City guideChattanooga, Tennessee
Where to Eat Barbecue in Chattanooga
Chattanooga doesn't have one barbecue style the way Memphis does. What it has is a deep bench of small spots, a few dishes you won't see much elsewhere, and a newspaper that sent a whole college class out to eat sandwiches. This guide is built from that reporting. The spots below are listed alphabetically, not ranked.
The short version
Four ways in, from the Times Free Press.- Most talked aboutLittle Coyote
"The tip of the spear" for Chattanooga barbecue, per the Times Free Press1Jump to it: Little Coyote ↓ - Old schoolShuford's Smokehouse
Family-owned since 1986 in a 1950s gas station12Jump to it: Shuford's Smokehouse ↓ - Only hereScrap plate
Rib scraps at Wright's BBQ Kitchen1Jump to it: Scrap plate ↓ - OldestSweeney's Pit Bar-B-Q
Harrison, established 19491Jump to it: Sweeney's Pit Bar-B-Q ↓
What makes Chattanooga barbecue different
Two local dishes come up again and again. The first is the killer potato, a stuffed spud piled with barbecue. The Times Free Press calls killer potatoes to Chattanooga barbecue what garlic knots are to New York pizzerias, and notes that Dixie BBQ in Hixson claims to be its rightful home1. The second is the scrap plate, literal scraps from the ribs, which the paper found at Wright's BBQ Kitchen on Dodson Avenue1.
The other thread is the building. In a separate Times Free Press piece, Lisa Denton writes that a no-frills facade at a barbecue spot can be "a badge of honor," and several of the city's best-known spots live in old gas stations and corner stores2.
UTC historian Mark A. Johnson told the paper that authenticity in barbecue is "complex and nuanced," with a push and pull between traditional methods and modern realities like fire codes and wages2.
The spots, one by one
Barque BBQ
Barque sits at 2309 E. Main St. in a building that was once a neighborhood convenience store; the old drink coolers now separate the kitchen from the dining room, which holds about 16 people, with a covered patio outside2. "We try not to have a whole lot of pretense, other than making really good barbecue," owner Ed Ryan told the Times Free Press2.
- What to order
- The smoked bologna sandwich, which the paper's list singled out1.
Couch's BBQ
At 8307 Old Lee Highway in Ooltewah, Couch's serves a plate the Times Free Press writer was told locals call the "mothership," with crinkle fries, creamy slaw and pork shaved paper-thin1.
- What to order
- The "mothership" plate1.
Edley's Bar-B-Que
Edley's is at 205 Manufacturers Road, Suite 110, on the North Shore3. The Times Free Press list calls its grit casserole the redeeming quality1. It's open daily, until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, per its own site3. Edley's started in Nashville; see our Nashville guide.
- What to order
- Grit casserole alongside a pulled pork sandwich1.
Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que
At 5611 Ringgold Road in East Ridge, Hickory Pit gets a mention for its barbecue salad: pulled pork over lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese, covered in honey mustard1.
- What to order
- The barbecue salad with honey mustard1.
Little Coyote
Little Coyote, at 3950 Tennessee Ave., is described by the Times Free Press as now as much a St. Elmo destination as the Incline Railway, and "the tip of the spear" for barbecue in Chattanooga1. The paper's photos show smoked pork ribs with collard greens and pork carnitas with pineapple relish1.
- What to order
- The carnitas1.
Shuford's Smokehouse
Shuford's has been family-owned since 1986 and sits at 924 Signal Mountain Road in a two-room wood-frame building that was a 1950s gas station, with just seven tables1. Jeff Davis has run it for almost 40 years and kept the name of the man he bought it from, Shuford Johnson; there's a second, walk-up-only Shuford's in Soddy-Daisy2. A UTC student reviewer wrote that the brisket is hickory-smoked for 12 hours1.
- What to order
- The beef brisket sandwich plate1.
Full listing: Shuford's SmokehouseDirections to Shuford's Smokehouse
Sugar's Ribs
Sugar's sits atop Missionary Ridge at 2450 15th Ave.1.
- What to order
- Ribs1.
Sweeney's Pit Bar-B-Q
Sweeney's dates to 1949 and sits at 5928 Hwy. 58 in Harrison, about 10 minutes from Harrison Bay State Park1. The student reviewer recommended the chopped pork sandwich with mustard slaw and Carolina sauce1.
- What to order
- Chopped pork sandwich, mustard slaw1.
Wright's BBQ Kitchen
Wright's, at 1515 Dodson Ave., is where the Times Free Press writer waited for scrap plates alongside Southern food writer John T. Edge1.
- What to order
- The scrap plate1.
Full listing: Wright's BBQ KitchenDirections to Wright's BBQ Kitchen
Making a day of it
Chattanooga's barbecue lines up with its sights. Little Coyote is in St. Elmo near the Incline Railway1, and Shuford's is at the base of Signal Mountain, close to trails and Suck Creek1. Heading west afterward? Our Tennessee BBQ Trail runs from Nashville to Memphis, our Memphis BBQ guide covers the city itself, and our Memphis vs. Nashville guide explains the two big styles.
FAQ
Does Chattanooga have its own barbecue style?
Not a formal one, but the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that killer potatoes and scrap plates are local signatures.
What is a killer potato?
A stuffed baked potato loaded with barbecue. Dixie BBQ in Hixson claims to be its home.
What's the oldest barbecue spot on this list?
Sweeney's Pit Bar-B-Q in Harrison, established in 1949.
Sources
- Bottomless pits: Chattanooga's seemingly endless array of good BBQ spots · Chattanooga Times Free Press · published May 1, 2025
- Why Chattanooga's no-frills barbecue spots may be a diner's best bet · Chattanooga Times Free Press · published May 1, 2025
- Chattanooga · Edley's Bar-B-Que
How we write guides. We don’t publish our own reviews or scores. Listings reflect where independent press and readers’ polls agree, and every claim links to its source. Paid placements never change a guide. Hours and sell-outs change, so check with the spot before you drive.
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