Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Layered dessert of vanilla wafers, banana slices and from-scratch vanilla custard, topped with meringue or whipped cream. Cold service.
Banana pudding migrated South from Northern dessert columns in the late 1800s. The Nashville version that Arnold's, Loveless and most meat-and-three counters serve uses Nabisco Nilla wafers (Northern brand, fully assimilated), home-cooked vanilla custard and ripe bananas. It is the standard dessert closer at a meat-and-three. Hattie B's sells it by the cup as the heat-killer chaser to hot chicken.
3 editor picks for Banana pudding in Nashville, ranked by editorial score. All Nashville signature dishes · Banana pudding across every city.
Also in: Birmingham, Charlotte, Chattanooga.
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.
The Bishop family's Midtown hot chicken counter in Nashville opened in 2012 and is the tourist-friendliest gateway to the dish. Located in Hillsboro Village.
OrderHot chicken at Hot level, pimento mac, banana pudding.
TipLines run 60 minutes at peak. Hit a satellite location (West, Downtown) or go off-peak for a faster seat.
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.
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