On every high schooler’s mind (and let’s face it every adult’s mind too) is food. People are constantly searching for the best joints around town, especially the local places they can’t get anywhere else. This week, the staff compiled a list of the best Knoxville restaurants, and the results are sure to satisfy even the hungriest teen’s appetite.

If you’re someone who loves international food as much as I do, Gosh is an Ethiopian restaurant you have to try. Once you choose your main dish, it’s served to you on a piece of injera bread with each dish neatly separated on top. You’re supposed to eat it with your hands, which makes the experience all the more interesting. [Allie Gruszkiewicz]

As a lover of all things pesto and cheese, I highly praise the restaurant Tomato Head for incorporating these two lovely things in almost everything they make. Not only do you get some unique food and meet some interesting people, a.k.a. their waiting staff, you also get to be surrounded by new and modern artists being featured regularly on the walls of the restaurant. As a food and art lover, Tomato Head is the perfect place for a great meal and a chill  atmosphere. [Madison Tenney]

Japanese food is always near the top of my list. One of my favorite places to go when I have a craving is Shono’s Japanese Grill. Their chicken teriyaki bowl smothered in Shono’s Sauce is to die for! The serving size is the perfect amount for the starving student. Also, the people are so sweet and remember me every time I dine. [Cassidy Bailey]

The best restaurant in Knoxville in unquestionably Dead End BBQ, recently named in barbecue critic Johnny Fugitt’s “The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America”. But barbecue is just one of the great dishes that Dead End has to offer. Their hamburgers, especially the Rebel Yell burger (even if it is named after the West High School mascot), are some of the best in Knoxville, as well as the sides, such as the potato salad, fries, and macaroni and cheese. [Wyeth Wilson]

I am a huge fan of BBQ so when it comes to my favorite Knoxville restaurant it was between Dead End and Calhoun’s. I allowed my counterpart to take Dead End and now just have to focus on how great Calhoun’s is. Their ribs are just fantastic, but my favorite part has to their awesome bread. They offer free cornbread, garlic rolls, and delectable biscuits that no other restaurant can match. [Tyler Hotz]  

Nama is by far the best sushi restaurant in Knoxville, if not the best restaurant all around. Going there is different than eating out. It’s a completely unique experience. From the incredible food to the upscale decor, it can’t be beat, and it also won’t break the bank. [Maggie Kimber]

A Knoxville staple everyone has to try is Sam and Andy’s. Their baked spaghetti is my favorite thing to get there, but I’ve also heard that their burgers are pretty fantastic. The atmosphere is by far the best part because the restaurant radiates a mom-and-pop vibe that I absolutely love. [Katie Matthews]