Whenever I travel I want to try places to eat that I cannot visit at home. A little local flavor. It enhances the trip and creates new experiences. Today I am sharing with you where to eat in Pigeon Forge, Tn in hopes that it will help you when planning your next vacation and to help you get a taste of local fare.
My family and I are blessed to live close to a popular vacation destination. The Great Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge, TN. We get to escape to Pigeon Forge often and explore so I thought today that I would share with you some ideas on where we like to eat in Pigeon Forge along the parkway. The first I will share with you is J.T. Hannah’s Kitchen. This place has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants. The atmosphere is fun and well decorated. You feel like you are in a 1930’s warehouse full of relics of the time. Plus they have big tables and booths to comfortably seat big groups and families.
What I love is that their food is well priced, served in hefty portions and most of all delicious!! My husband and I split the “killin me” burger, which was easily the best burger I have had in a long time. It is a full pound of angus beef, cheese, onion straws, lettuce, tomatoes, 1000 island dressing plus the fries for only $11.99. It was mouthwatering good.
Besides burgers they offer sandwiches, ribs, fajitas and chicken. My daughter ordered the open faced roast beef with a side of real mashed potatoes and homestyle potato chips. My kids were really excited that they served REAL mashed potatoes.
After a huge and wonderful meal we were ready to try some dessert. We decided to split this fresh baked strawberry shortcake between the 5 of us. It was huge, sweet, and perfect for a sweet end to a wonderful meal.
Besides the strawberry shortcake, someday I will talk my family into trying the Big Orange Soak for dessert. It sounds amazing and unique since it is made from pound cake, mandarin oranges, caramel soak sauce topped with vanilla bean ice cream. J.T. Hannah’s has such good food and great prices it is one of our favorite stops along the Parkway near traffic light #6.
The Old Mill Restaurant at Old Mill Square is another great place to dine. It sits right on the Pigeon River and has views from the two story dining room of the river and water wheel. The restaurant uses grains that are ground next store at the mill in many of the dishes they offer such as stone-ground grits, biscuits, pancakes and muffins. The Old Mill Restaurant specializes in all things southern, so if you are hankering for some southern food you will want to stop here. We are talking southern fried chicken, chicken & dumplings, BBQ plates, and of course my favorite, southern catfish. You can also take home a sack or two of fresh ground flour or grits!
For a little more casual eating at Old Mill Square, there is the Old Mill Pottery House Cafe & Grill. This is just across the street from the Old Mill Restaurant nestled among fun little shops to explore. There is also a great fire pit with rocking chairs surrounding it where you can relax and enjoy a break. The cafe and grill serves delicious southern fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner and are known for their delicious loaves of bread that you can buy to take home. The windows are full of fresh baked loaves that seem to soar sky high. I seriously love the smell of bread and wish I could just pick up all those loaves and breeth in that amazing smell.
A trip to Pigeon Forge just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to an all you can eat buffet. Captain Jim’s Seafood Buffet has my favorite all you can eat seafood item– crab legs. I can eat those suckers like there is no tomorrow, as my husband likes to remind me. They also offer flounder, cod, catfish (another favorite of mine), salmon, crab cakes, and always a favorite to at least try once, frog legs. Captain Jim’s is on the parkway between lights #8-#10.
Ah, Dolly Parton’s Stampede. This is hands down maybe our favorite place to treat ourselves. It is seriously the best dinner show in town. It IS pricey, but it is always well worth it. You will not go home hungry or disappointed. We have loved this place for 25 years since my husband and I dined here for our honey moon.
The menu includes a whole chicken, pork loin, corn, potato, biscuit (which is divine), creamy vegetable soup (which I am so thankful my kids share with me), a hot apple turnover and all the drinks you desire. Just be aware that you are expected to eat with your hands. They offer no flatware, but that’s just part of the fun.
You are seated around the arena on either the North or the South side and you get to cheer for your team throughout your meal and well as watch other spectacular entertainment. The Stampede also has a Christmas show that we love to see. This year I surprised my kids to the Christmas show. I had them thinking we were going to eat at McDonalds! That was one of my best surprises ever! So save up your money because the Stampede is a must see. It is located at 3849 Parkway.
Because I am such a huge fan of southern fried catfish and hushpuppies, my husband often gives in and takes me to eat at Huck Finn’s. Since they offer all you can eat catfish I leave happy!
All you can eat vittles go along with that delicious catfish such as coleslaw, white beans, french fries, hush puppies and dill pickles. Be sure you come hungry to Huck Finn’s cause the food is delicious and they just keep it coming! It is located on the parkway between lights #6-#7
The Alamo Steakhouse is a hidden gem along the parkway. It is right off the road at 3050 parkway, but it up the hill a little way, so be sure not to miss it. The Alamo smells amazing as you walk up because they cook all their meats over open flames. They are known for their delicious beef and offer incredible steaks such as the Rio Grande Rib Eye and the El Presidente Porterhouse. Their menu is fun to read with offerings such as “side arms” (side dishes) and whistle wetters (drinks). They also offer a military discount.
A trip down the Pigeon Forge Parkway is not complete until you stop a feed your sweet tooth at a candy kitchen. The Farmhouse Sweets Candy Kitchen is a fairly new addition and we are so impressed. It is cute, super clean and the managers are really friendly and fun to talk to.
My kids love perusing all the bulk candy they have to offer. The colors just draw you in and make you happy. (and make your mouth water)
They also offer homemade, gourmet confections. My favorite are their pralines and the toffee. I could have made a meal out of both of those.
What really made us decide that this was the place to feed our sweet tooth was the fudge. So pretty, beautiful, delicious and unique. A must try is the Jelly Donut fudge. Yes, you read that right, Jelly Donut fudge! It is fudge that REALLY tastes like a jelly donut. I don’t know how they do it, but I just know that those candy makers are talented! The Farmhouse Sweets Candy Kitchen is located at 3220 Parkway next to J.T. Hannah’s.
I hope this list of our favorite Pigeon Forge eateries helps you as you plan your next vacation!
Hi Kallee, I was excited to see Pigeon Forge included in the SoFab Collab restaurants. We have been there many times through the years. We always hunt for the place where the locals go to eat a good hot dog. Several years ago we were led to Frank Allen’s Market & Grill which I think is technically in Sieverville. We went and loved it. I included them in my Hot Dog Tour on the blog. We will be sure to look at your list the next time we are there. I’d like to visit J. T. Hannah’s. Your food looked fabulous! Huck Finn’s looks good too. Oh well, they all look good!! Pinning for our next trip to Pigeon Forge.
I will have to look up Frank Allen’s Market & grill it sounds delicious! It has been so fun to see that so many people have visited Pigeon Forge!
I was just in Pigeon Forge last week. So many great places to eat! We also tried Mel’s it was so good!
I have always wanted to try Mel’s! We pass it every time we visit. That will have to be our next stop