Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Gatlinburg, TN

If you are visiting the Smoky Mountain area, you don’t want to skip the most important meal of the day. A great breakfast can get your day started on the right foot.

I’m sharing the best places to go for fluffy pancakes and more in Gatlinburg and beyond for the whole family.

There are several restaurants serving breakfast within walking distance of Gatlinburg’s downtown shops that you can visit before exploring the other local attractions and hidden gems in the area.

Several of the restaurants in Gatlinburg serve breakfast all day, which is perfect for anyone who isn’t an early riser.

Many of the restaurants also have fresh eggs, country ham, griddle cakes, VERY generous portion sizes and REAL butter on the table to help fill you up before your next outdoor adventure or visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

There is no shortage when it comes to pancake houses in the state of Tennessee. There are a variety of pancakes to choose from including buttermilk pancakes and specialty pancakes with warm homemade syrups.

Pancake Pantry

628 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 

Founded in 1960, Pancake Pantry is Tennessee’s first pancake house treating generations of families.

It’s pretty common to see a LONG line wrapped around the building. Surprisingly, it moves along quicker than you would anticipate.

On our most recent visit, we were in line at 9:58 am and seated at 10:20 am. The friendly staff are very efficient!

A few of the highlights were the hash and the Sugar and Spice pancakes.

The Sugar and Spice pancakes are served with applesauce and cinnamon cream syrup.

We also tried the Almond Apricot crepe.

Breakfast Strategy

This would probably be a good time to tell you that a few of us were ”food sharers” at a few of these restaurants. The first thing we do is narrow down our top choices.

Three people = three entrees to try. And let’s be honest, a PERFECT breakfast is a combination of both sweet AND savory.

We tried to avoid visiting the top places at peak times when possible.

Crockett’s Breakfast Camp

1103 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN

We avoided the lines for this popular breakfast stop by arriving about an hour before closing time.

Crockett’s Breakfast Camp is closer to the Ober Gatlinburg side of downtown Gatlinburg near Bennett’s Pit Bar-b-que.

The portions are generous and the dining area is used to seating for families or groups.
We tried the Signature corned beef hash breakfast and Jake Creek’s Skillet.

Jake Creek’s skillet includes pecan crusted rainbow trout, two farm fresh eggs, grits, hunt camp potatoes, biscuit, sausage gravy, and griddle cake.

The giant cinnamon roll is also worth sharing as an appetizer before the rest of your food arrives.

The Donut Friar

634 Parkway #15, Gatlinburg, TN

The Donut Friar is located in the Village Shoppes that are in downtown Gatlinburg.

One of their most popular items is the cinnamon bread. You’ll want to grab a loaf or two while you’re there.

They also have a variety of donuts, pastries, and coffees to choose from.

There isn’t any seating so this is a great option if you want to grab a sweet treat on the go.

Ruby Sunshine

105 Reagan Dr, Gatlinburg, TN 

This is a breakfast stop not to be overlooked! I tried one of their sister restaurants in Mobile, AL and I was really excited to try their food in downtown Gatlinburg.

This hidden gem restaurant is located on the second floor and has an option to use the stairs or a nearby elevator.

This awesome restaurant serves “New Orleans Cuisine Served With Tennessee Hospitality.”

We started with the creamy vanilla spiced coffee and Nola style ice coffee.

Next we ordered several menu items to share starting with the French Toast bites and Fried green tomatoes.

We also tried The Trifecta made with Eggs Cochon, Chicken St. Charles and Bayou Shrimp Benedict’s.

Surprisingly the chicken was our least favorite of the three.

For our sweet option, we enjoyed the stuffed French toast with pumpkin and bacon on the side.

Continuing our breakfast “research,” we also decided to try the biscuits and gravy. It’s important to note that their biscuits also come with a cane syrup butter.

Of all of the menu items that we tried, our favorites were the biscuits and gravy, fried green tomatoes, French toast bites and eggs Cochon.

Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin

This restaurant has 7 locations in the area serving up giant pancakes and omelets.

This is a breakfast restaurant that “gets it” because all of the omelets are served with two pancakes.

You’ll find plenty of classic southern breakfast dishes on the menu.

Gatlinburg Grind

680 Glades Rd STE 3, Gatlinburg, TN

This is a coffee shop with GOOD coffee and pastries made fresh daily near the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community.

Log Cabin Pancake House

327 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN

This pancake house is family-owned and operated since 1976 and serves up an assortment of pancake varieties, crepes, and breakfast classics all day long.

There is free parking beside and in front of the restaurant and the line can get long for this restaurant but it’s designed to move quickly.

Here are a few other breakfast restaurants in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge to try too:

The Apple Barn & Cider Mill

230 Apple Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN

The Apple Barn is always one of our go to stops on the way to Gatlinburg… and sometimes we make a second trip on our way back home.

Their fried apple pies are served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and their apple slushies make the stop totally worth it!

This is a quick service stop if you need a few apple-themed essentials, including cider donuts to enjoy later that week.

Next door you’ll find the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant with table service and an expanded menu offering both sweet and savory breakfast menu items.

The portion sizes are generous for their omelets and biscuits and gravy too.

Which of these Best Breakfast Restaurants in Gatlinburg Do You Want to Try First?

You have plenty of places to choose from during breakfast time for a great price.