Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen Bar Cherokee Nc

The first thing that hits you is the smell. It’s a mix of smoked meat, garlic, and something sweet that might be barbecue sauce or might be pure joy. You’re inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, so the carpet is loud and the slot machines are singing their little robot songs.

Then you see the sign: Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar. It’s not subtle. Nothing about Guy Fieri is subtle, and that’s exactly the point.

It’s Like a Food Truck Ate a Casino

If you’ve ever been to a county fair and thought, I wish this had air conditioning and a full bar, you’re in luck. This place takes that energy and drops it in Cherokee, North Carolina.

The restaurant sits inside the casino, which means you can lose twenty dollars on a penny slot and then reward yourself with a burger the size of your head. That’s called balance.

It’s casual. You can wear your hiking boots, your lucky baseball cap, or that shirt you bought at a souvenir shop because it was the only clean one left.

The Vibe: Loud, Bright, and Proud

There are TVs everywhere, plus neon signs and chrome. The bar looks like it could double as a motorcycle repair shop, but in a fun way.

Conversation happens at a volume somewhere between a tailgate and a rock concert. If you’re looking for a quiet romantic dinner, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a place where your uncle can yell “WOO!” at a basketball game and nobody blinks, welcome home.

Servers move fast. Drinks arrive cold. The whole room feels like a Friday night that decided to stay out late.

What to Order (a.k.a. What Not to Share)

Start with the Trash Can Nachos. They come stacked in a little metal can, then get dumped onto the plate like a delicious avalanche. Chips, queso, beans, jalapeños, crema—it’s a Jenga game you can eat.

GUY FIERI’S CHEROKEE KITCHEN + BAR - Updated July 2024 - 195 Photos

You’ll tell yourself you’re sharing, but you won’t. That’s okay. We’ve all been there.

The burgers are ridiculous in the best way. The Bacon Mac & Cheese Burger is exactly what it sounds like, and it answers a question you didn’t know you had: Can I put mac and cheese on a burger? Yes, you can, and you should.

There’s also pulled pork, wings, tacos, and pizzas. The menu reads like a greatest hits album of comfort food. If you can’t decide, order two things and call it research.

The bar shakes up cocktails, pours local beers, and mixes a mean mule. After a day of hiking in the Smokies, a cold drink here tastes like a high-five for your soul.

Everyday Life, But With More Queso

You know those nights when you plan to eat a salad, then somehow you’re three bites into a basket of fries? This place understands that feeling on a spiritual level.

It’s where you go after a long drive, a casino win, a casino loss, or a hike that made your legs feel like wet noodles. You don’t need a special occasion. You just need an appetite and a willingness to make happy noises while eating.

Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar To Open at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

Cherokee itself is a beautiful spot—gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, full of history and scenery. But sometimes you want scenery with a side of cheese sauce. That’s fair.

Little Tips So You Don’t Waddle Out Confused

Go before 6 p.m. or after 9 p.m. if you hate waiting. The place fills up when the casino crowd gets hungry.

Park at Harrah’s and follow the smell of barbecue and possibility. Dress comfortable. Bring friends who won’t judge you for ordering dessert.

And maybe don’t wear a white shirt. Trust me. That queso has a mind of its own.

It’s Not Fancy. It’s Fun.

Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar isn’t trying to be a five-star, quiet-candle, tiny-portion kind of place. It’s trying to be the friend who says, “Let’s get the big platter and figure out the rest later.”

You’ll leave full. You’ll leave maybe a little over-full. But you’ll leave smiling, which is pretty much the whole point.

And if you happen to win big at the slots next door, you know where to celebrate. If you lose, you know where to console yourself. Either way, the nachos win.