NashvilleTN Live NashvilleTN Live

Barbecue12 South + East Nashville$$$$

Edley's Bar-B-Que

The neighborhood barbecue joint locals vote for, with shops in 12 South, East Nashville, Sylvan Park and beyond.

Edley's Bar-B-Que
Photo: Edley's Bar-B-Que

#2 in Barbecue

Google 4.5 3,613 reviewsYelp 4.1 1,706 reviews

BarbecueLocals' favorite

Directions

What to get

  • Nashville-style ribs (dry rub with cayenne and fermented habanero mash)
  • The Tuck Special: brisket, fried egg, pimento cheese, red and white sauce
  • Hot chicken nachos with jalapeño ranch
  • Banana pudding and a frozen Bushwacker

When to go

Weekday afternoons; at peak times use the covered patio to escape the line inside (Infatuation).

Insider tip

Edley's says it invented 'Nashville-style' barbecue, a hot-chicken-inspired rub (Infatuation). Christie Cookie Co. is nearby for dessert.

Heads up

Lines and crowds inside at peak times (Infatuation).

Find it

Reservations
walk-in only

Recognition

Checked Oct. 1, 2026. Ratings are a snapshot from Google and Yelp; ranks are ours (how we rank). Something out of date? Tell us.

Eat & Drink

More in Barbecue

  • #1Texas barbecue · Madison

    Shotgun Willie's BBQ

    Central Texas-style brisket and ribs in Madison, about 15 minutes north of downtown.

  • #3Barbecue · Downtown

    Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

    West Tennessee whole-hog barbecue in a two-level beer hall a few blocks south of Broadway.

  • #4Texas BBQ · East Nashville

    Curry Boys BBQ

    Texas barbecue with Thai flavors on McGavock Pike: curry queso, brisket and hot links. Go early; the brisket sells out.

  • #5Barbecue · The Gulch

    Peg Leg Porker

    Dry-rub ribs, a rooftop bar and the pitmaster's own bourbon.

  • #6Old-school barbecue cafeteria · North Nashville

    Jack's Bar-B-Que

    Old-school cafeteria-line barbecue on Trinity Lane and Charlotte Avenue. Get the brisket and try every sauce, including the mayo-based Music City.

  • #7Fast-casual barbecue · Bellevue

    HoneyFire Barbeque Co.

    A Bellevue barbecue counter near the Natchez Trace. Get the Southern Shine sandwich with fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese.

Back to Eat & Drink

The NashvilleTN Insider · 10K+ readers

The best of Nashville, in your inbox.

The shows worth buying tickets for, what just opened, where happy hour is good right now, the weekend plan, and a heads-up before we go live.