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The Best BBQ in Nashville

Whole-hog, brisket, and Memphis-style ribs across Nashville — verified picks by neighborhood and what to order.

By Dim Hour · Updated 2026-06-27 · 8 verified picks

Nashville is hot-chicken country first, but its barbecue runs deeper than its reputation — and HoneyFire BBQ in Brentwood is the best-scored smokehouse in the city on our list, spanning Texas brisket, a Memphis pork sandwich, and Alabama white sauce. This guide answers "where should I get barbecue in Nashville," with every pick below scored and verified by Dim Hour.

Tennessee barbecue centers on pork, and West Tennessee's whole-hog tradition is the regional signature — Martin's Bar-B-Que smokes whole hogs in custom pits. But Nashville's smokehouses pull from every school: Memphis-style dry-rubbed ribs, Texas brisket run low and slow over hickory and oak, and the city's own meat-and-three sides.

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The Picks
1

HoneyFire BBQ

Barbecue · Brentwood · $$ · Dim Hour 91

The top-scored barbecue on our Nashville list, in Brentwood just south of the city. The kitchen spans regions rather than committing to one school — Texas brisket, a Memphis pork sandwich, and Alabama white sauce all share the menu.

Order: Texas brisket · Memphis pork sandwich · Alabama white sauce · pimento cheese macaroni salad
📍 710 Old Hickory Blvd #305, Brentwood, TN 37027 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
2

Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue

Brewery & Barbecue · East Nashville · $$ · Dim Hour 90

A brewing-and-barbecue spot in East Nashville pairing house-brewed beer with a smokehouse menu. One of the higher-scored barbecue rooms in the city, and a relaxed East Side option.

📍 948 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
3

Shotgun Willie’s BBQ

Barbecue restaurant · Madison · $$ · Dim Hour 88

Texas-style barbecue in Madison, north of downtown. The sides do real work here — queso y mac, the green beans, and the dill-pickle potato salad — alongside the smoked meats.

Order: Queso Y Mac · Mr. Tony's Magic Green Beans · Dill Pickle Potato Salad · Honey Poppy Seed Slaw · Texas Sheet Cake
📍 1500 Gallatin Pike S Ste 104, Madison, TN 37115 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
4

B & C Market BBQ

Barbecue · Germantown · $$ · Dim Hour 88

A barbecue counter in Germantown's Nashville Farmers' Market, ordering cafeteria-style. A convenient, well-scored stop for smoked meats close to downtown.

📍 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
5

Edley's Bar-B-Que

BBQ · 12 South · $$ · Dim Hour 86

The 12 South barbecue staple, a local favorite that has grown to several Nashville locations. Brisket and pulled pork anchor the tray, and the bar runs a popular happy hour.

📍 2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
6

Martin's Bar-B-Que

Barbecue · Midtown · $$ · Dim Hour 84

Pat Martin's West Tennessee whole-hog barbecue, with a Midtown location near downtown. Whole hogs are smoked in custom pits — one of the only true whole-hog operations in the city.

📍 410 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
7

Peg Leg Porker

Barbecue · 12 South · $$ · Dim Hour 82

Carey Bringle's Memphis-style barbecue in 12 South, best known for dry-rubbed ribs. The pulled-pork sandwich, smoked yardbird chicken, and smoked green beans fill out the menu.

Order: pulled pork sandwich · yardbird chicken · smoked green beans · mac and cheese · banana pudding
📍 903 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203 Full listing on Dim Hour →
8

Puckett's Restaurant

Barbecue · Franklin · $$ · Dim Hour 82

A country-store-turned-restaurant with a Franklin location south of Nashville, serving brisket, pork ribs, and pulled pork alongside Southern plates and live music.

Order: brisket · pork ribs · pulled pork · meatloaf
📍 Puckett's Restaurant, Downtown, Nashville, TN Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best barbecue in Nashville?
The top barbecue picks in Nashville include HoneyFire BBQ, Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue, Shotgun Willie’s BBQ. Each is scored and verified by Dim Hour; see the full ranked list with signature dishes above.
Is Nashville known for barbecue or hot chicken?
Nashville is best known nationally for hot chicken, but it has a deep barbecue tradition too. Tennessee barbecue centers on pork — West Tennessee whole-hog and Memphis-style dry-rubbed ribs especially — and Nashville's smokehouses also run Texas-style brisket.
Where can I get whole-hog barbecue in Nashville?
Martin's Bar-B-Que smokes West Tennessee-style whole hog in custom pits — one of the few true whole-hog operations in the city.
Where are the best dry-rubbed ribs in Nashville?
Peg Leg Porker in 12 South is the city's best-known spot for Memphis-style dry-rubbed ribs.
What neighborhoods have the best barbecue in Nashville?
These picks spread across Brentwood, East Nashville, Madison, Germantown, 12 South, Midtown — 12 South and the suburbs south of town (Brentwood, Franklin) hold several of the strongest.
Which Nashville barbecue spots are good for groups or a casual meal?
Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue in East Nashville pairs house-brewed beer with its smokehouse menu, and Puckett's Restaurant runs Southern plates and live music alongside the barbecue — both work well for groups.
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in Nashville?
Dim Hour curates 457+ restaurants in Nashville, each scored and verified, organized by neighborhood, cuisine, and occasion.
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Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all Nashville restaurants →