Nothing says Tennessee comfort food quite like a plate piled high with crispy fried chicken, creamy mac and cheese, slow-cooked green beans, and creamy mashed potatoes on the side.
If you’ve never tried a classic Southern meat-and-three restaurant, you’re missing out on one of the state’s tastiest food traditions, where you pick one hearty meat, three delicious sides, and sometimes a homemade dessert you can’t resist.
Some of these restaurants have been feeding hungry locals for more than 80 years, while others have earned loyal fans with secret family recipes, spicy hot chicken, and Southern dishes you won’t find at your average chain restaurant.
From old-school cafeterias with daily specials to tiny family-run kitchens serving recipes passed down through generations, these eight Tennessee meat-and-three restaurants deserve a spot on your food bucket list.
1. Arnold’s Country Kitchen, Nashville
Arnold’s Country Kitchen, located at 605 8th Avenue South in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood, is a legendary meat-and-three restaurant that has been serving hungry locals since 1982, earning a James Beard America’s Classics Award in 2009.
This family-run spot is famous for its cafeteria-style lunch line, where you grab a tray and choose from Southern favorites like crispy fried chicken, tender roast beef, country-fried steak, and juicy meatloaf.
For the full Tennessee experience, load up your plate with three sides, including creamy mac and cheese, slow-cooked turnip greens, buttery mashed potatoes, or fried green tomatoes, then save room for a slice of homemade pie.
With its no-frills dining room, generous portions, and rotating daily specials, Arnold’s is the kind of Nashville institution worth planning your lunch around.
2. The Cupboard Restaurant, Memphis
Over in Memphis, The Cupboard Restaurant at 1400 Union Avenue has been dishing out Southern comfort food since 1943, making it one of the city’s longtime favorites for a hearty, home-style meal.
This old-school diner is especially famous for its fresh vegetable dishes.
Favorites like okra and tomatoes, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, and fresh mashed potatoes take center stage alongside Southern classics like golden fried chicken and country-fried steak.
You can build your own meat-and-three plate, but don’t skip the restaurant’s famous eggplant casserole, a longtime house specialty that has kept Memphis locals coming back for decades.
The Cupboard also serves breakfast favorites like biscuits, country ham, and eggs, while its casual booths, friendly service, and generous portions make it a great spot to experience Memphis cooking without spending a fortune.
3. Jackie’s Dream, Knoxville
Knoxville brings its own Southern cooking traditions to the table at Jackie’s Dream, a family-owned soul food restaurant at 498 East Jackson Avenue, where owner Jackie Griffin turned her passion for cooking into a neighborhood favorite in 2015.
The star of the menu is the famous Knoxville Hot Chicken, a crispy, spicy fried chicken dish that packs plenty of heat, but you can also dig into golden fried catfish, tender pork chops, and other home-cooked favorites.
Round out your meal with Southern sides like creamy mac and cheese, seasoned green beans, collard greens, or sweet candied yams, all served in portions that won’t leave you hungry.
Inside, you’ll find a small, casual dining room with a welcoming, family-run atmosphere, plus daily specials that give you another reason to check what’s cooking.
4. Wendell Smith’s Restaurant, Nashville
In Nashville, Wendell Smith’s Restaurant at 407 53rd Avenue North has been feeding hungry locals since 1952, making it one of the city’s oldest spots for classic Southern meat-and-three meals.
This old-fashioned diner is especially popular for its country ham, fried chicken, roast beef, and chicken and dressing, with a rotating selection of daily specials that gives you something different to try throughout the week.
Pair your main dish with comforting sides like creamed potatoes, green beans, fried okra, or macaroni and cheese, and don’t forget to check out the homemade desserts, including Southern favorites like pecan pie and banana pudding.
With its retro booths, old-fashioned dining room, and walls covered in old photographs, Wendell Smith’s gives you a taste of Nashville’s traditional diner culture without the crowds of Broadway.
5. Hour Place Restaurant, Chattanooga
Chattanooga has its own take on Southern comfort food at Hour Place Restaurant, a locally loved soul food spot where hearty meat-and-three lunches and home-cooked recipes keep hungry regulars coming back for more.
Forget fancy plating because the real stars here are satisfying Southern favorites like chicken tenders, chicken fajita casserole, and seasoned vegetables, served in generous portions that make lunchtime the highlight of your day.
You can round out your plate with classic sides like turnip greens, creamy mac and cheese, green beans, or cauliflower with cheese, giving you plenty of ways to mix and match your favorite flavors.
What makes Hour Place special is its focus on simple, home-style cooking, with daily menu choices and a casual setting that put the food front and center without any unnecessary fuss.
6. Bishop’s, Franklin
Franklin adds a little extra spice to Tennessee’s meat-and-three scene with Bishop’s, a family-owned restaurant at 3065 Mallory Lane that combines traditional Southern cooking with the famous hot chicken recipes of Nashville’s Hattie B’s.
The cafeteria-style setup lets you build your own plate, with tempting choices like crispy fried chicken, tender pot roast, meatloaf, and country steak, plus a changing selection of freshly prepared dishes throughout the week.
For sides, you can pile on creamy mac and cheese, slow-cooked green beans, mashed potatoes, or sweet potatoes, but make sure you leave room for a slice of homemade chess pie or another classic Southern dessert.
One fun fact is that Bishop’s owners, the Bishop family, also launched Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, so you’re eating at the restaurant that helped inspire one of Nashville’s best-known hot chicken chains.
7. Farmhouse Cleveland, Cleveland
In Cleveland, Farmhouse Cleveland keeps the meat-and-three tradition going with hearty Southern cooking, generous plates, and the kind of familiar comfort food that makes choosing just three sides surprisingly difficult.
You can expect homestyle favorites such as chicken strips, meatloaf, and country-style vegetables, with the focus on filling meals rather than fancy presentation or complicated recipes.
The fun part is putting together your own combination of meat and sides, whether you’re craving creamy mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, or another Southern staple from the day’s selection.
Farmhouse Cleveland is a great addition to your Tennessee food list if you want to explore the state’s meat-and-three tradition beyond Nashville and Memphis, in a smaller city where a satisfying home-cooked lunch is the main attraction.
8. Country Junction Restaurant, Joelton
Rounding out the list is Country Junction Restaurant in Joelton, a small community about 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, where traditional Southern cooking takes center stage without the big-city restaurant prices or fancy extras.
This casual country restaurant is known for hearty, home-style meals, with Southern favorites like fried chicken, grilled fish, and Salisbury steak offering plenty of reasons to arrive hungry.
The meat-and-three experience is all about pairing your main dish with comforting sides, so look for classics like mashed potatoes, green beans, pinto beans, and baked apples when checking the day’s selections.
What makes Country Junction worth remembering is its small-town setting, giving you a chance to enjoy Tennessee’s beloved meat-and-three tradition in Joelton, away from Nashville’s busy tourist districts.
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