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    Pal's Sudden Service

    4.5 (31 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Drive thru lane. You can't miss the buildings!
    Mark W. S.

    Tried this location on a trip down I-81. All locations are drive thru only. You eat in your car in the parking lot. Seriously, they have the best hot dogs! Steamed bun, loaded with homemade chili, mustard, and a few onions. Their fries are always hot and mighty tasty like the old Mc Donald fries used to be. Get the peach flavored tea! Love this regional chain.

    Cheddar rounds for breakfast
    Alexis B.

    We were in the Bristol area for about 12 hours (on a roadtrip) and we ate at two locations of Pal's Sudden Service during that short time! Last night, we enjoyed Pal's dinner options at a different Pal's location (there are 30 in the region), but today we stopped at this Pal's for breakfast. My husband enjoyed a biscuit with bacon and cheese, while I enjoyed a butter biscuit with strawberry jam (packets of Smuckers came in the bag). We also share a large order of cheddar rounds (fried hash brown bites stuffed with some cheddar cheese) - these were a fun breakfast treat! The coffee was good, as well. Enjoyed a quick drive thru meal that was from a local/regional chain rather one of the national chains that you can get anywhere!

    Awesome bas relief wiener
    George W.

    Yes, come for the food. Very good for the burger/hotdog/fries fare. But I came for the kitsch art building. Well done. Rivals any roadside attractions on the old Route 66. I stood in the rain just to get the selfie. And I'm glad I did.

    Very thin patty.
    Crystal T.

    Wow! Ok, so I'm not really sure how this place has 4.5/5 stars on Yelp. I saw the rating and thought, "Yay!" I was super excited to try this place out. I got a Sauceburger, french fry, and large sweet tea for $5.45! I was thinking that I had scored big time. The sweet tea was huge and tasty. If I hadn't added lettuce, tomato, and onion this burger would have been more sad than it already was. The patty was super thin and I couldn't tell if it was real beef or not. Not super impressed and won't be stopping by again. If you're looking for cheap bite and not worried about quality, this is your place. If you're looking for good fries and good sweet tea, this is also your place. I recommend going to a Five Guys or even a McDonalds if you're concerned about the burger.

    Side of building
    Rosa S.

    It was the very first time trying this place and it was soooooo delicious!! This has to be the best fast food joint ever. From the quality food to the fastest I think Ive ever received my food. I parked in the parking lot and enjoyed this tasty delight and I swear I seen 60 cars go through the drive thru in least an 1hr! The girl at the window was even super nice even that I have 4 separate orders from different people in the car and none of us have ever eaten there before. She was super polite and even said let me know if you have any questions!

    Brandon R.

    Great spot for lunch or breakfast, take your pick. When I went there was 17 people lined up..... whole line took 4 minutes, you cannot find that anywhere. A+

    Pal's #27
    Jon S.

    When you have the chance to try the restaurant that sets the standard for drive thru service in the QSR world, you gotta give it a try. Pals won the Malcolm Baldridge award for excellence back in the day and you can see why. After reading reviews, i decided to sample the best Pal's has to offer. I ordered a Big Pal with cheese (1/3 lb Patty with tomato, lettuce, onion, and mayo), a hot dog (which comes with chili, mustard, and onion), Frenchy fries (which come with seasoning salt on them) and an iced tea (sweet, of course). I was not disappointed. Someone was immediately available to take my order (drive thru only) and by the time I pulled around the building to the second window my tea was sitting there waiting for me with my food close behind. My order was accurate and fast. I pulled into the parking lot with all the other folks eating their lunch in the car - because who wants to try to take down a chili dog when they are driving after all - and opened my bag of treasure. For fast food, it was really good. Fresh, hot fries. A juicy, hot Patty with cold, crispy condiments. A salty wiener with nice bite and smoky chili sauce. Sickly sweet tea (just like I like it) with plenty of ice. I can see why Pal's is a Tri-Cities institution. Make it here if you can - just don't go too often - I don't think that would be healthy.

    Bill L.

    If you want to eat GOOD fast food and feel like your pulling into a restaurant that looks a bit like it just dropped out of The Simpson's, then Pal's is your place! It's all a la carte, and a bit more than regular 'ole fast food burgers, but well worth it for a quality burger,dog or sandwich! Great spot to hit if you are traveling. They got us in and out quickly with a smile!

    Zummy!!!!

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Got fries from Pals and they were really good! Everything McDonald's fries want to be! Wonderful service as well!

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    2 years ago

    In my opinion, this is the best fast food you can get, anywhere. It's simple, fresh and delicious Everytime. I wish we had Pals in Florida

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    6 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Super quick service and friendly staff. I have ate here a lot over the years and they are always spot on with my order!

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    We came across this place on a road trip this summer. It has great burgers and super fast service!

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Not as big a fan as other reviewers. I prefer Five Guys for fries and burgers. The French fries are shoestring style with lots of salt.

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    8 years ago

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    Pal's

    Pal's

    4.1
    (41 reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $

    Pal's is one of my favorite Bristol-area stops on road trips between my hometown and my new town…read more Truthfully, Pal's is the reason I plan my gas and food break there at all. It feels like a small ritual on the highway, the kind of place that turns a routine stop into something warm and familiar. There's something about Pal's that takes me back to being a kid, riding with my dad to a tiny drive-thru burger spot where the food was simple, fast, and made with care. This place carries that same spirit. The service is fast but still welcoming. I parked in the small lot that runs parallel to the drive-thru and enjoyed my meal from the car, watching the steady flow of customers come and go. My order was a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla milkshake. The food was fresh, tasty, and made for me... a classic drive-thru. The highlight, though, was a small moment of kindness. The young man at the window spotted my puppy and offered her a dog treat, which instantly made the stop feel even more personal and welcoming. Little gestures like that turn a quick meal into a memory. Pal's is clean, simple, and purely nostalgic. No frills, no fuss, just good food, friendly service, and the comforting feeling of a roadside tradition that understands exactly what travelers need.

    Passing through at lunchtime and we knew where we wanted to eat lunch. They have the best hotdogs…read moreand I love the peach tea. The staff is always cheerful and service is very fast. It's only drive through so keep that in mind if you stop. There's always several customers parking eating in the car just like we do. If you love hot dogs this is your spot. It's a five for the hotdogs.

    Photos
    Exterior, love the dog on the roof
    Exterior, love the dog on the roof
    Hot dog
    Hot dog
    Had to have a bite, delicious

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    Had to have a bite, delicious
    Burger Bar

    Burger Bar

    4.0
    (164 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $

    Firstly, let's be honest, this is NOT the place you go when you're on a diet. It's a burger joint…read more But let me tell you, if you ARE planning to go down in flames, you might consider this place. It's a funky dive with dollar bills pasted everywhere and old Formica tables. It's said to be one of the last places Hank Williams was seen alive. Lots of history here. We ordered one maple syrup and cheddar burger and one Ruben and an order of onion rings to share. Maple syrup on a burger? Why didn't I think of that? It works. Man does it work. It gets splashed on while the beef is browning on the grill so it caramelizes. Then they add cheddar cheese. Dear Lord. The Ruben was greasy and decadent. Too rich to finish but too yummy to leave behind. A very serious problem, indeed. The onion rings were perfect- dropped in hot oil dating back to The Carter Administration. Golden. Loaded with flavor. Deadly fresh and crispy. The staff couldn't do enough for us. Really friendly and confident in what they know is going to blow your mind. Wear elastic waist pants. See your pastor/priest and settle your affairs before you go. You're going to love it.

    I really liked this place. Very friendly people. Tge service was awesome. I got the fire God…read moreburger, level 10. The said they've never had anyone finish it before. It was hot! But I got through it. Tge place was kinda like a diner on part of it, so the cook was right behind the counter. He said the peppers on the burger were grown locally. And most people only get level 4. I liked this place, it's kinda old school atmosphere.

    Photos
    Burger Bar
    Mormon Burger with Fries
    Mormon Burger with Fries
    Burger Bar

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    Blue Circle

    Blue Circle

    3.7
    (31 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $

    Today I had a nostalgic meal at the only Blue Circle left in existence. It was a marvelous meal…read moreconsisting of a cheeseburger, fries. And a milk shake. Blue Circles were prolific in Knoxville when I was growing up. They had small hamburgers/cheeseburgers on round buns. They had displays of donuts on the counter and served your meal on an oval china plate. I remember them fondly and when they went out of business in Knoxville years ago, my father bought their donut machine at auction. Thanks to the staff at the Blue Circle in Bristol, TN for a wonderful meal and a trip down memory lane. Follow me on Yelp for more places to see and eat in East Tennessee.

    I used to frequent this adorable Bristol landmark when we lived here on Bluff City Hwy from…read more2016-2021. We recently moved back to the area (Oct 2024) & I decided to show my worker this delightful & charming burger restaurant. I only meant to order a few sliders so he could taste how good they were. While we were waiting, I mentioned to him that it's better than Krystal's or White Castle. As we left, I didn't pay attention to the bag they gave my friend (supposed to have just a few sliders). Instead, Blue Circle had surprised us with nearly a dozen sliders simply because I had told them that my friend was new to town. What a delicious surprise! Blue Circle, thank you for treating us special, you've gained 2 loyal families for life.

    Photos
    Blue Circle
    Home of the Circle Burger
    Home of the Circle Burger
    The Onion Rings were equally delicious!

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    The Onion Rings were equally delicious!

    Pal's Sudden Service - burgers - Updated July 2026

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