Nashville is known more for its music than its cuisine, but don’t let that fool you. Nashville is actually a total foodie town… randomly. What’s more is that Nashville’s hospitality industry has grown so large that it has now eclipsed the music industry in size. Nashville has more amazing food than you can eat in a year, and this article takes you through my 23 favorite restaurants in Nashville, in no particular order.

If you want a bigger database of restaurants to draw from, you should check out an organization called Nashville Originals. This is Nashville’s Independent Restaurant Association. Twice every year, they run and oversee Restaurant Week, during which all of their members offer great deals/specials. Throughout the course of this week, Nashville’s restaurants are packed with foodies trying to take advantage of the dip in prices. Also, Nashville Eater is a publication that is worth a look.

Anyway, since I’m such an awesome guy, I spent a lot of time and money going around Nashville, sampling all the food. Now that I’ve completed my rounds, I have some recommendations for you.

Nashville has a pretty wide spectrum of food to offer, ranging from down-home country cookin’ to upscale dining. In compiling this list, I did my best to run the gamut and be reflective of Nashville’s diversity. So whether you’re rich or poor, a local or a visitor, a vegan or a carnivore, there should be a few different places on this list that you’ll like.

Warning: some of this food is mind-blowingly, face-meltingly, earth-shatteringly good. It might be hard to go back to eating cereal and ramen every day after you let these places spoil you.