The salt-cured aged country ham of East Tennessee tradition, served thin-sliced with red-eye gravy and a buttermilk biscuit on Knoxville breakfast plates.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
East Tennessee country-ham curing traces back to the Appalachian smokehouse tradition of salt-curing whole pork legs through the winter. Knoxville breakfast plates pair the ham with red-eye gravy made from black coffee and ham drippings. Pete's Coffee Shop and Litton's both run the Tennessee country-ham breakfast year round.
Common allergens: Pork
Tip from the editors. Real country ham is heavily salt-cured; the cold-water soak is essential or the dish is inedible. Use coarse-ground country ham.
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown diner since 1986, runs breakfast counter service voted Best Breakfast in Knoxville seven.
Order: Country ham and eggs with grits
Tip: Closes 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00 and weekdays move faster.
Littons Market on Essary Drive is the 1946 Fountain City burger counter that anchors North Knoxvilles hometown dining without leaving its residential setting.
Why locals love it: The Fountain City burger counter since 1946 has anchored North Knoxville's hometown dining without ever leaving its residential setting.
Tip: Cash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.
The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the Southern brunch and dinner room, runs Wednesday-to-Sunday brunch with cinnamon rolls.
Order: Cinnamon roll with grits and a smash burger
Tip: Sunday brunch only; Wednesday to Saturday are full brunch and dinner. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
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