If you know, you know: the best Tennessee barbecue disappears long before supper. Pitmasters stack smoky ribs and chopped pork onto trays, and by late afternoon the magic is gone. You will want to line up early, chat with the folks in front of you, and let the scent of hickory guide your order. Here are the counters where the last rib often sparks a friendly race to the register.
Central BBQ – Downtown – Memphis, Tennessee
Get here early because the Downtown line crawls out the door, and you can smell hickory before you see the sign. Order a half slab with that tangy Memphis glaze, plus pulled pork crowned with crunchy slaw. The ribs bend just right, the bark whispers pepper and smoke, and the beans carry a sweet heat.
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Grab a seat near the sauce bar and pace yourself. You will want nachos loaded with pork, but save room for banana pudding. When the dinner rush hits, racks vanish in a blink, so say yes to extra sides now. Friendly staff call out names, trays clatter, and suddenly you are licking fingers, wondering how soon you can come back.
Cozy Corner Restaurant – Memphis, Tennessee
Cozy Corner is where Memphis smoke hugs you the moment the door swings open. Order the famous Cornish hen lacquered in a spicy glaze, then add rib tips that crunch and melt in the same bite. The slaw cools the fire while baked beans bring molasses depth, and white bread quietly soaks everything up.
You will want to linger, but the steam table tells you to move. Platters dwindle fast, and the pit crew keeps the line honest and laughing. Sit by the window, watch regulars nod, and bite into meat that falls without a fight. When the trays go empty before dusk, you will be glad you trusted your nose and arrived early.
The Bar-B-Q Shop – Memphis, Tennessee
This is the home of the legendary dry rub that turns ribs into pure Memphis poetry. You taste paprika, garlic, and a kiss of sugar, all clinging to a rosy smoke ring. Order the Bar-B-Q spaghetti too, a quirky classic that delivers comfort with every twirl of the fork.
Move quickly at lunch because plates vanish. You will love the Texas toast for swiping up sauce, and a side of slaw keeps things bright and crunchy. The staff has that confident rhythm of a place that sells out daily. When trays empty, the room exhales, and you will already be plotting a return for another rack.
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous – Memphis, Tennessee
Down the alley and into the basement, the scent of charcoal announces Rendezvous before the menu does. Dry ribs arrive stacked and dusted, crackling with spice and vinegary snap. Add a sausage and cheese plate to warm up your appetite, then chase bites with a cold drink.
You will hear stories at the tables, because this room is a living scrapbook. Lunchtime fills fast, and dinner rush can empty the pits before sunset. Keep an eye on the servers as racks pass by like trophies. When your platter arrives, squeeze lemon over the ribs, dust a little more rub, and let the crunch give way to smoke.
Payne’s Bar-B-Que – Memphis, Tennessee
Payne’s proves greatness lives in simple rooms with serious smoke. Order the chopped pork sandwich piled high and crowned with that electric green slaw. The tang, the heat, and the soft bun make a perfect Memphis bite that feels both classic and new.
Bring cash, bring patience, and bring appetite. You will see regulars nod and smile like a secret club. Trays dwindle quickly around lunch, and the pit’s rhythm dictates the clock. Grab a side of beans and a slice of pie if you are lucky. When the pans go bare, the aroma still lingers, telling latecomers what they missed and urging you to plan better next time.
Germantown Commissary – Germantown, Tennessee
In a former country store, the Commissary stacks trays that taste like family weekends. Get a combo of ribs and pulled pork, then add deviled eggs and slaw for balance. Sweet tea washes everything down, while banana pudding waits like a promise you will keep.
Lines move steady but seats fill fast. You will hear kids laughing, screens creaking, and orders flying from the counter. The ribs wear a sticky glaze with a peppery wink, and the pork shreds with effortless tenderness. Come early on game days because plates vanish before traffic slows. Take a jar of sauce home and let the scent ride with you the whole way back.
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint – Nashville, Tennessee
Whole hog runs the show here, chopped by hand and piled high on paper. The bark carries smoke and salt, with pockets of tangy vinegar that wake everything up. Add a side of Alabama white sauce for wings, and do not skip the cornbread hoe cakes.
This place buzzes like a backyard party. You will want to explore the pit room, feel the heat, and respect the craft. During busy nights, shoulders disappear and ribs follow quickly. Order early, claim a picnic table under string lights, and dig in while it is hot. The vibe says linger, but the sellout clock says move.
Peg Leg Porker BBQ – Nashville, Tennessee
Peg Leg Porker is a rib lover’s playground with a swagger that feels earned. Dry rub clings to every bone, and the meat yields with the softest tug. Grab smoked green beans and mac, then drizzle a little hot sauce for kick.
You will feel the energy from the patio to the bar. Staff moves fast, and trays vanish even faster on weekend evenings. Order a half slab and a cold drink the moment you arrive. Sit outside if the weather cooperates and watch plates land and disappear. When the last rack sells out, the crowd groans, and you quietly guard your tray like treasure.
Edley’s Bar-B-Que – Nashville, Tennessee
Edley’s mixes tradition with a playful spirit, so your tray can hold brisket and hot chicken without apology. The brisket sandwich drips with rendered goodness, while the sides arrive generous and comforting. Try the burnt ends or a taco for a surprise that hits all the notes.
Lines snake at lunch, and dinner crowds clean out favorites quickly. You will want a banana pudding finish, and maybe a bourbon slush if the sun is up. Grab a seat near the window and watch the parade of paper-lined trays. When the smoker’s best cuts tap out, the staff smiles and shrugs, and you plan a return with a friend.
Jack’s Bar-B-Que – Nashville, Tennessee
Jack’s feels like the downtown welcome mat, with a cafeteria line that keeps moving. You build your tray with brisket, turkey, or ribs, then pick among sauces that swing from sweet to vinegar sharp. Corncake and greens round out the spread with easy comfort.
Tourists and locals collide in the best way, and the smoker works overtime. You will want to decide fast because favorites sell out before the neon glows. Climb to the balcony, snag a tiny table, and inhale the skyline with your meal. When a meat pan goes empty, the line groans, and you remember why showing up early matters.
Ridgewood Barbecue – Bluff City, Tennessee
Hidden in the hills, Ridgewood rewards anyone who follows the smoke through the trees. Order the sliced pork sandwich or smoked ham, both kissed with a deep, coppery edge. The blue cheese slaw is a curveball that hits clean, cutting through richness with a bold tang.
Inside, wood walls and friendly smiles feel like a family room. You will notice plates leaving the kitchen fast, and the register ringing steady. Early birds get the choicest cuts, especially on weekends. Settle into a booth, watch the mountain light fade, and take one more bite before it is gone. The last sandwich always disappears first.
Buddy’s Bar-B-Q – Knoxville, Tennessee
Buddy’s brings a friendly Knoxville rhythm where trays move fast and smiles come quicker. Chopped pork sandwiches meet hushpuppies and creamy slaw for an easy, satisfying feast. Add a side of barbecue beans and a frosty tea, and you have a no fuss classic.
You will see families stacking tables together, coaches in caps, and kids eyeing dessert. Peak hours can drain the pans before the dinner bell, especially on Fridays. Order promptly, grab napkins, and do not underestimate the heat in the sauce. When you head out with a full belly, the line often stretches to the door, proof you timed it right.
Calhoun’s On The River – Knoxville, Tennessee
Water views and rib bones make a perfect Knoxville pairing at this riverfront spot. Glazed ribs shine, pulled pork sandwiches stack tall, and the breeze makes everything taste brighter. Order a local beer, watch boats drift by, and let the sauce dribble without apology.
Tour days and game weekends can crush supplies, so arrive early and claim a patio table. You will hear laughter mix with gulls and clinking glasses. The smoker hums below the chatter, and favorites vanish before dusk on sunny evenings. Take a slow walk after, and you will still smell hickory trailing behind you along the path.
Sweet P’s Uptown Corner – Knoxville, Tennessee
Sweet P’s Uptown Corner packs a lot of flavor into a cozy neighborhood spot. The pulled pork is tender with a peppery bark, while smoked chicken loves a bath in white sauce. Collards, mac, and a wedge of cornbread make the tray feel complete without fuss.
You will want to peek at the chalkboard because specials often steal the show. Lunch rush hits hard, and by late afternoon some stars are gone. Order first, chat after, and save a corner for banana pudding. When the last trays slide out, the staff nods knowingly, and you promise yourself a quicker return.
Slick Pig BBQ – Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Slick Pig is famous for smoked wings that steal attention from everything else. They glisten with spice and smoke, snapped skin giving way to juicy meat. Add a pulled pork sandwich or a stuffed baked potato for a full tilt feast that satisfies every craving.
Weeknights can feel like weekends here, and favorites fly out early. You will want extra napkins and maybe a second order of wings just in case. The line moves with friendly speed, but the smoker sets the limits. When the wing pans empty, you will be glad you trusted the buzz and showed up before dinner.
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