We Tasted Our Way Through Tennessee And Found 10 Pulled Pork Spots Worth Visiting

We had a plan in Tennessee. Eat some pulled pork, take a few notes, and go home.

That plan lasted about eleven minutes. A sandwich showed up with enough pork to make the bun look like a suggestion.

Then somebody said, “Try this one.” Then another plate landed on the table. Somewhere along the way, our notes became increasingly vague, our jeans became increasingly optimistic, and “sharing” turned into a word nobody respected anymore. But that’s the problem with pulled pork in Tennessee. You can’t really judge it from a distance.

You have to follow the smoke, sit down, order the thing everybody talks about, and see what happens. We did exactly that, from roadside joints to places people will happily drive across the state for.

Ten spots survived the napkin pile. These are the ones we’d actually go back to hungry.

1. Central BBQ

Smoke is not just a cooking method at Central BBQ. It is a philosophy.

Located at 147 E Butler Ave in Memphis, this spot built its entire identity around the idea that great smoke creates great flavor, no shortcuts needed.

Their motto, “Smoke Is Our Sauce,” says everything you need to know before you even sit down.

The pulled pork here starts with a pork shoulder seasoned with a special spice blend. It marinates for a full 24 hours before hitting the smoker for 16 hours over hickory and pecan wood.

The result is pork so tender it practically melts before it reaches your mouth.

Central BBQ rose out of the competitive barbecue world of the mid-1980s, including the prestigious Memphis in May World Championship.

That competitive spirit is baked into every bite. You can keep it simple or try the pulled pork loaded onto their famous barbecue nachos.

Four house-made sauces wait on the table: mild, hot, mustard, and vinegar-based. This place has been featured on national TV and in major food publications for good reason.

Central BBQ is where Memphis barbecue tradition meets serious craft.

2. Corky’s Ribs & BBQ

Some barbecue spots are legendary. Corky’s is the kind of legendary that ships its pulled pork across the entire country because people simply cannot wait until their next visit to Memphis.

Established in 1984, Corky’s built its reputation the old-fashioned way: real hickory wood, real charcoal, and real patience.

Sitting at 5259 Poplar Ave in Memphis, Corky’s has been hand-pulling pork every single day for over three decades. The process has not changed because there is no reason to fix what is not broken.

Slow-smoked pork shoulder gets pulled fresh daily, and that commitment to consistency is exactly what keeps people coming back.

Corky’s proudly calls itself the “ORIGINAL Legendary BBQ of Memphis,” and that title carries genuine weight. They were also pioneers in shipping local barbecue nationwide, long before food delivery became trendy.

The combination of a full-service restaurant and a drive-thru was ahead of its time in 1984. Today, Corky’s is a Memphis institution that proves tradition is worth protecting.

If you only visit one classic Memphis BBQ spot on your trip, make it count here.

3. Elwood’s Shack

Picture a small red shack sitting in a Lowe’s parking lot on Summer Ave. Now picture that shack serving some of the most celebrated barbecue in Memphis. That is Elwood’s Shack, and yes, it is exactly as charming and surprising as it sounds.

Found at 4523 Summer Ave in Memphis, this spot opened in 2013 and quickly earned a reputation that punches way above its humble exterior. The pulled pork here is moist, deeply smoky, and flavorful enough to eat completely plain.

No sauce required, though nobody is stopping you from reaching for one.

What makes Elwood’s especially fun is the creativity on the menu. Pulled pork shows up in sandwiches, tacos, and even on their celebrated barbecue pizza topped with mozzarella.

The “Elwood’s Shack Attack” is another crowd favorite that showcases the pork front and center.

The pitmaster behind this spot spent years competing in barbecue circuits before opening the shack, and that competitive experience is obvious in every bite. Small in size, massive in flavor, Elwood’s Shack is proof that the best barbecue does not need a fancy address to earn serious respect.

4. Peg Leg Porker BBQ

The name alone earns a second glance. Peg Leg Porker BBQ in Nashville is one of those places where the backstory is just as good as the food, and the food is outstanding.

Founded by pitmaster Carey Bringle, the name is a playful nod to his prosthetic leg, which features a hog butchering diagram. Creative, right?

Located at 903 Gleaves St in Nashville, this spot smokes all its meats dry rub style. Salt and a special barbecue spice rub do the heavy lifting.

Hickory wood sourced locally fuels the smoker for four and a half to five hours, producing pork that is bold, earthy, and deeply satisfying.

The pulled pork arrives unsauced, which is actually a compliment to the meat. It means the pitmaster trusts the flavor enough to let it stand alone.

Sauce bottles sit on the table if you want them, but try a few bites first before reaching over. Peg Leg Porker has been named Tennessee’s top barbecue restaurant by Southern Living Magazine, a title earned through years of precise craft.

Bringle learned his trade from his Tennessee farming family, and that heritage shows in every smoky, tender plate.

5. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

Whole hog barbecue is not a trend. It is a tradition that goes back centuries in the American South, and Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville is one of the few places keeping it alive with absolute dedication.

This is not fast food. This is an art form.

Tucked at 410 4th Ave S in Nashville, Martin’s opened in 2006 with a clear mission: preserve West Tennessee’s whole hog BBQ heritage.

The entire animal is cooked over hickory wood for up to 24 hours. Every pull of pork on your plate is the result of that extraordinary patience and precision.

The hogs are seasoned with a signature spice blend and slow-roasted overnight. By the time the meat hits your tray, it has absorbed hours of smoky, savory depth that no shortcut can replicate.

Their “Redneck Tacos” serve that pork inside a corncake, which is the kind of creative twist that makes you smile mid-bite. Martin’s has expanded to multiple locations and earned widespread media recognition, but the original spirit behind every plate remains unchanged.

This is Tennessee barbecue in its most honest, most committed form.

6. Edley’s Bar-B-Que

There is something deeply personal about naming a restaurant after your grandfather. Edley’s Bar-B-Que in Nashville carries that sentiment in every plate it sends out.

Founded by Will Newman as a tribute to his grandfather Edley Newman, this family-owned spot channels Southern generosity and hospitality through incredible food.

You will find Edley’s at 2719 Lebanon Pike in Nashville, and the pulled pork here follows a “low and slow” approach using Southern white oak.

The meat is finely chopped and served with a molasses-based sauce that adds just enough sweetness without stealing the spotlight from the smoke.

What really sets Edley’s apart is the dry rub. It contains between 15 and 20 ingredients, including cayenne pepper, creating a complex flavor profile that builds with every bite.

No shortcuts enter this kitchen, and that commitment has earned Edley’s the title of “Best Bar-B-Que in Nashville” more than once.

The food here carries the warmth of a home-cooked meal wrapped in serious pitmaster technique. Every plate feels like it was made with intention, and that intention comes through loud and clear.

Edley’s is a Nashville must-visit.

7. Buck’s Barbeque

Just north of Nashville in the town of Goodlettsville, Buck’s Barbeque quietly earns its reputation one smoky plate at a time. It is the kind of spot that regulars feel protective of, the kind they mention in hushed tones like they are sharing a secret.

Spoiler: the secret is out.

Sitting at 327 Cartwright St in Goodlettsville, Buck’s has been a cherished part of Middle Tennessee’s food scene for over a decade.

The pulled pork is slow-cooked over hickory wood until it reaches a velvety, pull-apart texture that hits differently than anything you can replicate at home.

The barbecue sauce at Buck’s features a hint of sweetness and tang, designed to complement the meat rather than cover it up.

That balance is harder to achieve than it sounds, and Buck’s gets it right every time. Their pulled pork nachos have developed their own loyal following, layering smoky meat over crispy chips in the most satisfying way.

Dine-in, carry-out, drive-thru, or catering options make Buck’s one of the most accessible spots on this list. Goodlettsville may be a short drive from Nashville, but this barbecue is worth every mile.

8. Delauder’s BBQ

Sevierville sits in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, and Delauder’s BBQ fits right into that rugged, flavorful landscape.

Originally from Gatlinburg, this small family-run spot relocated to Sevierville and kept doing exactly what made it famous: real-deal barbecue with no frills and no apologies.

Located at 1305 Dolly Parton Pkwy in Sevierville, Delauder’s serves pulled pork that is wonderfully juicy and prepared fresh every single day. Everything on the menu represents classic East Tennessee barbecue at its most honest.

The “Sneaky Pig” platter is the standout, featuring pulled pork crowned with sweet habanero sauce and sweet onions for a flavor combination that surprises in the best way.

Delauder’s has been recognized by both Yelp and Travel + Leisure as one of America’s outstanding BBQ destinations. That kind of national recognition for a cash-only, family-run mountain spot says everything.

An ATM is available on site, so no need to panic when you arrive without cash.

Their smoky mountain nachos loaded with pulled pork are another reason to linger longer than planned. Delauder’s proves that the best barbecue experiences are often found in the smallest, most unassuming places.

9. Preachers Smokehouse

Preachers Smokehouse carries a story that makes the food taste even better once you know it. The pitmaster behind this mountain gem spent years in construction before trading hard hats for fire pits.

He cooked over open flames for disaster relief efforts before deciding to open his own smokehouse. That kind of origin story belongs in a documentary.

Nestled at 2929 Pittman Center Rd in Sevierville, Preachers Smokehouse smokes its pulled pork over locally sourced hickory and applewood exclusively.

Traditional methods and real fire define every cook. The result is a distinct smoky profile that tastes like it came straight from the mountains surrounding it.

Three house-made sauces wait at the table: tangy, sweet, and spicy. Every recipe at Preachers is unique to the smokehouse, and all sauces are crafted in-house from scratch.

The kitchen sells out frequently, which is both a warning and a compliment.

Go early, or risk leaving empty-handed. The dining room also serves as a chapel for services, adding a layer of community warmth that is genuinely rare.

Preachers Smokehouse is rustic, heartfelt, and deeply rooted in mountain Tennessee tradition.

10. Chatter Box Cafe

Chattanooga does not always get top billing in Tennessee barbecue conversations, but Chatter Box Cafe is quietly making the case that it absolutely should.

The name suggests a cozy neighborhood hangout, and it delivers exactly that, plus some of the most talked-about pulled pork in the city.

Located at 1108 W 33rd St in Chattanooga, Chatter Box Cafe slow-cooks its pulled pork to a perfect fall-apart consistency. The pork features a pleasing mix of inside and outside pieces, which creates layers of texture and a smoky explosion of flavor in every bite.

That combination of crispy outer bark and tender inner meat is the hallmark of truly great barbecue.

Their regular barbecue sauce carries a subtle hint of cinnamon, which sounds unexpected but works beautifully alongside the smoky pork.

A fantastic hot sauce option is also available for those who like a little fire. The pulled pork shines in sandwiches and loaded BBQ nachos equally well.

Several smokers run at once, and the aroma fills the surrounding area long before you walk through the door.

Chatter Box Cafe has built a strong community reputation as an independent spot that delivers on every visit. Is your road trip itinerary ready yet?