Nashville doesn’t have one “official” BBQ style the way Memphis or Texas does, but if you ask locals where to send a visiting friend, Edley’s Bar-B-Que comes up constantly. It’s picked up the Nashville Scene’s “Best Bar-B-Que” reader’s poll title multiple times, shown up in Southern Living and Garden & Gun, and grown from a single 12South storefront into locations spread across Tennessee and beyond.
Edley’s Bar-B-Que is a family-owned Nashville barbecue chain, founded by Will and Catharine Newman, known for “Nashville Style” BBQ — meat rubbed with cayenne and finished in a habanero pepper sauce — plus counter-service dining, a full bar, and dishes like the Tuck Special and Bushwacker milkshake.
What Makes Edley’s “Nashville Style” BBQ
Ask ten pitmasters what “Nashville-style” barbecue means and you’ll get some disagreement, since Nashville sits between several BBQ traditions rather than owning one outright. Edley’s describes its approach as a cayenne dry rub finished with a fiery habanero pepper BBQ sauce, producing a blend of smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors — which is the house definition of “Nashville Style” on their menu.
The meat itself follows a more traditional path: everything is smoked low and slow over Southern white oak, and the brisket in particular is Double R Ranch USDA Prime grade beef, smoked for more than 10 hours until it’s tender enough to pull apart with a fork. That’s a longer, slower process than a lot of quick-turn BBQ counters bother with, and it’s the reason regulars order brisket over pulled pork even though pork is the more traditional Southern default.
The name itself nods to the region’s music history — the Nashville Style concept is meant to reflect the sounds of Memphis, Nashville, and Muscle Shoals, tying the flavor profile to the same regional identity as the city’s music scene.
What to Order at Edley’s
If it’s your first visit, skip the temptation to order safe. A few dishes come up again and again in reviews and on the menu as the things regulars actually crave:
- Brisket — sliced, or in a sandwich with red BBQ sauce and pickles
- Tuck Special — a lunch-menu favorite that longtime customers specifically seek out
- Nashville Hot Chicken or Hot Pork — pork marinated overnight in a habanero mash and smoked over 10+ hours, topped with pickled slaw, pickles, and BBQ sauce, a spicier riff on the city’s famous hot chicken
- Mac and cheese and banana pudding — repeatedly named guest favorites alongside the meats
- The Bushwacker — a boozy milkshake that’s become something of a dessert-and-drink hybrid signature
For groups, the platter format (choose three smoked meats plus four sides) is the practical move — TripAdvisor reviewers consistently note the portions are large enough that a platter built for a couple can stretch to feed three with leftovers.
Quick takeaway: if you only get one thing, get the brisket. If you’re building a full order, add hot chicken or hot pork for contrast, and don’t skip the mac and cheese.
Which Edley’s Location to Pick
Edley’s has expanded well past its original footprint. The brand now operates nine Tennessee locations and two in Illinois, with earlier expansion also reaching St. Louis, Chattanooga, and a newer location in Gallatin, TN. For a Nashville trip specifically, three neighborhoods matter most:
| Location | Neighborhood | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 2706 12th Ave S | 12South / Belmont-Hillsboro | The original flagship; walkable shopping area |
| 1004 Woodland St | East Nashville / Historic Edgefield | Bar seating, faster service per reviewers |
| 4500 Murphy Rd | Sylvan Park / Nations area | Newer, more upscale industrial space with full bar |
The 12South flagship opened in 2011 and sits in the Belmont/Hillsboro neighborhood, making it an easy add-on if you’re already browsing the area’s boutiques. If you’d rather avoid a wait, multiple reviewers of the East Nashville location note that grabbing a bar seat gets you served faster than the walk-up ordering line.
READ MORE: Hattie B’s Original Location: The Story Behind Nashville’s First Shop
What First-Time Visitors Get Wrong
The single most common source of confusion in reviews isn’t the food — it’s the format. Edley’s runs on counter service: you walk up, order and pay at the register, take a number, and find your own seat, rather than waiting to be sat and served by a waiter. Visitors expecting full table service sometimes stand near the host stand waiting to be greeted, when the actual move is to walk straight to the counter.
A second, smaller pattern worth knowing: quality has been reported as more consistent at the established, high-traffic locations than at some newer or smaller outposts, where a handful of reviews mention drier ribs or slower-than-expected cook times on brisket. If you’re choosing between two nearby locations, the busier flagship-style spots tend to be the safer bet.
Is Edley’s Worth the Visit?
For a Nashville food itinerary that already includes hot chicken and a honky-tonk crawl, Edley’s earns its spot. It’s been recognized by Southern Living, USA Today, and Garden & Gun, has years of local reader’s-poll wins behind it, and the brisket-and-hot-chicken combination genuinely reflects the city’s food identity rather than a generic BBQ-chain formula. The honest caveat: it’s a high-volume, counter-service spot, not a slow, ceremonial pitmaster experience — go in expecting a casual, loud, family-friendly room rather than white tablecloths, and you’ll enjoy it more.
Want more like this? See more nashville food guides on our site.
FAQ Section
What is Nashville-style BBQ?
It’s a house style built around a cayenne dry rub and a habanero pepper BBQ sauce, giving the meat a smoky-spicy-sweet profile. It’s distinct from Memphis dry-rub, Texas beef-forward, or Carolina vinegar-based traditions.
Is Edley’s Bar-B-Que counter service or table service?
Counter service. You order and pay at the register, take a number, and seat yourself — table service isn’t the format here, which trips up some first-time visitors.
What should I order at Edley’s for my first visit?
Start with the brisket, add Nashville Hot Chicken or Hot Pork for contrast, and get the mac and cheese and banana pudding on the side.
How many Edley’s locations are there?
The chain operates multiple locations across Tennessee plus locations in Illinois, with past and current expansion into markets like St. Louis, Chattanooga, and Gallatin, TN.
Where is the original Edley’s location?
The flagship opened in 2011 at 2706 12th Ave S in Nashville’s 12South/Belmont-Hillsboro neighborhood.
Does Edley’s have a full bar?
Yes — most locations serve a full bar, including signature drinks like the Bushwacker, a boozy milkshake.
Is Edley’s good for groups?
Yes. The platter option (three smoked meats, four sides) is built for sharing and reviewers note portions comfortably stretch beyond the stated serving size.
Has Edley’s won any awards?
It’s been voted “Best Bar-B-Que” in the Nashville Scene Reader’s Poll in multiple years and been featured in Southern Living, Garden & Gun, and USA Today.
