Quick answer
Nashville's BBQ scene is more eclectic than you'd expect — Texas-style brisket, West Tennessee whole-hog, Memphis dry rub, and Nashville's own cayenne-forward style all compete. Shotgun Willie's is the most recommended overall, but the best spot depends on your preferred style. This list, curated from hundreds of Reddit posts across r/nashville, r/VisitingNashville, and r/BBQ, covers the 12 smokehouses that locals and food critics actually endorse.
- Best overall
- Shotgun Willie's BBQ — 4.7★ (819 reviews)
- Best downtown
- Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint — whole-hog tradition
- Most unique
- Curry Boys BBQ — 4.8★ Thai-Texas fusion
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Shotgun Willie's: The unanimous #1 pick across Reddit, Eater, and The Infatuation. Worth the drive to Madison.
- Martin's: The West Tennessee whole-hog standard-bearer with the most convenient downtown location.
- Curry Boys: The highest-rated at 4.8★ — come early, the brisket sells out.
Nashville's BBQ scene offers a diverse range of styles for $14-$22 a plate, with Shotgun Willie's being the most recommended spot according to Reddit. While Nashville lacks a single defining BBQ style, its variety, from Texas brisket to whole-hog, is its strength.
Nashville might play second fiddle to Memphis when it comes to Tennessee BBQ, but Music City's smoked meat scene has exploded in recent years. From Texas-transplant brisket masters to whole-hog traditionalists and creative fusion joints, there's more diversity here than in most Southern BBQ cities.
A BBQ plate with two sides runs $14-$22, and the best spots are spread across the metro area — from Madison to Bellevue. We analyzed hundreds of Reddit posts across r/nashville, r/VisitingNashville, and r/BBQ, cross-referenced with Eater Nashville and The Infatuation, to find the 12 smokehouses that locals and critics actually recommend.
Unlike Memphis (dry-rub ribs) or Texas (low-and-slow brisket), Nashville doesn't have one defining BBQ style. That's actually its strength — you can get world-class brisket, whole-hog pulled pork, competition ribs, and Thai-spiced hot links all within a 30-minute drive.
BBQ Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 300+ Reddit posts and 1,500+ comments across r/nashville, r/VisitingNashville, r/NashvilleGoodEats, and r/BBQ spanning 2020 to 2026. Restaurants were ranked by frequency of independent recommendations. Every spot was mentioned in at least 3 separate threads by different users. We cross-referenced with Eater Nashville and The Infatuation's editorial picks, then verified all details via Google Places API.
1Shotgun Willie's BBQ
Texas-Style BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- The best Texas-style brisket and ribs in the Nashville area
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 819 reviews. American wagyu brisket. White oak and pecan smoke
- Limitations
- In Madison (15 min from downtown). Sells out early. Closed Mon-Tue
- Price / value
- $15-$28 · 4.7★
- What to order
- Wagyu brisket, salt-and-pepper ribs, dill potato salad, baked beans.
🕐 Mon-Tue: Closed · Wed-Sun: 11 AM – 3 PM
2Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
Whole-Hog BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Authentic whole-hog pulled pork in the West Tennessee tradition
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 11,282 reviews. Multiple locations. Convenient downtown spot
- Limitations
- Can feel chain-like. Quality varies by location
- Price / value
- $12-$22 · 4.5★
- What to order
- Pulled pork sandwich, Redneck Tacos on cornbread hoecakes, wings.
🕐 Mon-Thu: 11 AM – 10 PM · Fri-Sat: 11 AM – 11 PM · Sun: 11 AM – 10 PM
3Edley's Bar-B-Que
Nashville-Style BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Nashville-style BBQ with cayenne and habanero dry rub — a local original
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 4,025 reviews. Multiple locations. Great patio at 12 South
- Limitations
- Can get crowded. Some say quality has dipped with expansion
- Price / value
- $12-$22 · 4.6★
- What to order
- The Tuck Special (brisket, egg, pimento cheese), hot chicken nachos, banana pudding.
🕐 Mon-Thu: 11 AM – 9 PM · Fri-Sat: 11 AM – 10 PM · Sun: 11 AM – 9 PM
4Peg Leg Porker BBQ
Dry-Rub BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Award-winning dry-rub ribs and smoked wings in the walkable Gulch area
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 3,845 reviews. In the Gulch (walkable). Award-winning pitmaster
- Limitations
- Can be touristy. Sunday closes early at 4 PM
- Price / value
- $12-$24 · 4.5★
- What to order
- Smoked wings (the must-order), dry-rub ribs, pulled pork plate.
🕐 Mon-Tue: 11 AM – 9 PM · Wed-Sat: 11 AM – 10 PM · Sun: 11 AM – 4 PM
5Curry Boys BBQ
Thai-Texas Fusion BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Adventurous eaters wanting Texas BBQ with Thai curry flavors
- Strengths
- 4.8★ highest rating on the list. Unique curry queso. Snappy hot links
- Limitations
- Brisket sells out. East Nashville location. Newer, less established
- Price / value
- $14-$26 · 4.8★
- What to order
- Brisket, hot links, curry queso. Come early for the brisket.
🕐 Mon-Sun: 11 AM – 9 PM
6Bringle's Smoking Oasis
West Texas BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Show-stealing smoked pastrami and West Texas-style brisket in the Nations
- Strengths
- Smoked pastrami (not on Peg Leg's menu). Great football-watching spot
- Limitations
- Closed Mon-Tue. In the Nations (west side). Lower rating than peers
- Price / value
- $14-$28 · 4.3★
- What to order
- Smoked pastrami (the standout), West Texas brisket, smoked prime rib.
🕐 Mon-Tue: Closed · Wed-Thu: 11 AM – 9 PM · Fri: 11 AM – 10 PM · Sat: 11 AM – 11 PM · Sun: 11 AM – 9 PM
7The Ridge
Competition BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Competition-quality BBQ from a 20+ year regional champion
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 783 reviews. Competition pedigree. West Nashville locals' pick
- Limitations
- West Nashville location. Less well-known to tourists
- Price / value
- $12-$24 · 4.7★
- What to order
- Brisket plate, competition ribs, loaded baked potato.
🕐 Mon-Thu: 11 AM – 8:30 PM · Fri-Sat: 11 AM – 9 PM · Sun: 11 AM – 8:30 PM
8HoneyFire BBQ
Southern BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Creative Southern BBQ with decadent sandwiches and killer sides
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 1,315 reviews. Open 7 days. Great sides and desserts
- Limitations
- In Bellevue (25 min from downtown). Off the tourist trail
- Price / value
- $12-$22 · 4.6★
- What to order
- Southern Shine sandwich (pulled pork, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese), white queso mac, PB banana pudding.
🕐 Mon-Sun: 11 AM – 9 PM
9Central BBQ
Memphis-Style BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Authentic Memphis-style dry-rub ribs and 24-hour smoked meats
- Strengths
- Memphis institution since 2002. Hickory and pecan wood. Multiple Nashville locations
- Limitations
- Chain from Memphis — purists may prefer Nashville-native spots
- Price / value
- $12-$22 · 4.4★
- What to order
- Memphis dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey. 24-hour marinated meats.
🕐 Mon-Thu: 11 AM – 8 PM · Fri-Sun: 11 AM – 9 PM
10Jack's Bar-B-Que
Multi-Style BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- A taste of every BBQ style — St. Louis, Texas, and Tennessee — since 1989
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 2,780 reviews. Since 1989. Three locations. No-frills authentic
- Limitations
- Broadway location is tourist-heavy. Trinity Lane location is the best
- Price / value
- $10-$20 · 4.5★
- What to order
- Turkey sandwich (the sleeper hit), Texas-style brisket, St. Louis ribs.
🕐 Mon-Thu: 10:30 AM – 8 PM · Fri-Sat: 10:30 AM – 9 PM · Sun: 11 AM – 7 PM
11Mary's Old Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que
Pit BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Historic pit BBQ with a legendary mustard-vinegar sauce since 1962
- Strengths
- Since 1962. Walk-up window. Iconic rib sandwich. Historic Jefferson St
- Limitations
- Cash preferred. Irregular hours. Lower Google rating
- Price / value
- $8-$16 · 3.9★
- What to order
- The rib sandwich (massive), hot sauce (dangerously hot). Bring cash.
🕐 Limited hours — call ahead
12Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ
Whole-Hog Carolina BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- James Beard Award-winning whole-hog BBQ with Carolina vinegar tradition
- Strengths
- Rodney Scott — James Beard Award winner. Broadway location. Walk-up window
- Limitations
- Brand new (few reviews). Inside Chief's on Broadway (6-story bar). Pricey
- Price / value
- $14-$26 · 3.8★
- What to order
- Whole hog plate, pig skin nachos with Alabama white sauce, prime brisket sandwich.
🕐 Mon-Sun: 8 AM – 11 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best BBQ in Nashville?
Shotgun Willie's is the most recommended BBQ spot in Nashville across Reddit. Their Texas-style brisket and salt-and-pepper ribs are legendary. Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint is a close second for whole-hog pulled pork.
Does Nashville have good BBQ?
Nashville's BBQ scene has grown significantly. While it doesn't have one dominant regional style like Memphis or Texas, you'll find excellent Texas-style brisket (Shotgun Willie's, Curry Boys), whole-hog tradition (Martin's), Memphis dry rub (Central BBQ), and Nashville's own cayenne-forward style (Edley's).
What BBQ style is Nashville known for?
Nashville doesn't have one official BBQ style, but the city focuses on smoked pork. Edley's pioneered 'Nashville-style BBQ' with a cayenne and habanero dry rub. You'll also find excellent Texas-style brisket, Memphis dry-rub ribs, and whole-hog pulled pork.
Where should tourists eat BBQ in Nashville?
For downtown visitors, Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint (4th Ave S) and Peg Leg Porker (the Gulch) are the most accessible. Edley's 12 South location is a short ride away and worth it. Jack's Bar-B-Que on Broadway is convenient but better BBQ exists elsewhere.
How much does BBQ cost in Nashville?
A BBQ plate with two sides runs $14-$22. Sandwiches are $10-$15. A full meal with a drink costs about $18-$25 per person. Shotgun Willie's and Curry Boys are slightly higher for premium meats like wagyu brisket.
Is Shotgun Willie's worth the drive?
Yes. It's technically in Madison (15 minutes from downtown), but Reddit unanimously calls it the best BBQ in the Nashville area. Go early — meats sell out, especially ribs. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
What is the difference between Nashville BBQ and Memphis BBQ?
Memphis BBQ centers on dry-rubbed ribs and pulled pork with tangy tomato-vinegar sauce. Nashville's scene is more eclectic — you'll find Texas brisket, whole-hog Carolina style, Memphis ribs, and Nashville's own cayenne-spiced dry rub. Central BBQ brings authentic Memphis-style to Nashville.
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