As the name implies, breakfast breaks the overnight fast and signals the beginning of another healthy day. Taking breakfast helps you replenish the lost nutrient and energy required for the day’s metabolism. Inconsistent intake of breakfast can result in the inadequacy of the daily recommended quantity of minerals, vitamins, and fibers in the body. Often referred to as “the most important meal of the day,” breakfast is a food that must be taken to boost alertness and provide other essential nutrients required for growth and development. Despite this, many people still skip it for several reasons. If you ever find yourself in Knoxville, TN, you should not deny yourself the opportunity of having some of the most sumptuous breakfasts of your life. That is not an exaggeration. In fact, it is not immodest to refer to Knoxville, TN, as the home of the best Southern food.
Breakfast in Knoxville Tennessee
Ranging from long-time cafeterias to modern diverse new cookery, Knoxville has all that it takes to start your day on a balanced diet. The restaurants in the area offer varieties of culinary dishes, and breakfast is no exception. Choose from little coffee shops serving a comprehensive menu of tea, baked foods, coffee, and signature drinks down to the more advanced kitchen and restaurants with light and stomach-filling dishes.
Top Breakfast Spots in Knoxville TN
Flower Pot Galleria & Eatery
Flower Pot Galleria &Eatery is a home for bountiful flowers and delicious dishes. It is a unique food spot dotted with a wonderful floral scent that makes your meal and overall experience even more enjoyable. It has been serving the public for over 100 years. It features a variety of menu options such as coffee and tea, sandwiches, salads, ice cream, and desserts suitable for breakfast. Flower Pot Galleria & Eatery is a cozy, calm, and sustainable environment for taking in fresh air while enjoying your dish.
The relatively affordable meal served at the restaurant has made it a favorite of locals and tourists. It is a go-to place that makes your tummy happy without hurting your pocket. You can start the day with freshly-prepared tea and coffee before moving on to their nicely-cooked cooked bacon, salads, or briskets. The hallmark of the restaurant is serving good and nutritious waffles and ice cream. The eatery is located at 1520 Washington Ave 1 Floor, Knoxville, TN 37917, and opens at 9:00 AM all through the week. The eatery offers delivery, takeout, and reservations.
Farmacy
You read that right; it’s not a typographical error! Farmacy is a restaurant that focuses on preparing fresh Southern cuisine in a casual, fun, and upbeat environment. There’s something for everyone at Farmacy. The restaurant serves local beers, craft cocktails, hot chicken, beignets, and special Avocado Toast. It also serves roasted red pepper and tomato bisque, goat cheese, croutons, and cornbread. Be sure to try out their Brussels Sprouts, Seasonal Burrata, and strawberry-pecan, among several others.
Located at 5018 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, the focus of the chef-owned restaurant is to provide a quick and freshly-prepared meal to the neighborhood. The restaurant’s primary focus is to offer great southern-inspired meals using natural and super fresh ingredients. Farmacy is closed on Mondays but opens for breakfast on all other days except Sundays. Farmacy doesn’t offer delivery but takes reservations and offers takeout. There are also spots for outdoor seating at the restaurant.
Maple Street Biscuit Company – Sherrill Hill
Located at 9314 Kinston Pike, Knoxville, TN, Maple Street Biscuit Company is a casual café serving breakfast biscuit sandwiches and southern fares. It is a spot to eat light foods for the required energy, and the service there is satisfying. Apart from the biscuit sandwiches, which are their hallmark, they also offer squawking goat, retro biscuit–fried chicken, Bam Yo-Yo, the sticky maple, Frittaffle, Veggie frittaffle, and sweet potatoes fries, among others.
One important thing to note about this restaurant is the over-the-counter order question. When you order at the counter, the attendant will ask you a question of the month – simple and unique. Once your order is ready, they call out the answer to the question loudly and get you notified. It is fun and exciting, making your stay there lively. When it comes to flaky biscuits, gravies, jams, and jellies, Maple Street Biscuits don’t cut corners; that’s why their recipes are all made from scratch. Maple Street Biscuit Company offers delivery and takeout, but reservations are not accepted. The company opens at 7:00 AM all through the week.
The French Market Creperie
The French Market Creperie is commonly referred to as Knoxville’s first and unique crepe restaurant. The restaurant offers breakfast dishes ranging from sweet and savory French crepes to croissant sandwiches and delicious baguettes. You can also choose from available soups and salads. The crepes made at French Market Creperie are as authentic as those found in Paris since their buckwheat and traditional flour are imported from France.
Also, French Market Creperie stands out for its interior décor, which goes well with the French style. You can also start the day with their sweet iced tea before stepping it up with the Crispy Dutch Crepe and French Caramel Crepe. Apart from crepes, they also serve breakfast ranging from bacon or sausage, fresh omelet, spinach, and tomato along with cheese, eggs and crepe, and vegetarian. They offer refreshments like LavAzza, freshly-brewed espresso, cappuccino, and latte. The French Market Creperie is located at 412 W Clinch Avenue, Knoxville, TN. It opens at 9:00 AM throughout the week except on Saturday when it opens at 8:00 AM. It offers delivery, outdoor seating, and takeout but no reservations.
Scrambled Jake’s Breakfast Company
Scrambled Jake’s Breakfast Company is a breakfast restaurant that offers a variety of classic breakfast and brunch options. Located at 7428 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN, the restaurant has a large eatery for doling out its menu. At Scrambled Jake, you can get your favorite breakfasts which include cocktails, brunch essentials, and signature dishes. You can take the drink menu along with signature breakfast and brunch dishes offered by the restaurant.
Some of the food on offer here include egg and omelet plates, eggs benedict options (Benny’s), and also Jake’s Scramblers which uses fresh eggs. The culinary team is always available before sunrise to prepare hand-made rolls and biscuits called “Sin-O-Man,” house-baked bread for French toast and other dishes. If a light option is what you prefer, you can go for their Pineapple Express or the freshly-squeezed juice bar. Their drink menu features French pressed coffee with creamers and orange juice, freshly squeezed from a machine. The restaurant opens at 7:00 AM throughout the week, offers takeout, reservations, outdoor seating, and provides vegan options.
Tupelo Honey
Tupelo Honey is a Southern restaurant that offers an all-day menu of Southern comfort food with a creative twist, along with cocktails and craft beers. It is described as the best Southern food spot in Knoxville, featuring delicious cocktails. Their dishes at Tupelo Honey are Southern-inspired and crafted from scratch with carefully selected fresh ingredients, which offer the best of every moment spent in there.
Some of the menus at Tupelo Honey include; Mac-n-cheese Waffles with Asheville, Southern Chicken BLT, Avocado Toast & Eggs, and Brown Butter Pecan Pie, among others. Tupelo Honey is located at 1 Market Square, Knoxville, TN, and opens at 10:00 AM from Monday to Thursday and 9:00 AM from Friday to Sunday. The restaurant takes reservations and offers outdoor seating but no delivery or takeout.
First Watch
The First Watch is a restaurant that combines nutrition and satisfaction in one room. It features Southern coastal cuisine and French toast while providing delicious food in a cool, lovely, and friendly environment. Located at 6474 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, the restaurant offers various menus, including Eggs benedict, BLT Egg Benedict, Roast Beef and Havarti, Avocado Toast, Healthy Turkey, Steel-Cut Oatmeal, and Tri-athlete, among others. It opens at 7:00 AM every day of the week. The restaurant offers delivery, outdoor seating, and reservations but no takeout.
OliBea
OliBea is a restaurant that offers standard breakfast dishes and fresh coffee in a colorful space designed with local art. Looking forward to giving your day a fresh start? Then, consider taking the daily specials as breakfast at OliBea. The chef understands the importance of fresh and simple food made from local ingredients, which prompted their choice of fresh offerings.
At OliBea, you enjoy a dish made from fresh local and regional ingredients, a home-like environment, and a happy face to send you off to work or leisure again. The interior décor has a natural ambiance that makes guests comfortable. The popular dishes at OliBea include Honeybee Coffee, mashed potato, muffin bread, sausage, and fried chicken, among others. Another reason to visit OliBea for your early morning meal is that they have vegan and vegetarian options for those with special dietary needs. The restaurant is located at 211 S Central Street, Knoxville, TN, and opens at 7:00 AM from Wednesday to Friday, 8:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday, and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. They offer delivery, outdoor seating, and takeout, but no reservations.
Ruby Sunshine
Ruby Sunshine is a restaurant that offers unique flavors and hospitality with its all-day cocktails and mouth-watering brunch. The restaurant uses fresh local ingredients, prepares food from scratch, and offers sustainable feed to the communities they serve. The restaurant features New Orleans-inspired traditional Southern brunch favorites, which include seasonal French toast, beignets, bananas foster pain perdu, eggs benedicts, and cocktails.
The popular dishes at Ruby Sunshine are Chicken St Charles, Bananas Foster Pain Perdu, Migas, and Southern Breakfast. The restaurant is located at 37 Market Square, Knoxville, TN, and opens at 7:30 AM throughout the week. It offers takeout, delivery, and outdoor seating but doesn’t take reservations.
Pete’s Coffee Shop/Restaurant
Also simply known as Pete’s Restaurant, Pete’s Coffee Shop is a spot for your early morning sandwiches and other dishes for a typical American breakfast. Located at 540 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN, the restaurant is a family-owned diner downtown and offers a fantastic breakfast and lunch experience. The restaurant serves breakfast standard eggs, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, marble rye toast, egg with bacon or sausage, specialty pancakes, traditional or cinnamon French toast, and cheddar cheese, and crispy chicken & gravy, among others.
Pete’s coffee shop is also known for its outstanding freshly-brewed coffee, which gives you a delightful taste early in the morning. The restaurant/coffee shop opens at 6:30 AM from Monday to Friday and closes on weekends. It offers delivery, takeout, and outdoor seating but no reservations.
The Plaid Apron
The Plaid Apron is a modern, minimalist café serving American breakfasts using local ingredients. It is a community-focused restaurant that bridges the gap between the farmer, restaurant, and mouth in Knoxville. That is, products from the farmers are freshly collected and taken to the restaurant, where they are processed and included in their delicious dishes.
Some foods served at Plaid Apron are Cinnamon Roll, Bread Plate, Cheese Omelet, Veggie Omelet, Sausage Omelet, Eggs Benedict, Steak, and Eggs, The Hash, and Market Salad, among others. The restaurant is located at 1210 Kenesaw Avenue, Knoxville, TN, and opens at 7:00 AM from Monday to Friday,8:00 AM on Saturdays, and is closed on Sunday. It offers delivery, takes reservations, and offers outdoor seating and takeout.
Nick and J’s Café
If you want a counter seat breakfast, head to Nick and J’s Café. The restaurant serves sandwiches and burgers laced with toppings. All their dishes are made from fresh ingredients, from fresh ground beef to locally-bought chicken and eggs down to fresh market produce. Their menu features breakfast specials which include home fries with toast, county ham, biscuit with gravy and pancake, mushrooms, green peppers, cheese, strawberries, etc. Other menus include crystal’s breakfast bowl, deluxe pancakes, Clifty farm’s country breakfast, and Nick & J’s breakfast special. The restaurant is located at 1526 Lowell Road, Knoxville, TN, and opens at 7:00 AM from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM on Saturday, and closes on Sunday. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations or offer delivery, but it offers takeout and outdoor seating.
Sami’s Café
Sami’s Café is a family-friendly eatery that offers comfort food for breakfast. It is located at 9700 Kingston Pike Ste 5, Knoxville, TN, and is situated on the ground floor of Sami. G Office Square. More than just a coffee shop, Sami’s Café is a work-friendly café where you can take your office meeting, host clients, catch up with colleagues, shop, and work while you enjoy your breakfast.
The coffee at Sami’s café is freshly brewed and prepared by professional baristas, as well as the food is made from scratch in their kitchen. They feature breakfast standards ranging from salads and sandwiches, wraps, hot meals, and tramezzinis. There is also a mini-store to cater to all your immediate grocery needs depending on your work schedule. Sami’s café opens at 7:00 AM daily and offers takeout and outdoor seating; no reservations and delivery.
Matt Robbs Biscuits
Matt Robbs Biscuits is a breakfast restaurant that provides customers with homemade sweet & savory biscuits and hot & iced coffee. Located at 800 Market Street, Knoxville, TN, the restaurant offers the best biscuits in Tennessee. The restaurant features brilliant biscuits, and artistic coffees, all from the hand of an excellent barista. If all you need is a spot to have a freshly-brewed coffee with homemade biscuits in your hand, then Matt Robbs Biscuits is the go-to place.
The restaurant opens at 8:00 AM from Wednesday to Saturday and is closed from Sunday to Tuesday. It offers takeout and outdoor seating but doesn’t take reservations and delivery.
Café Vicolo
Café Vicolo is a modern restaurant that offers local, house-roasted meats, sandwiches, salads, and freshly baked pastries for breakfast. The quaint breakfast and lunch eatery serves chicken salad sandwiches, pork belly bacon, pot roast sandwich, and turkey croissant, among others.
Café Vicolo is located at 625 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN, and opens at 10:00 AM from Tuesday to Friday and closes from Saturday to Monday. It offers takeout, delivery, and outdoor seating but doesn’t take reservations.
Final Thoughts
As the best chefs worldwide continue relocating to Knoxville, TN, there has never been a better time to visit the city. While touring the city and visiting the tourist attractions, be sure to visit some of the amazing breakfast spots detailed in this article. In this article, we have explored the top best restaurants for breakfast in Knoxville, TN, with their location, menu, uniqueness, and opening hours. Also, those that offer delivery, takeout, reservations, and outdoor dining have been specified.
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