The breakfast menu at Big Al’s Deli is small but mighty — spanning traditional breakfast spreads that include platters of pancakes and omelets. But it’s the dedicated biscuit section that receives critical acclaim from visitors, where fillings like sausage, bacon, egg, and cheese, are sandwiched between a warm, homemade biscuit. For an extra indulgence, opt for the biscuits smothered in country sausage gravy. These fluffy delicacies are incredibly affordable, too, beginning at just $2 a pop.

It may not look like much from the outside, but don’t let its appearance fool you. You’ll find some of the most buttery, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits at Nashville Biscuit House. This family-owned and operated restaurant is open Thursday through Monday for breakfast and lunch. In a rush? They have a drive-thru so you can grab a biscuit sandwich for breakfast and be on your way.

If you’re looking for a taste of southern hospitality, get to Monell’s and experience a true family-style meal. You’ll be seated around a large table with strangers, but by the time you leave, you’ll have bonded over some seriously good eating, and some seriously good biscuits. Don’t be bashful if you want to take two — the gracious servers will refill the bowl when it’s empty.

A popular East Nashville breakfast spot, Sky Blue Café offers a range of biscuit dishes, from Em’s biscuit bowl — a biscuit topped with egg, home fries, cheese, and gravy — to biscuit sandwiches and sides. You’ll likely have to wait for a table alongside other biscuit-loving brunchers — something to keep in mind if you’re in a rush.

Husk is one of Nashville’s most well-respected restaurants, but many don’t realize that the biscuits here are some of the best in the South, too. Even though the menu changes quite frequently, you can count on seeing the buttermilk cheddar biscuits pop in in the “share” section of the menu. And you should (share, that is). And maybe get a second round for good measure.

Remember popping a can of layered biscuits on a sleepy Saturday morning growing up? 12 South’s Butter Milk Ranch serves an incredible duplicate of that memory through its BMR laminated biscuits with layers of warm, fluffy, buttery goodness. Enjoy them as-is or opt to douse them in a trio of gravies — choose between mushroom, corn, or the traditional black pepper sausage.

It’s hard to say whether the biscuits or donuts at Urban Grub are better, but no matter which you prefer there’s no denying that the biscuits here are good. They’re served right out of the oven so that they’re melty and warm when you take your first bite. You’ll find them served with a steak in a bone marrow gravy with fries.

Biscuits and jam go hand-in-hand, something the Nashville Jam Co. knows all too well. While fruit preserves like strawberry jalapeño or blackberry may get visitors in the door, it’s the basket of biscuits with signature jams that convinces them to linger a bit longer. The Bronut, which touts that it’s “nearly world famous,” is a can’t-miss combination of biscuit dough stuffed with cheesecake, then fried and topped with blueberry compote. 

The Loveless Café is famous for their secret biscuit recipe—the same one they’ve been using since 1951. If you come to this city looking for biscuits, you can’t leave without trying this Nashville tradition. Ask the staff about Carol Fay Ellison, the famed Loveless “Biscuit Lady” who is part of this café’s cherished history. If you stop by on the weekend be prepared to wait a while to be seated, but anyone waiting with you will tell you it’s worth it. Swing by the Ham & Jams Country Market while you wait and pick up some of their homemade preserves to take home with you.