The Best Barbecue in Columbia, TN

Did you know there’s a science to making great barbecue? The best grill masters use a variety of flavor profiles to stir the senses and get your mouth watering. Through the quintessential blend of salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy rubs, sauces, and brines, they target your taste buds to create a flavor explosion. You can almost feel the juice of a perfectly seared rib-eye steak oozing onto your tongue just thinking about it, can’t you? Well, if you’re looking to experience a taste sensation, check out these restaurants for the best barbecue in Columbia, Tennessee.

Bar-B-Cutie

Since the first Bar-B-Cutie opened its doors in 1950, folks simply can’t resist the restaurant’s signature Seriously Smoked Meat Plates that come packed with two sides, barbecue bread, fried cornbread, and your choice of smoked turkey, chicken, beef brisket, pork, and more. Locally owned and operated, you’ll find the nearest Bar-B-Cutie in Franklin, Tennessee, just a 30-minute drive from the heart of Columbia.

Using environmentally friendly smokers and locally sourced hickory wood, Bar-B-Cutie serves up some of the most flavorful barbecue dishes in the area. One of the best things about Bar-B-Cutie is that it’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Hickory House Restaurant

Image via Flickr by CCFoodTravel.com

Sometimes you want to go where you know you’ll experience consistently good food each and every time you walk through the door. Hickory House Restaurant is that kind of place. Known for its succulent steaks and daily buffet, Hickory House takes top honors with locals as the best barbecue joint in Pulaski, Tennessee. The doors to this fan-favorite eatery open at 11 a.m. from Tuesday through Sunday, with new owners Jackie and JP Perry waiting to greet everyone with a smile.

Whether you’re in the mood for an affordable lunch special with friends or a four-course meal that’s fit for the entire family, Hickory House offers something for everyone. From favorites like JP’s Special, a juicy 8-ounce sirloin steak, to The Old Faithful, a scrumptious pulled-pork sandwich, Hickory House delivers delicious barbecue dishes that get your taste buds tingling. On top of that, Hickory House offers a fine selection of decadent desserts that cater to your sweet tooth. As they say at Hickory House, if you go home hungry, it’s your own fault!

Abe’s BBQ Smokehouse

Since Abe’s BBQ Smokehouse opened in April 2017, it’s ranked high on the list of local favorites. Owner Abe Everett began honing his pitmaster skills at an early age, and it shows. Taking influences from old family recipes and Texas traditions, Abe serves up a craft barbecue experience like no other. Popular menu items include pulled pork, brisket burnt ends, jumbo wings, and dry-rubbed, oak-smoked ribs.

You’ll find Abe’s food truck parked at 1075 N James Campbell Blvd in Columbia, and it’s 100 percent worth a visit. Abe’s opens for business at 11 a.m. from Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 6 p.m. most days.

Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant

What started out as a little grocery store in the village of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, in the 1950s is now a thriving music venue and restaurant chain across Tennessee, and one of Puckett’s six incredible locations is found right smack dab in the heart of historic downtown Columbia. Starting at 7 a.m. each day, Puckett’s swings open the doors and welcomes guests with full-blown Southern hospitality.

Gather around one of the many tables in the 26,000 square-foot former factory and warehouse, and open up a menu full of Southern staples. Be sure to try the famed Puckett’s BBQ sandwich, made with pulled pork, chicken, or brisket that’s slow-smoked with cherry wood. You can even top it with slaw if you like your barbecue Memphis-style.

Looking for something a little more hearty than a handheld? Try the Cherry Wood-Smoked Baby Back Ribs featuring Memphis-style dry-rubbed ribs with smoked baked beans and potato salad. In addition to authentic comfort food classics, Puckett’s hosts a variety of live local music acts. Check the website for details about upcoming events.

Delta Bound

If Southern comfort is what you’re after, you’ll find something special to feed your hungry appetite on the grill at Delta Bound. After winning the Best of the Best title at the 2014 Nashville Street Food Awards, owners Stacey and Jessica Mobley decided to take their food truck to the next level and opened their first restaurant the following year. Since then, it’s become one of the most popular barbecue joints in the area.

Located in Spring Hill, just a 15-minute drive from Columbia, Delta Bound opens from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Some of the menu items that keep people coming back for more include the Brisket Melt, featuring smoked brisket, pepper jack, barbecue sauce, and fried banana peppers on house white bread, the Smoked Pulled Pork plate, which comes with two sides, a hush puppy waffle wedge, barbecue sauce, and house-made pickles, and the Grilled Gulf Shrimp that’s dredged in Delta Bound’s signature Cajun seasoning.

JJ’s Barbecue

As the oldest family-owned barbecue restaurant in Columbia, JJ’s Barbecue knows how to grill a mighty fine piece of meat. From a half-slab of St. Louis-style ribs to pulled pork, beef, and turkey sandwiches, JJ’s offers up an array of delicious dishes that hit the spot every time. Add a side of mayo slaw, potato salad, onion rings, baked beans, or fried okra, and you won’t be sorry.

Located on Hatcher Lane, JJ’s opens Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and treats every customer like a member of the family. After more than two decades as part of the local community, JJ’s small-but-cozy dining room feels like home. Owner Julie Webster prides herself on providing exceptional customer service and creating top-quality food that makes people smile. Enjoy your meal on the large outdoor porch, inside the restaurant, or pick it up to eat anywhere at your convenience.

Well, there you have it. You’ll find some of the best barbecue in Columbia at these five restaurants. What do you think of our list? Did your favorite barbecue restaurant make the cut? If we missed it, let us know. Drop us a line and tell us all about what makes it the best barbecue in Columbia, and we’ll be sure to add it to our list.