J.T. Hannah's Kitchen

J.T. Hannah's Kitchen sits right at traffic light #6 on the Parkway, and honestly, the parking situation is way better than most places around here. They've got this big free lot behind the building — just look for the arrow sign and you can't miss it.

The place feels like someone's eccentric uncle decorated a warehouse with every piece of 1930s junk he could find. We love the vibe though, especially with kids who get a kick out of spotting all the random artifacts on the walls. Their St. Louis ribs are what put them on the map, and for good reason — they're fall-off-the-bone tender with that sweet-smoky glaze that sticks to your fingers.

One thing though — don't expect a quiet dinner conversation. This place gets LOUD, especially on weekends when tour buses roll up. The portions are massive (like, take-home-leftovers massive), but that's part of the charm. Most entrees run $17-28, which isn't bad considering you're probably getting two meals out of it.

Skip the weekend dinner rush unless you enjoy waiting 45 minutes for a table. They don't take reservations, so it's first-come-first-served. We've had better luck hitting them around 2pm or right when they open at 11am. The service can get overwhelmed when they're slammed, but the servers are friendly once they get to you.

The burgers are solid too, though nothing revolutionary. What keeps us coming back is the whole experience — it's one of those places that feels authentically Pigeon Forge without being a total tourist trap.