Best Breakfast in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg

Whether you prefer a savory feast of eggs and bacon or a sweet morning treat of pancakes and waffles, the best breakfast is one that energizes your soul as much as your body. A delicious full meal first thing in the morning activates your metabolism, giving you plenty of mental and physical stamina to take on the rest of the day. When on vacation, you’ll not only need your strength to get to all the fun activities you have planned, but it’s also a chance to splurge a little and treat yourself well. Find out which of the best breakfast places in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg serves your ideal morning repast!

Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen

Of all the delightful places to eat breakfast, nothing will ever beat Mom’s home cooking. Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen emulates your Southern mama’s finest comfort foods using authentic recipes from renowned cookbook author and cooking show host Paula Deen. When you walk into the restaurant, you’ll be welcomed like family, and in genuine Southern hospitality, invited to sit down for sweet tea and coffee. Try the breakfast casserole with hearty potatoes or the fried grits with blended cheese for something that will sustain you for hours. Or go all out with the ooey-gooey butter pancakes and applewood smoked center-cut bacon. You might have a tough time deciding between biscuits with sausage gravy, country ham, chicken and biscuits, and apple cinnamon french toast, but rest assured that you can’t go wrong at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen!

Pancake Pantry

A specialty brunch joint since 1960 and Tennessee’s first pancake house, Pancake Pantry should be your number one pick for breakfast in Gatlinburg. Every dish is made entirely from scratch, including the pancake batters, syrups and compotes. Choose between 24 pancake and crepe concoctions, like the Caribbean Pancakes with bananas, nuts and coconut, or the Marvelous Blintz stuffed with ricotta cream cheese, pecans and raisins. Not in the mood for a sugary breakfast? Their kitchen also sizzles up eight different omelet recipes as well as eggs, ham, sausage and smoked bacon in various combinations. After spoiling yourself at Pancake Pantry, you’ll never want to go back to pancake box mixes and cheap store-bought toppings.

Reagan’s House of Pancakes

No matter where you’re staying in Pigeon Forge, this family-owned breakfast restaurant’s two Parkway locations will be only a quick drive away. Reagan’s House of Pancakes serves up a hot breakfast buffet every day of the week and even on holidays. Craft a supreme stack of pancakes with your choice of toppings, and then load up on eggs made in any style, plus sausage, biscuits, french toast and more. When you order off the menu instead of the buffet, you can choose between nine hearty omelet recipes or fifteen flavors of pancakes, french toast and waffles. Not a big fan of breakfast foods? Try a delicious sandwich from the lunch menu, like the Philly cheesesteak, bacon cheeseburger, or fried green tomato and pimento cheese toast. With a range of options to suit all palates, Reagan’s House of Pancakes is one of the most diverse places to eat breakfast with the whole family.

Smoky’s Pancake Cabin

Diehard breakfast fanatics are going to adore Smoky’s Pancake Cabin. Their cabin breakfasts and specials create delightful combinations of eggs, corned beef hash, strip steak, chicken biscuits, smoked sausage and more. Plus, you can’t go wrong with any of the seventeen pancakes, french toast and waffle options. For three generations, this family-owned restaurant has perfected their scratch-made pancake recipe and even added some flair! Where else have you ever tasted Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, made with caramelized pineapples, cherries and cream cheese icing, or Reese’s Pancakes, oozing with melted peanut butter cups and chocolate chips? Unique pancake inventions like these are what distinguish Smoky’s Pancake Cabin from any other ordinary breakfast spot!

Mama’s Farmhouse

Named for the Johnson family’s great-grandmother, Mama’s Farmhouse incorporates traditional Southern recipes into their family-style restaurant. Their made-from-scratch homecookin’ has even earned the people’s vote for Best Fried Chicken in the Smokies. When you come in for breakfast, make sure to order their oven-fresh buttermilk biscuits and chocolate gravy, which won the 2015 International Biscuit Festival. You’re also guaranteed to love their buttery sweet pinwheel pastries, hashbrown casserole, sausage patties and buttermilk Belgian waffles. Aside from mouth-watering Southern cuisine that really hits the spot, the best part about Mama’s Farmhouse is the all-you-can-eat-style dining and free meals for kids under 5!

Mel’s Classic Diner

Feeling nostalgic for the good ole days from the ’50s? Or does your wallet like the sound of a budget-friendly restaurant close to the Parkway’s major attractions? Mel’s Classic Diner checks both boxes with a classic American ambiance reminiscent of the 1950s and an affordable breakfast menu served all day long. Stop by for breakfast favorites like omelets six ways, biscuits and gravy, french toast and pancakes. Specials like Big Daddy’s Gut Buster Breakfast will banish the famished away with a heaping plate of eggs, grits, pancakes or biscuits, and your choice of meat. Feel free to order a classic burger or banana split off their lunch and dinner menus, as well! Mel’s Classic Diner is a blast from the past, serving scrumptious American fare to match.

Wood Grill Buffet

When everyone in your group wants to eat something different, Wood Grill Buffet is a fantastic option. Their fresh buffet serves everything from American to Asian to Italian cuisine, plus salads and desserts. The variety of breakfast favorites includes delicious omelets that can be made specifically to order. Plus, meat entrées like roast beef, oak-smoked baby back ribs and barbecue spare ribs are smoked for hours in their 4,000-pound smoker. Wood Grill Buffet is a carnivore’s paradise even at breakfast time!

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Dinner and lunch tend to be viewed as exclusive opportunities to try the local restaurant scene, but breakfast doesn’t have to lag behind the trend. Make every moment of your stay in the Great Smoky Mountains a memorable experience! Treat yourself to a pancake banquet in Gatlinburg or a Southern comfort food breakfast in Pigeon Forge. Dining out at any of the Smoky Mountains’ best breakfast places could end up being your favorite part of the vacation.

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