10 Tennessee BBQ Plates Worth Blocking Off Your Calendar For
Tennessee doesn’t whisper when it comes to barbecue. It sings, belts, and occasionally drops a guitar solo while doing it. Think Memphis soul, Graceland swagger, and smoke-filled streets where every corner promises a plate that could make your calendar jealous.
These aren’t just meals, they’re events. Brisket that melts like a record spinning on vinyl, ribs that demand a standing ovation, pulled pork with a personality bigger than Beale Street itself.
Each plate tells a story, smoked low and slow, seasoned with pride, and plated with zero compromise. You don’t just eat Tennessee BBQ. You schedule your life around it, because a good plate here is the kind of thing that demands attention, respect, and maybe a second helping before anyone notices.
If barbecue had a soundtrack, it would be equal parts soul, rock ’n’ roll, and kitchen wisdom.
And Tennessee? Tennessee writes it, one unforgettable plate at a time.
1. Central BBQ
I knew Central BBQ had a reputation for slow smoke and fast lines, and I was ready to wait. The downtown Memphis location at 147 E Butler Ave, Memphis, TN 38103 slid into my afternoon like a friendly dare.
Sweet hickory drifted out the door, and I could almost hear the ribs calling my name before I placed the order.
I went for a combo plate, because choosing felt impossible and I wanted the full tour.
The ribs arrived with a gorgeous mahogany bark, a little tug left on the bone, and that pepper heat that wakes up the edges of your tongue. Pulled pork carried a rosy smoke ring and just enough fat to feel luxurious without knocking me out cold.
Sides can make or break a plate, and theirs back up the legend.
Mac and cheese leaned creamy and comforting, the kind that nudges you to take one more scoop even when you swore you were done. Slaw rode a crisp line between tangy and cool, a smart counter to the warm, sticky glaze on the ribs.
What hooked me was balance, the way each bite shifted from sweet to savory to smoke with no one note hogging the spotlight.
I tried the sauces in slow sequence, a drizzle here, a brush there, letting each tweak show its personality. If Memphis had a welcome handshake, this would be it.
2. The Bar-B-Q Shop
The Bar-B-Q Shop came recommended by a friend who warned me not to sleep on the glazed ribs or the spaghetti. I cruised to 1782 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104 and walked into a room that felt like a hug from the past in the best way.
The air smelled like rules were optional and smoke had seniority.
I ordered the Dancing Pigs glazed rib plate and settled in for that sticky-sweet sheen catching the light. The ribs offered gentle resistance, then surrendered, leaving a clean bite and a grin I could not hide.
Their dry rub has swagger, and the sauce layers in with cinnamon warmth and peppery lift.
Yes, I added barbecue spaghetti, because Memphis fusion deserves a trophy. Tender pork mingled with tomato richness and smoky drippings, twirling into a comfort-food vortex that made total sense.
Beans carried a molasses backbone while slaw snapped back with cooling crunch.
What I loved was the personality, the way the plate felt classic yet singular, like a favorite song remixed by someone who really gets the beat.
Service had that confident calm of a place that knows its lane and drives it straight. If you are collecting Tennessee memories, this is a delicious non-negotiable.
3. Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous
Rendezvous is one of those names that echoes down the alley like a secret, only everyone already knows. The address at 52 S Second St, Memphis, TN 38103 guided me downstairs into a brick-lined basement buzzing with stories.
Charcoal smoke curled around me, and dry-rub confidence filled the room.
I ordered a rib plate dry, because that is the move here, no debate.
The ribs came kissed by charcoal and rubbed generously, showcasing oregano, paprika, and a pepper swagger that lingers. Each bite felt like a handshake with Memphis history, crisp edges giving way to juicy center.
Beans leaned savory with a subtle sweetness, while slaw stayed bright and tidy, clearing the runway for the next bite. I dusted extra rub like confetti, and the meat lit up with citrusy sparks.
The plate told a story of technique, patience, and a grill that knows its legacy.
What stuck with me was the vibe, the clatter, the walls that seem to listen while you eat. It is not about saucy drama here, it is about the rub doing the talking and the charcoal making it sing.
4. Payne’s Bar-B-Que
Payne’s is humble from the outside and legendary where it counts, on the plate. I rolled up to 1762 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN 38114 and followed the smoke trail like it had my name on it.
Inside, the line moved with steady purpose, and every tray told me patience would be rewarded.
I ordered the chopped pork sandwich plate with mustard slaw, because that neon-yellow pop is a Payne’s signature.
The pork came tender, smoky, and slightly sticky, with bits of bark adding crunch and deep flavor. The slaw was tangy, sharp, and bright, cutting through with perfect contrast.
Beans were hearty with a hint of sweet, enough to round out the edges. I dabbed on a touch of sauce, but the meat did the talking, whispering sit down, slow down, take another bite.
The bread soaked up the juices like it had a PhD in gravy physics.
Payne’s reminded me that barbecue can be fierce and friendly at the same time, old-school without feeling stuck.
It is the kind of spot that makes you vow to return before you even leave the parking lot.
5. Cozy Corner BBQ
Cozy Corner greeted me like a family kitchen with a pit out back, and my appetite clocked in early. I drove to 735 N Parkway, Memphis, TN 38105 and joined a line that moved with church-potluck rhythm.
The smoke smell here was confident, like it trusted the meat to tell the truth.
I zeroed in on the Cornish hen plate, a local legend that lives up to the whisper network.
The skin arrived lacquered and spicy-sweet, crackling just enough before revealing juicy meat that dripped flavor. Ribs had a rosy smoke ring and a peppery bark that asked for a little mess and gave plenty back.
Slaw brought cooling crunch, and beans leaned savory with just a wink of sweetness. I took slow bites, let the spice build, and chased it with the hen’s charred edges.
The plate felt generous, anchored by a pitmaster’s steady hand and a sauce that never overtalked.
Cozy Corner is proof that greatness can feel casual, like music from a front porch on a breezy day.
The flavors harmonize without fuss, and the hospitality lingers. If you like your barbecue with character and a wink, this is the move.
6. Peg Leg Porker
I rolled into Peg Leg Porker with high expectations and a belly ready for research. The Gulch address at 903 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203 put me a short stroll from murals and foot traffic.
Inside, the pit worked like a heartbeat, steady and sure.
I went straight for the dry ribs plate, a Nashville calling card with swagger. The bark was crusty and pepper forward, yielding to juicy meat that clung just enough to remind you it had backbone.
Pulled pork was tender with a clean smoke line, a perfect companion to a drizzle of house sauce.
Mac and cheese struck that baked top gold standard while green beans brought a savory snap. I liked the way each bite shifted gears, from spice buzz to buttery comfort, never dragging.
The plate told its own story, and I did not interrupt.
Peg Leg Porker cooks with confidence without leaning on flash, and the rhythm of the room pulls you in. It is the kind of stop that makes a lunch break feel like a little holiday you earned.
7. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint (Downtown)
Martin’s Downtown felt like a backyard party that invited the whole city and remembered everyone’s name. I headed to 410 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201 and followed the scent of whole-hog dreams.
The room buzzed with happy talk and trays moving like parade floats.
I ordered the whole-hog plate, because when in Nashville, go for the source. The pork landed juicy and balanced, little bits of caramelized bark woven through tender strands.
A tangy slaw lifted each forkful while hushpuppies offered crispy corners and soft centers.
Ribs were no side act either, with a rub that leaned savory and a bite that felt just right. I worked slowly, switching between sauces like channel surfing for the perfect scene.
The pit smoke here tastes layered, like time itself signed the flavor.
There’s a quiet confidence in a place that has perfected one thing and doesn’t need to shout about it. Every plate feels like a slow, satisfying conversation between smoke and meat, unhurried and honest.
Whole-hog barbecue here isn’t just food. It’s a statement, delivered with clarity, care, and a kind of joy that makes every bite feel earned.
8. Edley’s Bar-B-Que (Chattanooga)
Edley’s in Chattanooga felt like a neighborhood picnic that just happened to be ridiculously dialed in. I found my seat at 205 Manufacturers Rd, Suite 110, Chattanooga, TN 37405 with the river not far and appetites closer.
The counter line moved briskly, and pit aromas floated like a soundtrack.
I ordered the turkey and pork plate because balance felt right, and Edley’s smokes turkey with care. The slices were moist with a pink halo, taking sauce politely but not needing much.
The pulled pork carried a soft, savory depth that made me nod between bites.
Sides tilted Southern in all the welcome ways: baked beans with a sturdy spine and a bright vinegar slaw. Cornbread added a honeyed accent, and I broke it apart with absentminded joy.
Each forkful shifted the mood without losing the groove of smoke.
This Chattanooga spot lives in that sweet spot where families, students, and lunch-break pros all gather. Plates arrive honest, unfussy, and satisfying.
Like a friend who always shows up on time. Every bite delivers flavor that hits just right, familiar yet exciting, and leaves you thinking, yeah, this was worth the trip.
9. Sweet P’s Barbeque
Sweet P’s felt like a Knoxville porch party where the smoke gets there before you do. I rolled into 3029 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918 with the sun sliding low and my appetite fully clocked in.
The menu read like a choose-your-own-adventure, except every option seemed right.
I chased the chopped pork plate with a side of greens and mac, letting textures do the talking. The pork arrived tender and blushing, strands holding just enough structure to feel intentional.
A mild sauce added tangy lift while leaving room for the pit’s low-and-slow whisper.
Greens carried a savory depth that nudged the pork into richer territory, and the mac offered creamy respite.
A cornbread wedge sealed the deal with crumbly warmth that caught stray juices. I found myself zoning into the rhythm of bites, a pleasant slow dance of flavors.
Sweet P’s plays the comfort card without losing focus, and the plate feels like a pep talk you can eat. Service had an easy warmth that made the table feel like home base.
If Knoxville comfort is on your checklist, this is the box you want to tick boldly.
10. Shagbark Barbecue Company
Shagbark Barbecue Company had me the moment I smelled that kiss of oak rolling across the lot. I pulled up to 7228 Region Ln, Knoxville, TN 37914, and joined folks who clearly knew their order by heart.
I ordered the Burnt Ends and pulled pork plate, because contrast makes a meal sing. The burnt ends were candy-crusted but meaty, cubes with tender centers that puddled into sauce just enough.
The pulled pork stayed light on its feet, smoky and balanced with a clean finish.
Cheesy corn blew my mind in a friendly way, while slaw reset the palate with crisp authority. I alternated bites like a DJ balancing tracks, keeping the energy right where I wanted it.
Each forkful earned its place without jostling for attention.
There is a precision here that doesn’t shout; it simply delivers. Every plate feels confident, like the pit crew knows exactly when to call the play.
Tennessee barbecue like this hits all its marks, leaving smoke in the memory and sparks on the palate.
By the time the last bite is gone, you’re already plotting a return. Because good BBQ in Tennessee isn’t just a meal, it’s a reason to come back.