 4.8 stars across 255 reviews, counter service and no ceremony.
11110 Kingston Pike #165, Knoxville, TN 37934
Five Cousins Pollo Ala Brasa Latin American restaurant · $ · North Knoxville, Merchant Dr
Peruvian rotisserie chicken at 4.8 stars over 142 reviews, and the green sauce is the reason people drive across town.
815 Merchant Dr e, Knoxville, TN 37912

Trendy in Knoxville

Yassin's Falafel House Middle Eastern restaurant · $ · Downtown
Syrian refugee Yassin Terou built the place Reader's Digest named Nicest Place in America. The falafel backs it up.
706 Walnut St, Knoxville, TN 37902
Stock & Barrel American restaurant · $$ · Market Square
Exposed brick, a deep bourbon wall and the burger most of Knoxville votes best, 843 reviews at 4.5 stars.
35 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Kaizen Asian restaurant · $$ · Old City
Asian street food and buns on a patio in the Old City, order the pork belly bun and the hot and sour duck noodles.
127 S Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902

Sandwiches in Knoxville

Gus's Good Times Deli Deli · $ · UT Strip
Knoxville's deli since 1981, a late-night UT Strip legend. Steamed sandwiches that taste better after midnight. Cash-friendly, no pretense.
815 Melrose Pl, Knoxville, TN 37916
Steamboat Sandwiches Sandwich shop · $ · Happy Holler, N Central
Bread baked that morning and a 4.8 rating across 218 reviews, open 10 to 3 only, get the chipotle turkey club.
2423 N Central St, Knoxville, TN 37917
Vandergriff's Fresh Steamed Hoagies American restaurant · $ · Halls, north of town
Old-school steamed hoagies at 4.7 stars over 143 reviews, and the corned beef Reuben combo is the order.
7120 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918