Tired of Chains or High-Concept Restaurants in the Smokies? These ‘Mom and Pop’ Restaurants Are Your Best Bet

While many Smoky Mountain Restaurants are marketed as being a ‘mom and pop,’ these are as authentic as you’ll get

As a writer, I sometimes become attached to the literal meaning of words or ideas. You spend your life mulling the minutia of second and third definitions – or fourth or fifth – and you can get a little lost inside your head.

So, when someone asks about a mom-and-pop restaurant or shop, I get a little too caught up in the genealogy of the thing. Is it still a mom-and-pop if it’s owned and operated by a single dude? What if they are a young couple and they haven’t had kids yet? Can it still be a mom-and-pop operation?

So, I just have to take a deep breath and remind myself that not everything is quite so literal. In this instance, a mom-and-pop is a small, independently owned restaurant run by a family or proprietor who may or may not have formal restaurant training.

Looking for mom and pop restaurants? The good news is the Smokies are filled with them. From the Louisiana tugboat cook who brought his taste for Cajun cuisine to Wears Valley to a battle between artists who work in the medium of smoked meat, if you want to get away from the highs and lows of chain dining, you can do it in the Smoky Mountains.

Best Mom and Pop Restaurants in the Smokies

1. Delauder’s

There’s an argument to be made that Delauder’s is the best restaurant in the Smokies across any genre. I don’t know if it’s true. Of course, there are many fine dining establishments from which to choose. But any discussion of an excellent dining experience in the Smokies that doesn’t include Delauder’s is incomplete. 

The self-described “family run dive in the outskirts of Gatlinburg” has been nationally recognized as some of the best BBQ in the nation. It has also been locally recognized by me as some of the best BBQ in the world. But people get more excited when outside authorities bestow such accolades.

If you’re wondering what to order, the Sampler Dinner – a FIVE-MEAT plate – is the correct call. Still, I would recognize anyone who orders the Holy Bologna – grilled bologna topped with pulled pork, onions, pickles, nacho cheese, lettuce, sweet jalapeno mustard and BBQ sauce as a culinary daredevil on the Evel Knievel level.

Keep in mind, there has been some recent drama with the current location. The Delauder’s folks are keeping everyone up to date on their Facebook page, their location may eventually change. 

2. Preacher’s Smokehouse

I think the nature of the barbecue business lends itself to a good, successful mom-and-pop. Run by a pastor, Preacher’s Smokehouse authentic barbecue delights on Pittman Center Road in Sevierville. The food served here is nothing less than a work of art.

Now, I have Delauder’s ranked No. 1 and Preacher’s ranked No. 2. Does that mean I think Delauder’s is the superior product? Not necessarily. I have meant over the years to get scientific with the thing and eat at both in the same day. Try to compare. But I haven’t done it yet. Delauder’s does have a little bit more of a national reputation. However, I’m not willing to call the fight just yet. All I can say is that both of these Mom and Pop barbecue joints are heavenly, if the good preacher would forgive me the term. It’s like Ali-Frazier. Lakers-Celtics. Coke-Pepsi. The fight is so good, I’m not sure I ever want to declare a winner. 

3. Chubby’s

Located in what I think is a former Mexican restaurant on Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville, Chubby’s is a Southern-down-home place the locals go to while all the tourists are chasing higher-priced, lower quality meals up on the main strip.

Open from breakfast to dinner, Chubby’s serves your down-home Southern favorites with a few extras to spice things up. Known for burgers and fried green tomatoes, my recommendation is to go a little off the beaten path to a Northern delicacy. As a young Hoosier, growing up in the Northern part of the state, I grew up in the giant fried tenderloin sandwich capital of the world. The recipe? Surprisingly simple. You take a pork tenderloin and beat it flat until it’s almost as big as a hubcap. Then, you bread it and fry it. You serve it as a sandwich on a bun that is comically undersized. Chubby’s is one of the few places outside of the Hoosierland I’ve ever found that does it well.

4. Lil Bear Café

I love the Lil Bear Café so much. Just a tiny little restaurant located just off the intersection of Teaster Lane and Veteran Boulevard. Open for breakfast and lunch, the menu is almost as small as the building in which the restaurant is housed. Pancakes, French toast and omelets for breakfast. Reuben, patty melt, Philly steak and cheese for lunch (there’s also a chef salad and chicken salads for those who want somewhat healthier options). It’s all perfectly done. No fuss. No muss. Just good food.

 

5. PawPaw’s Catfish

Our guy Chris honed his culinary skills as a deck hand on a Louisiana tugboat. Part of that gig was cooking up nourishing meals for the crew. You think restaurant critics are harsh? Try messing up lunch for a bunch of dudes who are working on the tugboat all day. You hone your game or you get out. 

Chris and his family relocated to Wears Valley, where he found the mountains to be welcoming but lacking in Cajun cuisine. So, he opened Pawpaw’s Catfish Kitchen, maybe the most mom-and-pop-iest restaurant ever. Select from the Po Boys, seafood platters and classic Cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya and red beans and rice. It’s great. 

6. Estrella’s Hondumex

A little restaurant/Hispanic grocery right at the end of Roaring Fork Road, Estrella Hondumex serves Mexican and Honduran fare. It also makes up for a lack of upscale dining experience with a quality of authentic Hispanic dining that has been hard to find in the Mountains. While I have lived in places with excellent Mexican dining options, I hadn’t really been exposed to Honduran dishes. I’m a fan. 

7. Tennessee Jed’s

A Grateful Dead-themed sandwich shop in Downtown Gatlinburg that serves excellent barbecue, sandwiches and hot dogs? Yes, please. Tennessee Jed’s is consistently excellent, both the Cubano and the Reuben are outstanding, and fun. If you’re having an event – like a family picnic or reunion – don’t forget to price Jed’s catering menu. Can’t be beat.

Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments! Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!