Where to get barbecue in Knoxville: Gay Street to Kingston Pike

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Refreshed every three months.

Knoxville’s barbecue is spread across the city. Kingston Pike has the most, from Calhoun’s at Bearden Hill to Jim ‘N Nick’s and the original Calhoun’s farther west. Downtown has The Humble Hog on Gay Street and Calhoun’s on the riverfront, Dead End BBQ is in Pond Gap off Sutherland Avenue, and Sweet P’s is on Tazewell Pike in North Knoxville.

How we made this list. The places come from OpenStreetMap records with a Knoxville address, the same data behind our local directory, checked against each place’s own website on Oct. 18, 2026. We added Sweet P’s and the three Calhoun’s restaurants from their own sites. Calhoun’s describes its original restaurant as a tribute to East Tennessee barbecue and serves hickory-smoked ribs. We left out Smash Mouth BBQ, which has only a social media page. The list is alphabetical. It is not a ranking or a recommendation, and nobody paid to be on it. Run one of these places? Write to us to correct your entry.

The list

The places

Calhoun’s is a Knoxville restaurant group with three restaurants inside the city’s addresses. The Original, opened in 1983 off Kingston Pike near Pellissippi Parkway, is a barn-like building its owners call a tribute to East Tennessee’s barbecue traditions, and serves hickory-smoked baby back ribs. Calhoun’s on the River opened in 1988 on the Tennessee River across from campus, with outdoor and enclosed decks and a boat dock. Bearden Hill is on Kingston Pike in Bearden. Reservations are recommended, and parties of more than eight should call.

Dead End BBQ in the Pond Gap community describes its barbecue as competition-style, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It offers curbside pickup and delivery, and its site notes that hours can change.

The Humble Hog on Gay Street serves slow-smoked barbecue with Southern hospitality, by its own description, for lunch and dinner. It takes reservations online.

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q on Kingston Pike is a Southern barbecue chain with dine-in, to-go, delivery and catering. Its catering line is 423-498-6967.

Sweet P’s Uptown Corner on Tazewell Pike has a restaurant menu, a brunch menu and catering, with online ordering.

More places to eat in Knoxville

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I get barbecue in Knoxville?

This list has seven places: The Humble Hog on Gay Street, Calhoun’s on the Tennessee River, at Bearden Hill and on west Kingston Pike, Dead End BBQ in Pond Gap, Jim ‘N Nick’s on Kingston Pike and Sweet P’s on Tazewell Pike.

Where can I get barbecue in downtown Knoxville?

The Humble Hog, 312 S. Gay St., serves slow-smoked barbecue from noon Tuesday to Sunday. Calhoun’s on the River, 400 Neyland Drive, is on the riverfront across from the University of Tennessee campus.

Which Knoxville barbecue restaurants are open on Monday?

The three Calhoun’s restaurants, Dead End BBQ and Jim ‘N Nick’s are open Monday. The Humble Hog and Sweet P’s list Monday as closed.

Which Knoxville barbecue place has river views?

Calhoun’s on the River, 400 Neyland Drive, has outdoor and enclosed deck spaces on the Tennessee River and a dock for boats. Call 865-673-3355.