No Way Jose's Cantina has been one of Gatlinburg's most popular Mexican restaurants for years — and for good reason. Centrally located at stoplight #5 on the Parkway, directly across from Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, No Way Jose's combines a full from-scratch Mexican menu with one of the best outdoor dining settings in downtown Gatlinburg: a creekside patio on the river that makes it hard to leave once you're settled in. Whether you're feeding the family after a long day of hiking or looking for a margarita and a plate of sizzling fajitas, No Way Jose's delivers on both fronts.

The Setting

The Gatlinburg location sits at one of the most walkable spots on the entire Parkway — steps from the Aquarium, Anakeesta's gondola, and the heart of downtown shopping. Inside, the dining room is comfortable and lively. Outside, the riverside patio is the draw — open-air seating on the water with mountain views in the background, weather permitting. It's one of the best spots in Gatlinburg to slow down and enjoy a meal.

The Menu

No Way Jose's menu is built around freshly made Mexican classics, with a few standout specialties that keep guests coming back.

Antojitos (Starters)

• Chile Con Queso — Creamy white cheese with green chiles and spices, served with corn tortilla chips ($8.99; add seasoned ground beef $2.99, or get it loaded with beef, jalapeños, black olives, and sour cream for $3.49)
• Fresh Guacamole — Made daily with California avocados, Roma tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, onions, and lime juice ($9.49)
• Avocado Fiesta — Fresh avocado stuffed with shredded chicken and cheddar jack, deep fried in tempura batter, served with spicy green salsa and El Rancho Sauce ($12.29)
• Juan's Wings of Mexico — A pound of chicken wings tossed in sweet and spicy sauce, served with avocado crema ($12.99)
• Jose's Fiesta Sampler — Cheese quesadillas, chicken and beef taquitos, Avocado Fiesta, spicy wings, and nachos with queso, pico, sour cream, and ranch ($15.99)
• Mucho Mucho Nachos — Loaded corn chips with ground beef, jalapeños, black olives, green onions, tomatoes, refried beans, queso, ranchero sauce, and sour cream ($12.99)

Sizzling Fajitas
The fajitas are the house specialty — sizzling cast iron skillets piled with grilled onions and peppers and your choice of protein, served with fresh tortillas, refried beans, Mexican rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cheddar jack cheese:

• Chicken $18.99 | Steak $19.49 | Steak & Chicken $19.49 | Shrimp $19.49
• Fajitas Supremas (Steak, Chicken & Shrimp) $21.99
• Caribbean Veggie Fajitas (broccoli, yellow carrots, red peppers, green beans) $17.99

Burritos & Chimichangas — All served with Mexican rice, refried beans, and sweet corn masa:

• The Outrageous — Shredded beef, chicken, ground beef, cheese, refried beans, rice, lettuce, and pico baked in ranchero sauce with sour cream and avocado sauce ($15.99)
• Baja Shrimp Burrito — Marinated shrimp, Mexican rice, refried black beans, grilled onions and peppers, topped with grilled pineapple, pico, and sour cream sauce ($15.99)
• Macho Grande Steak Burrito — Flat steak, peppers, onions, and refried beans baked in ranchero and enchilada sauce ($15.99)
• Carnitas Burrito — Slow-braised pork shoulder, refried beans, and cheddar jack with salsa verde ($13.99)
• Vegetarian Burrito — Broccoli, green beans, yellow carrots, red bell peppers, and refried black beans with grilled peppers and onions ($13.99)

Enchiladas — All rolled to order in golden blend tortillas and served with refried beans, Mexican rice, and sweet corn masa:

• Chicken and Sour Cream ($13.99) | Javier's Favorite — ground beef baked in enchilada and sour cream sauce ($14.49)
• Jalisco Trio — three enchilada styles in one: shredded beef with ranchero, shredded chicken with queso, and cheese with enchilada sauce ($15.49)

Jose's Especialidades

• Carnitas — Pork braised with oranges and cilantro, served with corn tortillas, pico, and salsa verde ($14.99)
• Carne Asada — 8 oz. grilled flat steak with pico de gallo and salsa verde ($16.99)
• Jose's Baja Chicken & Shrimp — Grilled chicken baked with pico and cheddar jack, topped with baja-style shrimp ($15.99)
• Chile Rellenos — Two Anaheim peppers filled with cheddar jack and fried in tempura batter, topped with shredded beef or chicken in ranchero sauce ($13.99)
• Arroz con Pollo — Grilled chicken over Mexican rice and refried beans, baked in chile con queso ($14.99)

Combinaciones Mexicanas — Classic combo plates starting at $10.99, all served with Mexican rice, refried beans, and sweet corn masa:
Mix and match from tacos, cheese enchiladas, chile rellenos, chicken tamales, mini tostadas, and mini burritos. Jose's Mucho Grande Combo (taco, enchilada, mini burrito, chile relleno) $15.99.

Postres (Desserts)

• Fried Ice Cream — Chocolate chip ice cream coated in sweetened corn flakes and cinnamon, deep fried and topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream ($7.29)
• Caramel Flan — Rich custard topped with caramel sauce ($6.99)

Li'l Amigos (Kids Menu, 10 & under) — All served with french fries; soft drinks $2.79. Options include soft or crispy taco ($6.49), cheese enchilada ($6.49), cheese quesadilla ($6.49), beef or bean burrito ($7.49), chicken tenders ($7.99), and corn dog ($7.99).

Hours & Location

Address: 555 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (at stoplight #5)
Phone: (865) 430-5673

Hours:

• Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Thanksgiving: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Christmas Eve: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Christmas Day: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• New Year's Eve: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Walk-ins welcome. A waitlist is available through Google when waits are expected.

Also in Pigeon Forge

No Way Jose's has a second location at 104 Walden's Main Street in Pigeon Forge, with slightly different hours (Sunday–Thursday 11:30 AM–9:00 PM; Friday–Saturday 11:30 AM–10:00 PM).

Sister Restaurants

No Way Jose's is part of the KBS Restaurant Group, which also operates two other Gatlinburg dining institutions worth knowing about:

• Crockett's Breakfast Camp — Widely regarded as one of the best breakfasts in the Smokies
• Smith & Son Corner Kitchen — An all-American menu in a classic Gatlinburg setting

Nearby Attractions

No Way Jose's is perfectly positioned for a pre- or post-meal outing:

• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies — Directly across the Parkway; the #1 aquarium in America
• Anakeesta — The gondola entrance is steps away for a mountaintop adventure or an evening Astra Lumina experience
• The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar — A short walk up the Parkway at 812 Parkway; a natural dessert stop after dinner
• Ole Smoky Moonshine (The Holler) — 903 Parkway; $5 tastings and live bluegrass
• SkyLift Park — Home to the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America

Frequently Asked Questions

Stay Close for the Full Gatlinburg Experience

No Way Jose's is right in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg — minutes from everything on the Parkway. Browse our Gatlinburg cabin rentals for a home base within easy reach of it all, or explore our full selection of Smoky Mountain cabin rentals across the region

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