About No Way Jose's Cantina
No Way Jose's Cantina is a Mexican restaurant on the Gatlinburg Parkway at 555 Parkway, at stoplight no. 5, a convenient landmark when you are navigating the downtown strip on foot. Fresh salsa lands on the table first, and the kitchen is known for fajitas that arrive sizzling.
At a glance
- Address: 555 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (stoplight no. 5)
- Phone: (865) 430-JOSE (5673)
- Hours (operator site, fall 2026): Sunday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM; Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM
- Holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve close earlier at 8 PM, Christmas Day runs noon to 6 PM, and New Year's Eve closes at 9 PM.
The operator also runs a second location at 104 Walden's Main Street in Pigeon Forge with slightly later opening hours (11:30 AM), so make sure you are heading to the right town if you are searching on a map.
What is on the menu
The restaurant's website highlights:
- Fajitas that sizzle on the way to the table
- Freshly made tamales
- Tacos from its Jose's Taqueria section, served two to an order
- Fried ice cream for dessert
- Tropical drinks, margaritas and beer
Prices are not published on the page used for this entry, so check the menu on the restaurant's website if cost is a factor.
Why it works on the Parkway
Gatlinburg's downtown stretch is packed with pancake houses, barbecue and candy, so a Mexican restaurant offers a break from the usual. Because it is near stoplight no. 5, it is easy to reach on foot from many Parkway hotels, and the free Gatlinburg trolley (see the city trolley page) runs along the same corridor. That matters in October, when traffic on the Parkway can crawl and parking is expensive. City garages charge a flat $10 a day and private lots range higher.
Planning tips
- Go a little early or late. Dinner rush on fall weekends is real. A table around 4:30 or 8 PM tends to be easier than 6 PM.
- Pair it with the park. A day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park ends well with a plate of fajitas. Remember the parking tag rules: $5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual, and America the Beautiful and other federal passes are not accepted.
- Mind the hours. The 9 PM Sunday-through-Thursday close is earlier than many Parkway restaurants, so do not plan a very late dinner on a weeknight.
- Children and groups. Large parties should call ahead at (865) 430-5673 so the staff can plan seating.
The cantina is a casual, lively sit-down place rather than a quiet date spot. Think margaritas, chips and a loud table. If that is what you want after a day outdoors, it delivers.
Good to know
- What kind of food does No Way Jose's Cantina serve?
- Mexican. It’s known for sizzling fajitas, tamales.