About Krystal
Krystal is a Southern fast-food chain best known for its small, square, steamed burgers, and it has a restaurant in Pigeon Forge. The burgers are sold by the sack, and ordering several is the norm. For a quick, cheap meal between attractions, it is an easy stop, and it is a regional comfort food that many Southern travelers recognize.
What Krystal Is
Krystal was founded in the South and built its name on a small square burger cooked with onions on a flat griddle and served on a soft steamed bun. The classic order is a few of them at a time, with fries on the side. The chain also sells chili, breakfast items and other fast-food staples.
The small size is the draw. Instead of one big burger, you eat several small ones, which suits kids and light eaters, and it is the reason the chain has a loyal following across the Southeast.
Why Visit in Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge has dozens of sit-down restaurants and themed attractions, and the price of dinner for a family adds up. A Krystal run is the budget answer. It is a good pick for an early breakfast before a day at Dollywood, a late snack after a show or a quick lunch between stops.
Use the Krystal locator to find the current restaurant, drive-through window and hours before you go. Many Krystal restaurants run drive-throughs, which helps if you are on the road with tired kids.
Planning Notes
- Order by the sack. A sack of small burgers is cheaper than buying them one at a time, and it is the traditional way to eat there.
- Pigeon Forge traffic can slow the Parkway, especially on summer weekends and during fall color season. If you are staying along the strip, the Fun Time Trolley is $1 a ride, and the city's trolley page lists routes.
- Use the drive-through for speed. The dining room is a better option when you want to sit down and rest your feet.
- If you are heading into the Smokies afterward, a bag of burgers makes an easy trail lunch. Remember the park parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) is required for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes; see the NPS fees page.
Who It Fits
Krystal fits travelers on a budget, families with young kids and anyone who grew up with the chain. It does not offer a destination meal. It offers a fast, cheap, familiar burger, and in a town where dinner can cost a lot, that is a real service.
If you want a sit-down Southern meal, plan a different stop. If you want a small burger at a low price and a seat you did not have to wait for, Krystal is a sensible choice.
Good to know
- What kind of food does Krystal serve?
- Fast food, burgers. It’s known for small steamed square burgers.
