Fires, closures, and fresh starts across Chattanooga's restaurants and food trucks

Chattanooga’s food scene is in flux, with two recent fires damaging a popular BBQ joint and destroying a roadside food trailer even as new concepts emerge. A vegan chef is realizing food-truck dreams, a family is opening a bakery-and-art space on the Southside, and Bona Fide is stepping into a former restaurant space there. Longtime favorite El Meson has closed one area location while another remains open, and locals continue to celebrate standout burger spots. Together, these stories show a resilient, evolving dining landscape where setbacks coexist with fresh openings and enduring favorites.