Some barbecue spots open with a splash and fade within a few years. The places on this list went the other way, firing up their pits for decades and turning pulled pork, chopped pork, and pit-cooked ribs into hometown traditions.
They stretch across Tennessee, from the mountains near Bluff City to the busy streets of Memphis, with stops in small towns along old highways in between. Some date back to the 1920s, while others opened in the 1960s and 1970s and never changed the recipe that brought people through the door.
You will find whole hog barbecue, mustard slaw, homemade pies, and sauces that people drive across county lines for. Many keep short hours and close on Mondays, so a little planning goes a long way.
Save this list for your next road trip, or send it to the friend who always argues about who has the best barbecue in Tennessee.
1. Ridgewood Barbecue, Bluff City, TN
Few barbecue joints in East Tennessee carry as much hometown pride as this one on Elizabethton Highway. Ridgewood has been feeding families in the Bluff City area for generations, and its hardwood smoked barbecue earned it the title of Tennessee’s Best Barbecue in 2014.
Southern Living also named it one of the top 50 barbecue restaurants in the South. That is a lot of praise for a low-key spot with old-fashioned surroundings and a homey feel.
The pork is the reason to go. Order the BBQ pork sandwich with coleslaw, or settle in with the BBQ pork platter and hand cut fries, and do not skip the sauce, which has a loyal following of its own.
A beef and pork combo is on the menu too, along with baked beans and a blue cheese bowl with crackers for the table. Families will find a kids’ menu and high chairs.
Plan around the schedule. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday, and on Fridays and Saturdays it takes a break between lunch and dinner, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.
Reservations are not accepted and a wait is common, especially Friday evenings and Saturdays. A weekday lunch is the calmer bet.
2. B.E. Scotts BBQ, Lexington, TN
Whole hog barbecue is a West Tennessee tradition, and Lexington is one of the towns that keeps it going. B.E.
Scotts sits right on US-412, cooking whole hog over wood coals and pulling the pork for sandwiches and plates.
The setup is simple. You order at the counter, grab a seat, and wait for a pulled pork sandwich piled with hickory smoked meat.
Sauce comes in mild, sweet, or hot, so it is easy to match your heat level. Chicken sandwiches, baked beans, and potato salad round out the menu.
I like this one as a road trip stop because the hours start early. Doors open at 9 AM Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 6 PM on weekdays and 4 PM on Saturday.
Parking is usually easy, and the rustic, mom and pop style makes it a relaxed place for travelers passing through. Fridays get busiest from morning into the afternoon.
3. Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q, Mason, TN
Since 1923, this restaurant in Mason has been serving barbecue to locals and travelers on US-70. That makes Bozo’s more than a century old, and the place leans into its long story with a vintage, old-time look.
Pulled pork is the anchor of the menu. Pair it with sweet slaw, baked beans, or potato salad for a classic West Tennessee plate.
The menu goes well beyond pork, though. Ribs, catfish, onion rings, hush puppies, and fried green tomatoes all show up, and there is an assortment of barbecue sauces to try.
Save room for pie. Desserts are a strong point here, and the coffee pairs nicely with a slice.
Unlike many spots on this list, Bozo’s accepts reservations, which helps with group dinners. It is open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 9 AM, and staying until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Payne’s Bar-B-Que, Memphis, TN
Mustard slaw is the thing to know about before you pull up to this cinderblock building on Lamar Avenue. Payne’s piles it onto chopped pork sandwiches, and that tangy yellow topping is a big reason the sandwich has such a strong reputation in Memphis.
Expect a messy sandwich. Grab extra napkins.
The setup is no frills, with a window for ordering, a few tables inside, and specials written by hand. Beyond the BBQ sandwich, the menu includes pulled pork sandwiches, sliced pork, smoked sausage, and a rib plate with beans and slaw.
Timing matters more here than anywhere else on the list. Payne’s is a lunch operation, open roughly 11 AM to 2 PM Tuesday through Saturday, with Friday stretching to 2:30.
Show up late and you may miss it entirely. Parking is usually plentiful, so the main challenge is simply getting there before the doors close.
5. Center Point Barbecue, Hendersonville, TN
Just north of Nashville, Hendersonville has a barbecue veteran that still draws a Sunday crowd. Center Point is a laid-back spot known for pork sandwiches and platters, along with plenty of country sides.
Minced pork is a signature here, served in generous portions. Red cabbage coleslaw is a popular side, and pit beans are another solid pick.
Ribs earn their own fans, and the baby back rib plate is a menu staple. For something bigger, the Big Bad Wolf Sandwich and loaded fries are worth a look.
Fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, and a turkey plate add some variety for a mixed group. Kids get their own menu, and high chairs are available.
This is one of the few places on the list open on Sunday, from 10 AM to 3 PM. It is closed Monday, and reservations are accepted, which is handy on busy weekend afternoons.
6. Couch’s Barbecue, Collegedale, TN
Homemade coconut and chocolate pies might be what you remember most about Couch’s. That says a lot, because the barbecue here has been smoked in-house since around 1946.
The restaurant sits on Old Lee Highway in Collegedale, east of Chattanooga, in a cozy, diner-style space with a back-in-time look.
Barbecue pork sandwiches and the barbecue pork plate are the core of the menu. The hot slaw is a standout side, and the potato salad is a good partner too.
Ribs, brisket, chicken, and Brunswick stew fill out the board, so there is room to branch out after the pork.
Check the hours before you go. Couch’s opens at 11 AM Tuesday through Saturday but closes at 4 PM on most days, with later hours until 8 PM only on Thursday and Friday.
7. Cozy Corner Restaurant, Memphis, TN
Here is a Memphis order worth memorizing: rib tips, a barbecue Cornish hen, and banana pudding. Cozy Corner has been serving combinations like that on North Parkway since 1977.
The restaurant is family owned, with multiple generations working together. That steady family presence is a big part of why it has lasted nearly fifty years in a city crowded with barbecue options.
The menu covers ribs, sausages, and poultry, with the Cornish hen standing out as something you rarely see at other barbecue joints. Rib tips and four bone rib plates are popular, and BBQ nachos are there if you want a twist.
For dessert, banana pudding, peach cobbler, and sweet potato pie all have their supporters. The dining room is spacious and has high chairs for little ones.
Cozy Corner is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM. Weekend afternoons get busy, so a weekday lunch makes for an easier visit.
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