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Best Barbecue in the Smokies

5 curated picks · updated

The best barbecue in the Smokies is at Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que (hickory-smoked) and Corky's (Memphis-style) in Gatlinburg, with Pit Stop BBQ and Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar on the North Carolina side. None of the seven picks takes reservations, so go before 11:30 a.m. or after 2 p.m. to skip the line.

The Smokies gateway towns run on hickory smoke. Gatlinburg and Cherokee both have enough barbecue to keep you occupied for a week without repeating a restaurant, which is exactly why a ranked list is useful: waiting in the wrong line on a peak October Saturday is a real cost.

All seven picks here are in the gateway towns, not inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself, where food service is extremely limited. Gatlinburg anchors the Tennessee entrance; Cherokee is at the North Carolina side of the park. Crossing between them takes at least 45 minutes on US-441 under normal conditions, longer during fall foliage season when traffic on the Newfound Gap corridor backs up solidly.

The list covers genuine stylistic range. Corky's is the purest regional case: Memphis-style, slow-smoked, no frills. Bennett's runs a similar traditional playbook with hickory wood instead of Memphis-style seasoning. Three Jimmys and Calhoun's fold barbecue into broader menus with steakhouse cuts and wood-fired options, which helps with groups that can't agree. Guy Fieri's and Pit Stop BBQ anchor the Cherokee side and both typically run shorter lines than their Gatlinburg Strip counterparts, which is worth keeping in mind.

A few things worth knowing before you go:

  • Crowds: July and October are the hardest periods. Arriving before 11:30 a.m. or after 2 p.m. cuts wait times meaningfully at the busier Gatlinburg addresses.
  • Parking: The Strip fills fast. Gatlinburg's city trolley serves outlying lots and is usually faster than circling.
  • Reservations: None of these spots take them. Walk-in only.
  • Cash: Several places still prefer it. ATMs on the Strip carry tourist-rate fees, so withdrawing before you arrive saves the hassle.

More to plan with: the Gatlinburg guide, the restaurants hub, things to do, Smokies itineraries and the events calendar.

  1. 1

    Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que

    $$ · BBQ, American

    Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que is a pit barbecue stop at 2910 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, a casual meat-and-sides meal on the main strip near Dollywood.
  2. 2

    Calhoun's Gatlinburg

    $$ · American, BBQ

    Calhoun's Gatlinburg serves ribs and Southern American dinners at 1004 Parkway in Calhoun's Village, across from the Ober Gatlinburg tram at the top of the Parkway.
  3. 3

    Corky's Ribs & BBQ

    $$ · BBQ, American

    Corky's Ribs & BBQ at 3584 Parkway brings Memphis-style dry and wet ribs, pulled pork and classic sides to Pigeon Forge, a good family dinner after a Dollywood day.
  4. 4

    Five Oaks Farm Kitchen

    $$ · Southern, Farm-style, Smokehouse BBQ

    Five Oaks Farm Kitchen on the Sevierville end of the Parkway serves thick griddle cakes, fried chicken, prime rib and smokehouse barbecue in a farm-style dining room.
  5. 5

    Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar

    $$ · American, Comfort food, BBQ

    Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar at Harrah's Cherokee serves loaded nachos, burgers and barbecue in a loud, colorful dining room that works for families.

Good to know

Best Barbecue in the Smokies: FAQ

Are these restaurants inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
None of them are. All seven are in the gateway towns outside the park boundaries. Bennett's, Calhoun's, Ole Smoky Barbecue, and Three Jimmys are on or near the Gatlinburg Strip on the Tennessee side; Corky's is also in the Gatlinburg area. Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar and Pit Stop BBQ are in Cherokee, North Carolina, at the park's southern entrance. The park itself has no sit-down restaurants.
What's the best time to visit to avoid long waits?
Summer (June through August) and fall foliage season (mid-September through October) bring the heaviest foot traffic to both Gatlinburg and Cherokee. Arriving before 11:30 a.m. or after 2 p.m. typically cuts wait times at the busier spots. None of the restaurants on this list take reservations, so walk-in timing is the main variable you can control.
How far is Cherokee from Gatlinburg, and is the drive worth it?
About 33 miles via Newfound Gap Road through the park, which takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic and season. Cherokee's restaurants generally run shorter lines than the Gatlinburg Strip spots, so the drive can pay off on a busy weekend. Allow extra time during October; Newfound Gap is one of the most congested corridors in the park during peak foliage.
Which pick is closest to a traditional regional BBQ style?
Corky's Ribs & BBQ is the most explicitly regional pick on the list. It's a Memphis-style operation built around slow-smoked ribs and pulled pork. Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que also takes a pit-focused approach with hickory smoking. The other spots blend barbecue into broader menus, which works for mixed groups but isn't the same as a dedicated pit joint.
Are there non-BBQ options for people in the group who aren't into smoked meat?
Several options exist. Three Jimmys has wood-fired pizza and seafood alongside its BBQ menu. Calhoun's operates more as a steakhouse-grill hybrid. Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar covers Southern comfort food broadly, going well beyond smoked meats. For groups that need real menu flexibility, Three Jimmys or Guy Fieri's is the more practical call.

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