June 9, 2023

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What is the most iconic dish in Chattanooga? Check out the results of our food bracket

8 dishes three rounds 524 votes.

Who will gain the title of “most Chattanoogan foodstuff?”

Will it be the sticky, syrupy Aretha Frankensteins pancakes, or will Champy’s well-known fried rooster reign supreme? Or, will there be an upset from the properly-liked speedy-food items chain, Krystal?

Chattanooga’s meals scene is beloved, and there are a great deal of iconic possibilities to get your grub on. But which dish defines us? Which dish would you say screams, “Chattanooga?”

In March, we requested audience to weigh in, nominating their favorites then casting their votes. So which dish will be named the supreme Chattanoogan food stuff?

Get prepared, individuals, it can be time for a Chattanooga food throwdown.

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Workers photograph by Olivia Ross / Champy’s 3-piece plate.

Champy’s Fried Hen initially began competing in 2009, when it opened its doorways in Chattanooga. Ever considering the fact that, it is really available its beloved fried chicken with a facet of Mississippi Delta tradition — now with 3 locations in Chattanooga and eight total in the Southeast. Its exclusive move is its namesake: the fried hen, available as a plate with a alternative of dim or gentle meat, or as tenders.

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Getty Photos / Forker’s serves up hardy pulled pork sandwiches.

Situated off Freeway 58, Forker’s BBQ has become a staple for Chattanoogans, earning it a robust contender for this competitiveness. Its pulled pork go is hard to protect towards. Other favorites include things like its rib plate, pulled pork plate and the mac and cheese topped with pulled pork, barbecue sauce and sour product.

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Team photograph by Olivia Ross / Pancakes at Aretha Frankensteins in Chattanooga.

Even if you’ve only been to Chattanooga a handful of times, you have undoubtedly listened to of Aretha Frankensteins. The Tremont Avenue eatery has a person signature transfer: fluffy, thick pancakes that have grow to be a local favorite for breakfast or brunch. But which is not the only dish keeping it aggressive. An additional noteworthy recipe is its “Waffle of Insane Greatness.”

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Personnel file image / Krystal burgers received their start out in Chattanooga.

Due to the fact it is a chain cafe, Krystal might not be the to start with option one particular thinks of for a Chattanooga meals throwdown, producing it relatively of a wildcard in this competition. But it was founded below in 1932, building people very little sq. burgers decidedly Chattanooga — and a shock contender in the fight.

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Staff Picture by Matt Hamilton / Fried chicken, barbecue pork, collard greens and complete potatoes in a white product sauce at Bea’s cafe.

Bea’s Restaurant’s fried hen really packs a punch, alongside with a amount of other common Southern favorites this sort of as rooster and dumplings, fried okra and, of program, these kinds of desserts as peach or apple cobbler. It truly is a vintage and lengthy-lived Chattanooga solution, possessing opened its doorways in 1950.

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Contributed image by Nick Valentine / The chopped wiener plate is a staple at Memo’s Grill.

Since 1966, Memo’s Grill, located off MLK Boulevard, has served up beloved chopped wiener plates, created with chopped incredibly hot dogs smothered in thick chili sauce and served with slaw and bread —helping the grill toss a powerful uppercut into this level of competition.


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Team file image / MoonPie is famous in Chattanooga.

MoonPie was nearly a shoo-in for the competitors, specified its position as a historic favorite. First conceived in 1917 when a Kentucky coal miner questioned a traveling salesman for a snack “as significant as the moon,” in accordance to its web-site, MoonPie has been made by Chattanooga Bakery at any time because.

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Team picture by Olivia Ross / Tremont Tavern’s pimiento cheeseburger

Opened in 2006, Tremont Tavern quickly became a neighborhood watering hole and favorite for its juicy, imaginative burgers. Piled superior with tons of toppings and cooked to perfection, they’ve develop into a standout amongst a myriad of other alternatives.

To start with roundFIGHT!

In the initial round, Champy’s fried hen went up against Forker’s pulled pork, with Champy’s ultimately providing the decisive blow and relocating on to the semifinals. Aretha Frankensteins pancakes went up towards Krystal burgers, with the fluffy breakfast beloved besting the square snacks. Subsequent, Bea’s fried rooster was up in opposition to Memo’s chopped wieners, the latter remaining defeated by the fried favorite. Last but not least, the perfectly-acknowledged MoonPie was up towards the Tremont Tavern burger — with the burger in the end besting the baked great.

2nd roundGO!

For the semifinals, it was Champy’s against Aretha Frankensteins, and Bea’s versus Tremont Tavern. The admirer-most loved breakfast was ousted by the clucking meal, although burgers received the day towards Bea’s.

Remaining roundFIGHT!

The rounds experienced been intense, but now only two fighters remained: Champy’s fried hen and Tremont Tavern’s burger. Both of those fought valiantly, but in the stop, the Tremont burger took the top location to turn into our reader-voted “most Chattanoogan food items.”

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Workers photograph by Olivia Ross / Tremont Tavern has been awarded the 2022 “Most Chattanoogan Foodstuff” by Chattanooga Occasions Free Press and Chatter magazine viewers.