Best BBQ Restaurants in Nashville (2026 Updated Guide), Eat With Sam K

Looking for the best BBQ in Nashville? From Tennessee whole-hog barbecue and dry-rub ribs to Texas-style brisket, Nashville has plenty of options when you're craving smoked meat.

Whether you're visiting Nashville for the first time or you're a local looking for a new barbecue spot, this guide covers Nashville BBQ restaurants worth knowing about.

At Eat With Sam K, every restaurant I personally review is paid for with my own money. I don't accept paid reviews or change my opinions in exchange for free food. I haven't personally reviewed a Nashville BBQ spot yet, so nothing below has a Sam Score. As soon as I do, it'll move to the top of this guide.

Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.

Nashville BBQ Worth Knowing

I'm still working my way through Nashville's BBQ scene, so the restaurants below haven't received an official Sam Score yet.

Rather than assigning rankings to places I haven't personally reviewed, I'm keeping them on my radar and will update this guide as I visit them.

🥩 Shotgun Willie's BBQ

If brisket is what you're after, Shotgun Willie's deserves to be near the top of your Nashville BBQ list. Known for Texas-style barbecue, it's developed a strong local following for its brisket, ribs, sausage, and other smoked meats. Arrive early, popular meats can sell out.

Best For: Texas-Style BBQ & Brisket

🍖 Peg Leg Porker

Located in The Gulch, Peg Leg Porker is one of Nashville's most recognizable barbecue restaurants. Pitmaster Carey Bringle specializes in Tennessee-style barbecue, and the restaurant has become especially well known for its dry-rub ribs.

Best For: Ribs

🐷 Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

Martin's is one of the biggest names in Nashville barbecue and is especially known for West Tennessee-style whole-hog cooking. Its 4th Avenue location makes it one of the most convenient places to experience Tennessee BBQ near Broadway and Bridgestone Arena.

Best For: Whole-Hog BBQ

🍽️ Edley's Bar-B-Que

Edley's combines smoked meats with a broader Southern-style menu and has grown into one of Nashville's most recognizable local BBQ brands, a particularly good option for groups since there's more to choose from than meat by the pound.

Best For: BBQ + Southern Sides

🏝️ Bringle's Smoking Oasis

Another concept from Carey Bringle of Peg Leg Porker, but a different experience: Texas-inspired smoked meats combined with a large indoor/outdoor environment built for hanging out, more of an afternoon or group experience than grab-a-plate-and-leave.

Best For: Texas-Style BBQ & Atmosphere

🔥 HoneyFire BBQ

HoneyFire brings a more modern feel to Nashville barbecue while still focusing on smoked meats and Southern hospitality, with creative dishes and sauces beyond a basic meat-and-three plate.

Best For: Modern Nashville BBQ

🏛️ Jack's Bar-B-Que

Jack's has been part of Nashville's barbecue scene for decades. The original Lower Broadway location has closed, but Jack's continues serving Nashville BBQ from its Charlotte Avenue and West Trinity Lane locations, both just outside downtown.

Best For: Nashville BBQ Tradition

💎 The Ridge

The Ridge is a neighborhood Southern eatery in Sylvan Park serving BBQ alongside catfish and other Southern staples, a completely different experience from the city's most famous BBQ names.

Best For: Neighborhood BBQ

👨‍👩‍👧 Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse

Bar-B-Cutie has deep Nashville roots and offers a more casual, approachable BBQ experience, traditional smoked meats and sides without turning dinner into a major event.

Best For: Casual BBQ

Best Nashville BBQ by Occasion

If you don't want to sort through the entire list, here's where I'd start depending on what you're looking for.

Looking For	Try
🥩 Brisket	Shotgun Willie's / Bringle's / HoneyFire
🍖 Ribs	Peg Leg Porker / Shotgun Willie's
🐷 Whole-Hog & Tennessee BBQ	Martin's / Peg Leg Porker / Edley's
📍 Near Downtown	Martin's / Peg Leg Porker / Jack's
👨‍👩‍👧 Groups	Edley's / Bringle's Smoking Oasis

What Style of BBQ Is Nashville Known For?

Nashville doesn't have one single barbecue style in the same way some other Southern cities do.

You'll find influences from across Tennessee and beyond, including West Tennessee whole-hog barbecue, Memphis-style ribs, Texas-style brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, and plenty of regional sauces.

That variety is part of what makes exploring Nashville BBQ interesting.

Instead of trying one restaurant and deciding you've experienced Nashville barbecue, try restaurants specializing in different styles.

What Should You Order at a Nashville BBQ Restaurant?

If you're trying a restaurant for the first time, I recommend ordering a sampler or multiple meats whenever possible.

A good first plate might include:

🥩 Brisket
🐷 Pulled Pork
🍖 Ribs
🍗 Smoked Chicken or Wings

Then add a few sides.

Mac & cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, greens, potato salad, and cornbread are all common options depending on the restaurant.

It gives you a much better idea of what the pitmaster does well than judging an entire restaurant from one sandwich.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best BBQ in Nashville?

Shotgun Willie's is a strong choice for Texas-style brisket, Peg Leg Porker is known for its ribs, and Martin's is one of Nashville's best-known destinations for West Tennessee whole-hog barbecue. As I personally review more of Nashville's BBQ restaurants, I'll continue updating this guide with my own rankings and Sam Scores.

What is the best BBQ near Broadway in Nashville?

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint is a convenient option for visitors staying around Broadway, while Peg Leg Porker is located nearby in The Gulch.

Where can I get good brisket in Nashville?

Shotgun Willie's, Bringle's Smoking Oasis, and HoneyFire are good places to start if brisket is your priority.

Where should I get ribs in Nashville?

Peg Leg Porker is particularly well known for its dry-rub pork ribs, with Shotgun Willie's as another strong choice.

Is Nashville known for BBQ?

Nashville may be more nationally associated with hot chicken, but barbecue has a long history throughout Tennessee. Nashville offers everything from West Tennessee whole-hog cooking to Memphis- and Texas-influenced barbecue.

The Sam Score

Every BBQ spot that receives a Sam Score has been personally visited and reviewed by me, meat quality, BBQ execution, sides, value, service, and atmosphere all factor in.

Restaurants cannot pay for a Sam Score or a better rating. My goal with Eat With Sam K is simple: try the food myself and tell you whether I think it's actually worth your money. I keep the top of my scale intentionally difficult, an extremely high Sam Score is reserved for restaurants that truly stand out.

As I visit more BBQ spots around Nashville, I'll update this guide with my first Sam Scores, photos, and rankings.

Last Updated: August 2026

More Nashville Food Guides

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Best BBQ Restaurants in Nashville (2026 Updated Guide)