Hungry? Here’s Where to Eat in Johnson City, TN
Check out this itinerary for making every meal an experience in this East Tennessee city.
Dining options in Johnson City are plentiful, so hungry residents and visitors have multiple choices for every meal of the day. From a.m. eats to late-night fine dining, here’s a rundown of where to eat in Johnson City. Dig in!
The Most Important Meal of the Day
Weekend mornings may be lazy for non-bakers, but the owner of the deceptively named Lazy Lady Baking Co. is up and about in the wee hours, turning out sweet and savory baked goods for local coffee shops, catering and special orders.
Lazy Lady’s own Saturday-through-Monday brick-and-mortar sells an inventive selection of rotating pastries like carrot and goat cheese Danishes and Thanksgiving leftovers-inspired croissants.
Early birds looking to satisfy their sweet tooths on weekdays can hit up family-owned Auntie Ruth’s Doughnuts & Pretzels, which started out as a food truck before opening a storefront from which they serve treats like blackberry-cream cheese doughnuts.
For an ultra-fast morning pick-me-up, Pal’s Sudden Service is the place; the regional chain was launched in nearby Kingsport, and now serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at a handful of Johnson City locations. Its breakfast offerings include biscuits served with sausage, bacon, country ham, butter or gravy along with “cheddar rounds” – the chain’s unique take on cheesy hashbrowns.
Finally, check out Blended Pedaler, which turns out lighter fare in the form of elaborate smoothies and acai bowls loaded with toppings both healthy (banana, walnuts, blueberries) and indulgent (chocolate chips, Nutella).
Noshing at Noon
Smoked meat isn’t the lightest midday meal, but everyone who’s ever felt the heartbreak of arriving at a sold-out barbecue joint knows it’s better to show up early, even if opening hours do extend into the evening. The Firehouse, located in a decommissioned Johnson City fire station since 1981, originally started as a lunch counter; now it serves hickory-smoked ribs, chicken, pork and brisket as well as burgers, soups and salads in a sit-down dining room.
Downtown’s Southern Craft BBQ also turns out classic barbecue along with modern cocktails and craft beer from local brewery Great Oak Brewing.
For international flavors, The Roots Vietnamese Restaurant offers massive, comforting bowls of pho, boba tea and specials like Korean rib fried rice and crawfish boils. Red Meze serves Turkish delights like sigara boregi (feta cheese wrapped in a crispy phyllo dough) and patlican kizartmasi (roasted eggplant in a creamy tomato sauce) alongside an eclectic mix of burgers, pizza and other Mediterranean dishes like gyros and pita.
White Duck Taco Shop combines cuisine from around the globe with its fusion tacos: It offers banh mi and tofu; jerk chicken; duck and mole; Thai peanut chicken; and beef bulgogi tacos, just to name a few.
Dinner Dates
If – by some miracle – you still have room for dinner, there are plenty of great options when looking where to eat in Johnson City.
Located in a rehabbed historic train depot, BURG’r & BARREL serves indulgent hamburgers topped with everything from macaroni and cheese to crispy pork belly. Guests can stay hydrated with cocktails or a self-serve beer wall.
Just a few blocks away, Main Street Pizza Co. serves specialty and build-your-own pizzas as well as pasta favorites with a concise but quality list of craft beers and mocktails in addition to its full bar.
Fine dining options in the city include Juniper, a modern American eatery with an oft-changing menu that includes Southern touches like chicken pot pie croquettes and fried green tomatoes served with burrata.
LABEL and Juan Siao are sister restaurants to Southern Craft BBQ, so diners can expect the same quality and friendly service at all three eateries. At LABEL, surf and turf and filet mignon entrees share menu space with a Kobe beef truffle burger and chopped bison steak, while Juan Siao combines Asian and Mexican flavors in dishes like ultra-trendy birria ramen, grilled chicken and shrimp with tamarind aioli and lemongrass oil, and pork belly tacos topped with Asian-inspired slaw and hoisin sauce.
Get to Know Johnson City
Want to learn more about living and working in Johnson City, TN? Check out the latest edition of Livability Johnson City.
