Where We're Eating Now
The Edible editors share their latest food adventures and recommendations
7 Nashville Hidden Gems
A sampling of family and immigrant-run food trucks and restaurants adding new flavors to Nashville’s dining scene
King Tut’s
King Tut’s is the crown jewel of Nolensville Pike hidden gems in my opinion. Permanently parked at 3716 Nolensville Pike, King Tut’s serves authentic Egyptian food with a New York flair. Over the last year, owner and chef Ragab Rashwan has built a beautiful outdoor patio adjacent to the truck. Complemented by a mural and plenty of plants, the BYOB patio provides a serene respite from the commercial hustle and bustle of South Nashville. Do not let the food truck or friendly prices fool you into thinking this is an average Mediterranean inspired restaurant. Chef Ragab carefully crafts his menu with local ingredients and the community in mind. Built on Chef Ragab's experience owning a cafe in Cairo and working as a chef in New York City, nothing on the menu disappoints. Customer favorites are the falafel, lamb sandwich, and whatever specials Chef Ragab has prepared for the day. The falafel, which are vegan, are truly the best I have ever had. For people seeking a truly special experience, reach out to Ragab about setting up a private dinner at the patio. While the food is excellent, King Tut’s is a neighborhood favorite because of Chef Ragab’s kind heartedness and generosity. @kingtutsnashville
Il Forno
With Il Forno, Egidio “Egi” Franciosa and partner Jannah bring authentic Neapolitan pizza to the streets of Nashville. Raised outside of Naples, Italy, Egi carries his family’s centuries old traditions and love for fresh ingredients into the pizzas he crafts. Anyone who sees the Il Forno truck for the first time certainly does a double take. Attached to the truck is an impressive hand-built wood burning oven named Momo, after the Franciosa family moniker. Built by the Piombo family in Napa Valley, Momo weights over 3000 pounds, fueled by local Tennessee Oak to reach temperatures upwards of 900 degrees. Popular pizzas are the classic marinara pizza, or the cowboy special, which has mozzarella, gorgonzola, and smoked bacon. The pizzas are the perfect combination of sauce and cheese on a crispy but airy crust. Got a sweet tooth? The Nutella pizza is the perfect warm dessert. Also keep an eye out for the paninis and homemade cannoli that are sometimes available. Commonly found at the 12 South Farmers Market and at neighborhoods across the city, Il Forno keeps an up-to-date schedule on their Instagram @ilfornonashville.
Peach Tree Drive-In
Peach Tree Drive-In is tucked away on Peach Tree Street, right off of Nolensville Pike. While the cute house-turned-restaurant is self-described as serving innovative American cuisine using inspiration from cuisines all around the world, the most salient inspiration is Middle Eastern/Persian cuisine. With dishes like kabobs, falafel, and the popular lamb dip sandwich served alongside Southern classics like a pimento cheeseburger, corn bacon cheddar fritters, and baked mac and cheese, the menu certainly is eclectic. Even with the wide-ranging menu, Peach Tree Drive-in finds a way to make it work. A family friendly and dog friendly atmosphere make it a great place to enjoy happy hours, a relaxing lunch, and even casual date night. The family-run restaurant has a heated patio to compliment the indoor and additional outdoor seating. Already a neighborhood favorite in Woodbine, Peach Tree is starting to garner more attention across the city. Recently opened in August of 2020, this unique restaurant is primed for a strong sophomore year as capacity restrictions have been lifted. @peachtreedrivein
Photo 1: corndog elote with beef frank, southern hashbrowns, mayo, chili powder, cilantro, and lime
Photo 2: steak taco with Korean Galbi marinade, mozzerella, frijoles, grilled spring onion, chimichurri, pine nut, and pico de gallo
Camion Chino
Camion Chino is fusion at its best. The bright red food truck across from L&L market off Charlotte Pike is one of Nashville’s best kept secrets, for now. The unassuming truck is considered by many to serve some of the best food in Nashville, especially at the price. A fusion of Latin American and Asian cuisine, the menu changes frequently based on availability of local ingredients. The latest menu included delicious creations such as steak tacos with Korean galbi marmalade, mozzarella, pine nuts, grilled spring onions. Another favorite is the eggplant with soy garlic sauce, served over rice, tofu falafel, bok choy, sesame dressing, Thai basil, and crispy shallots. Other stand out menu items are the Korean style fried chicken wings and the fish tacos. At a friendly price point (the hot chicken sandwich is $6.41), bring a couple friends and order one of everything to get a taste of all the amazing dishes on the menu. Stop in at the adjacent Rosie’s market to get some drinks and enjoy takeout at nearby Centennial Park. @camionchino3
Pupusería Salvadoreña
Nashville is lucky to have a handful of great Pupuserias, and Pupusería Salvadoreña is one of the best. As the name would suggest, Pupusería Salvadoreña specializes in making the Salvadoran national dish: pupusas. Well-loved across Central America, this pre-Colombian dish is known for its comforting flavor. The stuffed corn flour savory griddle cakes are traditionally stuffed with some combination of these four ingredients: cheese, beans, chicharrón, and loroco, a fragrant and edible flower from El Salvador. Order a pupusa mixta to try it with cheese, beans, and chicharrón, or order a pupusa de queso if you’re looking for simpler flavors. Pupusas are always served with curtido, a sightly pickled cabbage relish, and salsa roja to compliment the savory flavors. On certain days, Pupusería Salvadoreña makes chicken, jalapeno, and cheese pupusas that are a must try. Be sure to ask the staff if there are any specials. Besides the well-known pupusas, they also make other traditional Salvadoran dishes such as empanadas de platano y leche. These empanadas are made from plantains and are served sweet, unlike the savory style empanadas more commonly found across Latin America. Expect a casual dining atmosphere with friendly service. Located across the street from Plaza Mariachi on Welsh Road, be prepared for a busy lunch rush during peak hours.
Osh Restaurant and Grill
Osh Restaurant and Grill is a testament to Nashville growth as a multicultural and international city. Who would have guessed we would be fortunate enough to have authentic Uzbek food in music city? Taking over the former House of Kabob space on Thompson Lane, Osh has a large menu showcasing a variety of Uzbek cuisine. Those unfamiliar with Uzbek food will find that the food at Osh reflects Uzbekistan’s geography as a crossroad of cultures in Central Asia. The most traditional dish to order is the restaurant’s namesake, osh. Osh is a plate of rice pilaf with braised lamb, carrots, and spices, served with a homemade yogurt and salad. A great appetizer to start a meal is the samsa, a baked pastry filled with spiced lamb. Osh also serves many hearty soups perfect for the wintertime, such as mastava, a thick soup with rice, beef, potatoes, and other vegetables. Besides Uzbek specialties, there are grilled lamb and seafood options for a more protein packed meal. Take your pick of desert from a layered Uzbek Napolean cake to kunefe, a delicious baked desert of shredded wheat and cheese. Osh has a pleasant atmosphere for sit down dining or takeout. @oshrestaurantgrill
Whisk Crêpes Café
Owner and Chef Julien Eelsen grew up learning how to make crêpes from his grandmother and aunt in his hometown of Paris, France. Now he’s sharing his perfected crêpes recipes in Nashville with Whisk Crêpes Café, his second location after finding success in Dallas, Texas. Chef Eelsen knows that quality ingredients and slow but true processes are what make a good crêpe. That’s why Whisk Crêpes Café doesn’t take any shortcuts. The batter for their crêpes takes over two hours to make. Located in the Assembly Food Hall at Fith and Broadway, the customer facing café means customers can watch their crêpes get masterfully prepared. While strawberry and Nutella is certainly the crowd-pleasing favorite for sweet crêpes, order the Midnight in Paris for a well-balanced crêpe that is sweet and flavorful without being too indulgent. On the savory crêpe side, the Oceane crêpe, consisting of egg, smoked salmon, gruyere, tomatoes, capers, crème fraiche, chives, and greens is quite popular. With its downtown location and late hours (open till midnight on weekends), Whisk is sure to be popular with tourists and locals alike; A tasty crêpe is certainly a great way to cap off a night out. Whisk can even bring their imported crepe griddles to private events and caterings.
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