When people move away from Tennessee, they take memories of smoky barbecue, fluffy biscuits, and spicy fried chicken with them. No matter where life takes them, former locals often find themselves planning entire visits home just to eat at their favorite spots.
These ten restaurants have earned such devotion that people will drive hours or book flights just to taste what they’ve been missing.
1. Loveless Cafe (Nashville)
Since opening its doors in the 1950s, this roadside gem has become a pilgrimage site for anyone who loves real Southern cooking. The biscuits here are so light and fluffy that they practically float off the plate, served warm with homemade preserves that change with the seasons.
Country ham and red-eye gravy anchor the menu, bringing traditional Tennessee flavors to life in every bite. Former residents who’ve moved across the country often say the hardest part about leaving was giving up weekend breakfasts here.
2. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack (Nashville)
This unassuming spot literally invented Nashville hot chicken back in the 1930s, and nobody has matched the original since. The story goes that a scorned woman tried to punish her cheating boyfriend with unbearably spicy chicken, but he loved it so much he opened a restaurant…