Discover the State’s Best Barbecue on the Tennessee Barbecue Trail
Photo credit: iStock/VeselovaElena
Known for its top-notch barbecue, Tennessee is home to a long list of excellent, pit stop-worthy barbecue joints to check out on your next road trip. Not sure where to start? We’ve created a Tennessee Barbecue Trail to help you find some of the best smoked meats and homemade sides the state has to offer. Check out the map and list below to discover a few restaurants that are smokin’ the competition across Tennessee.
Know of another barbecue restaurant we should include on this list? Leave us a comment below!
1. A and R Bar-B-Que
With two locations in Memphis, A and R Bar-B-Que is known for its flavorful, fall-off-the-bone ribs. The family-owned business started as a fast-food takeout restaurant but has now grown to include dine-in seating and catering.
2. Barrel House BBQ
You can find Barrel House BBQ in Lynchburg and Shelbyville. They offer fresh smoked meat daily, dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken and smoked sausage. Barrel House also serves all of your favorite sides, including vinegar slaw, baked beans and potato salad.
Blake Stoker owns Blake’s at Southern Milling in Martin, Tennessee. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins
3. Blakes at Southern Milling
Blake’s at Southern Milling, a restaurant, bar, and private event space offering Texas-style smoked meats, Southern sides and classic cocktails in a beautifully preserved and fully renovated historic building situated in the heart of downtown Martin. Built in 1918, 109 S. Lindell Street has long been a landmark and gathering place for locals. Some hundred years later and now home to Blake’s, it is a special destination for locals and travelers alike.
4. Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q
Located on Highway 70 between Memphis and Brownsville, Bozo’s is the place to go for tender, juicy ribs on Friday or Saturday nights, with sweet slaw and baked beans on the side.
5. Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous
Enjoy some top-notch barbecue with first-class service in downtown Memphis at Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous. While the charcoal ribs are their calling card, a big part of what makes this place special is the experience.
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6. Corner Pit BBQ
Corner Pit BBQ, a family-owned barbecue joint in rural Giles County, has been around since the 1960s, and the same vinegar-based sauce has been passed from owner to owner. The current pitmasters use a wood-smoking pit to cook the pork and add a spicy tomato-based sauce to the menu, along with farm-to-table burgers made using beef raised on their farm just a mile down the road.
See more: Business is Smokin’ at Corner Pit BBQ
7. County’s BBQ
Located in Scott County, this popular barbecue joint is known for its pulled pork burritos and smoked bologna sandwiches. Expect a bit of a twist on your classic barbecue restaurant when you visit.
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8. Edley’s Bar-B-Que
Edley’s Bar-B-Que is family owned and operated by its founders, Will and Catharine Newman. The first location opened in 2011 in Nashville. They eventually opened two other locations in Nashville and one in Chattanooga. Their meats are smoked low and slow using Southern white oak to ensure the perfect flavor, and the sides are made from scratch daily with the same amount of attention.
9. Helen’s Bar-B-Q
Stop by this West Tennessee barbecue joint for a meal prepared by “The Queen of Barbecue” herself, Helen Turner. Turner has been serving some of the state’s best barbecue since 1996, and she even earned a spot on Southern Living magazine’s “Smokin’ Hot List” of top pitmasters.
Photo credit: Brian McCord
10. Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que
A slow infusion of hickory smoke flavors the BBQ chicken and the pork shoulders, hams, and ribs at the Hickory Pit in downtown Savannah. Although barbecue’s their specialty, don’t neglect the specials – Southern favorites like chicken and dumplings, fried okra, and lemon ice-box pie.
11. Jim Neelys Interstate Barbecue
Make a pit stop right off of I-55 and enjoy some of the finest barbecue around. Their special-built barbecue pit and secret sauce ensure fall-off-the-bone and moist ribs every time.
12. KC Finn’s Burgers & BBQ
People come from miles around for the old-fashioned burgers and wood-fired barbecue at KC Finn’s Burgers and BBQ in Jackson.
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13. Navarro’s Smokehouse
Navarro’s Smokehouse is a local favorite in Englewood. Known for its wood-smoked meats, homemade sides and decadent desserts, you’re sure to leave full and satisfied.
See more: 3 Tennessee Barbecue Joints That Are Smokin’ the Competition
14. Peg Leg Porker
Peg Leg Porker, located in downtown Nashville, is proudly owned and operated by the Bringle family. Their meats are smoked fresh daily, and the delicious sides are made from scratch with love. They source all their bread and desserts from local bakeries, as well.
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15. Rick’s Barbecue
With several locations throughout the state and in Alabama, Rick’s Barbecue has garnered quite a local following for their dedication to top-notch barbecue. Stop in to try their hand-pulled pork that’s been smoked to perfection over hickory wood for up to 24 hours.
16. Ridgewood Barbecue
Ridgewood BBQ draws in customers from near and far to taste the Proffitt family’s signature, award-winning smoked pork and beef. They smoke their meats for 8 to 10 hours in custom smokehouses and serve them with a Tennessee-style barbecue sauce that’s made using their secret family recipe.
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17. Sugar’s Ribs
Sugar’s Ribs is for traditional barbecue fans. The old-fashioned, roadside barbecue joint feel along with the comfortable setting and great views of the surrounding mountains and downtown Chattanooga will make you wonder why you never visited before.
18. Whiskey Fire
Known for its legendary “Brisket Bomb,” this barbecue joint is one-of-a-kind in Fairview, Tennessee. Whiskey Fire considers brisket to be king and prioritizes quality and flavorful food.
Might want to checkout Navarro’s Smokehouse, Highway 411 N, Englewood, TN. They have wonderful barbecue. Only open from Thursday-Saturday. Guaranteed to please!
Hi Sherry,
Thanks for the suggestion! We’ve added Navarro’s to the list.
Rachel Graf
Digital Editor, TN Home & Farm
Scott’s BBQ in Lexington, Tn. Great food!
MIght Want to check out Rick’s BBQ in Lawrenceburg and Loretto
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for the suggestion! We’ve added it to the list.
Rachel Graf
Digital Editor, TN Home & Farm
“Love That BBQ,” Maryville Pike, Knoxville should be on that list despite the fact I love their smoked bologna. I guess that’s why they call it “Love’s.”
News Flash!
Ridgewood BBQ is NOT that great!
You need to get out more and taste these places.
And….. you have nothing down the eastern corridor of Tennessee!
Feel free to send some recommendations. We’re always looking for new places. Thanks!
Jessy Yancey
managing editor, TN Home & Farm
Shaeffer’s Farm in Summertown should definitely be on the list.
Amen!
Honey Fire Barbeque in Bellevue,Tn in the shopping center by the theater.
September 22 if y’all want to make a road trip for Barbeque, Thursday,Friday,Saturday. Paducah,KY Barbeque on the river, 70+ vendors not only selling their Que to the public also entering the same Que in the competition. Look for the tent selling the Frozen Key lime covered in Chocolate also.
You might also try Firehouse in Johnson City. It is great.
We love Blakes in Martin Tennessee we had a large graduation party and they took great care of us and the food was incredible. the smoked cream cheese is my favorite.
We like going to
Mo-Mo’s Bar-B-Q in Dayton, TN
Roadside place that has some indoor and outdoor seating.
7481 Rhea County Hwy
Dayton, TN 37321
(423) 775-6868
Hunts Tennessee BBQ Is great. Highway 45 in Henderson TN
Ricks bbq, in my opinion, should be moved way up on the list! They’ve opened another one in Waynesboro. The ribs are awesome and don’t really need the sauce.
When you stop at Barrel House BBQ, be sure to have the Grill Cheese on Crack…it’s the best and always say “Hey” to Chuck.