Highest-rated restaurants in Knoxville by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in Knoxville by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Knoxville, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#30. Dave's Dog House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7409 Middlebrook Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Street Vendors, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Emma's Southern Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3701 Sutherland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tacos, Salad, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Love That BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1901 Maryville Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Likewise Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1209 East Magnolia Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee Roasteries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. D & B's Hot Dogs and Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.5/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8909 Oak Ridge Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Yassin's Falafel House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (435 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 159 North Peters Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Tacos El Primo Food Truck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1116 Concord Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Tomo Poke Bowl
- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10756 Hardin Valley Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Poke, Japanese, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Taqueria La Herradura
- Rating: 4.5/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2625 North Broadway Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Sticky Rice Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (660 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Jack Dance St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Laotian, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Turkish Market & Deli
- Rating: 4.5/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8078 Kingston Pike Ste 121 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Grocery, Turkish, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Brass Pearl
- Rating: 4.5/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 24 Market Square Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Live/Raw Food, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Knox Brew Hub
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 421 Union Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Beer Bar, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Chow Hall
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5700 East Emory Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Burger Boys
- Rating: 4.5/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2400 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Millie's Kitchen Sabor Boricua
- Rating: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 3105 Alcoa Hwy Unit K Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Puerto Rican, Desserts, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Las Fuentes
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 2525 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Delicias Colombianas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 5003 Clinton Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Colombian
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Good Golly Tamale
- Rating: 4.5/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 112 South Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Paco's Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11071 Parkside Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
- Rating: 5.0/5 (462 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 516 Williams St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Steamboat on Central
- Rating: 5.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2423 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Taqueria La Herradura
- Rating: 5.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 8311 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Pizzeria Nora
- Rating: 5.0/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2400 North Central St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Penne for Your Thoughts
- Rating: 5.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9430 Northshore Drive Ste 104 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Food Trucks, New American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Chefs Table By All-Ways Catering
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 9111A Executive Park Drive Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Caterers, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#4. South Press
- Rating: 5.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3615 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Comfort Food, Community Centers
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Potchke
- Rating: 5.0/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 318 North Gay St. Ste 103 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Hello Tea House
- Rating: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 722 South Gay St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Desserts, Creperies
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Angry Dumplings Tea
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 1119 Sevier Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Soup, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.
