Market rankings · Tennessee

Restaurants and cafes in Tennessee

Markets across Tennessee ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 29,063; 11,612 chain locations (40%)
Official establishments: 12,351; +9.9% since 2019
Household spending a year: $10.4B; On food away from home
Listings per 10k households: 102.9; 6% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $357K; 4% below the U.S.
Rank among states: #28 of 51; Market score 49 · Lower middle

A site report maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings around any address in Tennessee by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

As of September 2026, map listings count 29,063 restaurants and cafes in Tennessee. Chain locations make up 40% of them, against 34% across the U.S. That comes to 102.9 for every 10,000 households, 6% below the U.S. rate of 109.8.

Households in Tennessee spend about $10.4B a year on food away from home, or $3,670 per household, 10% below the U.S. average. That is about $357K of household spending for each restaurant on map listings, 4% below the U.S. figure of $371K.

Official counts show 12,351 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in Tennessee in 2023, up 9.9% from 2019. That is one for every 229 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 354 SBA-backed loans worth $210.3M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in Tennessee.

Among the 50 states and DC, Tennessee ranks #28 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 49 (lower middle). Of the 10 scored metro areas in or partly in Tennessee, the Knoxville metro area scores highest (71). Of the 17 scored small-town markets in or partly in Tennessee, the Lewisburg area scores highest (89).

Every market in Tennessee for restaurants and cafes

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Tennessee, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Tennessee, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Knoxville, TN	71	3,420	90.4	$412K	+6.9%	#57 of 387
2Morristown, TN	60	415	86.5	$385K	+7.9%	#131 of 387
3Cleveland, TN	59	450	90.0	$382K	+6.1%	#138 of 387
4Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	54	1,082	82.6	$399K	+2.3%	#160 of 387
5Clarksville, TN-KY	52	1,174	94.0	$375K	+8.5%	#180 of 387
6Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	50	9,678	116.7	$353K	+8.7%	#193 of 387
7Chattanooga, TN-GA	49	2,401	103.8	$361K	+5.3%	#199 of 387
8Johnson City, TN	47	804	90.4	$365K	+4.3%	#211 of 387
9Memphis, TN-MS-AR	35	5,489	105.0	$346K	−0.3%	#295 of 387
10Jackson, TN	31	739	102.0	$325K	+2.2%	#328 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Tennessee, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Lewisburg, TN	89	104	76.3	$476K	+10.5%	#5 of 538
2Fayetteville, TN	84	107	72.1	$481K	+4.3%	#17 of 538
3Winchester, TN	82	125	71.7	$476K	+6.4%	#22 of 538
4Athens, TN	80	179	67.7	$495K	+8.2%	#28 of 538
5Crossville, TN	78	198	70.2	$458K	+8.0%	#36 of 538
6Shelbyville, TN	78	163	83.6	$417K	+9.7%	#38 of 538
7Lawrenceburg, TN	68	137	80.6	$394K	+6.2%	#96 of 538
8McMinnville, TN	66	129	79.6	$394K	+6.5%	#114 of 538
9Greeneville, TN	64	211	74.3	$427K	+5.0%	#131 of 538
10Newport, TN	57	134	86.4	$336K	+5.1%	#194 of 538
11Cookeville, TN	50	547	93.2	$346K	+7.6%	#262 of 538
12Martin, TN	49	111	82.9	$369K	+1.1%	#265 of 538
13Union City, TN	40	115	91.8	$336K	−2.3%	#375 of 538
14Tullahoma-Manchester, TN	40	267	103.3	$316K	+7.3%	#376 of 538
15Paris, TN	38	131	97.4	$313K	+2.3%	#391 of 538
16Dyersburg, TN	34	150	101.6	$320K	−1.1%	#427 of 538
17Sevierville, TN	24	987	244.6	$139K	+2.5%	#495 of 538

Counties

Counties in Tennessee, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Fayette County, TN	91	96	55.8	$719K	+7.7%	#19 of 2,405
2Roane County, TN	84	133	58.4	$623K	+7.0%	#69 of 2,405
3Loudon County, TN	84	177	73.6	$540K	+15.6%	#77 of 2,405
4Meigs County, TN	81	25	47.8	$694K	+10.8%	#115 of 2,405
5Hickman County, TN	81	47	49.8	$687K	+5.0%	#116 of 2,405
6Union County, TN	80	38	47.9	$689K	+8.1%	#130 of 2,405
7Cheatham County, TN	80	114	70.0	$567K	+4.1%	#138 of 2,405
8Grainger County, TN	77	46	47.6	$645K	+9.2%	#187 of 2,405
9Macon County, TN	77	48	51.0	$635K	+9.5%	#188 of 2,405
10Smith County, TN	77	52	65.6	$539K	+5.1%	#201 of 2,405
11Morgan County, TN	77	45	62.6	$534K	+5.3%	#202 of 2,405
12Blount County, TN	77	413	74.4	$512K	+6.0%	#206 of 2,405
13Marshall County, TN	77	104	76.3	$476K	+10.5%	#208 of 2,405
14Sumner County, TN	76	698	88.8	$466K	+9.2%	#226 of 2,405
15Bledsoe County, TN	75	25	51.5	$600K	+6.5%	#236 of 2,405
16Tipton County, TN	74	155	68.4	$536K	+2.0%	#265 of 2,405
17Jefferson County, TN	74	160	73.3	$472K	+9.3%	#276 of 2,405
18Hawkins County, TN	73	124	52.6	$603K	+5.0%	#293 of 2,405
19Cannon County, TN	72	38	65.8	$498K	+5.0%	#344 of 2,405
20Lincoln County, TN	72	107	72.1	$481K	+4.3%	#350 of 2,405
21Wilson County, TN	71	559	94.5	$457K	+17.8%	#380 of 2,405
22Trousdale County, TN	71	30	81.1	$428K	+8.4%	#384 of 2,405
23Claiborne County, TN	70	77	56.1	$542K	+3.6%	#397 of 2,405
24Franklin County, TN	70	125	71.7	$476K	+6.4%	#407 of 2,405
25Jackson County, TN	70	31	64.7	$472K	+7.1%	#409 of 2,405

Show all 95 counties

Counties in Tennessee, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Robertson County, TN	68	247	87.4	$442K	+9.9%	#457 of 2,405
27Stewart County, TN	67	36	67.6	$496K	+5.3%	#480 of 2,405
28Williamson County, TN	67	1,031	111.8	$476K	+9.0%	#483 of 2,405
29Cumberland County, TN	67	198	70.2	$458K	+8.0%	#488 of 2,405
30Crockett County, TN	65	33	59.9	$544K	+0.7%	#540 of 2,405
31Wayne County, TN	65	34	56.8	$539K	+1.2%	#543 of 2,405
32Overton County, TN	65	60	66.1	$475K	+5.3%	#559 of 2,405
33McMinn County, TN	65	154	72.6	$463K	+7.6%	#563 of 2,405
34White County, TN	65	75	66.8	$458K	+7.9%	#567 of 2,405
35Bedford County, TN	65	163	83.6	$417K	+9.7%	#577 of 2,405
36Lewis County, TN	64	38	70.5	$448K	+7.0%	#607 of 2,405
37Fentress County, TN	64	52	66.4	$422K	+9.7%	#614 of 2,405
38Sequatchie County, TN	63	45	72.7	$441K	+12.7%	#638 of 2,405
39Maury County, TN	63	392	92.7	$405K	+16.0%	#649 of 2,405
40Carter County, TN	62	145	59.4	$504K	+1.7%	#663 of 2,405
41Rutherford County, TN	60	1,324	102.3	$391K	+12.6%	#776 of 2,405
42Campbell County, TN	59	117	68.1	$445K	+2.5%	#796 of 2,405
43Anderson County, TN	59	291	88.8	$403K	+6.1%	#806 of 2,405
44DeKalb County, TN	59	72	83.2	$375K	+8.4%	#813 of 2,405
45Chester County, TN	58	43	66.9	$480K	+3.5%	#822 of 2,405
46Polk County, TN	58	71	95.6	$354K	+5.9%	#853 of 2,405
47Carroll County, TN	57	88	76.2	$407K	+2.7%	#879 of 2,405
48Lawrence County, TN	57	137	80.6	$394K	+6.2%	#885 of 2,405
49Montgomery County, TN	57	841	95.8	$384K	+13.0%	#889 of 2,405
50Lauderdale County, TN	56	57	61.1	$494K	−2.0%	#901 of 2,405
51Johnson County, TN	55	52	71.3	$435K	+4.1%	#951 of 2,405
52Warren County, TN	55	129	79.6	$394K	+6.5%	#974 of 2,405
53Greene County, TN	54	211	74.3	$427K	+5.0%	#1,002 of 2,405
54Unicoi County, TN	53	58	74.4	$424K	−0.1%	#1,046 of 2,405
55Bradley County, TN	53	379	89.0	$388K	+6.1%	#1,063 of 2,405
56Giles County, TN	53	122	101.2	$346K	+3.6%	#1,075 of 2,405
57Dickson County, TN	52	208	95.6	$392K	+7.7%	#1,100 of 2,405
58Henderson County, TN	52	89	81.5	$387K	+2.5%	#1,103 of 2,405
59Gibson County, TN	51	187	91.8	$363K	+2.7%	#1,160 of 2,405
60Scott County, TN	50	65	74.2	$375K	+3.6%	#1,188 of 2,405
61Knox County, TN	50	2,160	107.4	$356K	+6.5%	#1,201 of 2,405
62Monroe County, TN	49	171	86.7	$362K	+7.2%	#1,240 of 2,405
63Cocke County, TN	49	134	86.4	$336K	+5.1%	#1,251 of 2,405
64Sullivan County, TN	48	602	87.4	$386K	+3.5%	#1,271 of 2,405
65Benton County, TN	47	55	77.2	$388K	+2.1%	#1,309 of 2,405
66Rhea County, TN	47	113	83.9	$377K	+4.6%	#1,311 of 2,405
67McNairy County, TN	45	80	80.5	$386K	+1.4%	#1,393 of 2,405
68Hardeman County, TN	45	72	79.0	$368K	−0.6%	#1,399 of 2,405
69Marion County, TN	44	101	85.1	$391K	+3.2%	#1,439 of 2,405
70Humphreys County, TN	43	69	95.3	$350K	+3.4%	#1,501 of 2,405
71Hamilton County, TN	43	1,908	123.8	$314K	+6.2%	#1,512 of 2,405
72Grundy County, TN	43	57	110.4	$261K	+4.3%	#1,515 of 2,405
73Weakley County, TN	40	111	82.9	$369K	+1.1%	#1,610 of 2,405
74Hamblen County, TN	38	255	97.5	$331K	+6.7%	#1,707 of 2,405
75Washington County, TN	38	601	105.9	$326K	+6.0%	#1,711 of 2,405
76Davidson County, TN	35	4,890	150.5	$264K	+4.2%	#1,848 of 2,405
77Coffee County, TN	33	241	104.3	$310K	+7.4%	#1,919 of 2,405
78Decatur County, TN	33	50	109.5	$270K	+3.4%	#1,930 of 2,405
79Obion County, TN	32	115	91.8	$336K	−2.3%	#1,944 of 2,405
80Putnam County, TN	32	381	113.4	$294K	+8.1%	#1,959 of 2,405
81Henry County, TN	31	131	97.4	$313K	+2.3%	#1,982 of 2,405
82Shelby County, TN	30	4,094	112.9	$319K	−2.1%	#2,027 of 2,405
83Haywood County, TN	28	65	90.7	$335K	−4.4%	#2,090 of 2,405
84Dyer County, TN	28	150	101.6	$320K	−1.1%	#2,095 of 2,405
85Madison County, TN	25	476	118.5	$281K	+2.0%	#2,192 of 2,405
86Hardin County, TN	22	121	110.0	$277K	+3.8%	#2,251 of 2,405
87Sevier County, TN	19	987	244.6	$139K	+2.5%	#2,317 of 2,405
Perry County, TN	Not scored	17	47.1	$668K	+8.9%
Houston County, TN	Not scored	31	92.5	$355K	+2.2%
Clay County, TN	Not scored	32	91.8	$301K	+3.1%
Hancock County, TN	Not scored	10	35.4	$755K	+6.7%
Moore County, TN	Not scored	26	94.9	$372K	+6.9%
Lake County, TN	Not scored	17	82.2	$317K	−10.6%
Van Buren County, TN	Not scored	9	35.0	$891K	+11.3%
Pickett County, TN	Not scored	20	92.3	$314K	+4.3%

Markets with fewer than 5 restaurants and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many restaurants and cafes are in Tennessee?

Tennessee has 29,063 restaurants and cafes on map listings as of September 2026. 11,612 of them (40%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 12,351 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 9.9% from 2019. Official counts also show 3,001 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Tennessee spend on food away from home?

About $10.4B a year, or $3,670 per household. That is 10% below the U.S. average (an index of 90, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 29,063 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $357K per restaurant. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,824,277 households in Tennessee and national spending patterns by income.

How does Tennessee compare with the U.S. for restaurants and cafes?

Tennessee has 102.9 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 6% below the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $357K, 4% below the U.S. figure of $371K. At the national ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, Tennessee would have about 27,953, against 29,063 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 229 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 9.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.

Which market in Tennessee has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?

Among 10 scored metro areas in or partly in Tennessee, the Knoxville metro area scores highest, at 71 (upper middle). Among 17 scored small-town markets in or partly in Tennessee, the Lewisburg area scores highest, at 89 (high). Among 87 scored counties in Tennessee, Fayette County scores highest, at 91 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Tennessee scores 49 for restaurants and cafes (lower middle), #28 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Tennessee. It maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Sit-down restaurants16,762 listings
Fast food and sandwich shops4,273 listings
Pizza2,034 listings
Coffee shops and cafes2,614 listings
Bakeries and dessert shops2,305 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in Tennessee?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

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