The perennial r/Chattanooga question. There's no single "best" - it depends on
whether you want pulled pork, brisket, ribs, or the sauce style. A few
long-time local anchors to start from; add your favorites below.
Green pins: well-regarded. Gold pins: cult favorites worth the drive.
Click a pin for address and directions (Google or Apple Maps).
- Rib and Loin (Brainerd) - the long-running favorite, open since 1989
(ribandloin.com).
Award-winning ribs and catering; a reliable crowd-pleaser with big portions.
- Sugar's Ribs (Southside) - rib-heavy, well-loved, casual indoor/outdoor
seating. Open 7 days.
- Main Street Meats (Southside) - butcher shop + BBQ plates; the pulled
pork and sides hold up, and the spot has real character.
- Chatt Smoke House (MLK, downtown) - local smokehouse on MLK with a
loyal following; run by James Massengill for 7+ years
(chatt-smokehouse.com).
- Shuford's Smokehouse (Signal Mountain / Soddy-Daisy, not Lakesite) -
cult-favorite ribs and pulled pork; cash-friendly, worth the drive. Lines
on weekends. In business since 1986 - one of the area's oldest
(shufords-smokehouse.com).
East TN leans toward tomato-and-vinegar sauces; Memphis (a couple hours
west) prefers dry rub + sweet sauce. Local joints mostly split the difference.
If you're opinionated about sauce, the community wants to know.
- Ribs - most places' claim to fame
- Pulled pork - the baseline; judge the smoke
- Brisket - fewer places do it; ask, don't assume
- Sides - greens, mac & cheese, and the "baked beans with burnt ends" specials
Last updated: August 2026 (web-verified). Hours change - verify before you
go, and add new openings/closings.