NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Where can you find the best barbecue in the South? According to Southern Living Magazine, some of the best smoked meats can be found in the Volunteer State.

The magazine recently ranked the "Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South," and five restaurants in Tennessee made the list.

To compile the list, the contributor said he based the rankings on the enjoyment of the meal and the overall experience of the visit, adding that he has dined at each and every restaurant on the list in person.

Here's how Southern Living Magazine ranked the Tennessee establishments that made the list:

Charlie Vergos Rendezvous

The famous dry-rubbed ribs at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous were born back in the 1940s in Memphis, according to the restaurant's website. Southern Living ranked the establishment in the fifth spot on the list, praising how the crisp slabs are cooked.

"They're finished with a thick blanket of Greek spices and served in foil-lined trays with little side cups of slaw and beans," wrote the contributor. "For the full Rendezvous experience, start things off with a ham, cheese, and sausage appetizer plate and wash it all down with a cold draft beer."

Charlie Vergos Rendezvous is located at 52 S. Second Street.

Peg Leg Porker

According to Southern Living Magazine, you can't get more Tennessee than Peg Leg Porker. The family-owned restaurant, which ranked No. 32, has been in operation for more than 10 years Nashville.

Some items featured on the menu include BBQ nachos, dry-rubbed ribs, wings, pork rinds and Memphis Sushi.

"The house-branded Peg Leg Porker whiskey is distilled in Tennessee, and the appetizers include “Memphis sushi” (dry rub-sprinkled kielbasa, cheddar, and saltines) alongside cream cheese and pepper jelly and bright red kool aid pickles. The Gulch may be one of Nashville’s trendiest nightlife districts, but owner/pitmaster Carey “Peg Leg” Bringle keeps it real with plenty of West Tennessee style," stated the contributor.

Peg Leg Porker, which is located at 903 Gleaves Street, is open Monday through Saturday.

Cozy Corner BBQ

Dubbed a "Memphis icon" by Southern Living Magazine, Cozy Corner BBQ ranked No. 26 on the list.

"The city's signature barbecue items are all here: smoky ribs and rib tips enrobed in a sweet, tangy sauce, BBQ bologna sandwiches, and BBQ spaghetti, a tangle of tender noodles and savory barbecue sauce found only in Memphis," wrote the magazine.

According to the contributor, Cozy Corner features signature menu items such as smoked cornish hens and long sesame-topped sub rolls instead of the usual bun.

Cozy Corner BBQ is located at 735 North Parkway in Memphis.

A & R Bar-B-Q

Coming in at No. 17 was A & R Bar-B-Q. The restaurant's website describes the barbecue as the best in Memphis.

The magazine praised the establishment's barbecue and rib sandwiches, calling them the "best in the class."

"Even more impressive is the rib sandwich, a wondrously messy concoction with a short, meaty slab served with bones and all between two slices of plain white bread, with plenty of sauce and slaw, too," the contributor stated.

A&R Bar-B-Q has two locations in Memphis: 3721 Hickory Hill Road and 1802 Elvis Presley Boulevard.

B.E. Scott's BBQ

B.E. Scott's BBQ in Lexington is dedicated to preserving the West Tennessee tradition of whole hog cooking.

"These days you can order smoked chicken or BBQ-topped nachos, but the mainstays of the operation are whole hog barbecue sandwiches," wrote Southern Living Magazine. "The pork is pulled fresh from the pit and curled into long, juicy strands with a little crisp coleslaw on a simple hamburger bun."

The restaurant came in at No. 8 on the list. B.E. Scott's BBQ is located at 10880 Highway 412 West.

To view the entire list of the best BBQ joints in the South, follow this link.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/these-tennessee-bbq-spots-named-among-best-in-the-south/