Nashville’s vibrant food scene continues to flourish, with new restaurant openings and beloved food trucks offering a diverse array of flavors across the city.
New Restaurant Openings
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Earls Kitchen + Bar, an upscale casual dining restaurant with 70 locations across North America, opened its first Tennessee location at Nashville Yards on April 16. Located at 26 Platform Way South, the restaurant introduces Earls’ signature blend of bold flavors, handcrafted cocktails, and elevated design to one of the city’s most dynamic new developments. This venue offers locals, visitors, and the surrounding business community a casual yet sophisticated spot for any occasion.
Alla Vita
Alla Vita, the third concept from Boka Restaurant Group in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, opened on June 13. The Italian restaurant is a venture by award-winning Chef Lee Wolen of Michelin-starred Boka. Designed as a neighborhood gathering place, Alla Vita combines Italian classics, locally sourced produce, and flexible event spaces.
Zaytinya by José Andrés
Renowned chef José Andrés expanded his culinary empire to Nashville with the opening of Zaytinya in The Gulch in February. The restaurant brings vibrant Eastern Mediterranean mezze and bold flavors inspired by Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine to the city.
Food Truck Favorites
The Grilled Cheeserie
Since its launch in 2010, The Grilled Cheeserie has been a staple in Nashville’s food truck scene. Founded by Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Crystal De Luna-Bogan and her husband Joseph Bogan, the truck has won Nashville Scene’s Best Food Truck award eight consecutive years. Their signature Pimento Mac & Chee Melt features pimento cheese, cheddar, mac and cheese, tomato, and Benton’s bacon on country white sourdough.
Chivanada
Chivanada offers traditional Colombian empanadas filled with meat, cheese, lentils, or even chocolate. Beyond the main draw, the repurposed school bus also serves patacones (fried green plantains), yuca fries, and tomato avocado salad. Bonus: It’s all gluten-free.
Flour and Forge
What began as a backyard hobby for owner Derek Chirico has evolved into a booming wood-fired pizza business operating out of a reimagined shipping container. The truck pops up weekly south of Nashville, offering rotating specials like the gorgonzola, prosciutto, pear, and fig glaze-topped Blind Fig or their claim to fame, the Velvet Revolver dressed with ricotta, pepperoni, arugula, and a hot honey drizzle.
Whether you’re a longtime resident or a visitor, Nashville’s ever-evolving food scene offers something for everyone. From new restaurant openings to established food truck favorites, there’s always a new culinary experience waiting to be discovered.