Tennessee has plenty of fancy restaurants, but some of the best meals in the state still come out of cinderblock buildings, roadside counters, and small family pits where the menu barely changes. This list covers seven of those barbecue stops, from a whole hog joint on a West Tennessee highway to a Memphis corner spot that has been serving ribs since 1977.
Each one earned its place for a different reason, whether it is a mustard slaw that people drive across town for, a blue cheese dip with crackers, or a pit sitting right in the dining room. Save this one for your next road trip, because a few of these places keep short hours and sell out of favorites fast.
1. B.E. Scotts BBQ, Lexington, TN
Whole hog barbecue is a West Tennessee tradition, and Lexington sits right in the middle of that story. B.E.
Scotts BBQ keeps the style front and center along US-412, where pulled pork is the main event.
Ordering happens at the counter, and the setup stays simple. The pulled pork sandwich is the headliner, and many regulars consider it one of the best pork sandwiches in all of West Tennessee.
The hickory doesn’t stop at the pork. Scotts also smokes its chicken and its beans over hickory, and the pulled chicken often comes with a white sauce that sets it apart from the usual red sauce crowd.
Sauces are a big part of the reputation here, with the mild barbecue sauce getting plenty of attention. Ribs, nachos, slaw, potato salad, and homemade pies round out the menu.
Here’s a quirky bonus. The restrooms have a reputation for being unusually memorable, which is a fun detail for a small-town barbecue stop.
Plan around the schedule. Scotts opens at 9 AM Tuesday through Friday and closes at 6 PM, with Saturday hours from 9 AM to 4 PM, and it is closed Sunday and Monday.
Saturday mornings get busy, so an early weekday lunch is the calmer bet.
2. Payne’s Bar-B-Que, Memphis, TN
Mustard slaw is the reason a lot of people make the trip down Lamar Avenue. At Payne’s Bar-B-Que, that bright, tangy slaw gets piled right onto a chopped pork sandwich, and the result is gloriously messy.
The building itself is about as plain as barbecue gets. It is a simple cinderblock spot with a window for ordering and a few tables scattered around the room.
Nobody comes here for decor, though. They come for chopped and pulled pork sandwiches, smoked sausage with a devoted following, and ribs cooked with just a hint of smoke.
A couple of menu surprises are worth knowing about. The fried bologna has its own fan club, and the rib sandwich is a fun option if you can’t decide between ribs and bread.
Specials are handwritten, which fits the no-frills style perfectly.
Timing matters more at Payne’s than almost anywhere else on this list. It is open only Wednesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 2 PM, with Friday running until 2:30 PM.
That short lunch window makes it a smart first stop on a Memphis barbecue day. Parking is free, and there is usually room to grab a spot.
3. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Nolensville, TN
Most barbecue places keep the pit out back. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nolensville puts a whole hog pit right in the dining room, so the cooking is part of the scenery.
That pit is the heart of the operation, and it gives this spot a strong claim to the West Tennessee whole hog tradition in Middle Tennessee. The pulled pork shoulder is an easy starting point, but the menu branches out in fun directions.
The Redneck Taco is a local favorite and a great pick for first-timers. Brisket tacos, half racks of spare ribs, a BBQ baked potato, Brunswick stew, and mac and cheese all share space on the board, along with a fried chicken sandwich for anyone who wants a break from smoked meat.
The room is part of the fun. Eclectic, woodsy decor and walls covered in pictures and posters give you plenty to look at while you wait, and the tables are spaced out enough to feel comfortable.
I like this stop for mixed groups because it covers a lot of ground. There’s a kids’ menu, high chairs, outdoor seating where dogs are welcome, plus curbside pickup and a drive-through.
Martin’s is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. Weekends get busy, so a weekday visit is the easier play.
4. Ridgewood Barbecue, Bluff City, TN
Back in 2014, Ridgewood Barbecue was named Tennessee’s Best Barbecue, and Southern Living has listed it among the top 50 barbecue restaurants in the South. Not bad for a family place along Elizabethton Highway in Bluff City.
The barbecue here is smoked over hardwood, and the sauce is the part people talk about most. It leans sweet, so fans of vinegar-heavy styles may want to try it on the side first.
The barbecue pork sandwich with coleslaw is the classic order. The beef sandwich and tenderloin sandwich are solid alternatives, and the slaw is fresh and slightly sweet.
Save room for the sides, because they have real personality. Mrs. Proffitt’s Barbecue Beans carry a family name, the French fries are fresh cut, and the blue cheese bowl with crackers is an old-school starter that divides opinions in the most entertaining way.
The dining room keeps an old-fashioned, homey style with table service, and the East Tennessee setting comes with a nice view.
Be ready to wait. Lines often form outside, and parking can be tricky, especially Friday evening and Saturday.
Ridgewood is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 7:30 PM, while Friday and Saturday split into lunch and dinner shifts with a break from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.
5. Shuford’s Smokehouse, Chattanooga, TN
Mountain bikers coming off the trails around Chattanooga have a strong opinion about recovery food, and a jumbo pork sandwich from Shuford’s Smokehouse ranks near the top. Order it with hot sauce and slaw for the full effect.
Shuford’s sits on Signal Mountain Road and keeps things refreshingly simple. The menu covers the classics, including pulled pork, brisket sandwiches, and ribs by the half slab.
Ribs are the dish that keeps regulars coming back again and again. Onion rings, potato salad, and slaw on the side fill out a plate without making it complicated.
Don’t skip dessert. Banana pudding is the sweet finish here, and it is a natural match for a smoky rib plate.
Prices stay reasonable, and the service is friendly and relaxed. There’s table service inside for sit-down meals, plus a drive-through for days when you want your barbecue in the car.
Family meals like chicken and brisket make it easy to feed a group back at a cabin or rental. Shuford’s is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM and closed Mondays, with Friday and Saturday afternoons drawing the biggest crowds.
6. Peg Leg Porker BBQ, Nashville, TN
Memphis Sushi sounds like a menu typo, but at Peg Leg Porker BBQ it is one of the dishes people ask about first. The name alone is a good hint that this Nashville spot has a sense of humor about barbecue.
Tucked on Gleaves Street near downtown, Peg Leg Porker is family owned and built around pork. The dry ribs are a signature, and the pulled pork platter is the easy call for anyone who wants the basics done right.
The rest of the menu has plenty of range. Whole wings, pork rinds, BBQ beans, slaw, fried pies, and banana pudding all show up on the lineup, and the smoked chicken is tender enough to fall right off the bone.
Seating is flexible, which is handy in a busy city. You can eat inside, head out to the patio, or grab a spot on the rooftop.
Here’s a practical perk that sets it apart from the other stops on this list. Peg Leg Porker accepts reservations, and dogs are allowed both inside and outside.
Hours run Monday and Tuesday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Weekday lunches tend to be calmer than Friday nights.
7. Cozy Corner Restaurant, Memphis, TN
Since 1977, Cozy Corner has been feeding Memphis from its spot on North Parkway. Several generations of the same family work here, and that long run shows in how steady the menu has stayed.
From the outside, it looks like a classic hole in the wall. Inside, the dining room is roomy, and a steady stream of takeout containers heads out the door all day.
Ribs are the headliner, but the barbecued Cornish hen is the dish that makes Cozy Corner stand out from nearly every other barbecue stop in the city. Rib tips, wings, and barbecue sausage also have a loyal following, and BBQ nachos bring a very Memphis twist.
Sides and desserts deserve real attention. Mac and cheese is a popular pick, while banana pudding, peach cobbler, and sweet potato pie give you three good reasons to order dessert.
If you want to try a little of everything, the ribs and two wings plate is a smart combo. The rib tips plate works well for sharing.
Cozy Corner is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and closed Sunday and Monday. Saturday afternoons are the busiest stretch, while weekday mornings after opening tend to be quieter.
Seven stops, seven different reasons to pull over. Whether you’re chasing whole hog in Lexington or rib tips in Memphis, Tennessee barbecue rewards anyone willing to follow the hickory.
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