Tennessee is nationally renowned for its barbecue. The state is home to mouthwatering brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs and melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork. Hungry yet? Read further for your Tennessee barbecue check list. How many have you visited?
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Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Made in Tennessee Bucket List Barbecue Spots
TripAdvisor named Tennessee the No. 1 state for barbecue in 2015; and for good cause.
April 14, 2025
The famous Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous is one of the first stops you'll want to make when you arrive in Memphis. The iconic ribs are the star of the show, but you can also order pork shoulder sandwiches, lamb riblets, beef brisket and charcoal-broiled half chicken. Pair your ribs with slaw, potato salad or beans. It's a Made in Tennessee taste of heaven.
KC Finn's Burgers & BBQ - Jackson
Wood-fired barbecue and juicy, old-fashioned burgers can be found at family-woned KC Finn's Burgers & BBQ in Jackson. If you're feeling extra hungry, take on the KC Finn's Burger Food Challenge - 4 pounds of beef burger meat stacked on a 5-inch bun, 16 slices of American cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion, 1 pound of fries and a 20-ounce drink to be finished in 30 minutes or less. If you finish it, you receive the free meal, free t-shirt and get your picture on the Wall of Fame.
Exit 87 BBQ – Jackson
When Tennessee gives its locals and travelers beautiful weather, it's a good choice to sit down at one of the five picnic tables outside of the I-40 Exit 87 BBQ Stand in Jackson, Tennessee for some high-regarded barbecue. This humble barbecue stand serves up delicious barbecue to those travelers who want to find authentic, hidden gems. If you want a unique, no-fuss barbecue experience, head here.
A&R Bar-B-Que - Memphis
Hailed as the best barbecue in the South, head to this establishment for melt-in-your-mouth pulled, chopped and smoked pork. Ribs, brisket, catfish and chicken can also be ordered.
Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q - Mason
Since 1923, Bozo’s has served up barbecue platters, sandwiches, ribs, catfish and burgers in Mason. Top off your meal with one of their homemade pies.
Central BBQ - Memphis
Memphis locals flock to this barbecue joint for the slow smoked meats and ribs with the perfect combination of secret, dry spices.
B.E. Scott's BBQ - Lexington
The whole hog is hickory smoked at B.E. Scott's and they have the awards to show for it. From Men’s Journal to High on the Hog, publications nationwide know where to go for barbecued whole-hog heaven.
The Bar-B-Q Shop - Memphis
Southern Living named The Bar-B-Q Shop restaurant one of the Top 50 barbecue places in the South. One taste of the smoked meat drizzled with the Dancing Pigs BBQ sauce and seasoning and you’ll agree it’s one of the best.
Interstate Barbecue - Memphis
Pulled pork, barbecue ribs and – BBQ Spaghetti? That’s right. Expand your barbecue palette at Interstate Barbecue and see why the spaghetti is a must-eat.
Cozy Corner Bar-B-Que – Memphis
Find heaven in a plate of ribs. Sop up extra barbecue sauce with the last bite of your pork sandwich. Take a bite of melt-in-your-mouth barbecue beef. Welcome to Cozy Corner, where they pride themselves in giving you a memorable Memphis ‘que experience. Have a side of barbecue beans or Cole slaw and finish off the meal with the delicious banana pudding or sweet potato pie.
Middle Tennessee
Martin's Bar-B-Q Joint – Nolensville
Each day begins at 5 a.m. when the low ‘n slow, live-fire, whole-hog barbecue and sides are prepared from scratch at Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint. Order the Redneck Taco (pork, brisket, sausage, chicken, turkey or catfish on top of a cornbread hoe-cake with slaw and sauce) or a huge plate of barbecue with two sides, or the Big Momma Sampler (4 ribs, ¼ lb. of pork, ¼ of brisket and two sides). Be sure to visit all locations.
Peg Leg Porker – Nashville
The single-legged man behind the brand, pitmaster Carey Bringle brings legendary barbecue lineage to the table at Peg Leg Porker. From barbecue nachos to the Yard Bird Platter (half a chicken with two sides), you'll walk away from this establishment full of ‘que and planning your return.
Whitt’s Barbecue - Hendersonville, Murfreesboro & Smyrna
Cooked 24 hours at a time with hickory smoke, you’ll have some of the “Best of Nashville” since 1988 barbecue be it pork, turkey or ribs you’re craving.
Stroud’s Barbeque - Cookeville, Franklin
Dine in or drive-thru for ribs, sandwiches, loaded barbecue platters and even the Barbeque Burrito in Franklin and Cookeville.
Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant - Chattanooga, Columbia, Franklin & Nashville
Since the 1950s, Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant was once a tiny grocery in Leiper’s Fork. Years later there are now numerous locations in Franklin, Nashville, Columbia and, the newest location, Chattanooga. Enjoy your slow cooked, Cherrywood-smoked barbecue with a side of music almost every night.
Jack’s Bar-B-Q - Nashville
Three locations are throughout Music City and the Jack’s Bar-B-Que on Broadway, amidst the bright lights of the honky-tonks welcomes locals and visitors in for smoked chicken, ribs and brisket.
Edley’s Bar-B-Que - Nashville
Combining Nashville’s iconic meat-and-three with their smoking tricks, Edley’s serves up platters of succulent barbecue offerings. Make it a lunch destination to bite into the savory Tuck Special: smoked brisket topped with spicy pimento, an over-easy egg, pickles and doused in red and white sauce.
East Tennessee
Sweet P's BBQ & Soul House - Knoxville
Barbecue burritos, nachos, smoked meatloaf, pork sandwiches, ribs, pulled chicken, beef brisket and more can be found at Sweet P's BBQ & Soul House in downtown Knoxville. Fresh salads that can have smoked chicken, turkey or brisket added, homemade desserts like banana pudding and chocolate chess pie and sides like sauteed greens, green beans, potato salad, pinto beans and mac n' cheese are not to be missed. Enjoy your meal in the cozy restaurant or soak in the sunshine in the beer garden.
The Firehouse – Johnson City
Sink your teeth into barbecue that has been hickory smoked for 16 hours at The Firehouse Restaurant. Packed full of flavor, you can't go wrong ordering the pulled pork or chicken, smoked beef brisket and tender baby-back ribs basted with The Firehouse Original Sauce.
Sticky Fingers - Chattanooga
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@stickyfingers_ribhouse
Some of the best barbecue in the Southeast can be enjoyed at Sticky Fingers in Chattanooga. The award-winning ribs are not to be missed - hickory smoked for hours until the meat falls off the bone. You can also savor brisket, brisket burnt ends, pulled pork, smoked chicken and brisket mac n' cheese. Fill your plate with baked beans, loaded baked potatoes, coleslaw, fried corn and sweet potato casserole.
Couch’s BBQ - Ooltewah
A brick pit, hand-turning and basting with recipes passed down since 1946 is the process with tasty results. So tasty that they were included in Southern Living’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints.
Calhoun’s Barbecue - Knoxville
Visit the original location – there are nine across East Tennessee – and dive into a slab of award-winning, hickory-smoked, baby-back ribs.
Sugar’s Ribs - Chattanooga
Yes, the smoked spareribs are famously moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside, but you’d be remiss not to try the barbecue chicken.
Ridgewood Barbecue - Bluff City
The saucy, smoky ham and the sides are what keep locals and visitors alike coming back for more.
Barbecue Events
Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue - Lynchburg
Barbecue teams, judges and 25,000 visitors from around the world flock to Lynchburg for the tasty competition. The Individual Grand Champion wins $10,000 and bragging rights.
Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass - Sevierville
Celebrate the spring each May at this festival and see competitors put their barbecuing techniques to the test in Barbecue Cook-off, an official barbecue championship of Tennessee.
Cookeville Cook-Off at Fall FunFest - Cookeville
Located in the hometown of National Barbecue Tour Director Michael “GrillMaster” McDearman, the competition gets fired up each September at the oldest KCBS Sanctioned barbecue competition east of the Mississippi.
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Memphis in May - Memphis
The smoke rises each year as visitors from all 50 states and even internationally come to see the best ‘cuers face off in the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest as part of Memphis in May.
Visit Loudon County's BBQ Trail Challenge
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Visit Loudon County
Take Visit Loudon County's BBQ Trail Challenge to visit four barbecue stops: Smokin'F BBQ & Barn in Philadelphia, TN; Taste O Texas and Sons of Smoke in Loudon; and Calhoun's in Lenoir City. At each pit stop, you can taste mouth-watering pulled pork, fall-off-the-bone ribs, brisket and more. Collect a button from each restaurant, save your receipts and send through the online submission form to get your commemorative BBQ Trail Challenge t-shirt. Share your favorite barbecue plates with #GoLocoBBQtrail.
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