Cookie Dough Monster - Burgers & Shakes

Cookie Dough Monster sits right on Teaster Lane, and honestly, the name throws people off — you're expecting some kid-friendly sugar fest, but this place is strictly 21+ and the menu humor will make you blush. We stumbled in here last summer thinking it was just another themed restaurant and ended up having one of our best meals in Pigeon Forge.

The Bacon Bomber is their most popular burger for good reason, but don't sleep on the "Everyday I'm Truffling" — that black truffle patty with burgundy mushrooms is legitimately fancy food disguised as a burger joint meal. The loaded fries are what converted me though. I'm usually all about the burger, but these things are perfectly crispy with toppings that actually make sense together.

Fair warning: it gets HOT in there during summer. The AC can't keep up when they're busy, and the music is loud enough that you'll be shouting across the table. We learned to go during off-peak hours or grab a table near the front where it's slightly cooler.

Those signature cookie dough bites come in flavors like Heath Bar and s'mores, but they're rich enough to put you in a food coma. Share them. Trust me on this one — even Shandi couldn't finish a full order and she has the biggest sweet tooth I know.

They make everything in-house, which you can actually taste. No hormones, no MSG, none of that processed stuff you get at chain places. It's why TripAdvisor called them the #1 Hidden Gem restaurant in the country back in 2023. Parking is easy since they have their own lot right out front, which is rare for Pigeon Forge.