Nov 15, 2021 - Food and Drink

An authentic Tennessee BBQ road trip

Nate Rau

The unassuming white brick exterior of Jacks Creek BBQ. — Jacks Creek BBQ. Photo: Nate Rau/Axios Nashville

After we profiled the Joelton barbecue joint Wise Guy's last month, Axios Nashville reader James emailed us with a recommendation: "The best Q on Earth is at Jacks Creek BBQ."

So Nate packed up his family and made the two-hour drive west to the tiny unincorporated town of Jacks Creek.
An unassuming white building had just one table of customers when we first arrived but filled up as the noon rush hour hit. All the parking spots were taken by the time we left.

Details: Jacks Creek BBQ is a standard-bearer in the proud west Tennessee whole hog tradition. Everything we ordered — pork sandwiches, ribs and BBQ nachos — was perfect.

Nate's kids played with runaway cats behind the smokehouse with pitmaster Ricky, who, after finding out we were from Nashville, jokingly asked, "Are my ribs better than Martin's?"

If you go: If driving two hours is a bit much just for BBQ, you can easily add on to your trip. About half an hour away is the Battle of Shiloh, among the best-preserved battlefields from the entire Civil War.

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An authentic Tennessee BBQ road trip

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