Sometimes the best food can be found at the little places you had no idea even existed. The following restaurants may not have hundreds of reviews or tons of hype as some of the more popular spots in the state, but the locals know that doesn’t matter. Check out these 8 Kentucky restaurants that are truly hidden treasures, and have your taste buds blown away. You’ll see why these are some of the best little-known and hidden restaurants in Kentucky.

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Have you been to any of these wonderful little-known and hidden restaurants in Kentucky? Do you know of any other restaurants that we should try? Let us know in the comments. For more great dining experiences, check out these amazing small-town restaurants in Kentucky.

If you love dining in Kentucky but don’t want to leave home, find your favorite restaurants for GrubHub delivery!

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Bucket List Restaurants in Kentucky

What are the best bucket list restaurants in Kentucky?

The best bucket list restaurants in Kentucky include:

  • Wallace Station Deli and Bakery. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and the chef is a James Beard Award nominee.
  • The Brown Hotel. This luxurious restaurant looks like a French palace and serves amazing Southern cuisine.
  • Sanders Cafe. This is where Kentucky Fried Chicken got its name and it keeps the original quality this chicken once had.
  • The Old Talbott Tavern. This is the oldest restaurant in the state and it contains the oldest bourbon bar on the planet.

Find out more about the best bucket list restaurants in Kentucky

What are the most famous restaurants in Kentucky?

The most famous restaurants in Kentucky include:

  • Hofbrauhaus. Located in Newport, this is the place to go for great German cuisine and the restaurant’s signature beer.
  • The Village Idiot. This was the first gastropub in Lexington and they use only locally-sourced ingredients.
  • Patti’s 1880s Settlement. This is a restaurant built in a water mill that has pork chops two inches thick and scrumptious pies.
  • Moonlite Bar-B-Q. Kentucky is famous for its amazing barbecue, and this restaurant is one of the best in the state.

Discover more about the most famous restaurants in Kentucky

What are the best little-known restaurants in Kentucky?

The best little-known restaurants in Kentucky include:

  • Bread of Life Cafe. Located in Liberty, this is a family-owned restaurant with delicious home cooking and a scrumptious buffet.
  • Joe’s Drive-In Chicken. This place is a local secret and has some of the best fried chicken in all of Kentucky.
  • Blue & White Grill. This gem is in the small town of Hazel and serves simple yet utterly delicious country classics.
  • Big Dipper. This is one of those amazing burger joints that aren’t known outside of the local area, but locals flock to in droves.

Learn more about the best little-known restaurants in Kentucky

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