If you’re anything like us, you start fantasizing about what you’re going to eat during your vacation long before you hit the road! While Gatlinburg, TN is most famous for its pancake houses, our Smoky Mountain city is no slouch when it comes to lunch either. To help you make the most of your next getaway, we have put together a guide to five of our favorite places to eat lunch in Gatlinburg.

1. Morning Mist Cafe

Located in Gatlinburg’s historic Arts & Crafts Community, Morning Mist Cafe is considered a hidden gem in the Smokies. This quaint restaurant has developed a loyal following for its mouthwatering burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Morning Mist Cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating and offers a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Highlights of the menu include the Hand Breaded Catfish Sandwich, Homemade Chicken Salad, and the Burnt Pork End Sandwich. Be sure to save room for one of the cafe’s famous “Kimmie” Cakes, a slice of homemade pound cake smothered in strawberries and whipped cream.

2. Taste of Italy

Taste of Italy is another one of the best places to eat lunch in Gatlinburg. Owned and operated by a couple from New York, this excellent restaurant serves authentic Italian favorites like lasagna, chicken parmesan, pizza, fettuccine alfredo, and pasta primavera. The portions at Taste of Italy are very generous, and lunch specials are usually under $10. Many dishes come with a salad and a serving of the restaurant’s signature garlic knots, which are incredibly addictive!

3. New Orleans Sandwich Co.

New Orleans Sandwich Co. brings the flavors of the Big Easy to the Smokies. Guests at this restaurant will find a great selection of New Orleans po’ boys (large french bread sandwiches that typically come “dressed” with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo). Some of the most popular po’ boys at New Orleans Sandwich Co. include the Saints Smoked Sausage, Bourbon Street Roast Beef, Creole Ham Sandwich, and the Louisiana Oyster Sandwich. In addition to po’ boys, the restaurant offers red beans and rice, gumbo, crab cakes, jambalaya, and other traditional New Orleans dishes.

4. Smoky Mountain Shakes-N-Dawgs

Smoky Mountain Shakes-N-Dawgs serves the most unique hot dogs you’ll ever taste! Some of the one-of-a-kind creations available at this restaurant include the Moonshine Dawg (marinated in genuine Tennessee white lightnin’), the Pizza Dawg (covered in marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and pepperoni), and the Southern Fried Dawg (deep fried in a batter made from Cheez-It cracker crumbs). To complete your meal, we recommend trying one of the restaurant’s Amish buttercream milkshakes.

5. Parton’s Deli

No list of lunch destinations in Gatlinburg would be complete without Parton’s Deli! This beloved restaurant has been a mainstay of the Parkway since 1974. Guests will find tasty steamed sandwiches, chili dogs, deviled eggs, homemade potato salad, and lemon pound cake. Parton’s Deli is a one man operation, so the service isn’t always super fast but it is always exceptionally friendly.

Final Thoughts

What is your favorite place to eat lunch in Gatlinburg? Let us know in the comments below! Also, be sure to check out our list of our favorite locally-owned restaurants in Gatlinburg!