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  • July 21, 2025

Best BBQ in the Smokies: Top Picks & Star‑Rated Smokehouses

Where to Find the Best BBQ in the Smokies 🍖

If you’re visiting the Smoky Mountains and craving mouthwatering, slow-smoked meats, you’re in for a treat. From Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, this region is packed with pitmaster-approved BBQ joints serving up tender brisket, juicy ribs, and smoky pulled pork. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best BBQ in the Smokies, using real reviews from locals and visitors alike—plus Yelp star ratings and price insights—so you can skip the guessing and go straight to the good stuff.

Best BBQ in the Smokies

⭐️ Buddy’s BBQ (Sevierville)

  • Yelp Rating: 4.0/5
  • 💰 Price: $10–15 per person

“Good grief. I always get 2 meals out of my dinner … pretty good value”
Why you’ll love it: A long‑standing local gem (since 1972) with hickory‑smoked pork, brisket, wings, and family meal deals perfect for a mountain picnic .

⭐️ Preacher’s Smokehouse (Pigeon Forge / Sevierville)

  • Yelp Rating: 4.8/5 (200+ reviews)
  • 💰 Price: $12–20 per person

“Preacher’s Smokehouse best BBQ… Needs NO sauce”
Why it stands out: Award-winning, perfectly smoked ribs, brisket & pulled pork with exceptional meats you can savor without sauce. Highly praised for both flavor and vibe .

⭐️ Delauder’s BBQ (Gatlinburg)

  • Yelp Rating: 4.5/5 (779 reviews)
  • 💰 Price: $10–18 per person

“Delauder’s BBQ is always our go‑to. Best we have found… in our opinion.”
Why it’s a favorite: Cozy, family‑run, and known for brisket, ribs, and Southern sides. Voted #9 on TripAdvisor Gatlinburg with a 4.7 rating .

⭐️ Myron Mixon’s BBQ (Gatlinburg)

  • Yelp Rating: ~4.0 (limited reviews)
  • 💰 Price: $15–25 per person

“We had family in town… featured on local news.”
Why it’s special: From the 5‑time world champion “Winningest Man in BBQ,” expect top-tier meats cooked over real wood. Located in downtown Gatlinburg with signature sauces .

⭐️ Bustin’ Butts BBQ (Sevierville)

  • Yelp Rating: ~4.2 (based on Yelp listings)
  • 💰 Price: $10–15 per person

“Bustin’ Butts … best hole in the wall type of BBQ joint ever; food amazing & staff are friendly.” (FB comment)
Why it shines: A local “hole-in-the-wall” favorite offering classic smoked meats in a laid-back atmosphere.

⭐️ Bennett’s BBQ (Gatlinburg)

  • Yelp Rating: ~4.0
  • 💰 Price: $10–15 per person

Multiple guests mentioned “Bennett’s BBQ” as a go-to Gatlinburg spot
Why give it a go: A solid BBQ sandwich joint loved for quick service, good portions, and homemade flavor.

⭐️ Tony Gore’s BBQ (Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge)

  • Yelp Rating: ~4.2
  • 💰 Price: $10–15 per person

“Tony Gore’s on 66.” (FB)
Why try it: A local classic, smoked to perfection with smoky flavors that locals can’t stop recommending.

Finding the Best BBQ in the Smokies

If you’re searching for the best BBQ in the Smokies, these top picks balance char‑kissed ribs, seasoned brisket, and real-deal smoked flavor—with local charm to match. From iconic champions to family-run smokehouses, you won’t go wrong.

🏡 Cozy Cabin Stays Near the Smoke

After a delicious BBQ day, retreat to one of our cozy cabins:

  • 14 compact cabins (from $100/night) – perfect for couples or small families
  • 6‑person Rivers Edge cabin – serene stream views
  • 12‑person creekside cabin with swimming hole – splash-ready fun
  • 12‑person pool cabin – private pool for relaxation
  • 12‑person mountain‑view cabin – breathtaking Smoky Mountain vistas

Stay close to the action and come home to comfort!

Our Cabins

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Smoky Mountains Waterfront Cabin
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Smoky Mountains Waterfront Cabin
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Indian Camp Creek

• Sleeps 12
• Private Creek
• Swimming Hole
• Game Room & Hot tub
• Fire Pit & Outdoor Dining

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Smoky Woods Lodge

• Sleeps 12
• Mountain View
• Game Room & Hot tub
• Fire Pit & Outdoor Dining
• 4 Private Ensuite Bathrooms

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Rivers Edge Cabin

• Sleeps 6
• Private Creek
• Floats for the Creek
• Hot tub
• Fire Pit & Outdoor Dining

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Treehouse Cabin Unit 1 | Hot Tub & Part Mountain View

• Sleeps 4
• Hot Tub
• 1 King Bed
• 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Fully Equipped Kitchen

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Treehouse Cabin Unit 2 | Hot Tub & Mountain View

• Sleeps 4
• Hot Tub
• 1 King Bed
• 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Fully Equipped Kitchen

Book here
Best hotel in gatlinburg
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Treehouse Cabin Unit 3 | Hot Tub & Mountain View

• Sleeps 4
• Hot Tub
• 1 King Bed
• 1 Sleeper Sofa
• Fully Equipped Kitchen

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On Key

Related Posts

Adirondack chairs around a stone fire pit overlooking a long ridge of the Great Smoky Mountains

Fall Color in the Smokies: A Local’s Guide to When (and Where) to See It First

By mid-September, we start getting the same question from guests every year: “When should we come for the leaves?” It’s a fair question, and it’s

midnight hole waterfall in cosby tennessee

Chasing Waterfalls: The Best Hikes Near Cosby This September

September is our favorite month to send guests out to the waterfalls. The summer crowds have thinned, the creeks are still running strong from late-summer

Wooden footbridge crossing a rocky mountain creek in the woods near Down the Creek Cabin B, Cosby, Tennessee

Fly Fishing the Smokies in September: A Local’s Guide to Cool Water and Quiet Streams

Something shifts in the water around Labor Day. The heat that’s pressed on these mountains since June finally loosens its grip, mornings carry a little

Layered blue ridgelines of the Great Smoky Mountains near Cosby, Tennessee at sunset

Where to Cool Off: A Local’s Guide to Smoky Mountain Swimming Holes Near Cosby

By the middle of August, the creeks around Cosby are doing more work than the air conditioning. If you’ve spent an afternoon on the Foothills

Morning fog filling a valley below a Smoky Mountains ridge with early autumn color on the slopes

Elk in the Smoky Mountains: A Local’s Guide to the Fall Rut at Cataloochee and Oconaluftee

By the second week of September, the open fields on the North Carolina side of the park start making a sound you will not hear

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  • Home
  • All Properties
    • Smoky Woods Lodge
    • Rivers Edge Cabin
    • Swimming Hole Cabin
    • Mountain Rest Cabin
    • Maddron Bald Mountain Home
    • King Pool Cabin
    • Trailhead Venues
    • Trailhead Lodge #1
    • Trailhead Lodge #2
    • Trailhead Lodge #3
    • Trailhead Lodge #4
    • Trailhead Lodge #5
    • Trailhead Lodge #6
    • Trailhead Lodge #7
    • Trailhead Lodge #8
    • Trailhead Lodge #9
    • Trailhead Lodge #10
    • Trailhead Lodge #11
    • Trailhead Lodge #12
    • Trailhead Lodge #13
    • Trailhead Lodge #14
    • Up the Creek Cabin A
    • Down the Creek Cabin B
    • Cozy Creek Cabin
    • Ash Creek Cabin
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Full Management
    • Turnover Cleaning
    • STR Deep Clean
    • Airbnb Listing Audit
    • Self Manage Set Up
  • Blog
  • Home
  • All Properties
    • Smoky Woods Lodge
    • Rivers Edge Cabin
    • Swimming Hole Cabin
    • Mountain Rest Cabin
    • Maddron Bald Mountain Home
    • King Pool Cabin
    • Trailhead Venues
    • Trailhead Lodge #1
    • Trailhead Lodge #2
    • Trailhead Lodge #3
    • Trailhead Lodge #4
    • Trailhead Lodge #5
    • Trailhead Lodge #6
    • Trailhead Lodge #7
    • Trailhead Lodge #8
    • Trailhead Lodge #9
    • Trailhead Lodge #10
    • Trailhead Lodge #11
    • Trailhead Lodge #12
    • Trailhead Lodge #13
    • Trailhead Lodge #14
    • Up the Creek Cabin A
    • Down the Creek Cabin B
    • Cozy Creek Cabin
    • Ash Creek Cabin
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Full Management
    • Turnover Cleaning
    • STR Deep Clean
    • Airbnb Listing Audit
    • Self Manage Set Up
  • Blog
Get In Touch
  • Email: Smokywoodsretreats@gmail.com
  • Phone: 360-306-1410
  • 3891 Cosby Hwy, Cosby, TN 37722

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