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.

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.

3 editor picks for East Tennessee Country Ham in Knoxville, ranked by editorial score. All Knoxville signature dishes · East Tennessee Country Ham across every city.

Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop ★ 4.6

$CaféDowntown

Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown Knoxville diner since 1986, runs the breakfast counter that voted Best Breakfast in town.

TipClosed by 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00, weekdays move faster.

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Litton's Market and Restaurant ★ 4.6

$$American (burgers)Fountain City

Litton's Market and Restaurant on Essary Drive in Fountain City since 1946, the family-run burger and bakery counter, sells the famous burger.

OrderA Thunder Road burger with the daily piece of Italian cream cake to take home.

TipClosed Sundays; weekday lunch lines move faster than the dinner crowd in Fountain City.

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The Plaid Apron ★ 4.6

$$Southern, All-dayBearden

The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the long-running Southern brunch and dinner room in West Knoxville, works with East Tennessee farmers.

OrderA morning cinnamon roll with grits, or the smash burger at dinner.

TipWednesday to Saturday for brunch and dinner; Sunday is brunch only and the kitchen closes Mondays and Tuesdays.

DirectionsView

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