Nashville Best Of 2026 · Best BBQ
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Pat Martin brought West Tennessee’s whole-hog tradition to Nashville and never cut a single corner doing it. Hickory smoke, scratch-made sides, and a line out the door make it our pick for the best barbecue in Nashville.
The Verdict
Why Martin’s Earns the Title
Plenty of Nashville joints smoke good brisket, but almost nobody does what Martin’s does every single day: cook whole hogs the old West Tennessee way. A fresh hog goes on the pit each day for the next day’s service, smoked low and slow over local hickory for up to 24 hours.
That dedication runs through the whole menu. Sides and sauces are made from scratch daily, with no freezers or microwaves in the kitchen. Add brisket, ribs, smoked wings with Alabama white sauce, and the famous Redneck Taco, all served with easygoing Southern hospitality, and Martin’s stands above the rest.
2006
First Joint Opens
24 Hrs
Over Local Hickory
6
Nashville-Area Joints
0
Freezers or Microwaves
What to Order
The Plates That Made Martin’s Famous
First visit? Start with these favorites, smoked fresh every day over hickory.
Whole Hog
The heart of Martin’s: an entire hog smoked overnight over hickory, then pulled to order. It’s West Tennessee barbecue at its purest, and the reason Martin’s exists.
Redneck Taco
Tender pulled pork piled on a hoecake and topped with slaw. A Southern spin on the taco and a fan favorite that tastes as fun as it sounds.
Smoked Wings
Hickory-smoked wings finished with tangy Alabama white sauce. Order a basket for the table and watch them disappear.
The Story
From an Auto-Body Shop to a Barbecue Legend
Pat Martin first tasted whole-hog barbecue as a college student in the small town of Henderson, Tennessee, and he was hooked on everything about it: the live fire, the long hours, the history, and the flavor. He studied the craft from West Tennessee old-timers before making Nashville his home.
In October 2006, he opened the first Martin’s, a tiny 12-table spot in a repurposed auto-body shop in Nolensville. Today Martin’s has six Nashville-area locations plus joints in Birmingham, Louisville, and Charleston, & Pat shares his methods in his cookbook, Life of Fire.
“We come in at 5 am, every day, seven days a week.”
The Martin’s Crew
Plan Your Visit
Three Favorite Martin’s Locations
Martin’s has six joints around Nashville, all open seven days a week for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Here are three favorites.
Downtown
410 4th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 288-0880
Sun–Thu: 11 am – 10 pm
Fri–Sat: 11 am – 11 pm
Belmont
Nolensville
7223 Nolensville Rd, Suite C
Nolensville, TN 37135
(615) 776-1856
Open daily: 11 am – 9 pm
The town where it all began
The Pit Has Been Going Since Yesterday
Find the Martin’s nearest you, or order online for pickup and delivery.