Best Restaurants in Chattanooga (2025)

Chattanooga’s fine-dining standard-bearer now thrives in West Village, combining Southern ingredients with French technique. Lauded for years by Southern Living and praised locally for its 2024 move, it remains a celebratory must. Expect polished service, deep wines, and seasonal menus.

Chef Erik Niel’s West Village bistro marries Gulf seafood and French classics with Southern sensibility. Frequently recommended by Southern Living and local critics, it’s known for a serious raw bar, wood-fired dishes, and a standout cocktail and whiskey program.

Part butcher shop, part restaurant, this Southside favorite builds menus around whole-animal cuts and Tennessee farms. Regularly cited by Southern Living and Eater, it delivers one of the city’s best burgers, robust charcuterie, and a whiskey-forward bar.

Chef Khaled AlBanna’s modern Levantine cooking—mezze, manaqish, lamb confit—has earned national nods from Condé Nast Traveler and frequent praise from regional writers. The Sofra feast showcases the kitchen’s range and Chattanooga’s global palate.

Inside The Edwin Hotel, Whitebird reframes Appalachian cooking—trout, pork, heirloom grains—through a graceful lens. Highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler and Eater, it’s a river-view destination for artful plates and Tennessee River Valley sourcing.

A special-occasion favorite blending Korean barbecue service with prime steaks and A5 wagyu. Featured by Southern Living and Eater, it pairs attentive tableside grilling with polished cocktails and banchan that keep pace with the premium cuts.

Beloved for hot fish plates, hushpuppies, and friendly counter service, this locally owned spot anchors MLK Boulevard’s food culture. Celebrated by Eater and local media, it’s straightforward, soulful, and proudly Chattanooga.

Southside’s go-to for tacos, huaraches, and aguas frescas, with an all-day vibe and strong salsa game. Frequently included by Southern Living and local guides, it reflects the city’s growing Mexican culinary footprint.

A Northshore charmer with nostalgic small plates, steaks, and cocktails. Noted by Southern Living and reviewed by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, it’s a stylish perch near Coolidge Park for date night or brunch.

Riverwalk staple with wood‑fire cooking and a raw bar—oysters, Gulf seafood, and crowd‑pleasing plates. A frequent pick in Southern Living and local roundups, it’s as much about the Tennessee River setting as the seafood.