Best-of lists · Tennessee
Tennessee Barbecue on the Best-of Lists
Spots named by The Infatuation, Eater, the Nashville Scene, Tennessee Tourism, Visit Franklin and Southern Living, each list credited and linked.
Jacks Creek Bar-B-Q, photographed in 2017. Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0.
West Tennessee whole hog · TN-22 Alt
Jacks Creek Bar-B-Q
Zach Parker's revival of a Chester County whole hog pit.
- Today
Why go
Jacks Creek Bar-B-Q is at 10 TN-22 Alt in Jacks Creek.1 Joe Joyner, a former owner, bought it in 1997, and barbecue had long been sold at this crossroads. In his words, "we're at least looking at 60 years-plus" of barbecue there.6
Zach Parker of B.E. Scott's bought it after learning in May 2023 that it was for sale. The prior owners had moved to an electric cooker. Parker refurbished the open cinder-block pits and cooks whole hogs over hand-shoveled coals.1
The core menu is pork and chicken with potato salad, beans and vinegar slaw.1 Southern Living put it on its list of the best new barbecue restaurants of 2024.12
What to order
Good to know
Restored pits
Concrete block pits, back to whole hog.5
What people are saying
In the press
- Aug 26, 2024Commercial Appeal · Best new barbecue in Tennessee: Southern Living favorites
- 2024Southern Living · The Best New Barbecue Restaurants of 2024
What we don’t know yet
We only publish what we can source. Here’s what’s missing.
- Prices
- Wood and pits
- Cash or card
- The pitmaster
Near TN-22 Alt
Bill's Bar-B-Que
Henderson · about 7 mi
535 S Church Ave
Hunt's Tennessee BBQ
Open Tue to SatUS 45 · about 8 mi
870 US-45 N
Southern Smoke BBQ
Open dailyLexington · about 12 mi
8995 TN-22
Distances are straight-line miles from Jacks Creek, not driving distance.
Nearest trail: The Tennessee BBQ Trail, about 14 miles away.
Related guides
Own Jacks Creek Bar-B-Q? Get a Featured partner listing (paid)
Researched by Erik Peterson, sources linked below.
Sources (6) · every fact on this page links to one
- The Best New Barbecue Restaurants of 2024 · Southern Living · published 2024 · checked Oct 27, 2026
- Best new barbecue in Tennessee: Southern Living favorites · Commercial Appeal · published Aug 26, 2024 · checked Oct 27, 2026
- Jacks Creek Bar-B-Q (oral history) · Southern Foodways Alliance · Checked Oct 27, 2026
- One Man's Mission to Save Whole-Hog BBQ · Texas Monthly · Checked Oct 27, 2026
- West Tennessee whole hog legend · My Local Nooks · Checked Oct 27, 2026
- Tennesseebbq_jacks creek.pdf · Southern Foodways Alliance · Checked Oct 28, 2026
We don’t publish our own scores. Partner listings are always labeled and never change what we recommend. Hours change, so check before you drive.