5 cheap eats rooms in Nashville, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Nashville — the places editors actually return to. All Nashville food.
Bolton's Spicy Chicken and Fish ★ 4.6
east-nashville · 624 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206
Bolton Polk's Main Street hot chicken shop in East Nashville is the editor's pick on the hot-chicken map: smaller, cheaper and darker-fried than Hattie B's.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Cash and card; tiny counter, takeaway is the move.
Arnold's Country Kitchen ★ 4.6
the-gulch · 605 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
The Arnold family's Gulch meat-and-three lunch counter in Nashville won the James Beard America's Classics Award in 2009. Kahlil Arnold runs the kitchen today.
Tip: Cafeteria line, lunch only Monday through Friday 10:30 to 14:30. A North Nashville sit-down location opened in 2025.
Mas Tacos Por Favor ★ 4.4
east-nashville · 732 McFerrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
Teresa Mason's McFerrin Avenue taco counter in East Nashville opened as a converted Airstream and now runs full kitchen service. Cash-friendly, no-reservations.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Lunch lines build by 12:00; arrive at 11:00 or after 14:00 for an easy seat.
Pepperfire Hot Chicken ★ 4.4
north-nashville · 5104 C Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
Isaac Beard's hot chicken shop in Nashville moved to Centennial Boulevard in 2024. The Tender Royale, a sandwich on grilled cheese, is the cult order.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Order ahead online; the kitchen runs 30-minute waits at lunch.
Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria ★ 4.3
north-nashville · 911 Buchanan St, Nashville, TN 37208
Three Tennessee State alumni opened Slim & Husky's Buchanan Street pizzeria in Nashville in 2017, anchoring North Nashville's restaurant revival with hip-hop and pies.
Tip: Counter ordering, no table service; the patio gets busy on Saturday afternoons. Cinnamon rolls run out by 14:00.