Dolly Parton could dine almost anywhere, but one of her favorite restaurants is not an exclusive Nashville steakhouse or a polished celebrity hangout. It is a modest lunch counter tucked inside a gas station in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee.
Frank Allen’s Market & Grill has earned a loyal local following with its burgers, breakfast plates and old-fashioned hot dogs. (Frank Allen’s Market & Grill – Cozy Eats & Local Flavor in Sevierville, TN, 2026) Parton’s preferred order was especially down-to-earth: a slaw dog loaded with familiar Southern toppings.
The restaurant does not need velvet ropes or white tablecloths to make an impression. Its appeal rests on hot food, local history and the kind of atmosphere that is becoming harder to find.
A Local Restaurant Dolly Loves
Parton discussed Frank Allen’s in a 2010 interview with Southern Living, according to a regional publication.
“Everyone is always looking for a ‘joint’ to eat at that only locals know,” she said. “Frank Allen’s is a local Sevier County experience I love.”
She then revealed her go-to order: “My favorite is their Slaw Dog, but you’ll have to eat your way through the menu and find your own very favorite treat. Just be sure to tell them Dolly sent you.”
Parton reportedly praised the restaurant again in a 2015 interview with Sky, Delta Air Lines’ former in-flight magazine. She called its slaw dogs the best in the county and joked that visitors might see her tour bus parked outside while she picked up lunch.
Those comments make Frank Allen’s more than a restaurant that happens to serve something she enjoys. It is a hometown stop she has publicly recommended to travelers looking for a genuine Sevier County meal.
What was on Dolly’s Slaw Dog?
A slaw dog is one of those dishes that immediately makes sense to many Southerners but can surprise diners from other parts of the country.
At Frank Allen’s, the dish begins with a steamed hot dog. According to reports describing the restaurant’s version, it’s topped with chili, coleslaw, chopped onions, and yellow mustard.
The combination works through contrast. Hot chili meets cool, slightly sweet coleslaw, while mustard and onions give the entire thing a sharper finish. It is messy, filling and far removed from the carefully arranged food typically associated with celebrity dining.
That may be exactly why the meal suits Parton. Her public image may include sparkling costumes, dramatic hair and glamorous performances, but her food preferences frequently return to unpretentious Southern cooking.
The Restaurant Is Easy to Miss
Frank Allen’s is located at 930 Parkway in Sevierville, along the heavily traveled route toward Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains. (Frank Allen’s Market & Grill – Cozy Eats & Local Flavor in Sevierville, TN, n.d.)
The restaurant is tucked inside a gas station, so drivers who do not know what they are looking for could easily pass it. Inside, the setup resembles a traditional short-order counter. Burgers, eggs, hash browns and hot dogs are prepared on a flat-top grill in view of customers.
There is little about the exterior that announces a connection to one of country music’s most recognizable stars. According to TheSmokies.com, a couple of photographs of Parton hang near the grill, but the dining room does not overwhelm visitors with celebrity memorabilia.
Sevierville’s official tourism website describes Frank Allen’s as an old-school lunch counter and a longtime local institution. The city also features it in visitor itineraries, noting that local readers have recognized it for its burgers.
A Sevierville Tradition
The Frank Allen story began well before Dolly Parton became an international star.
Frank Allen and his wife, Ernestine, reportedly opened the business as a market in 1953. They added a grill in 1961, turning the store into a gathering place where residents could grab a quick meal along with everyday necessities.
The business changed locations over the years before settling along the Parkway. Allen retired in 1997, and the restaurant stayed in the family until it was sold in 2017, according to The Takeout.
Ownership may have changed, but the restaurant has preserved the essential character of a hometown grill. Customers still come for recognizable food served without elaborate presentation or unnecessary reinvention.
Its longevity matters in a tourism-heavy area filled with dinner shows, themed attractions and large restaurants. Frank Allen’s offers something different: an everyday place that locals valued long before social media turned hidden restaurants into travel destinations.
The Choice Reflects Dolly’s Roots
Parton was born in Sevier County and grew up in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains. Although her career eventually took her around the world, East Tennessee has remained central to her identity, her music and her businesses.
A slaw dog from a hometown lunch counter fits naturally into that story. It is inexpensive, familiar and closely tied to the region she still celebrates.
Frank Allen’s also represents the kind of place where food carries more than flavor. Returning to a longtime local restaurant can revive memories of family, early ambitions and life before fame changed everything.
Parton has not explained her affection in precisely those terms, so nostalgia should not be presented as a confirmed motive. Still, it is reasonable to see why a Sevier County institution might hold a different kind of appeal than a fashionable restaurant in a major city.
More Than a Celebrity Food Stop
Travelers may arrive because Dolly Parton recommended the slaw dog, but the restaurant’s history gives them a reason to appreciate the place beyond its famous connection.
Frank Allen’s reminds us that memorable meals don’t always come from celebrated chefs or expensive kitchens. Sometimes they come from a hot griddle inside a gas station, where the menu has survived because generations of customers continue ordering what they love.
Anyone planning a visit should confirm the restaurant’s current hours before making the trip, as local business schedules can change. And while ordering Dolly’s slaw dog is the obvious starting point, her advice still stands: eat through the menu and find a favorite of your own.
