If you’re a fan of smoky, flavorful BBQ, Nashville won’t disappoint you. There are many restaurants that could be considered the best barbecue in Nashville. The city is packed with an eclectic array of spots serving juicy ribs, tender pulled pork, and perfectly smoked brisket. Each BBQ joint has its own personality, from classic Southern styles to creative twists that put a fresh spin on tradition.
What makes Nashville BBQ so awesome isn’t just the meat. The whole vibe of BBQ in Nashville is a mixture of lively, cozy, and the smell of mouthwatering, slow-smoked pork. The sides are just as tasty as the main dishes, and the service is so friendly that you’ll think you’re eating at home. Extras like creamy coleslaw, buttery cornbread, and tasty baked beans make Nashville BBQ a proper Southern feast.
Nashville’s BBQ scene is loaded with many options, as every restaurant offers something different, such as a signature sauce, a secret smoking technique, or a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Nashville knows how to do barbecue right, and every bite is worth savoring. Whether you need catering for a business or just some lunch for yourself, visitors and residents alike will be all smiles at these places!
Here is our list of the best BBQ in Nashville TN for the greatest food in town.
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Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint – Premier BBQ Restaurant in Nashville
This is some of the best barbecue in Nashville! If you’re a BBQ fantastic, Martin’s Bar-B-Que is a place you have to eat at in Nashville. They put a fresh hog on the pit every day and smoke it over local hickory wood for up to 22 – 24 hours. Everything they serve, from the sides to the sauces, and everything in between, is made daily in house from scratch.
Whether you order the ribs, brisket, chicken, or turkey, you can’t go wrong at Martin’s. The meat is moist and expertly prepared with a tasty dry rub. Their Jack’s Creek BBQ sauce is worth trying to make the BBQ taste even better. Sides like mac and cheese, hush puppies, and baked beans, as well as a friendly staff, make for a perfect BBQ meal.
410 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201, (615) 288-0880
Peg Leg Porker – Award-Winning BBQ in Nashville
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Peg Leg Porker is a family-owned and operated, award-winning BBQ restaurant in one of the best Nashville neighborhoods, Downtown Nashville. Not only that, the pitmaster is a two-time James Beard award winner! Their meats are smoked fresh daily, and all their delicious sides are made from scratch with expert care. They use local bakeries for bread and desserts. Their mouthwatering dry-rubbed ribs and flavorful pulled pork are renowned in Nashville and beyond.
The menu features favorites like half racks of ribs, pulled pork platters, and combo plates. Besides the awesome BBQ, Peg Leg’s southern hospitality is second to none. Enjoy the laid-back and welcoming atmosphere at their downtown location, and some of the best barbecue in Nashville.
903 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203, (615) 829-6023
Edley’s Bar-B-Que – With Multiple Locations in Nashville
Edley’s Bar-B-Que is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been featured in publications such as Southern Living, USA Today, and Garden & Gun. The meats at Edley’s are smoked low and slow, using Southern white oak and blended with a signature dry rub, creating their own “Nashville-style BBQ”. From tender pulled pork to juicy, perfectly seasoned brisket, Edley’s serves up some of the best ribs and BBQ around.
They make all their sides from scratch daily as well and feature a full bar with their famous Bushwacker and multiple craft beers on tap. The atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming with its Tennessee style. Edley’s has been voted the best barbecue in Nashville times since 2013 in the Nashville Scene Reader’s Poll.
2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204, (615) 953-2951
Mission BBQ – Authentic BBQ Flavors
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At Mission BBQ, enjoy authentic BBQ made from the freshest, most appetizing ingredients, served in a patriotic dining room filled with tributes to those who’ve made America great, including military, police, firefighters, and first responders. Mission BBQ prepares all the meats with care, using only authentic barbecue flavors.
The menu features mouthwatering smoked meats that include brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, all seasoned and cooked to perfection every day. The service is always efficient and friendly at Mission BBQ, making it some of the best barbecue in Nashville.
161 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214, (615) 933-5225
Jack’s Bar-B-Que – Hickory-Smoked BBQ in a Cafeteria-Style Setting
If you want the best barbecue in Nashville, check out Jack’s! Jack’s Bar-B-Que operates two family-friendly BBQ restaurants in Nashville, serving specialties such as Tennessee pork shoulder, beef brisket, turkey, St. Louis ribs, smoked sausage, and smoked chicken in a casual, cafeteria-style setting that’s warm and inviting. Every item is smoked to perfection and packed with rich, smoky flavor.
With hickory-smoked meats and tasty sides, Jack’s has been a favorite in Nashville since 1989. The wide selection of tasty, traditional sides at Jack’s includes baked beans, green beans, corn, baked apples, cole slaw, potato salad, and the ever-popular mac and cheese. Jack’s also has scrumptious desserts like chess pie and fudge pie.
Jack’s has won numerous prestigious awards for its signature sauces, including its Texas Sweet Hot Sauce, Carolina Style Barbeque Sauce, Music City White Sauce, and much more. Located right on Trinity Lane, this Bar-B-Que joint is top-notch and often touted as the best barbecue in Nashville.
334 W Trinity Ln, Nashville, TN 37207, (615) 228-9888
Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse – A Nashville Tradition Since 1950
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Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse is a staple in Nashville, having served up delicious, hickory-smoked BBQ and classic sides since 1950. The menu features a great selection of smoked meats, such as pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and sausage. All Bar-B-Cutie’s meats are prepared with a signature dry rub and are slow-cooked over hickory wood until they are tender, juicy, and full of bold, smoky flavor.
Popular sides at Bar-B-Cutie’s include creamy mac and cheese, fried okra, tangy baked beans, and fresh cole slaw. The restaurant also serves breakfast items, sandwiches, and desserts, like their popular banana pudding. The atmosphere at Bar-B-Cutie’s is casual and welcoming, and the service is fast and friendly. If you want the best barbecue in Nashville, check this place out.
501 Donelson Pike, Nashville, TN 37214, (615) 872-0207
Drifters Tennessee Barbeque Joint – BBQ and Live Music Every Night
Drifters Tennessee Barbeque Joint is an inviting Nashville BBQ restaurant, with a cozy atmosphere, a modest bar, comfortable booths, and high-top tables. Drifters prides itself on serving flavorful, tender ribs, and you can smell the mouthwatering aroma of smoked BBQ as soon as you walk in. The pulled pork is a crowd favorite, and the brisket just melts in your mouth. The sampler platter is a great way to try a little bit of everything and find out what your favorite BBQ dish is.
The BBQ nachos are loaded with smoky goodness and perfect for sharing. Drifters has a wide variety of signature house-made sauces that are sure to enhance your dining experience. Try one or all as you explore different flavor profiles. But Drifters isn’t just known for its delicious BBQ. They host live music every night, adding to the ambiance and enriching the overall experience of every guest for the best barbecue in Nashville. The staff is friendly and attentive because they genuinely care about ensuring that every guest enjoys their visit. Bring your pet with you as Drifters accommodates pets.
Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q – Old School Smoked BBQ
Jim ‘N Nick’s is a laid-back BBQ restaurant known for slow-cooked BBQ and cheese biscuits. The menu includes burgers, salads, and classic sides. They use old-school, traditional BBQ methods, smoking their pork and beef for up to 12 hours. This is the best barbecue in Nashville because they don’t use freezers or take any shortcuts, ensuring their meat is full of Southern-style flavor.
Their famous cheese biscuits are sweet and buttery, not to mention addictive, and a perfect start to your meal. When the main dish comes, it’s piled high with either classic pulled pork, beef brisket, Carolina-style pork, or ribs. No matter what you order, it’s always tender, smoky, and perfect by itself or in a sandwich. Jim ’N Nick’s has all the sides you’d expect as well, including creamy mac and cheese, baked beans, collards, slaw, loaded baked potatoes, and brisket chili.
7004 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209, (615) 352-5777
HoneyFire BBQ – Bringing an Upscale Twist to BBQ
HoneyFire Barbeque is a family-owned BBQ restaurant that puts a modern, upscale Nashville twist on traditional barbecue. Even the restaurant itself has a fresh, clean, modern design, complete with wraparound covered patios. All of their sauces and rubs are homemade and honey-based. Their slow-smoked meats feature the best of traditional American barbecue seasoned with their own signature modern Nashville twist.
Highlights include Texas brisket, Kansas City sweet sauce ribs, Memphis pork sandwich, and Alabama white sauce. A favorite side at HoneyFire is the cold pimento cheese macaroni salad, made fresh daily from a family recipe handed down for generations. For whiskey lovers, HoneyFire has a massive whiskey collection from around the world.
8127 Sawyer Brown Rd #304, Nashville, TN 37221, (615) 739-6121
Shotgun Willie’s BBQ – Real Texas BBQ in Nashville
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Shotgun Willie’s is an award-winning barbecue in Nashville serving real Texas BBQ, including slow-smoked brisket, pork, pork ribs, rib tips, beef sausage, and smoked turkey. All their sides are scratch-made. Their brisket was named “Best in Nashville”.
Shotgun Willie’s BBQ has a welcoming, genuine feel. Plates come with Texas-sized portions of prime brisket, pulled pork, sausage, ribs, or chicken, plus two sides, dill pickles, and pickled red onions. A favorite side at Shotgun Willie’s is the queso mac and beans.
1500 Gallatin Pike S Suite 104, Madison, TN 37115, (615) 942-9188
Map of the Best Nashville BBQ Restaurants
Look at the best barbecue in Nashville with this map:
Relocating to Nashville? 6th Man Movers Can Help
Nashville’s BBQ scene is full of variety and personality. Whether you’re hungry for classic smoked ribs, juicy brisket, or great BBQ with live music, you can find the best barbecue in Nashville. Every spot on our list brings something different to the table, and the best BBQ in Nashville essentially comes down to what you’re craving and the vibe you’re after. Whatever you decide on, you can’t go wrong!
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