Seafood$mlkTue-Thu 11:00-18:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-19:30; closed Sun-Mon
Uncle Larry's Restaurant fries whiting, tilapia and catfish to order on MLK Boulevard in Chattanooga, Larry Torrence's family fish house since 2013.
Order: The whiting sandwich, lemon-pepper style, with hot sauce.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The MLK original is tiny; Brainerd Road and East Brainerd locations take the overflow.
Southern$mccallieMon-Fri 06:00-15:00; Sat 07:00-12:00; closed Sunday
Wally's Restaurant has served Chattanooga meat-and-three plates on McCallie Avenue since 1937, from drive-in burgers to today's homecooked vegetables.
Order: Meat-and-three with whatever vegetables came in that morning.
Tip: Breakfast from 06:00 on weekdays; Saturday closes at noon and Sunday is dark. Cash-friendly, counter-fast service.
Southern$east-chattanoogaWed-Sun 11:00-20:00; closed Mon-Tue
Bea's Restaurant spins all-you-can-eat Southern cooking on lazy susan tables on Dodds Avenue in Chattanooga, four generations of one family at the stove.
Order: Fried chicken and whatever vegetables land on the lazy susan.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 to 20:00 only. Tables are shared-spin; go hungry and let the staff keep the bowls refilled.
American Diner$$downtownDaily 00:00-24:00
City Cafe Diner keeps a 388-item menu going 24 hours a day on Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga, with towering cakes and breakfast at any hour.
Order: All-day breakfast and a slice from the 90-cake case.
Tip: The only true 24-hour room downtown; it absorbs the post-bar crowd after 02:00, so daytime is the quieter visit.
American BBQ$st-elmoMon-Sat 11:00-20:00; closed Sunday
The Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe plates barbecue and picnic fare at the base of Lookout Mountain in St. Elmo, Chattanooga, next to the Incline Railway.
Order: The BBQ plate, or the Rainbow sandwich if you want the local cult order.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order at the counter and take the side garden; it is the natural lunch stop after riding the Incline down.
Mexican$southsideTue-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; closed Sun-Mon
Taqueria Jalisco Ania grills tacos, tortas and fajitas served in pineapples on Rossville Avenue in Chattanooga's Southside, a family Mexican kitchen.
Order: Tacos al pastor and the fajita served in a pineapple.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The Chatt Taste food tour routes through here for good reason; go off-peak for a table.