Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Tennessee-style barbecue: pulled whole-hog pork over hickory, served with vinegar sauce or Alabama white. Slow-cooked overnight, served on a soft roll.
West Tennessee whole-hog barbecue tradition runs through Memphis and out to Nashville's Pat Martin, who opened Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint in 2006 and has since franchised to four states. Carey Bringle's Peg Leg Porker in The Gulch since 2013 runs Memphis-style dry-rub ribs alongside pulled pork. The two pull-pork sauces of Tennessee are tangy red and the lighter Alabama white, both common on Nashville BBQ menus.
3 editor picks for Tennessee whole-hog pork in Nashville, ranked by editorial score. All Nashville signature dishes · Tennessee whole-hog pork across every city.
Pat Martin's Nashville BBQ joint in downtown runs old-school whole-hog barbecue, a massive beer garden and live music nightly behind the Music City Center.
OrderPulled pork sandwich with Alabama white sauce on top, and a side of mac.
TipThe beer garden out back is the move on warm nights; live music starts at 19:00 most days.
Carey Bringle's Gleaves Street BBQ joint in The Gulch, Nashville smokes Memphis-style dry-rub ribs since 2013. Family-owned, catering-strong, taproom-tight.
OrderHalf rack of dry-rub ribs, smoked beans, banana pudding.
TipLines build by 12:00; come at 11:00 for an easy table. Bourbon list is unusually deep for a BBQ joint.
Edley's 12 South barbecue counter in Nashville smokes pork shoulder over hickory and serves the city's reliable BBQ-and-beer lunch since 2011.
OrderThe Tuck Special: smoked brisket with pimento cheese and bacon on Texas toast.
TipLate-night kitchen runs Friday and Saturday until 22:00; patio gets the runoff from 12 South strolling.
Tennessee whole-hog pork makes more sense with someone from Nashville explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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