We’ve all been there. You’re leaving a late-night show or a movie downtown and your tummy starts that familiar rumble. You’ve got a case of the midnight munchies. 🍔
But where to go? Despite being known as a growing music + arts hub, Chattanooga seems to close up shop on the early side as far as restaurants go.
But you don’t have to go hungry. Whether you’re in the mood for cheap, delicious bar snacks, breakfast for dinner or a full-on meal, we rounded up 11 late night joints where you can eat your way to a good night’s sleep. 🌝
...and yeah, we still miss Lamar’s. Everybody misses Lamar’s.
The “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” pick …
City Café Diner | 📍901 Carter St. | ⏰ 24/7
City Café Diner is such an institution for many Noogans that people (me) have even written songs about it. It never closes and the portions are huge. You can have breakfast, a burger, a variety of Mediterranean cuisine, cake slices as big as your head, more cocktails + anything else you can imagine.
The “I’m sort of tired but not ready to go home” pick ...
The Bitter Alibi | 📍825 Houston St. | ⏰ 2 a.m. (on the weekends)
Long nights on the town often begin and end at The Bitter Alibi. The food + drinks are always amazing and the menu is eclectic enough for even the pickiest of eaters. We highly recommend the Richy’s Burger (w. a coffee crust) and the B.A. Ramen.
The “I kind of want to eat Irish-themed food + play billiards” pick
The Honest Pint | 📍35 Patten Parkway | ⏰ 2 a.m. (Wed. – Sat.)
It might be a bit under-the-radar, but The Honest Pint is the perfect place to grab a midnight snack. Whether you’re noshing on a pile of smoked wings or craving the Bonny Scots (two hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, breaded + fried), The Honest Pint has a full menu of delicious items to keep you satisfied into the wee morning hours.
The “Can I please get a waffle?” pick
Waffle House | 📍2024 E. 23rd St. + 📍102 Signal Mountain Road | ⏰ 24/7
A late-night list wouldn’t be complete without mention of possibly the greatest post-midnight snack in the South. Waffle House is your friend when your other friends are asleep at 3 a.m. Get an All-American breakfast + hashbrowns (covered, smothered + diced). And where else can you get a front-row seat to a fast-paced kitchen without paying $100 a person? I love the antiquated terminology involved in the ordering process and back-of-the-house communication. Waffle House is the best.
The “but the food is so good I don’t really care” pick
The Yellow Deli | 📍737 McCallie Ave. | ⏰ 24/5 (Closed 3 p.m. Fri. — noon Sunday)
Whatever your personal thoughts are on The Twelve Tribes (they own + operate The Yellow Deli), there is an argument that can be made that their sandwich—The Deli Rose—might be the best in Chattanooga. Try it before you tell me I’m wrong.
The “I kind of want barbecue and a game of ping-pong” pick
HiFi Clyde’s Chattanooga | 📍 122 W. Main St. | ⏰ Thu. – Sat., 1:30 a.m.
Sometimes you absolutely don’t want to visit a place with drunk college kids and ping-pong tables, but sometimes you do. For those times, HiFi Clyde’s is there like an old college buddy who still has “keggers” in his backyard on game day. Try the barbecue sammies + the Choo Choo Hot Fish.
The “What’s the best burger on the way out of town?” pick
Tremont Tavern | 📍1203 Hixson Pike | ⏰ Fri. – Sat., midnight
Tremont Tavern has the best hamburgers in town. That is not a question, but a declarative fact that only fools will argue against. As a late-night spot, it’s especially great if you live in North Chattanooga. For those who live in Brainerd or St. Elmo, Tremont is a bit of a travel investment after 11 p.m. It’s totally worth it, of course, but you’ll want to have another beer and stay a while. *note: the kitchen closes at midnight, so get there before then.
The “ … Wait, did I pay my tab last night?” pick
The Pickle Barrel | 📍 1012 Market St. | ⏰ 3 a.m.
Ah, the ‘ole Pickle Barrel. The bar staff is some of the best in town these days, the food is delicious and you can’t beat the location right in the middle of the downtown action. The fried pickles are a must, but they also have a killer selection of sandwiches + burgers. It’s the only place I’ll eat a black bean burger on purpose.
The “Where can I get a Jalapeno corn dog at this hour?” pick
Hair of the Dog Pub | 📍334 Market St. | ⏰ 3 a.m.
It’s a scenario we’re all familiar with: It’s 1 a.m. and you and your friends have just finished a feisty round of water polo at Harold’s cabana. Eventually, someone will pose the question, “Where can I get a jalapeno corn dog at this hour?” and you’ll simply laugh. “Why, Hair of the Dog, of course,” you’ll say. *Everybody guffaws*
The “Best burger in the middle of downtown” pick
Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint | 📍818 Georgia Ave. | ⏰ 2 a.m.
It may be a new place, but Jack Brown’s has become the epicenter of good eats and drinks. JB’s is described as “a bar that happens to sell a really fantastic burger.” They also offer fried Oreos for $1 each, along with a challenge to anyone who can eat a bunch of them. It sounds like the perfect kind of challenge for 1 a.m. when you’ve already thrown caution to the wind.
The “ Sure, I’ll eat fried chicken from a gas station” pick
Mapco Mart/Krispy Krunchy Chicken | 📍 1265 E. Third St. | ⏰ 3 a.m.
I thought it was a legend until I tried Mapco fried chicken for myself. It is not the best chicken, but it’s about the only chicken you can get at 2:45 a.m. in town. The chicken comes in a bag and a paper basket. It’s not unlike what you might get from Popeye’s. You eat it in the streets or in your car. It is cheap ($8 for a ton of food) and it might be your last opportunity for grub on nights you don’t want to visit a sit-down restaurant.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
