Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pal's

    4.2 (31 reviews)
    InexpensiveFast Food

    Pal's Photos

    Business Info

    PAL'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Pal's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Los T.

    I had seen this place online while trying scope out some eateries when in Tennessee for the weekend. I keep trying to go places we don't have in Ohio. I was driving towards the campground at like 9:00pm and suddenly, the VERY distinctive Pal's building is right there! So I hit the brakes and pull in. There appears to be no dine-in at all. And the drive-thru is weird. You stop at the first window and tell another human, face to face, your order. The menu is small-ish. I got a sauceburger, small frenchie fries, and a small chocolate shake. I asked if the fries are really crispy or not, as I would have asked for them well done. He seemed confused, looked over for moral support(?) and then said, "yeah, our fries are really crispy." *everyone will remember that* I tried to pay the guy and he takes my card and then goes, oh no, you have to pay when you pull around. So, I roll around to the other side of the building, where I could now see the guys back who took my order, and pay this new guy. Who then gives me my food. It was indeed, pretty sudden service. That's the tag line. The fries were not crispy. They were still really good, and insanely hot. They had some kind of seasoning on them that tasted like old bay mixed with garlic cheese or something. They were good. The burger was ok. It wasn't bad, so it doesn't lose anything there. The sauce tasted like maybe ketchup mixed with a-1 steak sauce? And the milkshake was super thick. I would probably wait to drink that like 20 minutes after your meal. All in all, while I would go back, I would not make it a point to revisit until I try other restaurants in the area.

    an american flag flying in the wind
    John M.

    Pal's is not only an institution in the eastern Tennessee area (specifically the area that is known as the Tri-Cities region where Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City all are), but has garnered attention on a national level from a few unlikely sources. Food & Wine magazine wrote a review of it and the restaurant even won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award one year, which typically is awarded to hospitals, educational facilities, luxury hotels, etc. Pal's marked the first time this prestigious award was granted to a fast food restaurant chain. So what makes it so special? I asked myself that when I pulled into this location and found a line into the street. Well, one way to find out. When my turn arrived at the drive-up window, I ordered the cheeseburger and a chili hot dog. The small cheeseburger was called a sauce burger w ou th cheese and I guess the sauce was their ketchup based sauce which tasted pretty much like ketchup. The cheeseburger was ok. Basically a fast food cheeseburger and the hot dog, which did not look appetizing, was actually pretty good. Service was good and the building does draw attention. I would say a big part of the popularity is nostalgia, Pal's has been around a long time and people remember going here as a kid with their parents or grandparents. Nostalgia is an important thing and that is not a bad thing. I would return and I recommend that you check it out.

    Pal's before heading back to Charlotte, NC
    Connie J.

    Pals is great! I wish there was a Pals closer to Charlotte! Love me a chipped ham with cheese (plain) and a plain peachy tea! Their breakfast is the BEST! Cheddar rounds are my favorite!

    Pulling in

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Los T.
    0
    13
    20

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob S.
    12
    607
    17

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    ABSOLUTELY absolutely my favorite burger in town!!!!! Pretty much anywhere. Always fast, always friendly and always so yummmy!!!!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John M.
    666
    9060
    32204

    6 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Food quality good and exceptional fast service, a surprise for first time visit. It was a Wow for a drive through!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom C.
    0
    23
    2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Always always wonderful!!!! Awesome food and service is always great!!!! They are quick and on their game!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of LA O.
    200
    332
    952

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joel H.
    0
    118
    3

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben C.
    4
    17
    0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben H.
    12
    43
    102

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    This was a great experience the food was amazing and it came super fast it was very cheap I definitely think you should come here

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Annie H.
    82
    37
    33

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gloria S.
    23
    35
    25

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Pal's

    Review Highlights - Pal's

    Their 'Sudden Service' is a key component of their identity, along with their quirky building desig

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Fast Food 601 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Cootie Brown's - Raspberry Fusion Pie!!!!

    Cootie Brown's

    3.9(461 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Seriously, this is the best Jamaican jerk sauce and jerk chicken I've had--no exaggeration. Every…read moretime we visit, I leave with bottles of the sauce and their spice because it's that good. On our most recent trip, we sat outside and had excellent service. The food came out quickly, which was a nice surprise, and everything was on point. I ordered the jerk chicken grilled sandwich with pub fries--both were really good, packed with flavor, and cooked perfectly. The place has a very cool, eclectic vibe with a unique atmosphere, plus a solid beer selection to round it out. Great spot overall--highly recommend.

    Cool restaurant with mostly covered outside seating. Appears they can close the open-air windows…read morewhen weather requires. The outdoor area can be loud due to its close proximity to the busy street. Not really much of a view; just the parking area and passing cars. Plenty of parking in front and to the side. They do have an inside dining area, but the host didn't give us that option. Our waitress was nice but wasn't very knowledgeable about the food; I asked her if the shrimp poboy came on hard or soft bread. She said soft so I ordered that. It was toasted to the point of being rock hard; actually cut my lip on it. Otherwise the poboy was pretty good, just hard to eat. The wife enjoyed her burger, but it wasn't anything special. And neither of us cared much for their side of chips; it's clearly their attempt to be different by not serving the usual French fries. But in our opinions, it's a fail. They were neither a tasty potato chip nor a fry, but something in between, that even ketchup couldn't make tasty. Interesting place to visit once, but I doubt we'll be back.

    Photos
    Cootie Brown's - They seem to be ready for Valentine's Day.

    They seem to be ready for Valentine's Day.

    Cootie Brown's - Meh, but big

    Meh, but big

    Cootie Brown's - Cootie Browns

    See all

    Cootie Browns

    Pal's - hotdogs - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...