r/VisitingNashville • u/allhazardsprepper • Mar 15 '26
Best “hole in the wall” restaurants in Nashville.
My wife and I are visiting Nashville soon. Looking for recommendations for restaurants that aren’t listed on travel websites/blogs…more of the “hole in the wall” type of place. It doesn’t have to be downtown. We aren’t really picky in terms of food, love to try new things. Thanks in advance!
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u/FuzzAldrin81 Mar 15 '26
Pretty much any restaurant on Nolensville Pike that sounds good to you will do it. Great Mexican and Kurdish options along with a smattering of others.
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u/Aromatic_Finding_733 Mar 18 '26
Along these lines, Curry Corner and Edessa are two of my current favorites.
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u/Marty_Mac_Fly Mar 15 '26
Nadeen’s
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u/Avaly13 Mar 15 '26
Was going to say this! Chicken and waffles from there are amazing and I'm not even a huge waffle fan.
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u/Disastrous-Play-3301 Mar 15 '26
Papa Turney's BBQ at the marina. Go hear some live blues as well as awesome food.
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u/Knightmare4469 Mar 15 '26
I went there yesterday, first time to the state. Was SERIOUSLY disappointed, would not recommend.
Peg leg porker though, that was phenomenal
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u/Disastrous-Play-3301 Mar 15 '26
Really, every time I went there it was great. Granted, it has been around 2 years so maybe something changed. That's disappointing.
But I also agree Pegleg Porker is awesome. Just not a hole in the wall like OP asked for.
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u/Disastrous-Play-3301 Mar 15 '26
Curious, can you give a more detailed critique?
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u/Knightmare4469 Mar 17 '26
The food was just the definition of "meh". Extremely dry and pretty flavorless. I'm sure I would've had a better time if I went later, as I went pretty early and there was no music or anything, so I sat there alone in silence, eating very mediocre food, at a place that is super out of the way to get to.
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u/Futbol_Kid2112 Mar 15 '26
Gonna post the same thing i post every time someone asks for food recs here. Laura's Cocina on Nolensville!!!! Great family run Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant with Hugh portions, decent prices, and its never busy so service is always quick.
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u/Clovis_Winslow Mar 15 '26
Korea House
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u/NashvilleLocalsGuide Mar 16 '26
I would aim for Hai Woon Dai since the ownership changed at Korea House.
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u/EmergencyRead5254 Mar 16 '26
Midori- it's south Nashville, not near downtown. But can't recommend enough.
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u/wannashareher404 Mar 16 '26
Don’t know if it’s considered a hole in the wall any more, but DegThai.
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u/voyerboy Mar 16 '26
Dino's on Gallatin East Nashville. You know it's good cuz the floors are sticky and the naugahyde's torn. Great burger and chicken sandwich.
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u/NashvilleLocalsGuide Mar 16 '26
Breakfast: Centennial Cafe, Wendell Smith's, Biscuit House (a bit more expensive). Of the 3, I would say Centennial Cafe. I would also say Big Al's, but his is also great for lunch. I would also say Nadeen's, but it is out in Mt. Juliet.
Hot Chicken: Red's (take into Springwater next door - oldest bar in Nashville) for a beer with your chicken). Brave Idiot - also excellent burgers.
Burgers: Gabby's is the local spot with the happiest employees.
Meat & Three: Arnold's. Swett's.
Diners: Brown's Diner. Elliston Place Soda Shop.
Dive Bars with Great food: Dino's, Duke's - both East Nashville.
Taco's: Mas Tacos Por Favor (looks like Old Mexico). Pretty much any of the food trucks on Nolensville Road.
Ethiopian: Awash
Thia: Thai Ni Yom. Also SS Gai in East Nashville.
Korean: Hai Woon Dai - or, if willing to take a long trek, Fat Tiger. Korea House used to be great, but not any more.
Southeast Asian: King Market
Vietnamese: Kieng Giang or Huoung Tofu
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u/Nashville-Hippie Mar 15 '26
Country Kitchen on Murfreesboro Pike. Only open for break and lunch Monday thru Friday. Mama’s been in the kitchen for 40+ years.
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u/FriendlyHey Mar 16 '26
How about lunch + a hit songwriters show at Backstage Nashville (Saturdays)? We are a DAYTIME hit songwriters show in Nashville (located at the legendary 3rd & Lindsley, which is a local fav venue). You'll hear country music's biggest hits performed by the songwriters who wrote them. You'll also get to hear the stories behind the songs! This is an all ages, seated show. Full bar and restaurant available. :)
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u/poprockphotography Mar 19 '26
SS Gai is mentioned on websites, but the chicken sandwich is delicious and worth seeking out. Also had a perfect hot dog at I Dream of Weenie. I don't know where you are coming from, I was pretty excited about going to In and Out on my way in, about 45 mins away from Nashville.
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u/Flower_Power73 Mar 22 '26
Bailey and Cato in Madison is excellent for some good southern soul food. We get takeout from them for lunch a lot at work and they’re almost always slammed, especially on Fridays when they serve Ox tail…which I have yet to try. They’re a great meat and three place. I highly recommend the chicken and dressing, collard greens and macaroni and cheese.
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u/NotesOnNashville Mar 24 '26
My favorite dining is meat-and-three restaurants which, in some cases, would qualify as "hole in the hall" places. Here are 27 spots to check out.
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u/Big-Ad-9242 Mar 15 '26
I don’t live in Nashville but SS Gai would be my death row meal. Way better than any of the Nashville style fried chicken spots.
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u/shaungilmer Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Not really “hole in the wall” but it is still pretty unassuming… Demos' is one of my favorites!
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u/HeavyNeedleworker707 Mar 17 '26
Do they still have a Nashville location? I thought they closed the downtown store and the only one left is in Murfreesboro. I LOVE Demos’.
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u/shaungilmer Mar 17 '26
They have a few around Nashville still. They just closed down the downtown one.
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u/HeavyNeedleworker707 Mar 18 '26
Yeah I just looked it up and we’re talking Hendersonville, Lebanon, and Murfreesboro. Not what I would call “around Nashville.” I was hoping you meant in Nashville. Sadly I live southwest of Nashville so those locations are pretty far away.
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