What to Order at Hennen's: A Breakdown of Chattanooga's German-American Standby
Hennen's has operated continuously in Chattanooga since 1946, anchoring a corner near the North Shore with a menu that hasn't chased trends. If you're evaluating whether to eat there, you need to know what actually works on that menu and what doesn't, where the kitchen excels, and what you're paying for.
The Restaurant's Position in Chattanooga's Food Landscape
Hennen's occupies a specific niche: German-American comfort food in a city where most casual dining clusters around barbecue, ramen, and contemporary Southern. The menu reads as a time capsule of mid-century American restaurant culture, with Bavarian roots showing through schnitzel and sauerkraut offerings alongside burgers and steaks. Unlike the newer gastropubs concentrated in St. Elmo and the Southside, Hennen's doesn't source ingredients from local farms or feature rotating seasonal specials. This is either a strength or irrelevant to you, depending on what you want from dinner.
The atmosphere matches the menu: dark wood, booth seating, and a bar that feels genuinely local rather than Instagram-optimized. Dinner entrees range from $16 to $28. Lunch runs $11 to $18 for most items. Reservations are accepted but not required; weeknight waits are typically under 15 minutes, while Friday and Saturday can stretch to 45 minutes after 6 p.m.
Where the Kitchen Performs Strongly
The sauerbraten (German pot roast braised in vinegar and spices) is the entry point if you're unfamiliar with the place. It arrives tender enough to cut with a fork, served with red cabbage and potato pancakes. The sauce, built from the braising liquid, is neither overly sweet nor aggressively sour; it sits in the middle where the flavors actually integrate. This is the dish most regulars order repeatedly, and it justifies the trip alone.
The schnitzel (pounded veal or pork cutlet, breaded and pan-fried) is thinner and crispier than you'll find at most American restaurants, closer to what you'd get in Vienna or Munich. Hennen's doesn't skimp on thickness or quality of meat here. Both the traditional version with lemon and the Jäger style (topped with mushroom sauce) work, though the simpler preparation lets you taste the actual technique.
German sausages on the menu are sourced from a local supplier and merit attention. The bratwurst appears on the appetizer menu as well as in entrees, and it has enough seasoning and snap to stand on its own rather than vanishing under toppings or sauces. The knockwurst and other varieties show similar care.
Sides are substantial enough to feel like part of the meal rather than filler. The potato pancakes are crispy on the outside and creamy inside; the sauerkraut, if you order it, is pleasantly sour without being aggressively funky. The red cabbage has real depth.
What Doesn't Justify the Trip Alone
The burgers, while competent, don't distinguish themselves. Chattanooga has several burger specialists (including the burger-focused venues in Northgate and near the Hunter Museum) where beef sourcing and technique are more central to the operation. Order a burger at Hennen's if you're dining with someone committed to schnitzel and want something familiar for yourself, but don't make it your reason to visit.
Fish and chips are offered regularly, but the breading often outweighs the fish. If seafood is your priority, the restaurants along Chattanooga's riverfront and the fish-specific preparations at higher-end establishments do this better.
Desserts are straightforward and not the draw. Apple strudel and Black Forest cake appear on the menu and are serviceable but not remarkable.
Practical Ordering Strategy
If you're unfamiliar with German food, order the sauerbraten with red cabbage and potato pancakes. This single dish communicates what the restaurant does and why it has lasted 75 years.
If you like that approach, follow with the schnitzel on a return visit. The two dishes together show range without straying from the kitchen's actual competencies.
The schnitzel-and-sausage combo plate, if offered during your visit, bundles proteins efficiently and works for indecisive parties or people who want to sample several items.
Appetizers (schnitzel strips, sausages, cheese plates) are appropriately priced and work as starters or shared plates before a main course.
Avoid treating the menu like a general American steakhouse. The steaks, pork chops, and chicken are fine but generic; order those only if someone at the table specifically wants something that isn't German-inflected.
Why Hennen's Persists
Chattanooga's restaurant scene has accelerated in the past decade, with young chefs opening concept-driven places in newly renovated neighborhoods. Hennen's makes no such claims. It remains in the same location because it executes a narrow range of dishes consistently, prices them fairly for portion and quality, and attracts enough regulars to sustain the operation. The kitchen isn't innovative. It's reliable, and that reliability has proved durable.
If you're seeking comfort food tied to a specific culinary tradition (rather than generic Americana), and you prefer a meal that tastes like a decision made in 1950 rather than 2024, Hennen's delivers. If you're sampling Chattanooga's current restaurant energy, it's better understood as a historical reference point than a culinary destination.
