NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Torchy’s Tacos planting roots in Nashville and In-N-Out breaking ground on its Tennessee office are just a few examples of chains that were introduced to the Volunteer State in 2024.
Tennessee has become the draw for multiple regional chains as more and more people move to the state.
For example, Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos opened its first Nashville location in September. Bakery-café chain— Paris Baguette— also opened the doors to its first Tennessee location on Church Street near downtown Nashville.
In addition, the “dirty soda” trend was introduced to the state thanks to Swig. Folks wishing to try to the trend —which reportedly originated in Utah— can visit Swig’s first Tennessee location in Alcoa.
Despite several chains making their debut in the Volunteer State last year, here are some beloved chains that are still missing.
Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen, a popular salad chain, has yet to make its debut in Tennessee. The restaurant was reportedly founded in Washington D.C. by three college students and has since expanded with more than 140 locations across 13 states. The closest Sweetgreen to Tennessee is in Atlanta, Georgia or Bloomington, Indiana.
Nando’s
Known for its flamed-grilled peri-peri style chicken, Nando’s has more than 900 restaurants worldwide, with only 48 across five states in the United States. In addition to a slew of Illinois locations, Nando’s can also be found in Georgia, Maryland, Texas, Virginia and Washington D.C. — but not in Tennessee.
Dave Hot’s Chicken
Although Dave’s Hot Chicken is known for specializing in “Nashville-hot style” chicken, the chain has yet to open a location in Nashville, or any other area in the Volunteer State. According to the restaurant’s website, there are dozens of locations spread across 35 states —with multiple restaurants in California, Florida, New York, and Texas. The nearest location to Nashville is in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Jollibee
Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee has “78 open and coming soon locations in the United States,” according to its website. However, Tennessee has yet to receive a restaurant and it remains unclear if the Volunteer State is part of the “coming soon” locations. Those wishing to try the chain’s famous fried chicken and spaghetti will have to make the 7-hour drive to Chicago, Illinois, which is the nearest location to Nashville.
Del Taco
The “Better Mex” chain has nearly 600 locations across the U.S., but Tennessee is not one of them. The restaurant, which was founded in California, is known for serving a variety of tacos, burritos, salads, burgers and quesadillas. A request for a Tennessee expansion is so popular that a group named— Nashville Needs a Del Taco— has been created on Facebook.
