Little Princess Restaurant

American diner staples are the core: burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, cooked simply and served without fuss. It is not a destination for Cherokee-inspired cooking or elaborate preparation, and it does not claim to be. What it offers is a filling meal at a reasonable price, which is what many travelers want after a morning in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or an afternoon walking the main strip.

The Southern influence shows up in the approach, comfort-first and generous, more than in specific regional dishes.

Little Princess is a good call for families with kids. The menu is easy to read, the pace is quick and the casual setting means no one needs to worry about noise. It also works for travelers on a budget or anyone who wants a quick lunch without a long wait.

If you want a sit-down dinner with table service and a full cocktail list, go elsewhere. The resort restaurants at Harrah's Cherokee cover that ground; see the Harrah's Cherokee site.

The phone number is 828-497-6348; call before you go, since small local diners in Cherokee set their own schedules and may close a day or two a week or change hours in the off-season.

Tsali Boulevard is a main route through Cherokee, so the restaurant is easy to reach by car from the center of town. Cherokee is about an hour from Gatlinburg through the national park on Newfound Gap Road, and it is the North Carolina gateway to the Smokies. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where you can get maps and ranger advice, is just north of town; see the NPS visitor centers page.

If you are driving from Asheville or the east, note that I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge is still one lane each way at a reduced speed after Hurricane Helene, with full repairs targeted for late 2029, so allow extra time.

• Pair lunch here with the Museum of the Cherokee People, which is in town and makes a good daytime stop.
• Eat early or late to avoid the lunch crowd on summer weekends and during October.
• Ask about a kids menu when you order.

Little Princess is not complicated. It is a diner with a short menu and a fair price, and when the day ends with hungry kids and tired legs, that is often what you want.