Nashville Food Guide for Football Fans

Of all the sports teams that call Nashville home, the Tennessee Titans football team suffers the greatest annual heartbreak. Coming over from Houston (then the Oilers) in 1997, the revamped AFC South has seen its fair share of what-ifs—the Derrick Henry era, which ended after the 2023 season, provided plenty of fun for fans of the run game. But the future remains uncertain in 2024 with new head coach Brian Callahan, a green guard and a roster depleted by retirements and trades. Music City football fans are hungry for a great year and postseason success, but while they wait, at least there’s no shortage of delicious food locally, including within walking distance of the Titans’ home at Nissan Stadium. We’ve rounded up our favorite restaurants to visit and stadium food to try when we’re in town for a Tennessee Titans game.

Food at Nissan Stadium

Hot chicken mac and cheese

Pasta smothered in white queso and topped with hot chicken popcorn? We’re intrigued. Throw it into a cone? Suddenly it became portable. This stadium drink is creamy and smooth and contrasts well with Dos Peros, a Mexican-style brown ale from local brewer Yazoo. Find it at three stores around the stadium.

Dad’s dogs

Local network Dad’s dogsFounded in 2015 by Shawn Porter in his garage, it makes an offensive lineman-sized “Big Daddy” in its stadium stands. Start with a quarter-pound beef hot dog—it’s big—then top it with cream cheese, chopped bacon, fried onions, jalapenos, pickle and chipotle mayo. This is the complete halftime hunger cure.

Saint Vito Focacceria

While Rigatoni Verdi al Ragu, studded with chunks of pulled pork and all the herbs under the sun, is a must for a sit-down dinner, Saint Vito Focacceria bread and butter is a piece of it. Chef Michael Hannah, born and raised in the Music City, loves his sfincione-style pizza dough, made 72 hours in advance—super-hydrated, naturally leavened, and thoroughly mixed with fontina cheese. It’s then topped with enticing combinations like a dollop of pepperoni drizzled with saffron-infused honey, or a tangy giardiniera tomato sauce offset by a giant hunk of burrata cheese.

Bolton’s Famous Hot Chicken and Fish

The hotel is located in a low-rise cinder block building just over a mile from Titans Stadium. Bolton makes the best hot chicken in Nashville. Admittedly, there’s not a lot of frills here, but the generation-honored recipe represents the city’s most famous culinary contribution. Opt for the mild quarter leg—trust me, it’s plenty spicy—with a side of pork-rich green beans and an extra helping of napkins to wipe away the sweat and snot.

Pork with pegs

Since 2013, pitmaster Carey Bringle has been spreading the good news of Memphis-style barbecue in Music City. IN Pork with pegsits pork ribs are smoked for three to four hours and then given a proprietary dry rub just before serving. (Kansas City fan? A sauce option is also available.) Local favorites include baked beans with brown sugar and bacon and chunky mac and cheese. Leave room for your sweet tooth: deep-fried chocolate, apple or peach pies are delicious topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Four walls

Not underground, but still hidden, the Joseph Hotel’s secret bar, located less than a mile from the stadium, is my go-to for sophisticated drinks and unique snacks. sit in Four walls‘blood red Italian marble bar and lightly fried farfalle pasta sprinkled with cheddar; spicy Korean-style bulgogi jerky; and sweet curried Marcona almonds while watching spaghetti westerns on TV.

Gabby’s Burgers and Fries

When the onslaught of NFL fans becomes too offensive, fight your way into the abyss and head south, where Gabby’s Burgers caters to the blue collar crowd. Order the Gabby, a stunning grass-fed double breakfast with American cheese and hand-cut fries seasoned with nutmeg, cloves and a touch of sugar. Wash it down with a second trip to the soda fountain.

Henrietta Red

The most outstanding seafood restaurant in the city. Henrietta Red A must for anyone who is in love with the raw bar. F&W Best New Chef 2018 Julia Sullivan pairs a deep oyster bench with Mediterranean dishes and the perfect wine pairing. The restaurant’s daily happy hour is worth setting your alarm.