Set along the scenic Tennessee River, Chattanooga is a charming Southern city not too far from the North Carolina and Georgia border. Chattanooga has seen a cultural renaissance in recent years. The culinary scene is super diverse here, with an array of amazing restaurants in Chattanooga serving fare from all over the world.
They also cook up their fair share of classic Southern comfort foods, for those visiting from elsewhere that want to try Southern cuisine. Chow down at any of these best Chattanooga restaurants and enjoy all the eclectic eats this city has to offer!
The Best Restaurants in Chattanooga
Alleia
Alleia is a rustic Italian restaurant hand-crafting authentic fares using all local ingredients. The ambiance has the warmth and comfort of a traditional trattoria with a vintage brick facade, wrap-around porch covered in climbing jasmine, and 300-year-old reclaimed wood.
There are seven kinds of pasta made in-house from scratch and a custom brick oven for cooking the perfect pizza pie. So if you’re looking for authentic Italian, this is one of the best restaurants in Chattanooga for you. The menu here is quite seasonal, but if you get a chance to try the Bacon Wrapped Quail Breast, it’s a must-order.
Whitebird
Whitebird is our favorite spot for stylish fine dining in the city, and one of the best restaurants in Chattanooga if you’re after an elevated experience. They have a modern American menu that features classic Tennessee flavors. The ambiance is trendy and chic and the dishes tend to fall on the pricier side of things. Everything is locally sourced from within the river valley.
The plates are elevated, and the Verlasso Salmon and White Wine Poached Oysters are super tasty in particular.
STIR
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American, bar, seafood
- Address: 1444 Market St, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
STIR is a trendy New American eatery in an industrial-chic environment and one of the best restaurants in Chattanooga! They’re well known for their craft cocktails, and even the ice here is artisanal.
The oyster bar is a thing of beauty. Each dish is thoughtfully created from scratch with the freshest ingredients possible. The patio offers picturesque views looking out over Station Street, so if you can get a seat outside, then nab it!
You can go for lunch, dinner, or their famous brunch with cheap mimosas! There are several plant-based meals to try and the cast iron desserts are as cute as they are tasty.
Bluegrass Grill
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Southern style breakfast
- Address: 55 E Main St #101, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Bluegrass Grill is a family-owned favorite in Chattanooga that’s been around since 2007. They cater to all kinds of sensitivities, including vegan and gluten-free restrictions.
Everything is made from scratch, including the bread, and it’s delicious for breakfast or for lunch. The Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwiches are the best order here, and we highly recommend heading here for breakfast, brunch, or lunch!
Public House Restaurant
Public House is the place to be for locally sourced Southern fare. They’ve been around in the Chattanooga foodie scene since 2009 withan atmosphere that is refined yet relaxed, as is the cuisine. The wine list is very well curated and every plate is artfully prepared. Public House Restaurant feels like good old-fashioned home cooking – only fancier.
There are separate gluten-free menus for both lunch and dinner and a family meal option as well. The Red Wine Braised Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and gravy is especially delightful to eat and comes highly recommended!
Uncle Larry’s
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 736 E M L King Blvd, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Uncle Larry’s actually has three convenient locations around the city. It’s a no frills, family-owned joint that’s super low-key. The tagline here is “fish so good it will smack you,” to which we must agree.
They offer a lot of fried comfort foods that are super familiar for the region. If you manage to save some room, we recommend ordering one of their homemade desserts as well.
Flying Squirrel
Flying Squirrel is mainly known for its creative seasonal fare that feels super modern. It’s located in the Southside of Chattanooga in a hangar-style building however don’t be fooled as the space is absolutely beautiful – you may not want to ever leave~ Furry friends are welcome out on the patio as well!
Flying Squirrel offers craft beer and specialty cocktails to drink, and it’s honestly nice to go just for this and a snack. It’s a popular spot for Sunday brunch in the city, so expect a crowd on a Sunday afternoon. The Spicy Korean Candy Chicken is our favorite entree to order here!
Tony’s Pasta Shop
Tony’s serves traditional Italian cuisine that will transport you straight to Sicily. Set inside a Victorian mansion in the Arts District, it’s a fun place to dine with friends and family. The Create Your Own Pasta menu is such a fun way to customize your meal here, meaning any diner will enjoy eating here!
Every pasta is hand cut and every sauce is made fresh with garden ingredients. Be sure to always opt for the meatballs on top, they’re apparently made from a family recipe passed down for generations, and they taste absolutely amazing.
Champy’s
- Price:$$
- Cuisine: Chicken restaurant
- Address: 526 E M L King Blvd, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Champy’s is a family-run institution in Chattanooga that’s been around for over 40 years! Famous chicken and phenomenal beer is their guarantee, and they strive to honor and celebrate Southern Mississippi culture.
Everything is fried to order for maximum freshness and flavor. There are several locations around town and the atmosphere is always funky and lively. The sides are all made from scratch and are really just as good as the main event.
Taqueria Jalisco Ania
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Mexican restaurant
- Address: 1639 Rossville Ave, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
This little shop feels like a special corner of the city. They’re focused on making everyone’s favorite Mexican meals, including tacos, quesadillas, tortas, and burritos.
The drinks selection is limited to just the classics, a margarita, or a paloma. No fuss. The space feels like a cute and cozy nook that’s effortlessly cool.
Feed Table and Tavern
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Bar, pub, farm fresh cuisine, vegetarian
- Address: 201 W Main St, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Feed Table and Tavern is a neighborhood haunt in the Southside district, and one of the most notable restaurants in Chattanooga. The historic building was originally the famous Feed-Seed Supply Company, and today they cook up elevated comfort grub in a cool, industrial space. The dishes are all farm-to-table with a special twist while the bar is lively and a fun spot to post up for beverages and bites.
The grass-fed Sloppy Joes have gotten rave reviews, and we really enjoyed the Short Rib Pot Roast as well. Feed is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. There are often fun events here, like live music and trivia nights so make sure to check their calendar on their website!
Proof Bar and Incubator
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American bar, pub
- Address: 422 E M L King Blvd, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Proof is one of the more popular places to eat in Chattanooga. The incubator part is a reference to their Restaurant Residency Program, where chefs get an accessible opportunity to test out their concepts.
As such, there are multiple kitchens and the menu is very extensive, serving everything from noodles to po’ boys. The ambiance is relaxed, with exposed brick, warm woods, and leather sofas making it one of the best restaurants in Chattanooga for date night!
Easy Bistro and Bar
Aptly named, this is a relaxed French bistro with fantastic food and a long list of cocktails. Easy Bistro and Barn is inside of a renovated bottling plant, so the space feels very cool with plenty of character. They have a raw bar, a charcuterie menu, and lots of smaller plates that are perfect for sharing and snacking with friends.
It was designed to create a family-style dining experience and the food feels simple without sacrificing flavor or excitement. There are endless options for meal combinations, so eating here is always a fun time.
Two Ten Jack
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Izakaya restaurant
- Address: Warehouse Row, 1110 Market St Fc4, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Two Ten Jack is located at Warehouse Row, a ramen house and izakaya restaurant, perfect for warming up on those chilly Chattanooga nights. A neighborhood pub offering artisanal Japanese eats using Southern ingredients, they have sushi, skewered meats, or yakitori, and plenty of small plates.
The environment is a comfy and unpretentious place for community gathering. Pair your meal with a drink here, like a rare Japanese beer or a sake cocktail on tap. Honestly, everything here is good, but if you’re finding it hard to decide on an entree, go for the Tonkotsu, a Japanese staple.
Giardino
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Italian restaurant
- Address: 2503 Westside Dr, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Giardino is a small neighborhood pastaria cooking authentic Italian-inspired cuisine. All the produce and proteins come from farms in the area, meaning every dish is seasonal. The wine and cocktail list are excellent, with many Italian wines being featured.
For a hearty dinner, try the Lasagna con Bechamel, it’s bolognese, mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan – how can you go wrong with those ingredients?
Lil Mama’s Chicago Style Hoagie
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Sandwich shop
- Address: 818 Georgia Ave Ste 114, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Lil Mama’s may not look like one of the best restaurants in Chattanooga, but it is so much more than just your average sandwich shop. The space is chock full of funky ’90s nostalgia and it has an overall hip and modern vibe. The hoagies here are the real deal, for authentic Chicago fares right in Chattanooga.
You can also make any sandwich into a salad for a healthier spin. We love to grab for the Spicy Mama or a Big Daddy Herby Baby for lunch when in the city.
Community Pie
Community Pie is a happening pub for Neapolitan and New York-style pizza and craft beers, right in the heart of Chattanooga. The environment has a cute vintage decor that makes it just as enjoyable to eat in as to take out. You can get it by the slice, which is a super convenient option, or you can customize your creation.
Making the crust gluten-free here is also easy for an extra dollar. If you’re not a pizza person, they also have fresh pasta and sandwiches to try.
Blue Orleans
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Cajun restaurant / Seafood
- Address: 1463 Market St, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Blue Orleans serves up all the classic Creole and Cajun cuisines. It’s a great way to get a taste of traditional Big Easy eats in the Southside of Chattanooga. That includes the drinks as well, with Abita beer and French Quarter cocktails on deck. Blue Orleans is made famous for having some of the best seafood in the city. The Gumbo is always the way to go here if you ask us.
Scottie’s on the River
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Steaks, seafood & cocktails
- Address: 491 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
This riverside outpost opened a few years ago and quickly became a local legend, and not just for the stunning views either. The menu is seafood-forward and the House Specialty, a Fried Lobster Tail, is definitely one order that’s to die for.
There’s a gluten-free menu, cast iron desserts, and plenty of starters, handhelds, and meat dishes to choose from. The ambiance is open and airy, with lots of windows and light woods setting the mood for a delicious meal.
Main Street Meats
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Butcher shop, American cafe (lunch), dinner and cocktails
- Address: 217 E Main St, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Main Street Meats is both a butcher shop and an eatery with a whole animal approach. This means every part of the body serves a purpose, often quite creatively. The menu is always changing here, so odds are you won’t be able to order the same thing twice.
There are a few local craft beers on draft, along with some fine wines and inventive seasonal cocktails. It’s a great place to get a steak, though the Smoked Ribs are delicious as well.
Sugar’s Ribs
Sugar’s is a down-home eatery for classic Southern barbecue and simple sides. It feels like a nice slice of the old Chattanooga and is best for anyone who considers themselves a smoked meat purist. The flavor is always rich here, moist on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and slowly cooked for ultimate tenderness.
For a no-frills facade, the deck and its sweeping view are a nice surprise for al fresco dining. The Pulled Pork Butt steals the show here.
St. John’s Restaurant
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: American restaurant
- Address: 1278 Market St, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Located inside the former St. John’s Hotel, built in the early 1900s, this restaurant has since been beautifully renovated and decked out in modern decor. The menu focuses on seasonal and elevated American cuisine. It is certainly a fancy affair here, so we recommend saving this restaurant for a special occasion.
For the first course we loved the Foie Gras Ravioli and for the main event, try the Seared Duck Breast and Confit. There are vegetarian and vegan offerings and the cocktails are super well crafted.
Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 1459 Riverside Dr #4312, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Located at the heart of Chattanooga’s iconic Riverwalk, the Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar has an expansive deck boasting riverside vistas that bring people in on a beautiful day. The menu has a wide variety of seafood and barbecued meat dishes, yet you can also find one of the busiest oyster bars in the city here. The Smoked Brisket and Fried Catfish are a couple of the more cravable plates to try here.
Agave and Rye
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American, Mexican, quick bites
- Address: 185 Chestnut St, Chattanooga (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Agave and Rye serves simple food elevated into something epic. Their chef-inspired take on the standard taco is a great example of this. The menu is mainly traditional Mexican street food with a twist. They also have over 90 kinds of tequila, so a great Margarita or other cocktail usually feels like the right call.
If you can, go for Taco Tuesday to enjoy specials at a great price. Try the Love Shack for a little Southern fusion, plus it’s gluten-free! There are vegan and vegetarian choices and even a sweet taco treat for dessert.
State of Confusion
State of Confusion is a Southern restaurant known for wood-fired fares, and one of the best restaurants in Chattanooga if you are looking for something chill. The environment here is hip and industrial with an outdoor space that is especially lovely for relaxing with an ice cold beer and some ceviche. Even in the winter, they set up igloos to chow down in.
They are open late during the week and have a delicious brunch on the weekends. There’s an option for everyone here, from the Plant-Based Burger to the Aji Chicken Eggrolls to the Jambalaya.
