BBQ Restaurants in Gatlinburg TN, Ranked

A changing of Gatlinburg’s BBQ guard

Keeping up with the best of anything in the Smoky Mountains is like trying to keep track of shifting sands. Restaurants, businesses, and attractions come and go, and often quality isn’t the determining factor. Pour one out for Taco Trail Taqueria & Bar. Taco Trail, we hardly knew you. Dreams come, and they go in the mountains, and so, every so often, we must step back and reassess. 

There’s been a lot happening on the Gatlinburg BBQ scene of late. Long-time king of the hill – Delauder’s – was nationally recognized. However, a landlord issue necessitated a move to Sevierville. Happily, you can still get your Delauder’s fix on Dolly Parton Parkway, but that ain’t in Gatlinburg.

Delauder’s move loosely coincided – but was not related to – the arrival of Myron Mixon’s downtown. Myron Mixon is a celebrity BBQ cook with dozens of awards and a lot of fame on cooking shows. His new spot is really making waves in our Burg BBQ rankings. 

The good news? There’s a lot of good BBQ – and some great BBQ – to be had in Gatlinburg and Sevier County. If you want good BBQ, you don’t have to go far.

Ranking Gatlinburg BBQ spots

1. Myron Mixon

I’m not going to lie. This hurts my heart a little. As an East Tennessean, I am an ardent Calhoun’s fan – we’ll talk about it more in a bit. It feels like Mixon came in and set up on Calhoun’s corner a bit. But the truth is, Mixon is more firmly entrenched in the modern art of BBQ, a little more focused solely on smoked meats. 

Pulled pork, baby back pork ribs, and beef short ribs are all excellent. But pork belly burnt ends and the prime beef brisket are where Mixon really shines. Old Myron isn’t afraid to experiment a little, either, with smoked turkey breast, a couple of chicken options, smoked bologna, and a delicious Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage.

There may be a touch of recency bias here, but for now, Mixon is on top. Myron Mixon is located at 762 Parkway #5 in Gatlinburg, and the website can be found here.

2. Calhoun’s

You will never hear me say a disparaging word about Calhoun’s. It’s an East Tennessee institution and has hosted several key events and meals in my life. Love the pulled pork, brisket, and the ribs. And especially enjoy the spinach, Maria.

I would say Mixon and Calhoun are running neck and neck on the pulled pork and ribs, but Mixon pulls away on the other smoked stuff. In terms of their fixins? It’s pretty close as well. Calhoun’s Gatlinburg is located at 1004 Parkway #101. Their website is located here.

3. Hungry Bear BBQ

One of the ways you measure success in the mountains is duplication. Is somebody copying you? Have you opened a second location in another city in Sevier County or nearby? Have you opened another location in the same city? There are two Hungry Bear BBQ spots in Gatlinburg, one at 490 East Parkway and one at 2263 East Parkway. I figure if you’re running two spots that close together, you’re doing something right.

What Hungry Bear is doing right is making good BBQ sandwiches with meat smoked on site. The menu is what you’d expect: pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and more. Access their website here.

4. Tennessee Jed’s

A Grateful Dead-themed sandwich shop does its own BBQ? It does, and it is spectacular. If we were simply ranking pulled pork, I’d have to do some soul searching, but since the pulled pork is Jed’s only real foray into BBQ, we’re putting them here.

Look for Tennessee Jed’s at 631 Parkway, Suite A8 in Gatlinburg. And follow their website here.

5. Bennett’s Pit BBQ

There’s a stat in baseball that – frankly – I don’t really understand. It’s called WAR or Wins Above Replacement. Essentially, it combines a variety of statistics to determine how far above or below the absolute average player. The number indicates how many more wins your player provides than the absolute average player at his position. For example, Aaron Judge had a 9.7 WAR in 2025, meaning in theory the Yankees got 10 more wins in a 160-game season than if they’d played an average outfielder. 

If BBQ had a WAR, Bennett’s would be a 3.0.  Better than the absolute average BBQ, but probably not enough to get you to the World Series. 

Bennett’s is perfectly good BBQ with its hickory-smoked offerings – we like the pork shoulder for mountain picnics and the like. And you could certainly do worse. The restaurant is located at 714 River Rd in Gatlinburg. Follow the website here.

Do you agree with our BBQ ranking? Let us know what you think in the comments and on the socials!