Litton's

This beauty from Litton's is a masterclass in classic diner burger execution. The golden hue of Litton’s famous soft, slightly sweet homemade bun encapsulates a generous blanket of house made pimento cheese, a tangle of caramelize onions that glisten with sweetness and a perfectly seasoned beef patty. Crowning the whole composition is a spear-skewered jalapeno, adding that essential mild heat to cut through the richness below. Their house made chili is a perfect addition on a brisk autumn afternoon. Everything about this plate screams old-school southern comfort done right. No pretense, no unnecessary flourishes, just quality house made ingredients prepared with care. This all shows that Litton’s has been perfecting their craft for years. If you're rolling through Knoxville, Litton's isn't just a must stop shop. It's a pilgrimage to the kind of honest, soul-satisfying joint that seems to be disappearing from the American landscape. This is the real deal.

$22.08 for a cheeseburger and onion rings seemed a bit excessive to me, but I was advised to go there by an AA friend who grew up in the area. 25 minute wait to be seated, so got it to go. Maybe there was a To Go charge? The burger and rings were good, nothing over the top, but not $22 good! Have had better for half the price! Would rather have 3 In n Out Double Double's and a fries for the same price!

What a fantastic 😍 old school eatery, bakery, and market. The food was fantastic, the service outstanding and the atmosphere dripping with nostalgia of days past. We found this place on Google maps, loved the pics and simplicity of the menu and decided to give it a shot for dinner. We were immediately impressed with the operation! We had onion rings as a starter, my wife had the Thunder Road Burger (had jalapenos and in house made pimento cheese) and I had the chop steak dinner. We finished with key lime pie and a piece of German chocolate cake. We will be back next time we're in town! Everything was excellent with attention to detail and precision!

I was served by a nice older gentleman who was very attentive and made sure I had drinks and sauce for my rings. The onion rings were the star of my meal. Good breading, not greasy, and the onions were thick enough that they required some bite to get through them. My burger was cooked well and American cheese is always an excellent option for a burger. However, the meat was not seasoned at all. For $20 I definitely expected more out of the burger. I'd definitely swing in again if I'm ever back in Knoxville. I didn't try any desserts this trip!

When we visit the Knoxville area we always make a stop at Litton's. We love the friendly atmosphere, great food and amazing desserts. We recently stopped in on the 29th of October 2025 and had Jerri K. as our waitress. She was friendly, kind, funny and expected every possible thing we needed. Both my husband and I had burgers. The burgers are fresh and the handmade buns are so good. The fries are hot and crisp with great flavor. The servings are just right and they give you all the fixings. We also opted to take a piece of their amazing white chocolate pumpkin cheesecake which was incredible. All of these positives being said the price seems to have risen quite a bit. It's been about two years since we were there last and we were surprised at the price increases. $17.00 for a cheeseburger and fries, 8.95 for a slice of dessert is pricy but we don't eat out much so possibly this is the norm for all restaurants. Overall, it's a place you don't want to miss because the food and service is incredible but if you are wanting a lower priced option just something to consider.

We really wanted to like it. We did, but we were disappointed in everything we had. The food wasn't nasty. It just wasn't great. So let's talk about the food and service... Food: Fish Dinner (Boston) The fish was fresh tasting, so there no complaints. But it had 0 seasoning, and the breading was more of a cornmeal texture. So now it's just an unseasoned grainy bite. I didn't enjoy it. I had to use .... hold your pearls... ketchup to add flavor. Onion rings were ok. They tasted like the grease was old and again no seasoning. Yep, ketchup again. The chili was like a Cincinnati/stew hybrid. Lots of flavor, but too much chili powder, and a bit greasy. My wife had the fish sandwich. Yeah, you guessed it. She said it didn't have any seasoning. I'm Irish, I like my fished seasoned and fried in beer batter. But I'll eat it any style as long as it's seasoned. I should taste salt, lemon, and herbs in the batter. Service: Our waitress was sweet and attentive. She suggested the burgers, I guess we should have listened. Price: $50 for unseasoned fish that I could have gotten in a pub... I consider overpriced. We will go again, and try the burgers and sweets. But the fish is off the menu. Pros: Big selection, friendly staff, clean Cons: Price, unseasoned fish, parking

Now while I appreciate the restaurants kindness. My first problem is their menu online does not have the correct prices. My husband and I had already picked what we wanted based off the pricing. So his burger combo said almost $10 when it was $17. I had no reason to think the pricing was ever different because I clicked on the menu from their business that pulls up online. We ended up paying around $42.90 for one burger combo, one burger by itself and a piece of pie. The burgers didn’t have much flavor but I can say the ingredients seemed to be good quality and they make the patties a decent size. The fries were soggy but I guess fries are a hit or miss anywhere. Now the pie was the best part. Yea the pie was definitely fabulous. Just know if you choose to eat their that the pricing online is not correct and about 5 years old.

We had the meatloaf and scrod for lunch. Both were delicious. I think it was the best meatloaf I've ever had. Service was excellent and atmosphere nice. Took home red velvet and key lime for later. Both excellent. Also, took home a tub of there chicken salad for sandwiches on Vols game day. Yummy! Restaurant is top of my list.

Everything!!!! The food ,service and atmosphere. Don't change anything. If you have not tried there desserts you are missing out.

We love visiting the restaurant with friends. Even though it stays pretty busy, the staff is amazing and gets patrons seated quickly. Their hamburgers are great, but was pleasantly surprised by the chili dog(minus slaw).

It was just mediocre food... the venue is meat and three kinds dated, but that's part of the nostalgic theme. I really wanted to like the desserts, but just didn't hit the spot. We know people who swear by it and eat there at least weekly, but it just didn't wow me. Service was excellent.

This restaurant in my hometown has been serving the best hamburgers as well as other fabulous comfort food for many years but they are best known for their homemade desserts. They have cakes, cookies, pies and brownies. My honey loved the brownies (I don't eat chocolate) but my all time favorite is the coconut cream pie. It is full of coconut and topped with whipped cream. I could honestly eat a whole pie if I didn't eat any other food. Service is fabulous since most of the servers have been working there for years so they know everything about the food. I have to eat there every time I go home. It is the only place to go for good down home comfort food. I had a vegetable plate with cornbread on one day and a hamburger on another day and the third day was meatloaf. Of course each day I had a huge slice of coconut pie and yes I'm starting a new exercise program when I get home.

Always good food - great servings! Great atmosphere. For the times that I have been there, and the friends that I have shared a meal with there, the experience always has me to walk away with great memories!

Great food and service for over 50 years. The desserts are of the chain and are all made daily onsite in their own bakery

OMG! Everything was soooooo good, homemade salad dressings, scratch made breads, desserts, the meatloaf was as good as my mother's, it's just really good comfort food. I can see why they have been in business 45 years! Great customer service, Litton's is a no brainer, a must go!

Litton's is a staple in the Fountain City neighborhood of Knoxville! There's so much history there and they've been around for years-- for a good reason! The service is amazing and everyone who works there is so kind. The food is even better than the service, if you can believe it. Anything from their hamburgers to their chicken salad, you can't go wrong, arguably they have the best hamburgers in town! Plus, their bakery and deserts are top tier! All of their slices of cake are to die for. If you're in the area, definitely check them out!

Ok, I'm going to start with the wait time of about 30 min. WELL WORTH THE WAIT !! As stated on the menu IHM (In House Made). As I like to call it, From Scratch !! I love the history on the back of the menu, great touch. The decor is lovely Tennessee, the food was amazing, had the simple chopped steak, but honestly one of the best I've had !! The chili, from scratch not Sysco, amazing. The appetizers, onion rings, potato wedges again, amazing !! Now for the brass tax on Denise our server, on point does her no justice, it's like she was in our heads. Bringing things as we thought of them. Great Great experience. Highly recommend and will be back.

I've been in town for work the past couple of weeks. Early on, I asked some locals where I need to eat. Litton's was suggested a few times. We stopped in after the lunch pop and were seated right away. Our waitress was awesome. We asked what they're known for, and she promptly told us the burgers. We both ordered the cheeseburger platter with onion rings. Excellent flavor and medium well cook on the burgers. The onion rings were excellent. Our waitress suggested their honey mustard for the onion rings. My only regret? Not having dessert. Everything looked amazing. Highly suggest stopping in if you like a good juicy flavorful burger.

Great burgers and efficient service. Cute historic diner. We took some bakery items home with us for desert ( Turtle Brownie, Red Velvet Cake, and Key Lime pie) and it was all excellent.

Had a lunch Cheeseburger platter with sweet potato fries and Strawberry Cake. Food came out in less than 5 minutes. Pretty good love the decor old pictures and magazine articles on the wall. Good place to try at least once!!!

Three stars because the menu is underwhelming. Very small menu, limited options. It's very cute in there, lots of history and the desserts are great. The food tastes like standard diner food, nothing to write home about I'm afraid. But I think you go for the ambience rather than the food, like a lot of older diners. Server was nice enough. I'm glad we went, but I don't think we'll be back.

The place is busy, but I am not sure why. The service is decent. But the food is pretty bland. The only good thing was the pie, not sure how they got such a clearing coconut flavor. The pie would be the only thing I would try again. It is very loud, nearly sports bar loud but without the sports bar. The name is misleading as their is no market.

This is always a busy place. That would make you think it's good, right? Now to be fair, this isn't about the service. The people are excellent, prompt and professional. This is about the overwhelming high cost to try and enjoy average food. The place is very noisy. Understandably so given the large number of people waiting to eat here. But for what? Just TWO cheese burger platters with their sides and a slice of pie for dessert cost me $55 !!!! I went because folks said the Burgers were amazing... But they weren't. They were juicy, but completely lacking in any flavor. The slaw tasted a couple days old. The onion rings kinda soft. Sure, it's a piece of history. Just not worth the hype

I don't get to eat at Litton's very often but when I do I never go away disappointed. Littons is always busy. It's unique in that you put your name on a chalkboard and wait for them to call you.Warning, be in an earshot or else they will skip over you. We were sitting outside in the chairs and they were getting ready to skip us because we did not hear them. I got the hamburger steak with grilled/sautéed onions on top. Sweet potato, and collard greens. They prepare all of it as good as anybody or better. The best thing though was the handmade onion rings and I challenged them and they confirmed that they were definitely handmade. It's the single reason I won't be happy eating onion rings anywhere else. They were amazing. This place is a rock in the community and has been around since 1946. I'll definitely go back.

This is a gem! We walked in late on a Wednesday evening needing sustenance and a drink. I was surprised at how crowded it was at such a late hour but the host was very kind and let me know that you need to put your name on the chalkboard (now I know) and then wait fit a table. We had pleasant conversation with the staff while we waited, and then were sat and a cozy booth. We ordered the Onion Rings, Charbroiled Chicken Breast Burger, and Chili Cheese Fries. All of it was excellent and soooooo tasty. We ordered a variety of cookies to go and those were equally as amazing. This is such a charming, small-town restaurant and bakery. It's worth the stop, even if it is just to grab some baked goods on your way through town!

Great atmosphere, very friendly service and great food. Best burger in Knoxville- 1/2 pound cheeseburger was cooked perfectly- great chat broil flavor with crispy onion rings. Chili was good - Coconut Cream Pie was one of the best I have ever had- WOW! Highly reccomend when you are in Knoxsville. A game day tradition when in Knoxsville.

Ordered the hamburger with baked potato 2 sides delicious Hannah our server was excellent quick Baked potatoes HUGE butter and sour cream Excellent desserts at checkout AGAIN Hannah was the best Desserts red velvet cake German chocolate turtle brownie and much more Italian Cream cake

The wait is ridiculously long as 5 empty tables in various areas and the hostess is off chatting on the side. Over 1/2 an hour of waiting to simply go to one of the many open tables . However, the waitress was outstanding. Food is good!

Price for 2 people on the receipt. It's ridiculously overpriced for food that's just okay. Honestly, there's nothing to rave about. The cake and pie were just ok as well. *FYI* They also automatically add a 20% gratuity charge to your bill. There's nowhere that says they do this. I tipped the server $10 cash before I even realized the gratuity charge was on there. My dad did the same thing, and we both felt it was sneaky and wrong for them to not notify the customer that the tip was already being charged on their bill. This will be my first and last time going there.

Had a platter of the sides which were all exceptional, the service was quick and quaint and the design and decor of the place underscore its history.

The burgers used to be able to go to for litton's for many years. The flavors just not there anymore

Went to Litton's for lunch when in Knoxville recently. Pork chop special was delicious!! Our server Jeffrey took great care of us and made lunch more enjoyable! Wonderful food and excellent desserts. Whenever in Knoxville Litton's is a MUST. And ask for Jeffrey. He's the best. And their history is interesting too.

This is a well known restaurant. Lot of history. We went for dinner. Has a little of a home town diner feel. Onion rings were great! Chicken salad was ok. The cheeseburger was a little dry. Strawberry cake was moist but not very flavorful. Service was good. Food very over priced for semi home cooking.

Always great food & service at this legendary restaurant. Hamburger steak dinner, onion rings & baked potato were perfect. Coconut cream pie is a must have.

Iconic family owned burger place best describes this place but it's much more than just great burgers. Can you say pies and cakes? Yes they have a huge selection of those and all made on site. You can even get raw burger paddies and buns to take home and cook on your own grill if you wish remade by Litton's. They have daily specials you can try if your wanting more of traditional meal. So try this place if your new to Knoxville. If you lived here and never tried your missing a bit of Lnoxville history.

Absolutely love this place BUT a bad impression was left on us while visiting there yesterday. As we were waiting to be seated we witnessed MR. LITTON (the owner) treating his employees as if they were beneath him. His body language was not that of a professional either. He proceeded to the cooking area and once again his body language said it all. Let me tell you we have frequently visited Litton's in the past 8years and never have we seen him there until this last visit. That place runs like a fine machine and the employees are amazing!!!! There was no need for his negativity. Honestly it makes us not to want to go back to support someone who treats their employees in that manner. The atmosphere was tense. Nobody wants that when they are out enjoying a meal with friends and family.

Wanted some clam chowder and my Sister recommended this place. Clam chowder was pasty with flour like taste and very little clams. A disappointing dish. Sent it back. My husband had the fish dinner. This also was disappointing. Mrs. Pauls from Kroger would have been better and a lot cheaper. Cornbread muffin was stale. Sent my soup back. This is a restaurant that has been around for a long time. In the past I have had their burger which was very good. They certainly have a good reputation but they need to do better instead of riding on past dishes. There was one caveat however the server wS pleasant and service was good.

I've been going to Litton's for over two decades and it has been consistently amazing the whole time. There is sometimes a wait for seating, be forewarned, but it's worth it. The staff has always been warm and welcoming, the food has always been fantastic and the pies are great as well. My go to is the Thunder Road burger with sautéed onions and pimento cheese. It's easily one of my favorite burgers from any restaurant, anywhere. I also get the side salad with their house made bled cheese dressing and crackers. Litton's is an absolute treasure and a Knoxville institution.

As others have said, over-hyped and overpriced in our opinion. I know this is a long-standing Fountain City institution, and I think they get most of their custom because of that old-timey decor and vibe. That, and customer familiarity, but it's certainly not because the food excels; because it doesn't. ' Uninspiring selection of entrees (salads, burgers, chicken dishes, fish and chips and a pork chop plate). Basic diner fare at greater than basic diner prices. The fish and chips was really disappointing. One thin filet of mystery "white fish", frozen I'm sure, and frozen french fries. A tiny pot of coleslaw and one of tartar sauce on the side. Their burgers are (just) passable. Thicker than fast food patties, but the burger patties, like the buns, seemed steamed, and both are soft, mushy, and fell apart. Their pie slices are, okay, but nothing to write home about, and again, expensive for what they are. Service was fine, but not particularly friendly unless you're known to them. Don't believe the hype. This might have been solid restaurant food in the 1950s, but today we expect better. Quite a bit better...

We had called ahead for our party of 12 and were told they did not take reservations. Most of our party arrived together and three arrived less than 10 minutes later. We were told we could not sit together so 8 sat at a large table and 3 were sat at a smaller table two rows away. A second large table sat empty next to our group of 8 for over an hour and we were told we could not have both tables. We had all paid for our meals and were ready to leave before the party who asked for that table came. 60+ minutes. We also were asked when we arrived if we were the "12:30 reservation" which we were honest about and said no, we were the group denied a reservation. The food was delicious, but for the price and the glaring dishonesty about reserving tables, it was not worth it.

$15 Cheeseburger was only mediocre. Manager was very defensive when offered feedback!

Oh my lord What have we been missing??? I am deeply saddened that my wife and I have lived in the Knoxville area for 2 1/2 years and we didn't find this amazing gem until tonight. This is about to become one of our regulars! This restaurant has so much charm, character, and the service was attentive, kind, and friendly. I had the Lurton Thunder Road Burger (pimento cheese, grilled onions, jalapeño) and Fries. The homemade bun was moist, soft, and delicious by itself. The patty was well seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium well (light char - which I love). The homemade pimento cheese and grilled onions complimented each other beautifully. The pickled jalapeño had some serious kick and added a little heat to the burger. My wife enjoyed their Thursday special - Meatloaf with gravy, pinto beans, and collard greens. She LOVED the meatloaf and she has a critical palate for meatloaf. I tried several bites and I cannot wait to come back to have the meatloaf myself. It was well seasoned, baked with a tomato base on top, and topped with a brown gravy. It was delightful! The pinto beans and collard greens are classic southern stables and Litton's did both justice. Their homemade roll was the perfect addition to the meal to sop up the remaining gravy. We noticed many other folks ordering the cornbread muffin with their meatloaf and it looked fantastic. We didn't have room for dessert, but we took a slice of orange cake (for me) and coconut crème pie (for Angie) home with us. The orange cake was so moist and the icing was not too sweet - a perfect compliment to the citrus flavor. My wife said this may have been the best coconut crème pie she's ever had, and that is a huge compliment! We also took a pint of their homemade chicken salad to go (one of my favorites) for lunch tomorrow. We cannot wait to go back next week! I see us frequenting Litton's for several weeks to try all their daily specials and work our way through their delicious dessert menu.

When staying in Knoxville Litton's kept coming up. So birthday dinner celebration occurred here. I mean burgers and cake... It was a delicious experience! The burger was delicious! I loved the pickled jalapeño it was a nice touch. The fries were just ok. The star of the show was the Strawberry Cake. It was super yummy. I think my biggest disappointment to be a staple and a hometown business the staff wasn't super friendly. Definitely check it out definitely meets the hype!

It's the same as it was back in the 80's just bigger. Only thing I can say is a better grade of burger would be suggested and throw the chicken salad recipe out the door. Literally the worst chicken salad I have ever had. Truly need my recipe! Good atmosphere and location.

My favorite place to stop when traveling. The service is great, the burgers are delicious, and the cake is tasty and travels well.

Live in the neighborhood and this place is a staple, even though it's been years since I last went! Thunder road (jalapeño on the side) with sweet potato fries was amazing as was the strawberry cake! Our server was also very friendly and attentive. Can be busy even at a late lunch time on a weekday (we went Monday at 115pm and had to wait for about 5 parties before us but still only took about 15ish minutes), and when we left at about 230 there was still about 5 groups waiting for tables. Vibe is older diner type with lots of old memorabilia, photos over the years, business advertisements, etc. Highly recommend eating here!

Great place to go, I was headed back to the bathroom before dinner and said to one of the waitresses wow it smells good in there as I walked by the kitchen and she responded that's because the food's good ha ha

Delicious food for a real southern woman! Amazing service in a friendly atmosphere. They know what you need before you ask for it. Don't even ask me about the desserts. Just look in the display case and pick one for now and one to take home and one for your friend.

Service was great, Grilled Chicken sandwich (Road Runner)) was messy but very good, the collard greens were fine, my wife had the fish and instead of chips had onion rings pretty good but fried a bit too heavy for my taste and cole slaw that's was average, Litton's is an older staple here lots of memories and a cool old vibe it's old school but very good

This place is overpriced and overhyped. It's a staple of Fountain City but the quality of the food doesn't match the price. I don't remember service being bad. Or good. The ambiance is kind of cool. They seem busy enough. Maybe it's just me.

My Father recommended this restaurant as a Knoxville staple and landmark. First trip I ordered an awesome Red Velvet cake for my sons 18th Birthday. I really wanted to stay and eat but was pressed for time. 2nd trip: went with the hubby for lunch. He ordered the special fish & chip and I had a burger and fries. Seriously good eats here people. Fries were hand cut and my burger was perfect also my husband really enjoyed his fish as it was super fresh and piping hot! Won't be my last trip for sure!

Delicious burgers and great service, even put on the World Cup game on the tv when we asked. Place is very classic and has been around in Knoxville basically forever. Love to come back again

Have loved Litton's for over 20 years. The burgers, chicken salad, desserts and onion rings are very good. I would give a 5 star review if they would bring back the hand cut fries. They were extraordinary and made Litton's so special. Please bring them back! Frozen fries are not special!

No exaggeration on this review! When a mom and pop place stays open for decades, they know what they are doing! I had a burger that was fantastic! Their seasonal orange and white cake is only available during UT football season but it tastes like a creme-cycle! a MUST TRY if you're in Knoxville!

I love burgers and the thunder road was the best I've ever had. They also have great deserts. Coconut cake is my favorite. My family has been coming here for you and the service in always excellent.

ALWAYS amazing! Everything they have is SO GOOD! Chili dogs to Key Lime Pie...th menu offers many choices. Just a great place to eat!

We went to litton's for our late anniversary dinner. The waitress was great. I normally get the Jim fielding. But I decided to try the ribeye and fried potatoes. OMG.. this was the best ribeye I have had in a long time. The last notable ribeye I had like this was in Billings MT. It was amazing. It was Perfectly cooked. The fried potatoes are not fried potatoes. They are more like fried potato wedges. I wish they were fried potatoes. My husband got cheeseburger and fries and he said it was cooked perfectly. But I can't stop talking about that ribeye. It was perfectly seasoned. It's the best in Knoxville for the price.