Nashville may be known for its live music scene and Lower Broadway pedal taverns, but Nashville is increasingly becoming a foodie destination. Benji’s is offering up delicious kettle-boiler za’atar bagel and tahini schmear made by husband-wife team Benji’s.

Eater’s Essential 38 (updated quarterly) features Bistro Love in East Nashville as an homage to Southern comfort food, and Noko in Gulch for wood-fired Asian fare.

Xiao Bao

This sprawling restaurant, best known for popularizing xiao long bao, has earned the distinction of making thousands of these delights every day – so arrive early to avoid crowds and indulge in traditional pork or crab roe options!

Josh Walker and Duolan Walker-Li, husband and wife team from Charleston, opened XBB restaurant in an old gas station in 2012. Inspired by their travels across Asia, their creative menu marries culinary artistry with cultural nostalgia.

Pair your buns with vinegar and ginger – two traditional dipping sauces – for an unforgettable dining experience. When the topknot of your bun is cut open, take a sip from its steaming soup filled belly! Once known as Nanxiang Da Rou Mantou (literally “large meat-filled buns from Nanxiang), its name was later simplified to “Xiao Long Bao.”

Husk

Husk has quickly established itself as one of Savannah’s premier Southern restaurants since opening its doors in 2011. Situated within a historic Savannah home, Husk offers both expansive dining rooms and intimate tables around an ornate chandelier-lit bar for intimate conversations. Their menu changes daily to showcase ingredients sourced from nearby farms and purveyors; you may recognize some dishes such as cornmeal-fried catfish or benne lace crackers with pimento cheese as familiar favorites to local diners.

Though Chef Sean Brock has since left, his motto still holds: “if it doesn’t come from the South, it doesn’t come through our doors.” Luckily, our team continues to grow vegetables on-site and research heritage recipes from throughout our region in order to highlight our culinary history.

Bad Idea

Alex Burch–an advanced sommelier who had led wine programs at Bastion and Henrietta Red–first told friends about his plans to open a restaurant in an old church, they warned against it as being “bad idea.” But instead he took the leap of faith necessary and created Bad Idea.

Housed in an old church sanctuary, the restaurant is an exquisite blend of food, wine and aesthetics. Nashville studio Design Object created the space, while New Hat created stunning surface installations. Chef Colby Rasavong runs the kitchen which serves dinner as well as late night bites that draw from his Lao-American roots.

Menu highlights include small plates and shareable entrees like nam khao croquettes, Anson Mills broken rice porridge, Royal Red shrimp-stuffed Bucksnort trout and Bear Creek pork collar. An impressive wine list offers options from around the globe.

Lou

Nashville may be best-known for country music and fiery fried chicken, but the city’s culinary scene is continuously expanding. While biscuits and barbecue still reign supreme on city streets, restaurants like Lou provide more than comfort food and drinks.

Diners can feast on delicious grilled steak in this intimate restaurant and all-natural wine bar, featuring one of the city’s best menus featuring natural options. Meanwhile, nearby Riverside Village hosts Mailea Weger’s cozy spot, serving one of its most unique brunches.

Folk Pizza in East Nashville and Niko and Benji Bendaj’s Deli/Pizzeria offer some new favorites in Nashville. Meanwhile, Pinewood Social boasts breakfast lunch and dinner services plus an Airstream trailer bar pool.

Hattie B’s

Since 2012, Nashville Hot Chicken has quickly established itself as one of the go-to fast casual restaurant in Nashville with an expanding national presence. Their family-run chain features line-forming signature spicy fried bird served up from cauldrons of fryer oil at cauldron temperatures from Southern (zero heat for spice intolerant diners) up to their incendiary “Shut the Cluck Up!” sauce level.

Hattie B’s is best-known for their delicious hot chicken, but they offer more than that: mac and cheese, collard greens and sweet treats like banana pudding are among their delicious offerings. Plus they pride themselves on providing friendly customer service!

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The latest outpost opened at Fifth + Broadway development in 2021, providing a large, open dining room that seats groups and individuals comfortably on tables and barstools. There’s also an expansive patio outside for takeout orders.