Nashville BBQ Restaurants: Styles, Locations & What to Order

Nashville barbecue is not one single style. Around the city you will find West Tennessee whole-hog cooking, Memphis-style ribs, Texas-influenced brisket, Nashville-style barbecue and restaurants that mix several regional traditions on one menu.

That variety makes a barbecue guide more useful when it explains what each restaurant actually does rather than trying to rank every plate. The restaurants below represent different smoking styles, neighborhoods and dining formats.

Quick Answer

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint is known for West Tennessee-style whole hog and has several Nashville-area locations. Peg Leg Porker in The Gulch centers on West Tennessee and Memphis-style barbecue. Edley’s has multiple Nashville neighborhoods and describes its food as Nashville-style barbecue. Shotgun Willie’s in Madison is the clearest Texas-style stop in this group, while Bringle’s Smoking Oasis in The Nations focuses on West Texas-style barbecue. Jack’s Bar-B-Que is a long-running Nashville name, and HoneyFire adds a modern local take with Bellevue and downtown locations.

For another Nashville food tradition, use the Nashville hot chicken restaurants guide. For a broader city overview, see Nashville restaurants.

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

Martin’s is closely associated with West Tennessee-style whole-hog barbecue. Its Nashville locations also serve brisket, ribs, smoked wings, burgers, tacos and barbecue nachos, so it works well for groups that do not all want the same meat.

Downtown

The downtown restaurant is close to Music City Center and Lower Broadway and includes a large beer garden with regular live music. It is one of the easiest barbecue stops to combine with a downtown sightseeing day. Martin’s downtown official page | Address: 410 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201.

Belmont

The Belmont location sits between Belmont and Lipscomb universities and near 12 South. Martin’s specifically notes a partially covered front patio where dogs are allowed, which also makes this location useful for our dog-friendly Nashville restaurants guide. Martin’s Belmont official page | Address: 3108 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212.

Midtown

The Midtown restaurant on Elliston Place is close to Centennial Park and Vanderbilt. Martin’s lists a pet-friendly patio with an outdoor bar at this location. Martin’s Midtown official page | Address: 2400 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203.

Peg Leg Porker — The Gulch

Peg Leg Porker is a Nashville barbecue restaurant from pitmaster Carey Bringle with a strong West Tennessee and Memphis influence. The restaurant is a straightforward barbecue stop rather than a broad entertainment complex, which makes it easy to focus on ribs, pork and sides.

It is located in The Gulch and currently operates six days a week with shorter Sunday hours. Peg Leg Porker official website | Address: 903 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203.

Edley’s Bar-B-Que

Edley’s describes its approach as Nashville-style barbecue and operates several local locations, including 12 South, East Nashville, Sylvan Park, Donelson and Nolensville. That neighborhood spread makes it one of the easiest barbecue brands to fit into a wider Nashville day.

12 South

The 12 South location sits directly on 12th Avenue South and works well with shopping and walking in the neighborhood. It is also included in our 12 South Nashville restaurants guide. Edley’s 12 South official page | Address: 2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204.

East Nashville

The Five Points location gives East Nashville a barbecue option within one of the city’s busiest neighborhood dining areas. Edley’s East Nashville official page | Address: 1004 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206.

Shotgun Willie’s BBQ — Madison

Shotgun Willie’s is the most explicitly Texas-style restaurant in this guide. The menu emphasizes USDA Prime brisket, Texas Hill Country sausage, pulled pork, smoked chicken and scratch-made sides, with meat sold in plates and sandwiches rather than a broad restaurant menu. The Madison restaurant opens Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until sold out, so arriving earlier is part of the plan. Its newer Madison space is larger than the original location and gives the restaurant more parking and seating than it had when it first opened.

The restaurant operates Wednesday through Sunday from late morning until mid-afternoon or until sold out, so this is a barbecue stop that rewards arriving earlier rather than planning a late dinner. Shotgun Willie’s official website | Address: 1500 Gallatin Pike S, Suite 104, Madison, TN 37115.

Bringle’s Smoking Oasis — The Nations

Bringle’s Smoking Oasis comes from pitmaster Carey Bringle but has a different identity from Peg Leg Porker. Bringle’s describes the restaurant as West Texas-style barbecue and pairs smoked meats with a bourbon-focused bar.

The restaurant is in The Nations and currently operates Wednesday through Sunday. It is a useful comparison stop if you want to see how one pitmaster approaches Memphis/West Tennessee barbecue at Peg Leg Porker and West Texas-style barbecue at Bringle’s. Bringle’s Smoking Oasis official website | Address: 4901 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209.

Jack’s Bar-B-Que

Jack’s has a long Nashville barbecue history and still operates neighborhood locations on Charlotte Avenue and Trinity Lane. The Charlotte Avenue restaurant is especially practical for drivers because it has free parking, a drive-thru and a covered back patio, while Trinity Lane offers easy interstate access and room for larger vehicles. Both locations currently open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The service format remains casual and first come, first served, making Jack’s a straightforward choice when you want barbecue without a reservation or a downtown parking plan.

The Charlotte Avenue location has a drive-thru, covered patio and free parking, which can make it more convenient than downtown barbecue when you are driving. Jack’s Bar-B-Que official website | Charlotte address: 1601 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.

HoneyFire Barbeque

HoneyFire is a locally owned barbecue restaurant that combines traditional American barbecue with a more modern menu. Its Bellevue restaurant is the main full restaurant, while the downtown Assembly Food Hall location makes the brand accessible to Broadway visitors.

Bellevue

The Bellevue restaurant is at One Bellevue Place and offers dine-in and takeout. HoneyFire Bellevue official page | Address: 8127 Sawyer Brown Rd Suite 304, Nashville, TN 37221.

Downtown

The Assembly Food Hall location puts HoneyFire directly in the 5th + Broadway complex. HoneyFire locations | Address: 5055 Broadway Place, Nashville, TN 37203.

How Nashville BBQ Styles Differ

Whole hog: Martin’s is the clearest place in this guide to seek out West Tennessee-style whole-hog barbecue.

Memphis / West Tennessee influence: Peg Leg Porker is closely tied to that regional tradition, especially pork and ribs.

Texas-style brisket: Shotgun Willie’s is the most direct Texas barbecue comparison, while Bringle’s Smoking Oasis describes itself as West Texas-style.

Nashville-style: Edley’s uses “Nashville style” for its own barbecue identity, mixing smoked meats, Southern sides and local neighborhood locations.

Where to Get BBQ Near Broadway

Martin’s downtown location is a short walk from Lower Broadway, while HoneyFire operates inside Assembly Food Hall at 5th + Broadway. Peg Leg Porker is in The Gulch, a short ride or longer walk south of the main Broadway corridor. For other central dining options, see Downtown Nashville restaurants.

BBQ With Easier Parking

If you are driving, neighborhood restaurants may be simpler than downtown. Jack’s Charlotte Avenue publishes free parking, Martin’s Belmont and Midtown locations sit outside the Broadway core, and HoneyFire Bellevue is in a shopping-center setting. Always check posted parking rules at the specific location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Barbecue can sell out, and restaurant hours, menus and locations can change. Check the official restaurant pages before making a special trip.