A great vacation is just as much about the experiences you have when you arrive as where you stay. And does any vacation experience top finding that perfect local restaurant?
From Nashville hot chicken and Texas barbecue to creative Mexican cuisine and classic Smoky Mountain breakfasts, some of the best vacation memories happen around the table. If you’re planning a getaway to Nashville, Houston, Austin, or the Great Smoky Mountains, add these restaurants to your food itinerary.
Whether you’re looking for a special night out, a quick lunch between adventures, or an iconic local dish, here are some of the best restaurants to try in Nashville, Houston, Austin, and the Smoky Mountains.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville has become one of the country’s most exciting food destinations. Of course, you can’t visit Music City without trying hot chicken, but Nashville’s culinary scene extends far beyond its famous spicy fried chicken.
Milk & Honey Gulch
For a delicious start to your Nashville adventure, make your way to Milk & Honey in the Gulch. This popular neighborhood restaurant is known for its all-day breakfast and brunch menu, along with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and creative cocktails.
Whether you’re craving a hearty breakfast before a day of exploring Music City or looking for a relaxed lunch or dinner, Milk & Honey offers a versatile menu in a stylish, welcoming atmosphere. It’s especially convenient for travelers staying in or exploring The Gulch, one of Nashville’s most popular neighborhoods.
With generous portions and plenty of familiar favorites, Milk & Honey is an easy addition to your Nashville dining itinerary.
Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack
If there is one food you absolutely need to try in Nashville, it’s Nashville hot chicken. And if you want to experience the dish where its legend began, Prince’s Hot Chicken should be near the top of your list.
Prince’s traces its hot chicken tradition back to Thornton Prince and is widely credited as the originator of Nashville hot chicken. The signature dish combines crispy fried chicken with a fiery, cayenne-forward seasoning that delivers plenty of heat and flavor.
Prince’s now has multiple Nashville-area locations, making it easier to fit this iconic meal into your vacation plans. For first-time visitors to Music City, this is one Nashville food experience you won’t want to miss.
Henrietta Red
For something a little more refined, make a reservation at Henrietta Red in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. This chef-driven restaurant emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients, responsibly sourced seafood and meat, and a menu designed around sharing. Its oyster bar is one of the restaurant’s defining features.
Henrietta Red is particularly appealing for a date night or special vacation dinner. The menu changes with the seasons, but expect beautifully prepared seafood, vegetables, fresh pasta, and creative small plates. Weekend brunch is another popular option.
Vacation tip: Nashville is famous for its casual food, but restaurants like Henrietta Red are a reminder that Music City’s culinary scene has plenty to offer beyond hot chicken and barbecue.
Houston, Texas
Houston’s incredible diversity is reflected in its food. The city is home to everything from legendary Tex-Mex to inventive Asian cuisine and sophisticated rooftop dining.
The Original Ninfa’s
Few Houston restaurants have a more important place in Texas food history than The Original Ninfa’s. Founded in 1973 by Ninfa Laurenzo, the restaurant is credited with helping popularize fajitas through her famous tacos al carbon—grilled skirt steak served in handmade flour tortillas.
Today, Ninfa’s continues that tradition while offering a broad menu of Tex-Mex favorites, including fajitas, queso, guacamole, enchiladas, tacos, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.
For visitors who want to experience a true Houston institution, a meal at The Original Ninfa’s is more than dinner—it’s a taste of Texas culinary history.
Moon Rabbit
For a more contemporary Houston dining experience, check out Moon Rabbit in the Heights. Located at 605 W. 19th Street, this restaurant offers a different take on the city’s diverse food scene in a relaxed neighborhood setting.
Its convenient location makes Moon Rabbit a good option for travelers exploring the Heights and looking for something beyond the typical tourist stops. Add it to your Houston itinerary when you want to experience one of the city’s neighborhood dining destinations.
Terrace 54 Bar + Table
Sometimes the setting is almost as important as the meal. Terrace 54 Bar + Table combines contemporary dining with rooftop views in Houston’s Texas Medical Center.
The restaurant features seasonal menus influenced by culinary traditions from around the region, along with vegetarian-friendly choices, craft cocktails, wine, and outdoor terrace seating.
For vacationers looking for a more relaxed evening, Terrace 54 is especially appealing for a cocktail and dinner while enjoying the rooftop atmosphere. It’s a great choice when you want to slow down after a busy day exploring Houston.
Austin, Texas
Austin may be famous for barbecue and tacos, but its food scene is much broader than that. From elegant garden dining to creative pizza and inventive Mexican cuisine, Austin offers something for practically every kind of traveler.
Lutie’s
For a memorable special-occasion meal, Lutie’s is hard to beat. Located at the historic Commodore Perry Estate, Lutie’s combines elegant surroundings with seasonal, ingredient-focused cuisine inspired by Texas and the surrounding region.
The menu changes regularly, but expect beautifully prepared vegetables, seafood, meats, fresh breads, and creative small plates. The restaurant’s garden setting adds another layer to the experience, making Lutie’s particularly well suited for date nights, anniversaries, or simply treating yourself during an Austin vacation.
Pinthouse Pizza
Not every great vacation meal needs to be fancy. Sometimes you just want a really good pizza and a cold drink—and that’s where Pinthouse Pizza comes in.
Pinthouse combines handcrafted pizza, sandwiches, salads, and an award-winning craft beer program. The Austin-born concept has several locations, making it an easy option for families, groups, and travelers looking for a laid-back meal.
It’s a particularly good choice after a day of exploring Austin when you want something casual, flavorful, and distinctly local.
Nixta Taqueria
Austin’s creative approach to Mexican food is on full display at Nixta Taqueria. This isn’t a traditional taco shop—it combines traditional techniques with unconventional ingredients and imaginative combinations.
Nixta makes its own masa and tortillas using heirloom corn from Mexico while incorporating unexpected ingredients and modern culinary techniques. The result is a playful take on Mexican-American cuisine that still respects the history and craft behind the food.
For adventurous eaters, Nixta is one of the Austin restaurants worth seeking out when you want something that feels distinctly different from the usual taco stop.
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
A trip to the Great Smoky Mountains isn’t complete without experiencing some of the area’s classic Southern and Appalachian-inspired food. Whether you’re starting your day with a stack of pancakes or sitting down to a plate of fresh mountain trout, these restaurants are worth adding to your Gatlinburg itinerary.
Pancake Pantry
Few things say “Smoky Mountain vacation” quite like a big breakfast of pancakes. Pancake Pantry has been a Gatlinburg tradition since 1960 and bills itself as Tennessee’s first pancake specialty restaurant.
The restaurant serves breakfast all day, with a menu built around its famous pancakes and other classic breakfast favorites. Pancake Pantry’s long history and made-from-scratch recipes have made it a favorite for generations of visitors.
Vacation tip: Go early, especially during busy Smoky Mountain travel seasons. A hearty pancake breakfast is the perfect fuel for a day of hiking, sightseeing, or exploring Gatlinburg.
Tennessee Jed’s Craft Sandwiches
If you’re looking for a casual lunch in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Jed’s is a great choice. Located right on the Parkway, this local sandwich shop specializes in house-roasted meats, homemade sauces, fresh ingredients, and hearty craft sandwiches.
The menu includes favorites such as the Reuben, Cubano, Classic BBQ, and a variety of breakfast sandwiches. It’s also a convenient option when you don’t want to spend hours sitting down for a meal—you can grab lunch and get back to exploring the mountains.
For families and groups with different tastes, Tennessee Jed’s offers the kind of casual, satisfying food that works particularly well during an active Smoky Mountain vacation.
Smoky Mountain Trout House
For a meal that feels especially connected to the region, order trout at Smoky Mountain Trout House in Gatlinburg.
The restaurant specializes in rainbow trout prepared in several different ways, including grilled, blackened, smoked, and fried. Trout dinners come with two sides, while appetizers include trout fritters and other Southern-inspired favorites.
It’s a great choice for travelers who want to move beyond the typical tourist fare and enjoy a meal inspired by the natural character of the Smoky Mountains.
Make Food Part of Your Vacation
One of the best parts of traveling is discovering the places that make a destination unique. Nashville has hot chicken and chef-driven restaurants. Houston offers legendary Tex-Mex and an incredibly diverse culinary scene. Austin brings together Texas traditions with creative, modern cuisine. And in the Smoky Mountains, classic Southern breakfasts and mountain trout are part of the experience.
When you’re planning your next getaway, don’t just think about where you’ll sleep. Think about where you’ll eat, too.
And when you stay with Unwind Luxury Vacations, you’ll have a comfortable home base for exploring some of the country’s most exciting food destinations. Book your next vacation and turn your getaway into an experience worth savoring—from the first bite to the last.
