Slow-smoked pork shoulder pulled into tender shreds, piled on a soft white bun with creamy slaw and a thin Tennessee-style tomato-vinegar sauce.
Tennessee whole-hog and pulled pork barbecue traces to West Tennessee's pit traditions, codified in Memphis by the 1920s and adopted in Nashville's BBQ joints from the 1950s. Pat Martin opened Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint in Nolensville in 2006 and grew it into the Nashville flagship; Peg Leg Porker (Carey Bringle) and Edley's Bar-B-Que round out the city's BBQ trinity.
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.
Tennessee Pulled Pork Sandwich makes more sense with someone from Nashville explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Walk through Downtown Nashville with five food tastings, lively stories, and sights like the Ryman, Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway’s honky tonks, and hidden gems...
Experience the best of Nashville on a bus tour. Visit a local distillery for a guided tour and whiskey tastings, enjoy a meal at a local BBQ joint, and sip on a flight...