The 5 Best Dishes in Williamson County

Spicy Pork Bulgogi — Soy Teriyaki Bistro

Brentwood, unbeknownst to some, is home to some of the best Korean food in the area. Chris and Hannah Lee run a fantastic operation with a host of tasty food options. But the best is available on Fridays and Saturdays and comes with an infusion of Hannah’s Korean upbringing: spicy pork bulgogi. Thin strips of pork are marinated with garlic, ginger, soy, gochuchang (a spicy Korean pepper paste), and sesame. Served up with fresh lettuce, sticky rice, and pickled daikon and carrots, it’s a dish worth driving to Brentwood to discover.
5008 Maryland Way, Brentwood, 615-371-1933. soybistro.com

Fried Pimento Cheese with Moonshine Pepper Jelly — Gray’s on Main

When these golden orbs of fried cheese arrive, you might immediately wonder: How do they get the cheese to hold its shape in the fryer? Don’t overthink it. Just drag one through the tangy moonshine-based pepper jelly and take a bite of the breaded mixture of mild and dark cheddars. Be prepared for an addictively melt-y, cheese-flavored explosion.
332 Main St., Franklin, 615-435-3603. graysonmain.com

Hickory Smoked Wings with Alabama White Sauce — Martin’s BBQ Joint

The plump, golden-skinned, and smoky chicken wings at Martin’s BBQ Joint in Nolensville are a thing of beauty. Slathered with Alabama white sauce, a tangy vinegar- and mayonnaise-based mixture, these wings have always been worth the drive, though residents of Nashville proper can now get them right on Belmont Boulevard at Martin’s newest location.
7238 Nolensville Rd., Nolensville, and also 3108 Belmont Blvd, 615-776-1856. martinsbbqjoint.com

Stuffed Sopapilla — Sopapilla’s

In New Mexico, a sopapilla is a quick bread made from kneaded, rolled dough, cut into squares, and deep-fried until puffed up with a hollow center. It’s frequently dressed with honey or a shake of powdered sugar; at Sopapilla’s, it takes a savory turn, stuffed with smoky grilled chicken, pork, or beef and then embellished with chili, onion, lettuce, sour cream, and pico de gallo. They suggest adding a fried farm egg; we suggest having your cardiologist on speed dial. But what a way to go.
1109 Davenport Blvd., Franklin, 615-794-9989 and also 300 Indian Lake Blvd., Hendersonville, 615-822-8524. sopapillas.com

Hickory Fired Cowboy Ribeye — Red Pony

Chef-proprietor Jason McConnell has long been feeding the residents of Franklin at Red Pony, 55 South, and Cork and Cow, but his recent foray into East Nashville, where he and partner Patrick Burke opened Two Ten Jack, has us revisiting his food. The steakhouse and seafood restaurant serves up inventive dishes, like this massive bone-in rib eye that’s been rubbed with a chile-brown sugar mixture and fire-kissed on the grill for a delightfully rich and cowboy-friendly portion.
408 Main St., Franklin, 615-595-7669. redponyrestaurant.com