Long-Time Chattanooga Lunch Staples

Downtown is the heart of Chattanooga and home to many office buildings and tourist attractions. Visitors, residents, and employees who work in the area frequently grab lunch Downtown. Whether you’re looking for a restaurant to check out during your lunch break or a recommendation for your friend on vacation, here are three Chattanooga lunch staples with decades of lunch service.

1. Ankar’s - 510 Broad St.

Serving the Chattanooga area since 1979, Ankar’s mission is to provide the community with quality meals at a reasonable price. Ankar’s is best known for its wide range of sandwiches including their Downtown Special, a sandwich with ham, salami, provolone cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes on submarine bread. Additionally, the menu features burgers, soups, salads, vegetarian options, and more. 

2. Innside Restaurant - 800 Chestnut St.

Innside is a family-owned and operated business that’s been in Chattanooga since 1995. The restaurant calls itself “Chattanooga’s best kept secret”. Known for its meat and two, Innside gives you the option to pick from grilled chicken, hamburger steak, or chicken tenders with two vegetables of your choice. On the menu, you’ll also find burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups. 

3. Figgy’s Sandwich Shop - 611 Chestnut St.

Figgy’s has provided lunch to the Chattanooga community for over 40 years. A couple of menu standouts include the Southern Canadian sandwich, chicken salad on toasted wheat with lettuce, tomato, and jalapenos, and the grilled turkey reuben sandwich, fresh turkey, and swiss cheese with Figgy’s special sauce. You can also order items like fritters, pasta salad, and their crowd-favorite fruit tea.


There are plenty of great lunch spots in Chattanooga! Check out our business map to see over 40 Downtown restaurants. If you’re more in the mood for coffee and pastries, check out our Coffee Shop Guide to Downtown Chattanooga.

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