5 of the Best Places to Eat in Pigeon Forge on a Budget
Dining out is one of the best parts of being on vacation, but it can also be one of the most expensive. Eating at a restaurant for nearly every meal can add up quickly, especially if you are feeding an entire family. Fortunately, Pigeon Forge is home to a number of wonderful eateries where you can enjoy great food at a great price. To help you make the most of your next getaway, we have put together a handy guide to five of the best places to eat in Pigeon Forge on a budget.
1. Lil’ Black Bear Cafe
The Lil’ Black Bear Cafe is perfect for lunch or dinner! This small, family-owned restaurant has built a loyal following for its super friendly service, mouthwatering food, and extremely reasonable prices. Guests will find a great selection of omelets, salads, soups, sandwiches, and more all-American fare. Standout menu items include the biscuits and gravy, fried bologna sandwich, and the patty melt. Be sure to save room for dessert, so you can try one of the cafe’s incredible homemade cupcakes!
2. Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill
Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill is another one of the best places to eat in Pigeon Forge on a budget. Specializing in authentic south-of-the-border cuisine, this restaurant is famous for its incredibly generous portions. We recommend sharing your entrees or taking home leftovers!
A highlight of eating at Cielito Lindo is their salsa bar, where guests can choose from a variety of mild, medium, and spicy salsas.
3. Pigeon Forge Deli
Tucked away on East Wears Valley Road, Pigeon Forge Deli is the ultimate lunch spot! The deli’s signature subs are served on freshly baked bread and come with your choice of tomato basil soup or homemade pasta salad. Popular sandwiches at Pigeon Forge Deli include the Pot Roast Sub, Pizza Loaf, Chicken Salad Sub, and the Meatball Sub.
4. Mel’s Classic Diner
If you’re looking for cheap eats, it’s hard to beat a diner! Mel’s is a classic 50s-style eatery that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests will find a varied menu filled with comfort foods like burgers, hot dogs, meatloaf, and chicken pot pie. Best of all, Mel’s serves breakfast all day long, so you can have pancakes at 11 p.m. if that’s what you’re craving. Of course, no visit to Mel’s is complete without sharing one of their epic sundaes or banana splits!
5. Smokies Cuban Cafe
Believe it or not, you can find delicious (and very affordable) Cuban food right on the Parkway! Smokies Cuban Cafe is a family run hole-in-the-wall that serves traditional Cuban food in a cozy, no-frills atmosphere. Some of the most-buzzed-about dishes at this restaurant include the empanadas, ropa vieja, Cuban sandwich, and the palomilla steak. It’s easy to see why Smokies Cuban Cafe is one of the best places to eat in Pigeon Forge on a budget!
Save Money with Pigeon Forge Restaurant Coupons
Coupons are another great way to enjoy dining out on vacation without breaking the bank. Pigeon Forge TN Guide has scoured the internet to find the very best deals and discounts at some of the most popular restaurants in the Smokies. Follow the link to see all of our Pigeon Forge restaurant coupons!
I hope Mel’s has improved. The last time we ate there, one of the servers was cleaning off the table next to ours. The group that left had eaten breakfast, so the server was eating all of the leftover bacon off of the different plates! We could also smell sewage. Maybe we’ll give it another try next year!
Love Mel’s Diner. Always eat there when in town.
Mel’s Diner is one of the best places to eat in Pigeon Forge. I have probably been there 20 or 30 times and I have never been disappointed. It is clean. The food is great and inexpensive. The staff is friendly. My favorite is the pot roast but everything is good! I would highly recommend this place for anyone who is hungry!
How in the world Lil’ Black Bear made the list – I’ll never know. Went there for breakfast. The owner was the server, cook and dishwasher. The food was horrible (especially the gravy), Portions were extremely small. Asked for some jelly. He brought one pack for two people to share! A couple was seated next to us. When they finished eating, they didn’t have change to leave a tip until they paid for their meal. When they went to the register to pay, the owner/server/cook/dishwasher said in quite a hateful tone – “it is customary to leave a tip”. The man said, I need to pay first in order to get change to leave a tip. The owner/server/cook/dishwasher did not apologize. I would never even think about going back there.
We love going to Mel’s at least once while we are in town. The food is good, (not classy) just your typical 50’s type food. Save room for a banana split or one of their luscious ice cream makings. The servings are big and filling. This is one of the few places you can find to eat after an evening show. They stay open late and never seem to rush you no matter how late you arrive.
Love Mel’s never had a bad meal there!