Top 10 Best Nashville Restaurants

Nashville’s famous food include Hot Chicken, Nashville-Style Barbecue, Meat-And-Three, Bourbon Steak, Goo Goo Cluster, Lobster Mac and Cheese, and Biscuits. Hot chicken is served with white bread, pickles, coleslaw, fries, salad, or mac and cheese. Nashville-style barbecue is a sweet, tomato-based sauce with brown sugar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s often drizzled over or used as marinade for brisket, chicken, ribs, and pulled pork cooked over Mesquite wood. 

Meat-and-three allows diners to select a protein like fried chicken, ham, or meatloaf with sides such as mashed potatoes, macaroni, corn on the cob, or green beans, served at Puckett’s and MacHenry’s Meat & Three. Bourbon steak is marinated in whiskey for a smoky, nutty flavor and served with roasted cherry tomatoes, potatoes, corn, asparagus, or chips at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, The Twelve Thirty Club, and Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina. Goo Goo Cluster is made of caramel, peanuts, chocolate, and marshmallow nougat and available at The Goo Goo Chocolate Co. Nashville Storefront, where visitors can create custom chocolate bars. Biscuits is one of the best foods in Nashville and is available plain or smothered in gravy, served with various fillings at Biscuit Love, Big Al’s Deli, The Nashville Biscuit House, and The Loveless Café.

Single meals in budget restaurants in Nashville generally cost between $10–$20. Meals in mid-range restaurants cost around $20–$40 per person, while fine dining Nashville experiences can cost $50 to $100 or more. Past traveler data indicates the average daily food expenditure in Nashville is around $72 per person per day. Budget travelers usually spend about $31 per day on food, mid-range travelers average $72, and luxury travelers spend approximately $143 per day on Nashville fine dining restaurants. Prices can depend on dining choices such as opting for street food, casual dining, or fine dining experiences.

The most popular fast-food restaurants in Nashville are listed below:

• Charleys Philly Steaks: Famous for Philly cheesesteaks with fresh ingredients and tender steak, took the top spot for the best fast food in Nashville, according to iHeart Radio’s study.
• Subway: Popular for customizable sandwiches and fresh ingredients.
• McDonald's: Iconic for burgers, fries, and breakfast options.
• Hugh-Baby’s: Known for classic American diner fare, including burgers and fries.
• Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers: Specializes in chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, and Texas toast.
• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: Renowned for Nashville hot chicken, with different heat levels.
• White Castle: Known for small square sliders, fries, and shakes.
• Gabby’s Burgers: Famous for juicy burgers, hand-cut fries, and milkshakes.
• Bruegger's Bagels: Offers freshly baked bagels and deli-style sandwiches.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill: Known for burritos, bowls, and tacos made with fresh, organic ingredients.
• Taco John’s: Famous for tacos, burritos, and signature potato ole’s.
• Steak 'n Shake: Popular for steakburgers, milkshakes, and fries.

The new Nashville restaurants as of February 2025, are listed below:

• Kase X Noko: Offers a 14-course omakase experience, Kase X Noko features skilled chefs preparing nigiri in an intimate 14-seat dining room. Reservations are highly competitive, opening six weeks out daily at midnight. Located at 707 Porter Rd, Nashville, TN 37206.
• Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up: A three-story venue with two stages, four bars, and a rooftop featuring a 1970s western aesthetic, the restaurant serves Cajun-inspired dishes like crawfish crab cake sliders, po’boys, and sausage and shrimp pasta. Located at 120 3rd Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37201.
• Choy: Blending Chinese American cuisine, Choy offers dishes like glazed Peking-style roast duck, squid ink-infused wontons, and Dutch crunch barbecue pork buns. The bar features early 20th-century influenced drinks and an old-world wine list. Located at 121b 12th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
• 888: Features a lounge where Japanese cuisine meets vinyl listening, 888 offers tableside fried rice, tuna tartare, and chef’s sashimi selections while a DJ spins albums. Located at 800 Clark Place, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
• Sushi Bar: A 17-course omakase experience with exclusive seating for $175 per person, Sushi Bar serves nigiri prepared with flair, including smoking cloches and blow torches. Wine and sake pairings are available. Located at 610 Magazine Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
• Maiz de la Vida Restaurant: Known for handmade tortillas and quesabirria, Maiz de la Vida offers burritos and chilaquiles, deviating from the original food truck’s menu. Located at 606 8th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
• Jambox Sandwich Shop: Pairing sandwiches with beers from Fait La Force Brewing, Jambox serves signature combinations like chicken with pesto and peach jam. Located at 1414 3rd Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37210.
• Jashan: Elegant Indian cuisine with dishes like pani puri and curries, Jashan offers beautiful plating in a stylish dining room with leather booths and moody lighting. Located at 2100 21st Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37212.
• Tavern: Returning after a brief closure, Tavern remains a top spot in Midtown for snacks and drinks. Popular dishes include buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese mousse and the OG kale salad. Creative spritzes like the Esperanza with blanco tequila and rosé prosecco are also popular. Located at 1904 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.
• Fancypants: Known for the creative vegetarian dishes like crispy-edged turnip lasagna, Fancypants in East Nashville offers a meat-free tasting menu. The circus-themed dining room provides a fun atmosphere, perfect for date nights or enjoying dishes like miso butter mafaldine and funfetti cheesecake. Located at 921 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37207.
• Turmeric & Co.: Indian fusion restaurant in East Nashville revitalizes Hunter’s Station with dishes like cashew korma mac and cheese and saag gnudi. The full-service bar serves unique drinks like corn milk and garam masala cocktails. Located at 975 Main St, Nashville, Tennessee 37206.
• Dos Santos: Mexican restaurant in Wedgewood-Houston with Miami flair, Dos Santos serves poke nachos, pork-stuffed quesadillas, and barbacoa tacos. Located at 475 Gray St, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.
• The Henry: A French bistro-inspired restaurant in 12 South, The Henry offers American food like truffled brie toast and seared ahi tuna. Located at 2803 12th Ave S, Nashville, Tennessee 37212.

Five star restaurants Nashville craft specially made dishes with exceptional skill and creativity, often using the finest ingredients. The ambiance is carefully curated, with luxurious decors such as soft lighting, fine tableware, and elegant designs at places like Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, where understated elegance complements the world-class cuisine, offering expertly prepared steaks, seafood, and signature dishes like the "Ruby's Filet" in an upscale, lavish setting. Service is impeccable, as seen at Nashville's best restaurants such as The Catbird Seat and Etch, where the staff is trained to anticipate every need. 

The best Nashville family restaurants are listed below:

• Tailgate Brewery: Tailgate Brewery is a family-friendly spot with spacious indoor and outdoor seating, a children’s menu featuring pizza, waffles fries, chicken nuggets, and sandwiches, and family-oriented events like outdoor movie nights. Located at 7300 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209.
• Nicky's Coal Fired: Known for wood-fired pizzas, Nicky’s Coal Fired offers a kid-friendly menu with butter or red-sauce noodles. Family Night on Mondays features free meals for kids 12 and under. Located at 5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209.
• Frothy Monkey: Popular for breakfast and lunch dishes made with local ingredients, Frothy Monkey serves a kids' menu including French toast, cheesy eggs, bacon, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Located at 1400 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209.
• Bringle’s Smoking Oasis: Bringle’s Smoking Oasis is one of the cool restaurants in Nashville that offers a spacious outdoor area with turf, picnic tables, and a kids' menu with smoked meats and mac and cheese. The large screen TVs make it a great family hangout. Located at 4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209.
• Hugh-Baby’s: A nostalgic fast-food spot, Hugh-Baby’s features burgers, barbecue sandwiches, and milkshakes, with a play area for kids. Located at 4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209.
• Elliston Place Soda Shop: Offering classic diner fare like meat-and-three meals, burgers, and ice cream treats, Elliston Place Soda Shop provides a fun, retro dining experience with a jukebox. Located at 2105 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203.
• Jasper’s: Jasper’s is a fun restaurant in Nashville for families to hangout with game rooms for kids to enjoy while parents indulge in large portions of chili cheese fries, flatbreads, and burgers. Located at 1918 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.
• The Loveless Cafe: Offering Southern comfort food with a family-friendly atmosphere, and provides breakfast options such as scrambled eggs, pancakes, and French toast, all served with a choice of bacon or sausage, ranging from $6.59 to $7.00.
• Liberty Common: Known for a family-friendly environment, offers a kids' menu with choices like grilled cheese, cheeseburger, eggs, pancakes, and waffles, for $12.00 per item.
• The Farm House: Specializing in Southern cuisine, offers a kids' menu with options like cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, mac n cheese, grilled cheese, and noodles, for $9.00 per item.

Restaurants in Nashville that serve vegan food are Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant, Graze, Kokos Ice Cream, Be-Hive Deli, 312 Pizza, Nomzilla, Taco Mamacita, Five Points Pizza, Drifter's BBQ, and Vegelicious. The Wild Cow offers plant-based dishes like Buffalo Beans and Greens and tempeh Reuben. Graze features vegan appetizers like crispy Brussels sprouts and loaded potatoes, and desserts like a brownie ice cream sundae with Koko’s Ice Cream. Kokos Ice Cream specializes in creamy vegan ice cream, including popular flavors like lemon pie. Be-Hive Deli is a 100% plant-based deli serving items like a roast beef sandwich and seitan wings. 312 Pizza offers deep-dish vegan pizza with vegan pepperoni and gooey cheese. 

Nomzilla serves creative vegan sushi, including Hot Tofu rolls. Taco Mamacita provides vegan tacos with intentional fillings. Five Points Pizza has vegan pizza options on the menu, and Drifter's BBQ offers a fried tofu sandwich with vegan BBQ sauces in a laid-back setting. Vegelicious, a Black-owned café established in 2018, specializes in home-style vegan comfort foods like BBQ burgers, vegan lasagna, chickn sandwiches, and soul food plates with candied yams, mac n cheese, and greens. Fresh sorrel and ginger beer are also available, with brunch served on Saturdays.

Restaurants in Nashville that serve gluten-free food are Butcher & Bee, The Wild Cow, Jack's Bar-B-Que, Mangia Nashville, Bartaco, The Pfunky Griddle, Sunflower Cafe, True Food Kitchen, and Hathorne. 

Butcher & Bee offers a changing menu with gluten-free options such as bacon-wrapped dates, avocado crispy rice, and hearty meat dishes, with staff accommodating food sensitivities. The Wild Cow serves a range of gluten-free options like buffalo grinder salads and sweet potato and black bean tacos in a relaxed setting. Jack's Bar-B-Que offers gluten-free meats, sides, and sauces with dedicated preparation areas to accommodate diners with celiac needs. Mangia Nashville is an Italian restaurant offering a fully gluten-free menu, with a dedicated prep area and fryer for celiac-safe dishes. Bartaco's menu is largely gluten-free, with options like duck birria and rice bowls, and dedicated fryers for gluten-free diners. 

The Pfunky Griddle allows diners to make gluten-free pancakes and French toast with a selection of toppings. Sunflower Cafe provides gluten-free comfort food, including gluten-free buns and wraps with fillings like roasted root vegetables and buffalo tempeh. True Food Kitchen in Green Hills offers a wide range of gluten-free dishes, including Idaho rainbow trout and spaghetti squash casserole. Hathorne caters to gluten-free diners with seasonal New American fare, clearly labeling gluten-free dishes like persimmon salad, sweet potato pancakes, and chocolate torte.

Yes, the best restaurants in Nashville provide deliveries to homes and offices, including famous restaurants in Nashville like TennFold Brewing, Riddim N Spice, Burger Joint, Central BBQ - Capitol View, Red Phone Booth, and Fat Kat Slim's. TennFold Brewing. Riddim N Spice, which is known for smoked jerk chicken and vegan options, is available for delivery on Postmates and also offers takeout. Burger Joint delivers through Grubhub and UberEats. Central BBQ, which is famous for its Memphis-style barbecue, provides delivery on DoorDash and Postmates. Red Phone Booth, a speakeasy and cigar lounge, offers delivery via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates. Fat Kat Slim's, serving 50s-style diner food, uses Uber Eats and Grubhub for delivery and also features a drive-thru. Upscale restaurants in Nashville usually use third-party platforms like DoorDash or UberEats for delivery orders, and some may offer their own delivery. Multi-course meals are typically delivered as prix-fixe options, with each course carefully packaged to maintain quality and ease of reheating, and some restaurants also include wine pairings and cocktails where allowed.

Yes, restaurants in Nashville are healthy. The city ranks among the Healthiest Places to Live in the U.S., placing #84 with a total score of 47.33, ranking #132 in Health Care, #51 in Food, #98 in Fitness, and #72 in Green Space. The best healthy restaurants in Nashville that offer healthy options include Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Adele’s, East Park Donuts and Coffee, The Pharmacy, Dose Cafe and Dram Bar, East Side Pho, and Two Hands. Blue Sushi Sake Grill, located at 5th & Broadway, features a menu with vegan sushi rolls and gluten-sensitive options, many available during happy hour. Adele’s is an upscale restaurant in Nashville that offers fresh salads as a lighter option for a healthy lunch in Nashville. East Park Donuts and Coffee accommodates health-conscious diners with gluten-free, paleo, and vegan donuts, starting at $3.50 each. Dose Cafe and Dram Bar serves spicy avocado toast with pickled onion, corn, and sprouts, available in half ($7) and full orders ($13). 

Yes, Nashville is a great destination for food. Restaurants in the city are even featured in award-winning Nashville Food Tours and ranked #14 among all Culinary Experiences in the U.S. The city also offers food tours such as The Factory at Franklin: Indoor Food Tour, Nashville Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours, and Downtown Nashville Food Tour with Sidewalk Food Tours. The Factory at Franklin: Indoor Food Tour costs $145 and includes four savory tastings, one dessert stop, and alcohol pairings at two locations. Nashville Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours costs $99 and offers two neighborhood-specific experiences. The East Nashville tour includes hot chicken, a crust burger, whiskey-glazed donuts, Memphis-style pulled pork, catfish tacos, and a secret dish. The 12South tour features breakfast tacos, hot pork and grits casserole, gourmet cookies, club sandwiches with fried pickles, and a secret dish. Guides provide insights into Nashville’s famous restaurants and food culture. 

The famous Nashville cuisines are listed below:

• Southern Cuisine: Nashville is known for traditional Southern food, including dishes like fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens, and biscuits. Restaurants such as Arnold’s Country Kitchen and The Loveless Cafe emphasize these flavors.
• New American Cuisine: Many upscale restaurants in Nashville focus on New American cuisine, blending classic Southern ingredients with modern techniques. Restaurants like The 404 Kitchen and Husk Nashville specialize in locally sourced, seasonal dishes.
• Mexican Cuisine: Nashville features authentic Mexican cuisine, with restaurants serving street tacos, tamales, enchiladas, and fresh guacamole. Mas Tacos Por Favor and Bajo Sexto Taco are well-known spots for Mexican food lovers.
• Italian Cuisine: Italian cuisine in Nashville includes handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and rich risottos. City House and Trattoria Il Mulino showcase classic Italian dishes with a modern twist.
• Thai Cuisine: Thai food is a growing part of Nashville’s dining scene, offering flavorful curries, pad Thai, and fresh spring rolls. Restaurants like The Smiling Elephant and Thai Esane are known for authentic Thai cuisine.
• Indian Cuisine: Nashville’s Indian restaurants serve butter chicken, biryani, tandoori dishes, and vegetarian specialties. Chauhan Ale & Masala House and Sitar Indian Restaurant are popular destinations for Indian cuisine lovers.

Nashville's restaurants commonly serve Southern comfort food, with dishes such as Hot Chicken, Barbecue, Meat 'n' Three, Goo Goo Clusters, and Tennessee Whiskey-infused dishes. Hot chicken, marinated in a cayenne-based paste, is a spicy fried chicken dish with a fiery coating, often served with white bread and pickles. Among the famous Nashville food is slow-cooked barbecue, particularly pulled pork and ribs, which has a long tradition in Tennessee. The Meat 'n' Three features a choice of meat paired with three comfort food sides like mac-and-cheese and hush puppies, with roots dating back to the 1950s. 

Yes, Nashville has a unique dish, which is the hot chicken. This hot chicken is distinct to the city, featuring fried chicken marinated in a cayenne-based spice mix that gives it an extra kick of heat. Said to have been created around a century ago when Thornton Prince III’s girlfriend, in an effort to teach him a lesson, made a spicy chicken that launched the now-famous recipe. Hot chicken is served at many unique places to eat in Nashville, with Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack being the most iconic and one of the original purveyors of this dish. Other unique Nashville restaurants, like Hattie B’s and Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish, also serve their own versions of Nashville’s beloved hot chicken. The dish is a must-try for anyone visiting Nashville.