The 11 Best BBQ in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Known for its beautiful natural surroundings, Chattanooga is a scenic city. It’s the perfect place for outdoorsy residents who enjoy climbing, hiking, jogging, and other activities. With so much focus on outdoor activities, you can build quite the appetite, and Chattanooga is no stranger to good BBQ.

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The Best BBQ in Chattanooga

The Best BBQ in Chattanooga

1. Chatt Smokehouse

In a low-key and no-frills location, you’ll find some of the best barbeque in the city of Chattanooga. Chatt Smokehouse uses a unique combination of charcoal and hickory wood to bring you flavorful slow-cooked meats.

Here on the menu, you’ll find all the classic offerings that will be fall-off-the-bone tender and sure to kick your cravings. Everything is made in house and both the rub and sauce used to perfect these meals are original in-house recipes.

Hundreds of 5-star ratings are written about this local spot and no matter what you’re craving, they offer a mouth-watering option for you to indulge in. Chatt Smokehouse will quickly become a go-to for all your barbeque favorites.

416 E ML King Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37403-4109
Tuesday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Friday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
+1 423 4684978

2. Edley’s Bar-B-Que

Offering up slow-smoked meats and classically Southern sides, this barbeque chain is well worth a visit while in Chattanooga. Edleys Bar-B-Que is well known all across the south for their delicious and mouth-watering takes on traditional barbeque.

This warm and welcoming spot is a great addition to the smoked-meat scene in Chattanooga featuring all your craving-curing favorites. Indulge in smoked wings, brisket, burnt ends, ribs, pork, chicken and more. When you can’t decide on just one, try them all with their sampler platter that feeds 3 to 4 people.

Add on a classic Southern side like mac n cheese or green beans to create the perfect meal. Edley’s Bar-B-Que doesn’t mess around when it comes to perfecting slow-smoked meats.

205 Manufacturers Rd Suite 110, Chattanooga, TN 37405-3364
Monday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
+1 4234982772

3. Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que

One of the best bites of barbeque you’ll ever have can be found right in Chattanooga. Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que has been open since 1984 and, to this day, remains a staple for delectable and tender slow-smoked barbeque.

Here you’ll get to indulge in hickory smoked meats including all the traditional favorites including chicken, beef, pork, and all the classic sides to add on. With plenty of five-star reviews on Yelp and Tripadvisor, plus a mention in the local Times Free Press, it’s clear they’re a local favorite and go-to.

Enjoy this juicy and tender meat fresh off their smoker in a platter, on a sandwich or all by itself. Even take it home by the pound when you have a group to feed. Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que has rave reviews that you will agree with after just one visit.

5611 Ringgold Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37412-3150
Tuesday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Friday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Sunday, 12:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
+1 4238941217

4. Jim ‘n Nick’s

Here, you’ll find a laid-back chain restaurant that features an emphasis on slow-cooked barbeque meals. Jim’ N Nick’s is well known for their obsession with crafting all the classic BBQ favorites from pulled pork and brisket to ribs, hot-links, turkey and more.

They boast some of the best in Chattanooga, and their popularity around the area backs that up. In a welcoming and relaxing environment, you’ll be able to indulge in a wide array of slow-smoked perfection. Order meat by the pound, in platters, on sandwiches, or even in family packs when you need to serve a larger group.

Plus, they offer classic southern sides that will create the perfect meal. Jim’ N Nick’s will always deliver when it comes to some of the best slow-smoked barbeque.

2040 Hamilton Pl Blvd Ste 150, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Sunday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM. Friday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
+1 423 498 6969

5. Mission BBQ

Here you’ll find a chain barbeque joint that features tasty slow-cooked meats in a space that recognizes and honors both first responders and soldiers. Mission BBQ is a casual, family-friendly spot that serves up a delicious menu of classic barbeque favorites.

Working to create mouth-watering and all-American eats, they succeed with the menu they’ve created that includes all kinds of slow-smoked offerings. You’ll find all the classic options here, including brisket, hand-pulled pork, homemade sausages, turkey, and pulled chicken.

Plus, you can indulge in their baby-back or St. Louis-style ribs. No matter if you’re feeding your family or a larger group, Mission BBQ has everything you need for a delicious meal.

926 Gunbarrel Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421-3105
Monday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Sunday, 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
+1 423 933 3098

6. Naked River

What goes better with traditional slow-smoked barbeque than freshly brewed craft beer? Naked River Brewing and BBQ knows all about the classic beer and smoked-meat combo and embrace it with everything they do.

Set in a refurbished 1840’s trolley car factory you’ll find 16 house brews on tap to help wash down their delicious smoked-barbeque meals. Here they focus on creating mouth-watering fall-off-the-bone meats using oak wood and patience.

Offering different cuts and processes on brisket, turkey, chicken, pork, and even jackfruit to create savory and unforgettable barbeque, no matter what you’re craving they’ve got it covered. Naked River has everything you need for a delicious barbeque meal, all in one place.

1791 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States
Monday, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Friday and Saturday, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Sunday, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Closed on Wednesdays.
+1 423-541-1131

7. The Purple Daisy

Take a trip to the south side of Chattanooga to indulge in this popular cafe. The Purple Daisy is easy to spot, with a bright building painted to match their name, and it features a barbeque menu that will be just as hard to forget.

This basic spot keeps things simple without sacrificing on quality and turns out some of the best barbeque you’ll find in the city.

Along with beautiful views and a cozy environment, you’ll be met with a menu of some of the best smoked meats. Smoked wings, pulled pork, tender ribs, and plenty of tasty options that feature these perfected meats.

A local favorite includes the stuffed baked potato, which includes all your favorite loaded potato toppings plus slow-smoked hand-pulled meat piled high on top. The Purple Daisy will be a BBQ spot you’re going to want to visit over and over again.

4001 Saint Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37409-1301
Monday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Sunday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
+1 4238226477

8. Rib and Loin

For over 30 years, this restaurant has boasted some of the best BBQ that Chattanooga has to offer. Rib + Loin features award-winning slow-smoked barbeque in a no-frills spot that makes for the perfect meal to cure your Southern cravings.

In this relaxed and friendly setting you’ll be able to choose from all the traditional barbeque options like brisket, pork shoulder, chicken breast, and ribs. These are all offered by the platter with sides, on sandwiches, or piled high on their famous stuffed barbeque potatoes.

Plus, when you need to feed a group larger than your family, they offer catering up to 100 miles from their brick-and-mortar location. Rib + Lion will prove why they’ve been a local favorite for the last 34 years in just one bite.

5946 Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421-3501
Sunday – Thursday, 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM. Friday – Saturday, 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM.
+1 4234996465

9. Sticky Fingers

At this well-known chain barbeque joint, you’ll find an emphasis on slow-cooked meats, especially ribs. Sticky Fingers is one of the most popular BBQ spots in the city, with all your favorite classic eats pit-smoked and slathered in house-made sauce.

While the menu includes all kinds of delectable eats from brisket and pulled pork to smoked chicken and burnt ends, they’re best known for their award-winning ribs.

These fall-off-the-bone ribs are smothered in their own recipe sauce and slow-smoked over hickory wood to utter perfection. You’ll leave with sticky fingers after diving into a meal at this barbeque favorite.

For them, food is love, so come down here with your friends and family to share the love.

420 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402-1219
Sunday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM.Friday – Saturday,11:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
+1 4232657427

10. Sugar’s Ribs

When you’re looking for simple yet delicious barbeque in a laid-back setting, this is the spot to be. Sugar’s Ribs features casual indoor and outdoor seating where you can go to enjoy classic Southern barbeque with flavor that’s anything but simple.

Designed and prepared with the BBQ purist in mind, this is the type of smoked meats you’d find in an old-school roadside joint. Instead of the baby-back ribs you’ll likely find at other spots in town, here they feature old South-style spare ribs.

Juicy and moist on the inside with a crunchy, flavorful exterior and no sweet sauce smothered on top. If you’re craving more authentic barbeque that highlights the meat over anything else, Sugar’s Ribs is here to deliver.

2450 15th Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404-5562
Monday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.
+1 4238261199

11. Wright’s BBQ Kitchen

This local barbeque joint is low-key, but not when it comes to flavor. Wright’s BBQ Kitchen features a menu of both beef and pork barbeque options, all slow-smoked to perfection.

Not only will you get to pick from favorites like pork and beef shoulder you can also order slabs of ribs, smoked wings, even a scrap plate of all the tasty extra trimmings. Also on their menu is an emphasis on hot dogs even including a BBQ dog, and a chopped smoked dog plate.

Wrights’ BBQ Kitchen offers a unique take on both traditional and new-age barbeque that will have you hooked after just one trip.

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William Thomas

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.