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    Shotgun Willie's BBQ

    4.7 (245 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Shotgun Willie's BBQ Photos

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    SHOTGUN WILLIE'S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Shotgun Willie's BBQ

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    Ribs, brisket, jalepeno cheese sausage, mac and cheese, dill pickle potato salad, corn bread, Texas chocolate cake dessert

    We visited from California and this was our #1 favorite spot in town that we tried. The brisket was delicious. Ribs were so good with the BBQ sauces. The jalepeño cheese sausage was the best too!! Their best sides are the dill pickle potato salad, along with their mac and cheese & greens. Corn bread was average. But overall we loved everything. The customer service was so welcoming, and they all carry themselves with a smile and great conversation while ordering our food. Will definitely be back!!

    Brisket Sandwich with Mac and Cheese and 2 Beef Sausage and Sauce.
    Ahmad W.

    So my sister is visiting town again. I asked her to get this world famous bbq for me. She actually lives down the street like 10 minutes away! When I visit it's going to be on a Saturday so that I can get a beef rib.Brisket sandwich is loaded I tried the delicious brisket sandwich and the delicious beef sausage. Best beef sausage I ever had from a bbq restaurant! The Mac and cheese is delicious also the sauce is good. My family members tried different entree's from here also This food is delicious! My bro and I watch Ant bbq channel on YouTube iykyk! The food here is delicious! Pull up and check them out if you are ever in the area! I tried this food for the first time today on 4-3-2026.

    Doug G.

    Shotgun Willie's BBQ is located in Madison directly on Gallatin Pike a stones throw off of Briley Parkway and shares a small strip with Vega and Daddy's Dogs. If that isn't ringing a bell, the small strip they occupy sits at the front of the Eastside Bowl complex! This SGW is an upgraded and expanded location for the brand, who used to have a smaller spot just right up the road. The space is large, bigger than expected, and is one large open air space where you almost feel like you are dining in the back of the house. The line forms immediately to the right upon entry and takes you past a wall of BBQ and of course, Willie Nelson, themed decor. It's leads you right to the counter where they are freshly cutting the meats and scooping the sides as you order. The dining room features plenty of seating, and if the weather is good, then they have a large outdoor picnic area to enjoy. It's unconverted, hence the weather dependency. They do have a rule here and ask that you do not grab a table until you order and get your food. And I appreciate that! Now speaking of food, I have d ample a few things on the menu with my normal and favorite being the sliced brisket plate and the habanero cheddar sausage link. I appreciate the option of fatty or lean brisket, which you normally don't get...and I usually go lean, as it gets you more meat in my opinion. The sausage is great, a smokey essence with a perfect snap to the casing. You'd expect more heat, but the balance is nice. We have also gotten the pork shoulder sandwich and it's always tasty. They dust the meat with seasoning before tossing it on a bun, which is a nice touch. They have a solid selection of sides, and while they are all tasty, none really stand out as top tier bbq sides. The Mac n cheese, along with the green beans are usuals, and are both kind of one note in flavor. They aren't terrible by any means, but just okay. Pricing is in line with what you expect at local BBQ joints around Nashville. Lunch for two including drinks and dessert will run you around $50. SGW is a lunch spot, only open 11a - 3p, so if you are hungry, get in there early! Overall, Shotgun Willie's is a good spot that pulls a solid 3.5 stars for me. Not my favorite in town, but tasty and convenient when the meat cravings get the best of me!

    Trinity Plate with a side of mac and cheese
    Ethan C.

    Its always a good sign when you see the owner himself slicing the meats. Everything we tried was a 8/10 or better except the ribs which we found a little dry. Fresh off trying the other nashville bbq last night I can wholeheartedly say Shotgun Willie's blows them out of the water. The owner took some time to talk with every guest as he sliced their meats and the other staff were friendly. Tons of interesting decor on all of the walls. Come check them out!

    Courtnie C.

    Incredible brisket they slice it right in front of you and let you choose how lean or fatty you want it. Portions are very generous. My husband and I shared a plate and added the smoked half chicken, which they split for us. The sauce was solid, the seasoning had great spice, and the queso mac was comfort-food perfection with just a little kick. Paired with a Mexican Coke, it was the perfect lunch. Free and easy parking in their lot makes it even better. A really fantastic spot.

    Shotguns Menu
    Sidney Z.

    I Love BBQ! I've had it from Seattle, WA to Miami, FL! From Portland, ME to San Diego, CA and everywhere in between; I just love it. And, of course I have my favorite places which would take me 30 minutes to name them all. But the top three is easy: Green Street BBQ - Chicago, IL 12 Bones BBQ - Asheville, NC Shotgun Willie's BBQ - Nashville, TN Shotgun Willie's was today (for lunch) and immediately took a Top Three spot on my illustrious list of BBQ joints. Everything about Shotgun Willie's was great: The ambiance was fun, creative and very interesting The service was bright, witty and some of the most expert Q'ers I've ever seen The food was just sublime - the brisket we ordered had just the right amount of fat. The meat was tender as hell and the bark on the edges was addicting This was Texas BBQ at its best; in Tennessee? Go figure. The sides were ridiculously good as my potato salad and cole slaw was like a narcotic. I couldn't get enough of it. The seating was great and mostly communal and the restaurant itself was immaculate. The cutters / servers / cashiers were humorous and fun loving. What else can I say except having a Shotguns Willie BBQ lunch was the very best way to end this very fun golf trip!

    Leeza D.

    I did a mini barbecue tour in Nashville. Shotgun Willie was my absolute favorite in terms of the baby back ribs. They are just beautiful and not only did they look good, they taste very good. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce though as it was a bit runny for me. However the ribs are flavorful and stand up by themselves with no sauce. The sides were heaping and also very enjoyable compliments to the meat. The restaurant was decorated with nostalgia. This was also the only restaurant I went to with a formidable line and consistently so. Casual. Easy parking. Indoor seating. Please come and create your own adventure.

    Brisket plate, side of queso mac and jalapeño cornbread muffin
    Rachelle H.

    We're big fans of Texas brisket, and I'd heard Shotgun Willy's was the real deal -- and they did not disappoint! My son and I stopped by for lunch today. By the time we arrived, they were already sold out of the cowboy caviar, chicken, and ribs (a good sign, honestly). He ordered the brisket plate with queso mac and a jalapeño cornbread muffin, and I went with the brisket sandwich and dill pickle potato salad. We ate there to soak up the full experience, and everything was delicious. The brisket had a bold, flavorful crust and was melt-in-your-mouth tender -- not too fatty, just right. Honestly, it's the best brisket we've had outside of Texas, and even compared to our favorite Texas spot, it would be a serious contender.

    Lots of seating indoors
    Jeff T.

    The best Brisket in Nashville. The staff are super friendly and the sides are delicious, but their Brisket is the star of the show here with its perfect bark, excellent flavor, all while being perfectly moist and tender. I love that they measure the meat portions; 1/2 pound for a plate and 1/3 pound for a sandwich. You can get your Brisket sandwich slices or chopped. Both are delicious, but I prefer mine chopped. All the sides are homemade and tasty. The Green Beans and the Mac & Cheese are really special. There is lots of seating. I really hope they get their soda dispenser repaired soon. More than half the drinks were out of order, including all of the diet options. I highly recommend Shotgun Willie's BBQ!

    Inside
    Rebecca Y.

    OMG. this place is amazing. Best BBQ I've ever had and #1 in Nashville. The meats were all spiced and cooked to perfection. Wait time is quick and they prepare it as you order. brisket was top tier. Ribs were fantastic. I highly HIGHLY recommend. Absolute 11/10 and will definitely be back!!!

    TX Trinity platter with half rack ribs, links, brisket, hominy green chile casserole, green beans, and mac and cheese. Easily feeds 3-4!
    Kaitlin H.

    We enjoyed the Texas Trinity platter, where the brisket and jalapeño cheddar links were the stand outs. The side of the day was hominy and green chile casserole which was incredible. Casual vibe and fantastic food - what's not to love?

    Brisket Plate
    Betsy T.

    We stopped here on our way out of town at the recommendation of friends we met up with. Everything was incredible! The people working were so friendly- I really enjoyed chatting with them while they prepared our meals! The inside was super cute with tons of seating. We loved the brisket and sausage and all of the sides were great too! Definitely coming back next time we're in Nashville!

    Marisela S.

    My hubs is a big bbq'r, loves brisket, ribs, kiddo loves mac n cheese, and I love all of it, so he mentioned this and said we have to come here, and it did not disappoint. We actually came back again since they had this aged meat that we had to get before we left on our trip. Everything was cooked soo precisely and the right amount of spices and time for the meat, I mean everything was delicious and no wonder they have a great reputation.

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    8 months ago

    The atmosphere and the service is great! Very friendly crowd usually at the bar. We usually turn up every other taco Tuesday.

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    1 year ago

    Best brisket and baked beans I've ever had. Staff is extremely welcoming as well. Highly recommend it.

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    7 months ago

    Best barbecue in Nashville, hands-down. The staff the food everything about this place is class act an A+.

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    Bill L.

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    Everything was wonderful! The people were awesome, the meat was delicious, and the desserts rocked! I need more of their gooey butter cake!

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    Page 2 of 7

    Shotgun Willie's BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shotgun Willie's BBQ

    Do they take Reservations?

    No reservations needed but they do close at 3 PM first come first serve

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    Let me start by saying the food was amazing!…read more This place has a rustic vibe, a lot of wood features. Nice ambience to chill and watch one of the several TVs that are around the bar and restaurant. Not romantic date vibes, but nice enough for a chill date (assuming BBQ, Whiskey, and Sports are shared interests) but also great for groups, families, happy hour, etc. The young lady who took our order was extremely helpful. Letting us know what sides had pork (way too many of them in my opinion), recommending options that don't. (The coleslaw was delicious, the Mac and Cheese was a pleasant surprise, but don't expect anyone's grandma's Mac to show up here. Also banana pudding was a side! Where was this place when I was a kid!) They never did get the sweet tea replenished while I was there so I had to struggle through with whiskey and lemonade! (This was a joke, I was perfectly content, with these choices.) I also really enjoyed the pecan pie! Now to the heart of the matter, the BBQ. I had the brisket. It was tender and delicious! One of the best briskets I have enjoyed. I would definitely recommend coming here JUST for the brisket (and find other things to enjoy while you are there)!

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    Pork and Brisket Combo with Collard Greens and Baked Beans
    Pork and Brisket Combo with Collard Greens and Baked Beans
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    Ribs so big...they barely fit on the plate!
    Ribs so big...they barely fit on the plate!
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    Shotgun Willie's BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

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