Eating Nashville: Our 5 favorite local barbecue spots for when you want killer BBQ
Brad: OK, OK, we've given you our five fave pulled pork sandwiches and our five favorite places to get ribs.
But how about our five favorite barbecue joints? You know, let's pit (pun intended!) Martin's vs. Whitt's vs. Edley's vs., well, you get the idea.
The legalese: We only considered locally owned places in Middle Tennessee, and that includes locally owned joints with more than one local location. So, yes, we looked at Whitt's and Martin's, but no, we didn't consider Jim 'N Nick's (based in Alabama) or Central BBQ (based in Memphis).
Mack: We also didn't adhere to one barbecue style. I've written a barbecue cookbook and am a certified Kansas City Barbecue Society competition judge, but I am no purist. I love Texas brisket, eastern North Carolina pulled pork with vinegary sauce and even South Carolina's mustard-based 'cue.
Nashville's barbecue scene is a bit of a melting pot, so I feel right at home having just moved here from Asheville, North Carolina, where just about anything goes.
Brad: With that said, here are our five favorite Nashville barbecue joints. (And if you'd like to see how I really stirred it up, here's my declaration that Nashville has better barbecue than Memphis.)
No. 5: HoneyFire Barbeque Co.
8127 Sawyer Brown Road, Nashville
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week
Brad: This is the first time I can remember a Bellevue-area restaurant making it onto one of our Top 5 restaurant lists, so big ups to the 37221 and to HoneyFire! Love love love the PB 'Nana Pudding (made with peanut butter and a peanut butter cookie) and the rich creamy chess pie.
The meats were hit and miss. The standouts for me: the jalapeno cheese sausage and the surprisingly moist turkey. (Yes, I said "moist." Y'all can handle it.)
Mack: I can't, actually. But I love the variety on this menu and also the creative (and creatively named) super-stacked sandwiches. Because who doesn't want to ask for an Alabama Slammer with a straight face? That's a full-on half-pound of smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce and candied bacon, by the way, and yeah you want that.
No. 4: Edley's Bar-B-Que
Five locations in Nashville and one in Chattanooga
Mack: Edley's can be hit or miss, but I've found the new Five Points location to be mostly hit. There's nothing traditional about it, but I'm a sucker for the Nashville hot pork, marinated as it is overnight in spicy pepper mash before it's slow smoked. It also comes with spicy slaw and jalapeno cornbread, so it brings the heat. But a big old bushwhacker from the machine behind the bar should take care of that.
Brad: I've been eating at Edley's for years, and I think Edley's is more consistently good than Mackensy does. A recent visit to the new Donelson location bears that out: It rocked! I particularly loved loved loved the pulled pork, though the dry brisket was a bummer. My favorite thing here is the super creamy, delicious, best-in-Nashville banana pudding. 10/10.
No. 3: Bringle's Smoking Oasis
4901 Centennial Blvd., The Nations
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Mack: There's a lot to love about this Nations spot from 30-plus-year pitmaster Carey Bringle, founder of Peg Leg Porker. I love the expansive outdoor space with big screens for watching football, the friendly bartenders and the variety of drinks, from cocktails and wine on tap to the great beer list.
You'll find almost no duds on this proudly Texas-style menu. As a person who struggles with sweet Southern baked beans, I loved the smoky Texas-style version. I love the porky stewed greens, and think the slaw and potato salad are both solid, though not out of this world. But we're here for the meat, and the pastrami here is outstanding, the pulled pork delicious, and the tender but snappy jalapeno-cheddar sausages hard to share (I got three so I could spare some bites). The brisket is generally good but was dry on a recent visit. The perfectly cooked peppery St. Louis pork ribs more than made up for it.
Brad: I mean, ya had me at pastrami. Pastrami! Super hard to find in any Nashville restaurant, let alone a barbecue place. I went on a different day than you, Mack, and my brisket also was dry. But it was a rare miss at a super popular place. (And by "super popular," I mean you should probably get there early to avoid long lines and to get the best selection of meats.)
No. 2: Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
Six locations in Middle Tennessee
Brad: Folks, I've gotta tell ya, for years, I've told people that Martin's has the most delicious, most consistent barbecue in Nashville, and, dare I say, in the state of Tennessee. (Yep, I dared!) I know, I know, we've got a new No. 1 barbecue joint this year. But a recent visit to Martin's confirmed there is some really, really excellent 'cue here. Ribs are tender and perfectly spiced, the brisket is fire 🔥, the wings are the perfect size with the perfect cook and the perfect amount of dry rub. I even love the smoked bologna sandwich, with just the right amounts of pickles, onion and mustard. With a nod to the late Paul Reubens — I love Martin's so much, I'm gonna marry it!
Mack: Whole hog barbecue? Yes, please. It's no secret that Martin's is delicious, so I'm just going to be the person who points out the less obvious stuff, like the nice little wine list curated by Pat Martin himself, who believes that beer isn't the only barbecue beverage. With a more extensive menu than most traditional barbecue joints, this is a perfect place for a large group of people with lots of dietary needs. Plus, you get to say "hoecakes" in the context of "redneck tacos." I call that winning.
No. 1: Shotgun Willie's BBQ
4000-B Gallatin Pike, East Nashville/Inglewood
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until food runs out) Wednesday through Sunday
Brad: This is an unassuming yet adorably folksy place where customers are warmly greeted at the counter. So I'm wrapped in good vibes and wonderful smells from the jump, and then — BAM! — the food just knocked me on my smoked butt. (That's a barbecue joke. 😉) Incredibly flavorful, giant chunks of tender brisket, super tender ribs, great jalapeno/cheese sausage with just the right amount of heat. My only knock on this place is that seating and parking are limited, and part of me wants to keep this place under wraps so it doesn't get too popular! God forbid I don't have convenient parking!
Mack: If there's anything not to like about this place, I certainly haven't found it. The staff is delightful, the prime Angus brisket outstanding, the smoked chicken and pulled pork flavorful and tender, the ribs absolutely delicious. Plus, it adjoins a gas station, which basically ensures it's gonna be good. Rules are rules. But yeah, please leave me a parking spot.
What's your favorite 'cue spot? Let us know at brad@tennessean.com or mlunsford@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The 5 best Nashville-based barbecue spots for killer BBQ
