From the famous Dollywood cinnamon bread to the rich banana pudding, I couldn't get enough of the theme park's treats.
Have you ever taken a bite of a sandwich that’s so good, you immediately wanted to sing “I Will Always Love You” to it? I admit, that’s a pretty specific scenario. But it happened to me earlier this year, when I visited Dollywood for the first time.
Everyone told me the food at Dollywood is unmatched. After all, it’s won multiple awards. Most recently, Aunt Granny’s restaurant won Newsweek‘s Best Theme Park Restaurant Award for 2025. “Aunt Granny” is what all of Dolly’s nieces and nephews lovingly call her.
But you don’t even need to book a formal sit-down meal to taste the goods, so to speak. That sandwich I was talking about? I enjoyed that at a temporary food stall set up for Dollywood’s annual Flower & Food Festival. It’s been five months since I ate that sandwich, and I think about it once a week—I wish I was joking!
Here’s Why Dolly Parton thinks the Dollywood Food Is So Good
Earlier this year, I was at Dollywood to celebrate the park’s 40th anniversary. When I had a chance to ask Dolly Parton herself why the food is so good, I knew I had to take it.
Taste of Home: The food at Dollywood is known to be some of the best theme park food around. In fact, I would visit again just to eat your Hot Honey BBQ Pork Sandwich! Why is good food such an important part of the Dollywood experience, and how has it maintained its stellar quality and reputation over the years?
Dolly Parton: Well, if you know me, you know I believe that good food and good company go hand in hand. Some of life’s sweetest memories are made when we sit around a table, share a meal, and swap stories with the ones we love. That’s why at Dollywood, we put just as much heart into our food as we do our rides and shows. We want folks to come hungry and leave happy—full of good food, good laughs, and good memories. Our team has worked hard for 40 years to make sure we’re able to accomplish this with every meal we serve. We’re also proud of our great southern hospitality, because that’s what makes the Dollywood experience so different.
These Were the Best Things I Ate in Dollywood
Of course, you know about the barbecue pork sandwich. But there was also a grilled chicken sandwich made with a butterfly-shaped pretzel bun. Only in Dollywood! The banana pudding at the Front Porch Cafe was also perfect.
Dollywood’s loaded country-fried potato wedges smothered in “comeback” sauce were definitely a highlight—not to mention appropriately named. And the famous Dollywood cinnamon bread hot and fresh from the Grist Mill exceeded my high expectations. It really is as good as everyone says it is—and yes, you have to eat it fresh!
There is one other meal that I keep thinking back on. I stayed at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa and ate at the buffet-style restaurant Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery. The night that I went was actually Italian night. At first I was mildly disappointed that I wasn’t going to feast on a big southern buffet—but that disappointment lasted for about five minutes.
After I had taken a bite of the cavatappi with pesto cream sauce, I was in heaven. Funnily enough, pasta with pesto cream sauce is something I love to make at home. But this dish was just on another level: smooth, creamy and perfectly seasoned with basil and garlic. I had three helpings!
The fact that I got to eat an especially delicious version of my favorite homecooked meal felt like a little bit of Dollywood magic. It was the comfort of home plus that signature southern hospitality. That dish, like so many others I had during my stay, was pure love. In other words, it was pure Dolly.
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