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Chicken en Croute: Springer Mountain chicken breast with mushroom duxelles tart, truffle jus, whipped potato, and broccolini.
Primrose Table/Facebook

Where to Eat in Murfreesboro

Where to eat everything from chicken en croute to tacos in one of the country’s fastest-growing cities

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Chicken en Croute: Springer Mountain chicken breast with mushroom duxelles tart, truffle jus, whipped potato, and broccolini.
| Primrose Table/Facebook

Sure, everyone knows about the stellar growth in Nashville, but many people don’t know that Murfreesboro is one of the country’s fastest-growing cities, and also the geographic center and center of population of the state of Tennessee

Located 34 miles southeast of downtown Nashville, many people make the commute daily from Murfreesboro into Nashville for work. Murfreesboro is also home to Middle Tennessee State University, the second largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee. In a city driven pretty heavily by chain restaurants, there are luckily, a handful of independently owned restaurants serving standout meals —whether counter-service tacos or stunning plates of squid ink bucatini.

New to the list in this update: Primrose Table, Steakhouse Five, Tandoor, Pisco305, Fresh Bite, Opah, Crab Fever, Marina’s on the Square, Kleer-Vu Lunchroom, Oishiya, Slick Pig BBQ, Jeff’s Family Friendly Restaurant, and Fin Fusion Sushi Bar.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Five Senses Restaurant, Bar & Catering

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Open since 2004 and now owned by its executive chef Mitchell Murphree — Five Senses was one of the first non-chains to have success in the fast-growing city. Expect locally sourced ingredients on the table, in the form of dishes like chorizo and black bean dip, a tomato and lump crab stack, and King salmon with fried leeks.

Carmen's Taqueria

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Carmen’s Taqueria is a go-to for many in Murfreesboro — whether seeing a karaoke night or live music with margaritas, or a child-friendly meal of tacos and enchiladas. Tamales, chicken chimichangas, and and chorizo tacos are a few crowd favorites here.

Primrose Table

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Chow down on Korean barbecue-stuffed potato skins with kimchi queso, cornbread panzanella, and Chilean seabass with sweet corn “maque choux” risotto at this Murfreesboro essential.

Primrose Table/Facebook

Steakhouse Five

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Owner Mitchell Murphree’s grandparents raised livestock, his family owned a country ham business, and he served on the UT meat judging team — so you can say he knows meat. Murphree first opened the traditional steakhouse in 2019 — but there are plenty of outside-the-box steakhouse offerings that intrigue the senses. The menu here leaders off with hot country ham dip and savory beignets with corn coulis and chorizo oil, then graduates into salads then steaks, chops, and a duo of seafood options.

Steakhouse Five/Facebook
Steakhouse Five/Facebook

Tandoor Indian Restaurant

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Murfreesboro diners flock here for traditional Indian curries, tandoori fare, vegetarian dishes, and a lunch buffet. The restaurant is also celiac-friendly.

Pisco305 Peruvian Cuisine and Steakhouse

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Named after the Peruvian city most known for the drink and the area code of Miami, Pisco305 is getting big-city rave reviews well outside the Nashville city limits. Quick crowd favorites here include ceviche platters, Peruvian fried rice, lomo saltado, and churrasco verde. Pisco305 also serves brunch on weekends.

Pisco305/Facebook

Fresh Bite Cuban American Cuisine

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There’s a little bit of everything at Fresh Bite: from takeout-friendly whole roasted chickens to salads, burgers, and Cuban specialties like empanadas, tamales, tostones, and croquetas. Bonus: there’s also a full bar, pouring some of the best (and most affordable) mojitos around.

Fresh Bite/Facebook

Opah Greek Grill

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Opah is a no-frills, counter-service Greek restaurant located on the West side of Murfreesboro. The move here: order anything with gyro meat and be sure and save room for baklava.

Crab Fever Murfreesboro

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Yes, it’s called Crab Fever. But yes, it’s actually good. The Louisiana-style boiled seafood, fried seafood combo, and oyster spot is the San Diego-based brand’s second in the Nashville area.

Crab Fever/Facebook
Crab Fever/Facebook

Marina's on the Square

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Pasta and pizzas draw the crowds to this Italian spot on the downtown square, tucked inside in a historic brick building with large windows.

Marina’s on the Square/Facebook

The Alley on Main

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Find steaks and cocktails alongside fish (available fried, grilled, or blackened) flown in several times weekly from Hawaii, New Zealand, and more at the downtown restaurant. On the dinner menu — popular choices include the tenderloin kabobs, fried pork chop with homemade gravy, and a signature Alley sandwich served on a toasted sour dough roll with avocado ranch spread.

The Alley on Main

Gyro Tabouli

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The unassuming Mediterranean grill and gyro shop is great for a quick lunch or relatively healthy dinner. With well-prepared hummus and pita, gyros, falafel and plenty of taziki sauce for it all, it’s tough to go wrong when ordering here.

Kleer-Vu Lunchroom

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This family-owned business has been an institution in the Murfreesboro community for over 40 years. It’s a cafeteria-style meat-and-three soul food destination that also serves delicious desserts like peach cobbler and chess pie.

Oishiya hibachi & sushi

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Lucky Cat decor abounds inside this Murfreesboro gem for sushi and hibachi. The sea urchin, tonkotsu ramen, and sashimi deluxe spread are just a few trusted crowd favorites.

Oishiya/Facebook

Slick Pig BBQ

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Award-winning smoked pork, ribs, wings, brisket, and turkey have drawn crowds for decades at this Murfreesboro barbecue joint. The sides, from potato salad and coleslaw to mac and cheese and hushpuppies, are also worth saving room for — as are the peanut butter pie and Jojo’s homemade coconut cake.

Slick Pig BBQ/Facebook

Jeff's Family Friendly Restaurant

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This solid meat-and-three restaurant is known for its hearty meats, veggies, and desserts. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, this is an ultimate comfort food destination. Save room for banana pudding and chess pie.

Pad Thai Cafe

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Of course the small restaurant’s namesake dish is the move here, but people also talk about the jalapeno wings, spicy mayo shrimp, and Thai fury fried rice. Thai and Chinese lunch specials at the popular strip mall spot all run less than $10.

Fin Fusion Sushi Bar

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People pack the house at this sushi bar for nigiri, shumai, and sushi rolls. Note the restaurant doesn’t take reservations so show up before peak times.

Fin Fusion Sushi Bar/Facebook

Five Senses Restaurant, Bar & Catering

Open since 2004 and now owned by its executive chef Mitchell Murphree — Five Senses was one of the first non-chains to have success in the fast-growing city. Expect locally sourced ingredients on the table, in the form of dishes like chorizo and black bean dip, a tomato and lump crab stack, and King salmon with fried leeks.

Carmen's Taqueria

Carmen’s Taqueria is a go-to for many in Murfreesboro — whether seeing a karaoke night or live music with margaritas, or a child-friendly meal of tacos and enchiladas. Tamales, chicken chimichangas, and and chorizo tacos are a few crowd favorites here.

Primrose Table

Chow down on Korean barbecue-stuffed potato skins with kimchi queso, cornbread panzanella, and Chilean seabass with sweet corn “maque choux” risotto at this Murfreesboro essential.

Primrose Table/Facebook

Steakhouse Five

Owner Mitchell Murphree’s grandparents raised livestock, his family owned a country ham business, and he served on the UT meat judging team — so you can say he knows meat. Murphree first opened the traditional steakhouse in 2019 — but there are plenty of outside-the-box steakhouse offerings that intrigue the senses. The menu here leaders off with hot country ham dip and savory beignets with corn coulis and chorizo oil, then graduates into salads then steaks, chops, and a duo of seafood options.

Steakhouse Five/Facebook
Steakhouse Five/Facebook

Tandoor Indian Restaurant

Murfreesboro diners flock here for traditional Indian curries, tandoori fare, vegetarian dishes, and a lunch buffet. The restaurant is also celiac-friendly.

Pisco305 Peruvian Cuisine and Steakhouse

Named after the Peruvian city most known for the drink and the area code of Miami, Pisco305 is getting big-city rave reviews well outside the Nashville city limits. Quick crowd favorites here include ceviche platters, Peruvian fried rice, lomo saltado, and churrasco verde. Pisco305 also serves brunch on weekends.

Pisco305/Facebook

Fresh Bite Cuban American Cuisine

There’s a little bit of everything at Fresh Bite: from takeout-friendly whole roasted chickens to salads, burgers, and Cuban specialties like empanadas, tamales, tostones, and croquetas. Bonus: there’s also a full bar, pouring some of the best (and most affordable) mojitos around.

Fresh Bite/Facebook

Opah Greek Grill

Opah is a no-frills, counter-service Greek restaurant located on the West side of Murfreesboro. The move here: order anything with gyro meat and be sure and save room for baklava.

Crab Fever Murfreesboro

Yes, it’s called Crab Fever. But yes, it’s actually good. The Louisiana-style boiled seafood, fried seafood combo, and oyster spot is the San Diego-based brand’s second in the Nashville area.

Crab Fever/Facebook
Crab Fever/Facebook

Marina's on the Square

Pasta and pizzas draw the crowds to this Italian spot on the downtown square, tucked inside in a historic brick building with large windows.

Marina’s on the Square/Facebook

The Alley on Main

Find steaks and cocktails alongside fish (available fried, grilled, or blackened) flown in several times weekly from Hawaii, New Zealand, and more at the downtown restaurant. On the dinner menu — popular choices include the tenderloin kabobs, fried pork chop with homemade gravy, and a signature Alley sandwich served on a toasted sour dough roll with avocado ranch spread.

The Alley on Main

Gyro Tabouli

The unassuming Mediterranean grill and gyro shop is great for a quick lunch or relatively healthy dinner. With well-prepared hummus and pita, gyros, falafel and plenty of taziki sauce for it all, it’s tough to go wrong when ordering here.

Kleer-Vu Lunchroom

This family-owned business has been an institution in the Murfreesboro community for over 40 years. It’s a cafeteria-style meat-and-three soul food destination that also serves delicious desserts like peach cobbler and chess pie.

Oishiya hibachi & sushi

Lucky Cat decor abounds inside this Murfreesboro gem for sushi and hibachi. The sea urchin, tonkotsu ramen, and sashimi deluxe spread are just a few trusted crowd favorites.

Oishiya/Facebook

Slick Pig BBQ

Award-winning smoked pork, ribs, wings, brisket, and turkey have drawn crowds for decades at this Murfreesboro barbecue joint. The sides, from potato salad and coleslaw to mac and cheese and hushpuppies, are also worth saving room for — as are the peanut butter pie and Jojo’s homemade coconut cake.

Slick Pig BBQ/Facebook

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Jeff's Family Friendly Restaurant

This solid meat-and-three restaurant is known for its hearty meats, veggies, and desserts. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, this is an ultimate comfort food destination. Save room for banana pudding and chess pie.

Pad Thai Cafe

Of course the small restaurant’s namesake dish is the move here, but people also talk about the jalapeno wings, spicy mayo shrimp, and Thai fury fried rice. Thai and Chinese lunch specials at the popular strip mall spot all run less than $10.

Fin Fusion Sushi Bar

People pack the house at this sushi bar for nigiri, shumai, and sushi rolls. Note the restaurant doesn’t take reservations so show up before peak times.

Fin Fusion Sushi Bar/Facebook

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