Nashville's Local BBQ Joints That Avoid Tourist Crowds
A guide to 11 Nashville barbecue restaurants favored by locals for their authentic, unpretentious food, ranging from Texas-style brisket to Tennessee
Nashville's barbecue scene offers a variety of local joints that have so far avoided being overrun by tourists. The guide highlights 11 spots where locals go for everything from Texas-style brisket to Tennessee pulled pork and house-made sausages.
Roy's Meat Service
Roy's Meat Service is a small butcher shop known for its wood-fired barbecue, smoked on-site a couple of times a week. Owner Jeff Roy learned the trade at Nashville Wholesale Meats before opening his own place. The menu features pulled pork or chicken, ribs, bologna, and brisket sold by the pound, on plates, in sandwiches, or even in a quesadilla using a recipe from the former Es Fernandos, a favorite of Elvis Presley. Locals particularly praise the brisket, ribs, and Roy's own barbecue sauce, considering the place a community treasure rather than a tourist stop.
Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue
Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue is a small-batch barbecue operation paired with a craft brewery where timing is important. Brisket and brisket sandwiches are only available on Saturdays and Sundays, while brisket burgers are served from Wednesday to Friday. Every third Thursday is dedicated to house-made sausage. The regular menu includes dry-rubbed, slow-smoked, and flash-fried chicken wings, plus Memphis-style ribs and pulled pork. Patrons warn that arriving late can mean missing out, as items like brisket burgers often sell out. Social media users have praised the brisket as possibly the city's best.
Shotgun Willie's BBQ
Shotgun Willie's BBQ serves Central Texas-style prime beef brisket that is known to sell out quickly. The restaurant also offers Tennessee-style pulled pork, Texas Hill Country sausage, smoked chicken, and salt-and-pepper pork ribs. Owner Bill LaViolette named the spot after a Willie Nelson song, beginning his barbecue journey with backyard tests in Houston before moving to Nashville. Locals say the place has no tourist trap vibes. A recommended side is the dill pickle potato salad.
Tex's World Famous Bar-B-Q
Tex's World Famous Bar-B-Q in South Nashville features a cafeteria-style counter and a menu focused on straightforward barbecue like brisket, pork ribs, smoked sausage, and sandwiches. Food critics have highlighted the Bar-B-Q Bologna as a standout, especially when ordered as part of a combination plate. The restaurant, open since 1979, is noted for maintaining a neighborhood feel rather than catering to travelers. Online discussions point to daily specials and deviled eggs as menu stars, and homemade cobbler is available for dessert.
Jack's Bar-B-Que
Jack's Bar-B-Que prioritizes food over flash, with a focus on Tennessee pork barbecue plates. The house-made sauces have won awards, including world's best for its Texas Sweet Hot Sauce. Jack Cawthon started in catering in the mid-1970s before switching to barbecue in the early 1990s. Although the original downtown location is closed, Jack's now has two other Nashville spots and remains a reference for old-school barbecue among locals. Dessert options include chess pie.
**Drifters Tennessee BBQ**
Drifters Tennessee BBQ, located in the Five Points area, combines live music with an unpretentious atmosphere for smoked meat cravings. The report lists it as a local hideaway that feels like a neighborhood adventure.
The guide also includes several other establishments, each with a distinct local following. The following table summarizes key details for the restaurants mentioned in the source.
| Restaurant | Specialty Items | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Roy's Meat Service | Pulled pork, chicken, ribs, bologna, brisket | Wood-fired, smoked on-site; quesadilla with Elvis-linked recipe |
| Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue | Brisket (weekends), brisket burgers (Wed-Fri), house-made sausage (3rd Thu) | Paired with craft brewery; timed availability |
| Shotgun Willie's BBQ | Central Texas-style brisket, Tennessee pulled pork, Texas sausage | No tourist trap vibe; dill pickle potato salad side |
| Tex's World Famous Bar-B-Q | Brisket, pork ribs, smoked sausage, Bar-B-Q Bologna | Cafeteria-style; open since 1979; homemade cobbler |
| Jack's Bar-B-Que | Tennessee pork, award-winning sauces, chess pie | Focus on food over tourist appeal; two locations |
Other spots highlighted include Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint, known for its whole hog barbecue, and Edley's Bar-B-Que, which offers a variety of smoked meats and signature sandwiches. The report concludes by noting that these local favorites provide a genuine taste of Nashville's diverse barbecue culture before wider discovery potentially changes their character.
