10 editor picks in Nashville.
10 soul food places in Nashville we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Nashville | Soul Food across every city.
Soul food is the bedrock of Nashville's table: fried chicken, smothered meats, cornbread and a rotating cast of vegetables served meat-and-three style. Arnold's Country Kitchen in The Gulch is the canonical meat-and-three, Monell's in Germantown serves family-style at shared tables, and Loveless Cafe in South Nashville keeps the country-cooking tradition going. Husk Nashville downtown reads the same heritage through a chef-driven lens.
Sean Brock's Rutledge Hill institution in Nashville cooks ingredient-driven Southern food on a wood hearth, run today by chef de cuisine Brian Baxter.
OrderThe cornbread skillet, then whatever the menu lists from the wood hearth.
TipLunch is a quieter seat with the same kitchen. Book the porch in spring; it overlooks downtown.
Chef Hal Holden-Bache's East Nashville room in Nashville opened in 2012 in a Lockeland Springs corner storefront, running wood-fired pizzas and Southern.
OrderMargherita pizza from the wood oven, the pork chop with redeye gravy.
TipHappy hour 16:00-17:30 runs half-price pizza and pours at the bar; a James Beard nominee for Community Kitchen.
The Arnold family's Gulch meat-and-three lunch counter in Nashville won the James Beard America's Classics Award in 2009. Located in The Gulch.
OrderRoast beef or fried catfish with three vegetables, sweet tea, banana pudding.
TipCafeteria line, lunch only Monday through Friday 10:30-14:30. A North Nashville sit-down location opened in 2025.
Monell's family-style Southern dining in Germantown has run since 1995, seating strangers at communal tables in a Victorian house seven blocks north.
OrderThe full family-style spread: fried chicken, country ham, mac and cheese, greens.
TipReservations available; tables seat ten. Sunday brunch is the marquee meal, books a week ahead.
Chef Hal Holden-Bache's Five Points room in East Nashville opened 2012 in a corner storefront, running wood-fired pizzas and Southern-accented neighbourhood.
OrderMargherita pizza from the wood oven and the pork chop.
TipHappy hour 16:00-17:30 runs half-price pizza and pours at the bar; James Beard Community Kitchen nominee.
The Loveless Cafe on Highway 100 in Nashville has served scratch biscuits, country ham and redeye gravy since 1951, anchoring the Natchez Trace's tourist.
OrderPlate of biscuits with peach preserves; country ham and redeye gravy with eggs.
TipLines build by 09:00 weekends; put your name down and shop the on-site Hams & Jams Country Market while you wait.
Monell's family-style Southern dining in Germantown, Nashville has run since 1995, seating strangers at communal tables in a Victorian house north.
OrderThe full family-style spread: fried chicken, country ham, mac and cheese, greens.
TipReservations available; tables seat ten. Sunday brunch is the marquee meal, books a week ahead.
Sean Brock's Rutledge Hill institution in Nashville cooks ingredient-driven Southern food on a wood hearth, recommended in the 2025 Michelin Guide American.
OrderCornbread skillet, then whatever the menu lists from the wood hearth.
TipLunch is quieter with the same kitchen. Book the porch seats in spring; they overlook downtown.
Arnold's meat-and-three lunch in Nashville delivers a protein plus three vegetables and tea for under $15. Located in The Gulch. At 605 8th Ave S.
OrderMeat-and-three plate
TipLunch only, Monday to Friday 10:30-14:30; cafeteria line moves fast. Cash and card.
Elliston Place Soda Shop near Vanderbilt in Nashville plates a meat-and-three lunch for $11 and a hand-dipped milkshake for $5. Since 1939 in Nashville.
OrderMeat-and-three with milkshake
TipHand-dipped chocolate milkshake plus a meat-and-three plate keeps the lunch bill under $15.
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