Top 8 Reasons to Visit Blue Moose Burgers and Wings in Gatlinburg

Blue Moose Burgers and Wings has been East Tennessee's go-to for hand-pattied burgers and jumbo wings since 2007 — and the Gatlinburg location at 515 Parkway brings that same award-winning formula directly to the heart of the Smokies. Here are eight reasons it earns the visit.

1. The Wings: 23 Flavors

Blue Moose runs 18 saucy wing flavors alongside 5 dry rubs — 23 total, covering the full spectrum from mild to incendiary. On the mild end: honey BBQ, Italian parmesan, sweet Thai garlic, and classic buffalo. Moving up the heat ladder: spicy garlic, chipotle, and habanero mango. At the top: Flame Thrower and Atomic, for the genuinely brave. Wings come in platters of 8, 12, 20, or 25, and all are available boneless. The jumbo wing size is what separates Blue Moose from the standard sports bar wing — these are not the small afterthought wings typical of a bar menu.

2. Handmade Half-Pound Burgers

The burgers are hand-pattied from fresh beef daily — half-pound patties, never frozen — built ten different ways. The Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger is the signature: a half-pound beef patty sandwiched between two full grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. Toppings across the menu range from fried egg and bacon to mac and cheese to jalapeños and pepper jack to a full BBQ setup with onion rings and smoked cheddar. The Philly cheesesteak and Moosewiches round out the sandwich side of the menu for anyone who wants something other than a traditional burger.

3. Award-Winning — Multiple Years Running

Blue Moose isn't self-described as award-winning — the awards are real and recent. Yelp named it the best burger in Tennessee in 2023. Local awards in 2024 gave it first place in burgers, first in wings, and third in bar. 2024 also brought a Best New Restaurant recognition for the Gatlinburg location specifically. The chain has been winning best burger and best wings awards in East Tennessee consistently since 2022 — which, for a regional burger-and-wings spot competing in a market full of national chains, is a meaningful track record.

4. The Classic Appetizer Lineup

The starters menu covers the full sports bar classics — and covers them well. Stuffed potato skins, double-dipped fried onion rings, fried mushrooms, jalapeño bites, queso dip and chips, Bavarian pretzels with twisted cheese dip, and nachos topped with pulled pork. All of it is built for sharing. The pretzel and cheese dip combination in particular is consistently singled out in reviews as the thing to order while the wings are on their way.

5. The Signature Starters You Won't Find Elsewhere

Beyond the standard appetizer list, Blue Moose has a few items that don't exist at any other restaurant in Gatlinburg. Bacon Cheeseburger Sticks — hamburger, two cheeses, and bacon wrapped in a tortilla and deep-fried to golden — are the most distinctive. Buc's Poker Chips, breaded and fried rounds of zesty dill pickle, have developed a following among repeat visitors who know to order them before the main courses arrive. Both are best ordered as table starters rather than sides.

6. Sports Bar Setup With Dozens of HD TVs

Blue Moose is the right venue in Gatlinburg when there's a game on that matters to your group. Dozens of HD TVs cover the dining room and bar area, oriented so there isn't a bad seat in the house for a big game, race, or fight card. The atmosphere is lively without crossing into the kind of volume that makes conversation impossible — a working sports bar, not a nightclub. The full bar runs beer, cocktails, and a drink menu alongside the food program, with the game as the backdrop rather than the distraction.

7. A Real Kids' Menu

The kids' menu goes well beyond the standard chicken fingers and fries. Mac and cheese, boneless wings, all-beef hot dog, cheeseburger, and quesadilla give picky eaters actual options without forcing a compromise that leaves anyone unhappy. For families eating out on a Gatlinburg Parkway evening, Blue Moose is one of the more genuinely family-friendly options that doesn't sacrifice adult food quality to make the kids' menu work. The casual atmosphere and louder-than-average noise level also means young kids fit in naturally rather than sticking out.

8. Prime Parkway Location

515 Parkway, Gatlinburg | bluemooseburgersandwings.com | (865) 277-7008 | Mon–Thu & Sun 11 AM–9 PM | Fri–Sat 11 AM–11 PM | Next to Ole Red at the entrance to downtown Gatlinburg

The 515 Parkway location puts Blue Moose directly in the main downtown Gatlinburg strip — next to Ole Red and within easy walking distance of Ripley's Aquarium, the Space Needle, the Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway, and the rest of the Parkway attractions. It's the kind of location that makes it a natural dinner choice before or after an evening at Anakeesta or a show on the strip, without requiring a parking move or a significant drive.

For guests staying in a Gatlinburg cabin, Blue Moose is 10–20 minutes from most cabin locations — an easy stop for a group dinner on a game night or after a day at the national park when everyone wants a substantial meal without making a reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Blue Moose's hours in Gatlinburg?

Monday through Thursday and Sunday: 11 AM–9 PM. Friday and Saturday: 11 AM–11 PM. The Gatlinburg location is at 515 Parkway, next to Ole Red at the entrance to downtown. Call (865) 277-7008 or visit bluemooseburgersandwings.com to confirm current hours before your visit.

Does Blue Moose take reservations?

Blue Moose Gatlinburg is a walk-in restaurant. On busy Parkway evenings — particularly Friday and Saturday during peak season — expect a wait. Arriving before 6 PM or after 8:30 PM significantly reduces wait times.

Is Blue Moose good for families with kids?

Yes — the full kids' menu, casual atmosphere, and lively sports bar energy make it genuinely family-friendly. The noise level means young children fit in easily. The kids' menu covers mac and cheese, boneless wings, hot dog, cheeseburger, and quesadilla at accessible prices.

How many wing flavors does Blue Moose have?

23 total: 18 sauce flavors and 5 dry rubs, ranging from mild honey BBQ and sweet Thai garlic to Flame Thrower and Atomic at the top of the heat scale. Wings are available in platters of 8, 12, 20, or 25 — all options available boneless.