That cinnamon smell near security is Cinnabon in the Main Terminal
Cinnabon sits in the Main Terminal at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), just past the central security area, and holds a 3.5-star rating from travelers. It runs typical early-morning to evening hours in sync with the first and last bank of flights, so you can usually grab something with a 6 a.m. departure or an 8 p.m. arrival. This is a takeaway counter, not a sit-down spot, so plan to carry your box to the gate seating.
Prices sit in the usual airport range, with a classic roll running around the high single digits and combo deals pushing into low double digits once you add coffee. The menu sticks to the hits: full-size Classic Rolls, Minibons, Center of the Roll cups, and a few seasonal flavors when Cinnabon runs national promos. If you want something less sugary, the menu is thin, so assume you’re here for cinnamon and icing, not a balanced breakfast.
Coffee here is basic, drip-style, with flavored iced drinks that pair with the pastries but add up quickly; figure on another few dollars for anything beyond plain brewed coffee. Freshness depends on timing: trays that come out around the top of the hour during morning rush taste noticeably better than rolls that have been sitting for 30–40 minutes. If you see a new pan coming out of the oven, wait the extra 3–5 minutes.
There’s no separate seating area for Cinnabon, so plan on using the open chairs across from the nearby gates in the Main Terminal concourse while you eat. Lines spike in the 6–8 a.m. window when the Knoxville business crowd flows through, and it’s easy to burn 10–15 minutes in queue. Tip: if you’re tight on time, skip the custom drink and grab a pre-poured coffee plus Minibon pack to be out in under five minutes.