The Best 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' in Nashville, Tennessee

While Nashville, Tennessee, may get credit for inventing hot chicken, this definitely isn’t the only reason that Guy Fieri keeps driving his Chevy Camaro all over town. This city is bursting with flavor; from authentic Asian food to transportative Caribbean cooking and, of course, some of the best Southern staples this side of the Mississippi. You’ll never go hungry in Nashville, no matter what you’re craving. We’ve compiled all of Guy’s favorite dishes from his many visits to Music City filming Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We dare you to read this without getting hungry.

Chef Kenji Ichikawa’s Korean restaurant, Soy Bistro, offers up traditional Korean dishes with a dash of Nashville flavor and a generous heaping of Southern hospitality. This unique combination is what keeps customers coming back regularly, some even for more than one meal in a day. Their spicy pork bulgogi, marinated in a pineapple and ginger sauce for at least 24 hours, has hints of Nashville hot chicken flavors that Guy joked he could “drown in” as he wolfed down an entire helping in Season 34.

Long-standing Nashville food truck King Tut’s has been delighting locals with its unique cuisine for over a decade. Owned and operated by Egyptian-born chef Ragab Rashwan, King Tut’s is what he describes as “Egyptian fare with a New York flair.” Case in point: the Falafel Waffle. It's the flavor of the falafel you know, but cooked to perfection in a waffle maker instead of a deep fryer, giving this cultural crossover a perfect crispy crunch. This is served over greens and topped with a tahini that Guy called “dynamite.” The Falafel Waffle isn’t always available on the menu, so be sure to check their Instagram to see what chef Rashwan is making fresh that day.

In East Nashville, Guy could not get enough of the best-selling cold-cut banh mi at East Side Banh Mi, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Chad Newton and chef Gracie Nguyen. “Caution, habit forming!” Guy jokingly offered to write on the wall during his visit here in Season 35, after he took down the whole sandwich that he said gave him ”goose bumps.” Served on a freshly baked baguette that takes three days to make, it’s slathered with a fried shallot-infused mayonnaise, topped with housemade ham hock terrine and finished with pickled veggies, cucumbers, cilantro and jalapeños. We can see why Guy said this was “Vietnamese that will make you weak in the knees.”

This Nashville hot spot used to be one of the city’s most sought-after food trucks. In fact, the Grilled Cheeserie, or as Guy called it, “the place where dreams about grilled cheese are fulfilled,” was so popular that it expanded into a brick-and-mortar restaurant a few years ago. Here you can sink your teeth into some ooey, gooey goodness, like their fan-favorite grilled pimento mac and cheese. It’s the comfort food you know and love, but with high-quality ingredients, like local heirloom tomatoes and Tennessee cheddar cheese that keep you coming back for more.

Located inside the Nashville Farmer’s Market is Jamaicaway Restaurant & Catering. Here, chef and owner Ouida Bradshaw cooks up authentic Caribbean flavors that Guy described as “a tour of the islands without the passport.” Oxtail is the biggest seller on the menu. Served with traditional rice and peas and a side of plantains, Guy said that “good is an understatement” when it comes to this fall-off-the-bone meal. Cooking clearly runs in the family, too, as Ouida’s sons are the chefs and owners of Riddim N Spice, another Caribbean restaurant that also makes this list.

This Caribbean counter-service restaurant features all the flavors of the islands. From goat guisade to whole snapper, there’s something for everyone here … and we do mean everyone. Riddim N Spice even features a vegan dish made from jackfruit that has been steamed, fried and topped with a tangy and flavorful barbeque jerk sauce. During his visit in Season 34, Guy proclaimed that he would “come here and eat this, and take one to go.” How’s that for high praise?

At Graze, a self-proclaimed “plant-based bistro and bar,” patrons can eat all their favorite comfort foods without sacrificing their vegan diets. From nachos to loaded fries and patty melts, Graze is bringing all those familiar flavors, just with plant-based ingredients like tempeh or tofu. Case in point, the vegan chicken bacon ranch sandwich that Guy sampled in Season 34. It's made with marinated tofu that is first baked, then breaded and fried to a perfect crisp before being topped with crunchy veggies, a delicious soy-based mayo and vegan bacon.

With a fierce dedication to whole hog barbecue that required him to build a custom smoker, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint pitmaster and owner Pat Martin is putting the little-known town of Nolensville, Tennessee, on the culinary map. Here, Martin smokes his meat for over 24 hours, resulting in what Guy said is “beyond juicy and flavorful.” While he definitely recommends all of the regular menu items you’re used to — like pulled chicken, pork and brisket — definitely don’t sleep on the Redneck Tacos. This Southern take on the Mexican staple is made with a pork fat-infused cornbread hoecake (yes, you read that right!) and topped with your choice of pulled meat, coleslaw and Martin’s own Sweet Dixie sauce.

This second-generation luncheonette has been serving classic Southern cooking since the 1980s. Family recipes made from scratch daily, like chicken and dumplings — country-fried steak and fried green tomatoes — keep customers coming back regularly at this long-standing Nashville meat and three. We recommend the Turnip Greens, which are flavored with wasabi powder, horseradish and, of course, a ham base, like any good Southern "vegetable recipe" should be! In fact, Arnold’s recipes are so delicious, they have won a James Beard Award in the American Classics category. Between that accolade and Guy’s proclamation that the food is “super tasty,” we recommend getting in line for lunch the next time you’re in Nashville.

New York transplant chef Dan Maggipinto has been serving up his beloved nonna’s Italian dishes at her namesake Nashville cafe for over 25 years. Here, he’s known for his Lasagna Nonna, a unique eight-layer dish piled high with ingredients like spinach and butternut squash that give this classic dish a more rustic presentation. The lasagna is first baked home-style, in a deep pan, and then each piece is individually sliced and topped with fresh marinara sauce and cheese before being baked again for every guest. We like to think a side of nonna’s love is served right alongside it.

Self-taught chef Munther Abraham moved to Nashville from Kuwait to work as an engineer, but luckily for the Music City food scene, he decided to follow his heart — and his taste buds — and open Fattoush Café instead. He, his wife and their four sons cook and serve Greek and Mediterranean food to loads of happy customers at their popular counter-serve restaurant. They are well-known for their housemade hummus that Guy described as “next level” when he stopped by in Season 34, as well as the simply named Lamb Shank, a classic dish served over biryani rice and topped with parsley, pine nuts and raisins.

This barbecue institution in Hendersonville, located just outside of Nashville, has been serving loyal customers since the 1950s. And with one slice of their famous smoked and glazed ham, you’ll know why. Pitmaster and owner Robert Duke pulled out all the stops for Guy’s visit during Season 18, showing him how he smokes his “done-to-perfection” pulled pork for 18 hours. Stop in for some fried green tomatoes served with Robert’s own Yum Yum sauce, and you just might end up seated next to Nashville’s next country music star looking to get a plate of what regulars call “the best barbecue in the South.”

Locals love this cozy, family-owned taco shop born out of a catering company that was looking to stay afloat during the pandemic. And they did just that by serving up delicious yet simple Mexican food that won’t break the bank. When Guy stopped by in Season 35 to sample their hot chicken nachos, he couldn’t “shovel it into [his] mouth fast enough” and warned owner Jason Crockarell that he would have to “pry this away from [him].”

Phat Bites, which stands for "pretty, hot and tasty," has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives multiple times — and for good reason. Guy loves the “funky, unique and healthy menu” that includes everything from hearty salads to decadent burgers topped with strawberry jam. Guy recommends the Big Banana, which is chef and owner Julie Buhler’s take on French toast but made with banana bread as the base, then served with chopped bacon and a whole sliced banana, and topped with homemade whipped cream and vanilla syrup.

"More tacos, please!" is exactly what folks say when they eat at this popular Nashville cantina that started as a late-night taco truck. While the menu may be relatively small, the big flavors pack a big punch. Guy called the tamales “one of the best he’s ever had,” and the pozole verde made from a mix of chicken and corn stock left Guy uncharacteristically speechless during his visit in Season 18.

55 South, in the Nashville suburb of Franklin, Tennessee, is where Guy said “the magic happens.” This neighborhood favorite is what locals refer to as the Cajun version of Cheers —where not only will everyone know your name, but you’ll definitely be glad you came, because they serve up some of the tastiest food this side of the Mississippi. Their jambalaya, made with housemade andouille sausage, is what Guy called the "real deal," and the char-grilled oysters with a wood-smoke component that Guy said is “out of bounds” are just two of the delicious items on this robust menu.

Chef Rachel Cannon, or as Guy referred to her during his visit during Season 36, “the trained ninja in flavor,” is turning her version of French cooking techniques into approachable bar food at this Nashville neighborhood hangout. While hanging with Rachel in the kitchen, Guy sampled her delicious housemade salsa and the Titan Burger, declaring, “You order a burger like that, you’ll be telling all your friends about Bottle Cap.” Well, consider yourself told.

In Season 35, Guy stopped by Homegrown Tap Room & Kitchen for a plate of their barbecue mac and cheese and declared, “That’s about as good as you can make happen.” With 24 beers on tap, a cozy atmosphere and delicious food that is all made from scratch, we can understand why this has been a beloved neighborhood spot for over a decade.

This neighborhood favorite claims the title of having the only coal-fired pizza oven in Nashville, but pizza is hardly the only thing they’re cooking here. Mama G’s meatballs and spaghetti, handed down from a family recipe, are a customer favorite. The meatballs are made with a mixture of ground beef and pork and served over freshly made pasta with a generous dusting of Padano cheese.

Named after the Willie Nelson song of the same name, this beloved Nashville Tex-Mex restaurant whips up flavor combinations that Guy joked are “showing off!” Stop by after a night of barhopping on Broadway to try their totchos, a fan-favorite thanks to the crispy seasoned tater tots slathered with a housemade queso that regulars say is the best in town.