Bonbons, kabobs and Brave Idiots – 7 hidden culinary gems in Nashville, Tennessee

Did you know that Nashville has the highest Kurdish population (and the best Kurdish food) in the United States?  And that the best hot chicken doesn’t come from Prince’s or Hattie B’s, but a guy named Dylan in East Nashville? 

Much has been said about Music City’s, well, music. Everyone knows that you should stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the National Museum of African American Music to enrich your knowledge of musical culture. 

But before you go honky tonkin’, you gotta eat somewhere. That’s why I wanted to cast a spotlight on some of Nashville’s lesser-known food and drink establishments. 

From the best hot chicken to the pistachio coffee, shrimp and grits to fancy chocolate, let’s explore 7 culinary gems in Nashville, Tennessee. 

1. Brave Idiot Hot Chicken

New York has pizza, Chicago has hot dogs and Nashville has hot chicken. 

I’ve been eating Nashville hot chicken since I was a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2009. In that time, I’ve learned three things:

• Start with mild. No, seriously. 
• Don’t get a full meal – split a few tenders with a friend (the overwhelming spice makes you feel full very quickly)
• The best hot chicken isn’t from Prince’s, Bolton’s or Hattie B’s. It’s from a secluded food truck in East Nashville called Brave Idiot. 

A food truck located behind No Quarter – one of East Nashville’s quintessential dive bars – Brave Idiot’s chicken offers the perfect mix of flavor, texture and heat. Plus, you get 10 spice levels to choose from, ranging from SCAREDY CAT (1) to YIPPEE CAYENNE (4) to PART THE RED SEA (10). 

So be sure to carve out an afternoon to enjoy a craft beer and some Brave Idiot tenders with a buddy. 

2. Uzbegim Halal Restaurant

How’s this for a romantic evening; take a nice stroll around Nashville’s Centennial Park, grab a selfie with the legendary Parthenon, and then enjoy some warm, authentic Uzbek food. 

What do they eat in Uzbekistan, I hear you ask? Total deliciousness. Think lamb, lentils, kebabs, chickpeas, shawarma, potatoes, and despite its ideal location, Uzbegim is highly affordable. Special plates like the Kazan Kabab (roasted lamb with potatoes) cost under $15. 

3. 8th and Roast

If you’re looking for darn good coffee from a sustainable source while you’re in Nashville, you’ll find it at 8th and Roast. Now with 5 locations and counting, the humble coffee chain chooses to pay its suppliers above fair trade minimum set prices so they can better support their families in Rwanda, Nicaragua and other developing nations. 

You can support their mission by paying 8th and Roast a visit, ordering a warm pistachio mocha, and huffing down some bacon, cheddar and chive scones. 

4. Poppy & Peep

Owned and operated by a father/daughter duo, Poppy & Peep specializes in handmade and utterly delicious bonbons. 

To the unfamiliar, a “bonbon” (deriving from the French word for “good”), is a tiny, quarter-sized treat featuring a hard chocolate case and soft fillings like nougat, caramel, marshmallow and more. At roughly $6 a pop, they’re not to be gorged on like popcorn — but rather, slowly nibbled on to commemorate special occasions. Think of them as a flavorful alternative to flowers or champagne. 

Poppy & Peep also offer Dubai chocolate, hot cocoa and a Nashville hot chicken chocolate bar. So if you’re looking to impress your friends back home with a treat they’ll remember for years, pay them a visit. 

5. Alebrije

Alebrije is easy to miss. Not only is it located off the beaten path in East Nashville. it’s on the second story of a mixed-used development, hardly visible from the street. 

Which is a bit ironic, since it specializes in Mexican street food. The mouthwatering menu boasts the usual suspects (tacos, churros, etc.) but you can also make life simple by ordering the $15.50 “Taco Box” which includes pastor, carnitas, pollo and asada. 

In the words of Alebrije, take a little “taco tour” of Mexico City while you visit Music City. 

6. Frothy Monkey and Olive & Sinclair

This one’s a BOGO since they’re right next to each other. 

Frothy Monkey is your quintessential Nashville brunch spot. There are several locations, but the one in East Nashville is (unsurprisingly) the most eclectic, easiest to find parking, and features the best patio. Treat yourself to some shrimp and grits, fancy coffee and a “flight” of biscuits so you can sample their locally sourced butter and jams. 

Then, pop next door to Olive & Sinclair, fine purveyors of Nashville chocolate. You’ll find plenty of free samples ranging from Duck Fat Caramels to their delectable Chocolate Charcuterie, which combines numerous flavors into an extremely thick “log” that you slice like a summer sausage. 

7. Edessa Kurdish Turkish Cuisine

Edessa is the best meal I’ve had in Nashville. That includes four years of college, ALL of the hot chicken places and a good number of the fancy restaurants downtown. 

Found 6 miles south of downtown Nashville, this humble, family-operated Turkish-Kurdish restaurant offers everything you could possibly want from a culinary tour of Istanbul. The menu features marinated lamb, perfectly seasoned beef kabobs, freshly baked lavash (aka “balloon bread”) and more. 

And if you can’t decide and would like to sample everything, just order the family-sized Kabob Festival: 

Where to Stay in Nashville

• The Fairlane Hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the Honky Tonks downtown, and yet it’s virtually soundproof. The spacious, modern rooms start at just $149/night, and the in-house restaurant (Modern Love) offers an incredible “Hero’s Breakfast” for just $16. 
  
• The Gaylord Opryland Resort is a solid choice for families, since it offers plenty of on-site amenities to keep the kids happy. Essentially a giant cruise ship on land, Opryland features an expansive, forest-like atrium, a waterpark, high-end shops, countless dining options and more.