We are fresh off a family vacation to the Smoky Mountains, and it was certainly one to remember! While we we had a lot of fun across various activities, my favorite part of the trip was all the new restaurants and dishes we got to try. Here are the top 5 dishes we tried in Tennesee!
Stuffed French Toast at Crocket’s Breakfast Camp in Gatlinburg
Crocket’s was a repeat stop for us from our 2022 trip to Gatlinburg. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere perfectly fit the mountain trip. I had tried the stuffed French toast on that previous trip and loved it, so I had to have it again.
The dish did not disappoint. The French toast itself was good, but what makes it is the strawberry cream cheese that it is stuffed with. Paired with a hot cup of coffee, this breakfast was peak vacation bliss. I would not recommend this for a normal breakfast as it is a sugar overload, but it was the perfect treat to start a vacation day.
Fried Chicken at Five Oaks Farm Kitchen in Sevierville
Fried chicken is probably my favorite food on the planet. I view it the same way people view pizza, even when its bad, its still pretty good. Earlier in our trip I had some disappointing fried chicken at the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. Not wanting to leave the Smokies on a subpar fried chicken experience, I decided to try again at Five Oaks Farm Kitchen in Sevierville.
It was a decision I would not regret. The fried chicken was delicious. The menu states that they bread the chicken in crumbled Ritz crackers, something I had heard of but never tried. I’m a fan. The chicken was juicy, and the breading was amazing. The only complaint I had was that there wasn’t more of it!
The lunch portion came with 1 bone in fried chicken breast. It was so good I could have easily gone for more. However, the massive biscuit and side of mac and cheese I choose to go with the dish left me very satisfied for lunch. I will definitely want to stop by again on our next trip.
Chicken and Dumplins at Five Oaks Farm Kitchen in Sevierville
My wife ordered the chicken and dumplings at Five Oaks, and she was kind enough to let me sample a bite. I say kind enough because this was another terrific dish that I would not blame her for wanting all to herself! The dumplings were tender, and the flavor was phenominal.
The chicken and dumplings is on the menu with the soups. They served it in a large bowl, with a ton of shredded chicken and juice. While the item easily could fill you up for lunch, it only cost $8 as oppoed to the $15 lunch entrees. It gave the fried chicken a run for its money and I’d have a hard time choosing between them on a return trip.
Bacon Mac & Cheese Burger at Timberwood Grill in Pigeon Forge
Another return trip for us this time in the Smokies was The Island in Pigeon Forge. Amongst the shops and rides was the restaurant featuring the next dish on my list at the Timberwood Grill. I ordered the bacon mac and cheese burger, and it did not disappoint!
Full dislosure, this is the first bacon mac and cheese burger I had ever tried. So I don’t have a basis of comparison. I have seen them on Tiktoks and Youtube Shorts, but never sampled one myself. I must say I am now a fan! The burger was well cooked. The mac and cheese brought just the right amount of cheese, and the bacon was just the chef’s kiss.
Cinnamon Bread at the Cinnamon Bread Factory in Sevierville
Last but not least we have the cinnamon bread from the Cinnamon Bread Factory in Sevierville. This hidden gem is tucked away in a small shopping center of the main parkway. My wife discovered it on Tiktok, and it was one of the top places she wanted to try, and boy did it live up to the hype.
The bread was coming out of the oven just was we stepped up to order. It was hot, sticky, and delicious! Easily one of the absolute best things we ate on the entire trip and something we will not miss out on during any future trips. Cinnamon bread is synomous with the entire Gatlinburg area, and this might be the best plast to get it from in the state.
Those were the top 5 dishes we ate on our Tennessee trip! Be sure to check out full reviews of all the restaurants we visited and hopefully they will help you plan your own vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains! If you plan on hitting the beaches instead, check out my reviews of DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen in Gulf Shores, Al and the Angry Crab Shack in Orange Beach, Al!
