Area guideWilliamson County, Tennessee
Franklin and Williamson County BBQ: Where to Eat
Williamson County is where Middle Tennessee's modern barbecue story started. Pat Martin opened his first spot in Nolensville in 2006, and Franklin is now home to whole hog, "Nashville hot" barbecue, Memphis ribs and Texas brisket within a 20-minute drive of each other. Here's where local polls, the county's tourism office and Nashville critics overlap. We don't review spots ourselves; every spot is cited.
The short version
Short on time? Start with these four.- Whole hogMartin's
Best BBQ in the 2026 Sizzle Awards, again2Jump to it: Martin's ↓ - Nashville hotEdley's
The spot that put a name on Nashville-style hot barbecue1Jump to it: Edley's ↓ - ReliableJim 'N Nick's
Second in the 2026 Sizzle Awards; get the cheese biscuits12Jump to it: Jim 'N Nick's ↓ - Downtown FranklinPuckett's
Third in the Sizzle Awards; pork smoked over cherry wood12Jump to it: Puckett's ↓
How we chose these spots
We cross-checked three local sources:
- Visit Franklin's "Top 10 Barbecue Joints in Franklin," written by Nashville food writer Chris Chamberlain (May 2026)1
- The 2026 Sizzle Awards reader results for Williamson County, published by FranklinIs2
- FranklinIs' "Savor the Smoke" BBQ guide (2026)3
Then we added what Nashville critics say about the same spots' other locations467.
Where the sources overlap
| Spot | Town | On Visit Franklin's list | Sizzle Awards 20262 | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint | Nolensville, Spring Hill | 1st, Best BBQ | West Tennessee whole hog | |
| Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q | Franklin (Cool Springs) | 2nd | Cheese biscuits | |
| Puckett's | Downtown Franklin | 3rd | Cherry-smoked pulled pork | |
| Edley's Bar-B-Que | Factory at Franklin, Berry Farms | – | Nashville-style hot barbecue | |
| Hogwood BBQ | Cool Springs | – | Colorado-meets-South | |
| Stroud's Barbecue | Franklin | – | Drive-thru, 30+ years | |
| Judge Bean's Bar-B-Que | Brentwood | – | Texas-style brisket (closing Nov 14, 2026) | |
| Corky's Ribs & BBQ | Brentwood | – | Memphis wet or dry ribs | |
| HoneyFire BBQ | Brentwood | – | Honey sauces, big bourbon list | |
| BB's Bar-B-Q | Franklin | – | Roadside carryout |
The spots, one by one
Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
Martin's is the county's anchor. It won Best BBQ in the 2026 Sizzle Awards again, and FranklinIs notes that Pat Martin learned whole-hog cooking in Henderson, Tennessee, and that the hogs smoke for up to 24 hours2. Visit Franklin says Martin opened in 2006 in a tiny 12-table spot in Nolensville and that every Martin's has a smoker big enough for a whole hog1. Martin's own history confirms the October 2006 Nolensville opening5. Martin's also took first for Best Barbecue in the 2026 Nashville Scene readers' poll6.
- What to order
- A pulled pork sandwich, ideally whole hog. Ask about the hoecake "Redneck Taco."
- Addresses
- 7223 Nolensville Rd, Nolensville; 2076 Wall St, Spring Hill2.
Full listing: Martin's Bar-B-Que JointDirections to Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
Edley's Bar-B-Que
Edley's is the spot that put a name on "Nashville-style" barbecue. Visit Franklin says founder Will Newman created Nashville-style hot barbecue using a fermented red habanero pepper mash1, and The Infatuation calls Edley's the first barbecue joint to establish the style4. Eater Nashville points to the Tuck Special, sliced brisket with an over-easy egg, pimento cheese, red and white sauce and pickles, plus the banana pudding7. Edley's placed third for both Best Barbecue and Best Ribs in the 2026 Nashville Scene readers' poll6.
- What to order
- Ribs with the hot rub, the Tuck Special and banana pudding.
Full listing: Edley's Bar-B-QueDirections to Edley's Bar-B-Que
Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q
An Alabama-born chain, but a beloved one. It moved up to second in the 2026 Sizzle Awards2. Visit Franklin credits it with remarkable consistency across more than 60 locations and calls the cheese biscuits "pretty much a mandatory order," along with a "sneaky-good" catfish plate1. FranklinIs notes the team avoids freezers and microwaves2.
- Address
- 3068 Mallory Ln, Franklin2.
Full listing: Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-QDirections to Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q
Puckett's
Puckett's is a meat-and-three, breakfast spot and music venue that also smokes meat. It placed third in the 2026 Sizzle Awards2, and Visit Franklin calls it a "five-tool player," with pulled pork smoked over cherry wood, baby back ribs, brisket, chicken and turkey1.
- Address
- 120 4th Ave S, Franklin2.
Hogwood BBQ
A Colorado import hidden in a Cool Springs strip mall. Visit Franklin highlights Hatch chile cheese grits, pinto beans from Dove Creek, Colorado, and the Colorado Sandwich, brisket with jalapenos, pepper jack and a fiery red sauce1.
Stroud's Barbecue
A locally owned Middle Tennessee institution for more than 30 years, per Visit Franklin, with a drive-thru, a short breakfast menu and a "Specialties" list that runs from barbecue nachos to a barbecue burrito1.
- Address
- 1010 Fulton Greer Lane, Franklin.
Full listing: Stroud's BarbecueDirections to Stroud's Barbecue
Judge Bean's Bar-B-Que
- Closing
- Judge Bean's has announced it will close permanently on November 14, 20268. Go before then.
Texas-style, on Church Street in Brentwood. Visit Franklin says founder Aubrey Beane's menu lives on with smoky wings, ribs, pulled pork and "legitimate Texas-approved beef brisket," plus Tex-Mex extras like smoked tamales and the Diablo, a bacon-wrapped smoked jalapeno stuffed with shrimp and cheese1.
Full listing: Judge Bean's Bar-B-QueDirections to Judge Bean's Bar-B-Que
Corky's Ribs & BBQ
The Memphis outpost. Visit Franklin says Corky's opened on Franklin Road more than three decades ago and offers wet or dry ribs cooked over hickory, with a paprika, cayenne and garlic powder rub on the dry ribs1. FranklinIs describes it as family-owned and operated3.
- Address
- 100 Franklin Rd, Brentwood3.
Full listing: Corky's Ribs & BBQDirections to Corky's Ribs & BBQ
HoneyFire BBQ
HoneyFire's third location sits on Old Hickory Boulevard at the edge of Brentwood. Visit Franklin highlights honey-based sauces, the Diablo Jones pulled pork sandwich with fried jalapenos, and what it calls the largest bourbon and whiskey selection of any barbecue spot in the area1.
BB's Bar-B-Q
The roadside one. Visit Franklin describes a yellow shack with a pig on the roof, carryout and drive-thru only, with stuffed baked potatoes, meats by the pound, white beans and cobbler of the day1.
More around the county
FranklinIs also lists Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse in Franklin (BBQ pork on cornbread and "The Mark," brisket and smoked sausage) and Denim's Barbecue in Spring Hill (family packs of pulled pork)3.
Plan by occasion
- Out-of-town guests, downtown Franklin: Puckett's on 4th Ave, then a walk down Main Street.
- Something nobody back home has tried: Edley's at The Factory for Nashville hot barbecue.
- The classic Tennessee sandwich: Martin's in Nolensville for whole hog.
- Ribs-first: Corky's in Brentwood, wet or dry.
- Quick and cheap: Stroud's or BB's drive-thru.
FAQ
Where can I find barbecue in Franklin, TN?
Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint won Best BBQ in the 2026 Williamson County Sizzle Awards, with Jim 'N Nick's and Puckett's also placing. Visit Franklin's list also includes Edley's, Hogwood, Stroud's, Judge Bean's, Corky's, HoneyFire and BB's.
Where can I get whole-hog barbecue near Franklin?
Martin's in Nolensville and Spring Hill cooks whole hog.
What is Nashville-style barbecue?
Edley's describes it as hot barbecue built on a fermented habanero mash; The Infatuation calls it low-and-slow meats under a blistering dry rub with cayenne and habanero.
Is there Memphis-style barbecue in Williamson County?
Yes. Corky's in Brentwood serves Memphis wet or dry ribs.
What’s changed
Spots close and polls change. Here’s what we’ve updated, newest first.
- Oct 2026Judge Bean's Bar-B-Que in Brentwood announced it will close permanently on November 14, 20268.
Sources
- Top 10 Barbecue Joints in Franklin That Will Keep You Coming Back for Seconds · Visit Franklin · published Chris Chamberlain, May 18, 2026
- Dine With the Best: Guide to Williamson County's 2026 Sizzle Awards Winners · FranklinIs
- Savor the Smoke: Your Guide to BBQ in Franklin and Williamson County · FranklinIs · published 2026
Show all 8 sourcesShow fewer sources
- The Best BBQ In Nashville · The Infatuation · published Oct 14, 2026
- Our Story · Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
- Best of Nashville 2026 readers' poll: Best Barbecue · Nashville Scene
- The Best Finger-Licking Barbecue in Nashville · Eater Nashville
- Brentwood's Judge Bean's BBQ Closes for Good After 16 Years · Hoodline · published Oct 19, 2026
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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