It may not be Memphis, but Nashville’s barbecue scene is still worth a visit.
When it derive to barbecue , Nashville is n’t Memphis . There ’s no archetypal “ Nashville vogue ” of barbeque , and that ’s okay . But because of the three major interstates that cover within a mil of each other downtown , our BBQ scene is an eclectic one , featuring specialties that are native to the region at each remnant of those highways . From St. Louis - fashion ribs to Alabama white sauce smoked chicken , here are the best barbeque spots in Nashville .
BBQ Restaurants in Downtown Nashville
Jack’s Bar-B-Que
DowntownNashville ’s godfather of barbeque , Jack Cawthon , unfold this smirch overlooking the riverfront on Broadway and 1st Avenue in 1976 . It was one of the few successful restaurants on Lower Broad back when Demonbreun Street was nothing but wax museum . Today , there are three total position , and the original now sits just a few pulley up next to Tootsies . Cawthon does n’t separate on way , with a kitchen range of Tennessee pork shoulder , Texas brisket , smoke Boston turkey , and St. Louis rib — and it ’s all delicious .
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
DowntownPat Martin ’s business district outpost of his get barbecue empire is definitely his pennant gem . The massive construction tout a full - service eating place on the basis base , plus a huge beer garden upstairs with picnic tables , a stage for hot music , two BAR , games , and private dining space for up to 110 guests . Four whole hog pit put up a hickory smoked incense that draws tourists and local alike into the pitmaster playground . lodge any of Martin ’s meats on a edible corn cake ( known as a Redneck taco ) for a unique experience .
Mary’s Old Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que
Buena VistaThe vibe at Mary ’s still harkens back to the days when barbeque was a takeout food food , so step up to the window , and ask for extra napkins if you plan to consume in your car . The deliciously messy costa “ sandwich ” is fundamentally a one-half single-foot of spares serve with two pieces of white bread . The iconic spot has realise the right to stretch the definition of sandwich .
Peg Leg Porker
DowntownTucked behind the mellow procession of the Gulch , Peg Leg Porker has become a star on the Nashville barbecue conniption since opening in 2013 . An enlarge second story offers even more drinking and dining blank space in the “ Pig Pen . ” A Nashville aborigine , pitmaster Carey Bringle was grow on West Tennessee traditions , and he smokes his barbecue low and slow ( as the pork gods intend ) with a Memphis - expressive style sauce on the side . To start , examine the Memphis Sushi , a sausage and cheese platter served with saltine , or the decadent barbecue nachos , followed by the wry costa , pulled pork barrel phonograph record , or the yardbird smothered in a lemony , snowy sauce with a Kool - Aid pickle on the side .
BBQ Restaurants in West Nashville
Bringle’s Smoking Oasis
NationsPeg Leg Porker pitmaster Carey Bringle turned his aid from West Tennessee to Texas at his modish smoked core emporium . While you ’ll still find pork on the menu , the selection are much beefier than at his original spotlight in the Gulch . From smoky brisket to massive beef cattle ribs and fume prize rib , it ’s a carnivore ’s delight . The expansive outdoor area has quickly become a popular neighborhood knack thanks to breeze tables for family , huge idiot box for look on the heavy game , local craft brews , and stock-still cocktail . If you ’ve got a yen for genuine burn down ends , this is the spot to guide for something novel in this pork barrel - centric township .
Central BBQ
Hillsboro VillageThis Memphis - based eatery group arrive in Nashville with a splashing , bringing its brand of Bluff City barbeque to the DoS Capitol Building . Often considered one of the originators of barbecue nachos , a gooey collection plate of tortilla chips and smoke overstretch porc or chicken transcend with barbecue sauce , cheese sauce , shredded cheese , and jalapeños , Central is n’t exactly heart - healthy ( but it sure is tasty ) . check that to dive into a plate of smoked hot wings , served with both the drummie and flavorless connected for a delicious handful of a wing . Central offer up options like Wet , nude , Jerked , Dry Spice , Honey Gold , or Sweet Heat to season the wings , and it might take a few return visit to pick a favorite .
HoneyFire Barbeque Co.
BellevueWhile grocery shop ledge are occupy with dozens of different types of barbecue sauce , the vast legal age of sales come from bottle filled with a nicely balanced sweet and estrus flavor visibility . At HoneyFire Barbeque Co. in Bellevue , the kitchen has embraced the crowd preferent with a combo of sweet and spicery . Whether it ’s fume poulet wings toss in the sauce or smoky rib slathered with sweet and muggy lacquer , it just exploit . HoneyFire also features over - the - top sandwiches like the Southern Shine , topped with pulled pork , fried green tomatoes , pimento Malva sylvestris , and candied bacon .
Jim ‘n Nick’s Bar-B-Q
BellevueLike a Cracker Barrel , Jim ‘ n Nick ’s tends to locate restaurants near interstate release and concentrates on a fanatical inscription to offering up consistent mathematical product from restaurant to eatery . The cheese biscuits are fabled , and the nacho disc with jalapeño cheddar sausage is enough to make a repast .
Loveless Cafe
BellevueBeloved by tourists for its biscuit and fried chicken , locals know The Loveless Cafe as a reliable spot for quality barbecue . Just a bare 20 minutes from business district , it ’s worth the thrust to fall off your tooth into the pimento cheese and bacon burger or smoke pork loin with peach preserves glaze .
Swett’s Restaurant
McKissack ParkMainly known for soul food and sum - and - three transportation , Swett ’s upped its barbecue game a few years back when it added a raw serving line and a advanced smokehouse exclusively dedicated to smoked meats including rib , deplumate pork barrel , chicken , brisket , and pork chops . It also serves delicious costa tips , a specialized dish found more often in Chicago than in the South . To finish , take hold of one of Swett ’s looker or blackberry bush cobblers .
BBQ Restaurants in East Nashville
Edley’s Bar-B-Que
Five PointsEdley ’s utterly aggregate barbeque and the Southernmeat - and - threetradition by featuring both great smoked meats and splendid down - home base side beauty at their five Nashville locations . Try the Tuck Special , a brisket sandwich with spicy star sign - made pimento cheese , an over - easy egg , and red and white sauce . Or order the pork barrel tacos with sweet-flavored and sourish slaw and pico de gallo . And for those who believe there ’s nothing new left to discover in the worldly concern of barbecue , Edley ’s is change the game with its innovative Nashville Hot Barbecue , the barbecue version of spicy Nashville Hot Chicken . Each daylight the kitchen uses secret family formula to fix eight to 10 side options , like creamy mac n ’ cheeseflower and banana pud ( you read that aright , banana tree pudding is a side ) like Grandma made .
Shotgun Willie’s BBQ
East NashvilleBeef brisket used to be an reconsideration at Nashville barbecue stick , seldom attempted and essentially just tolerated as a change of gait from the usual porktopia . Once Bill Laviolette started importing quality brisket and sausages from his home State Department of Texas and ready them in his monumental smoker , local barbecue lovers finally discovered what they had been missing . Now he ’s the unquestioned smoke kick king of Nashville . gild plates of nitty-gritty “ food market - style ” by the quartern British pound sterling , and he ’ll keep piling it on your plate until you cry ‘ uncle . ’ side include a four - bean take on baked beans .
BBQ Restaurants in North Nashville
Butchertown Hall
GermantownYou might not expect Butchertown Hall to rank as one of the ripe barbecue spots since their carte du jour go far beyond just grilled meat , but this eatery smokes some of the luscious , German - inspired barbeque with a taste of Texas Hill Country . Brisket gets behind - cooked for 14 hours over white-hot oak chip , charred to perfection , and served with either handmade tortillas , Texas pledge , or on a sandwich . Go for the Texas Trinity , and sample the brisket with rib and housemade sausage .
BBQ Restaurants in South Nashville
Tex’s World Famous Bar-B-Q
South NashvilleSince 1979 , Tex ’s has been kind of a novel combination of Texas - style smokehouse and meat - and - three , extend lunch - only service from a steam table pile richly with your option of meats include sausage , pulled pork , barbecue Bologna sausage , turkey , and beef brisket along with an regalia of Southern sides like mac ‘ atomic number 7 Malva sylvestris and turnip greens . Prices are fair , and you ca n’t beat the convenience . Depending on your appetite , you’re able to regularise the Weight Watcher platter , which is a small constituent of center and two sides , or show up on Monday or Tuesday for the special Two Trips Buffet mickle for just $ 14.75 .
Photo courtesy of Shotgun Willie’s BBQ
Photo courtesy of Martin’s BBQ Joint
Photo courtesy of Jim ‘N Nick’s
Photo courtesy of Shotgun Willie’s BBQ
Photo courtesy of Butchertown Hall
Photo courtesy of Tex’s World Famous Bar-B-Q
