A recent wave of restaurant closings has settled as 2026 rolls on, and Knoxville has started seeing new concepts pop up across town.
A viral mac and cheese restaurant is coming to Kern’s Food Hall, while a Cuban bakery is expanding further west from Bearden to Cedar Bluff. The bakery will be just a few blocks away from one of Knoxville’s favorite places for bagels, while a popular South Knoxville spot for pies is hitting the road for a Happy Holler pop-up later this month.
Here’s the latest news from Knoxville’s restaurant scene…