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Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Chattanooga area by diners

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Joshua Resnick // Shutterstock
Joshua Resnick // Shutterstock
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Barbecue stands as one of America's most cherished culinary traditions, weaving together a rich tapestry of history, regional diversity, and evolving flavors that resonate with diners from coast to coast. A July 2022 YouGov survey revealed that nearly all Americans (96%) who consume meat enjoy barbecue, underscoring its widespread enduring appeal and cross-cultural significance. Among the 1,000 survey respondents, Texas dominated as the place most often associated with barbecue, but the cuisine's roots expand far beyond the Lone Star State.

American barbecue can be traced back to Indigenous cooking techniques and was further enriched by the influences of enslaved Africans. In the centuries since, it's evolved into a multifaceted culinary art with distinct regional styles: the tangy, vinegar-based sauces and slow-cooked pork of the Carolinas; the tender brisket of Texas with sauce served on the side; the robust, sweet-forward flavors characteristic of Kansas City; and Alabama's signature mayo-based white sauce drizzled over some juicy chicken.

Alongside these classic offerings, innovative interpretations have surged in popularity in recent decades, as multicultural variants such as Korean BBQ, with its marinated cuts and sizzling grill presentations, and Mexican barbacoa, known for its richly spiced, slow-cooked succulence, have carved out their own niche in the competitive barbecue landscape.

Over the years, barbecue has not only mirrored America's evolving palate but has also fostered a spirit of community, as festivals, backyard cookouts, and friendly competitions celebrate the art of smoking and grilling—traditions lovingly passed down from generation to generation.

Nationwide, barbecue restaurants today greet families and friends with the intoxicating aroma of slow-smoked meats served on sturdy metal trays, often covered in rustic butcher paper. And what meal would be complete without those hearty sides? Whether you opt for gooey mac and cheese and smoky collard greens or crumbly cornbread and creamy coleslaw, you can't go wrong.

If you're craving some good 'cue in your neck of the woods, Stacker has you covered with the highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Chattanooga based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "barbecue" within a 10-kilometer radius of Chattanooga were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items.

Keep reading to see where to go when the hunger for all things low-and-slow strikes you!

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#28. Choo Choo BBQ of Hixson

- Rating: 2.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6410 Hixson Pike Hixson, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Sweeneys Pit Bar-B-Q

- Rating: 2.9/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5928 Highway 58 Harrison, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Logan's Roadhouse

- Rating: 3.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3592 Cummings Hwy Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Texas Roadhouse

- Rating: 3.1/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2020 Hamilton Place Blvd. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. LongHorn Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.4/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5583 Highway 153 Hixson, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, American, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Rib & Loin

- Rating: 3.4/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5946 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Sticky Fingers Rib House

- Rating: 3.5/5 (670 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 420 Broad St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Buddy's Bar-B-Q - Hixson

- Rating: 3.6/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 568 Northgate Mall Drive Ste 101 Hixson, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Volcano Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

- Rating: 3.8/5 (87 reviews)
- Address: 2011 Gunbarrel Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Korean, Hot Pot
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Puckett's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (470 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 West Aquarium Way Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Choo Choo Bar-B-Que

- Rating: 3.9/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7910 East Brainerd Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Southern, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

- Rating: 4.0/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd. Ste 150 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Buddy's Bar-b-q

- Rating: 4.0/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 619 Camp Jordan Pkwy Ste 105 East Ridge, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Saks Wing Shak

- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3911 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Barbecue, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Sugar's Ribs

- Rating: 4.1/5 (792 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2450 15th Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Comfort Food, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4001 Saint Elmo Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Edley's Bar-B-Que

- Rating: 4.3/5 (320 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Manufacturers Road Ste 110 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Mission BBQ

- Rating: 4.3/5 (159 reviews)
- Address: 1926 Gunbarrel Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Chao's Mongolian Grill

- Rating: 4.4/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5726 Brainerd Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Mongolian, Barbecue, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Highway 58 BBQ

- Rating: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4921 Hwy 58 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Choo Choo Barbecue

- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3951 Ringgold Road Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Barque BBQ

- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 2309 East Main St. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Chatt Smoke House

- Rating: 4.6/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 416 East Ml King Blvd. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches, New American
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 281 metros.

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