On Your Way To The Mountains, Enjoy A Meal At This Hidden Gem BBQ Spot In Tennessee
By Chris Dodge|Published June 13, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
Nothing quite beats an adventure day in the Great Smoky Mountains. I know I always wake up with an extra pep in my step when we plan a day trip to my favorite national park. The promise of a day to explore, see wildlife, and breathe fresh mountain air is enough to motivate me. Then again, you will always need some fuel before you set off on an epic adventure, and luckily I know of a great little hidden gem right along the way. Hungry Bear BBQ in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a great place for a quick bite to eat before you head deep into the woods.
If you are coming from the east to spend the day in the Smoky Mountains, then I suggest you take the road less traveled.
Route 321 will give you plenty of views of the towering mountains before you ever get a chance to go into the woods! You might be heading to spend the day by the river off of the Greenbrier Road, go on a scenic drive through the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, or hike to Grotto Falls; either way, there is plenty to do on this side of the Smokies. But first, you will need to put a little fuel in the tank, and what better food than sweet and succulent smoked meats?
Hungry Bear BBQ is located right across the entrance to Greenbrier Road on Route 321.
This small little restaurant offers a simple and straightforward menu, but what they do they do well. The second you pull into the parking lot you will notice the rising smoke and then one of the best smells in the world will greet you -- a promise of what's waiting for you inside.
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Being close to the Smokies, this BBQ joint is apply-themed after the beloved mascot of our national park, the black bear.
Wooden figures and pictures of this hulking mammal are placed on the walls and surrounding area. One particular picture caught my attention: an old black and white photo shows a bear laying down only feet from a crowd of onlookers. I love seeing bears -- but not that close, I will stick to seeing them from my car in Cades Cove, thank you very much.
Hungry Bear BBQ is a no-frills restaurant where you will be offered a robust menu of smoked meats. Pulled pork sandwiches, standard BBQ sides, and dinner specials are all up for grabs and you won't find a bad choice in the bunch.
Once you order you won’t have to wait long: a hot heaping pile of BBQ will be delivered right to your table. Make no mistake about it, though, this is not fast food -- they have just been cooking up these tasty treats for hours and hours before you arrived so you can get the best smoky flavor, whether it's pulled pork or a rack of ribs!
The delicious dishes and fast service make this an excellent choice when it comes time for an adventure day. You can grab a sandwich, eat it out on the picnic tables, and spend more time within the Smoky Mountains.
You might miss this little restaurant (especially if you are ogling the surrounding wilderness) but no need to worry or even turn around. A newer location has been added right off Route 321 just a couple of miles down the road. If you happen to be staying in Gatlinburg then this location will be the closest one to you. Either way Hungry Bear BBQ has what you need to fuel up for a day of adventuring in the Great Smoky Mountains. Make sure you check out this video from Friday’s Forever about this little restaurant.
Looking for a simple trail in the park? Check out Cataract Falls it is a short and sweet hike located right behind the Sugarland’s Visitor Center.
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