The story
Shotgun Willie's BBQ brings authentic Texas barbecue to Madison, Tennessee, just north of Nashville. The name pays homage to Willie Nelson's song "Shotgun Willie," a nod to the Texas roots of founder Bill, who began his barbecue journey in the early 1990s in backyards around Houston. After years of perfecting his craft, he moved to Nashville and eventually opened a bakery, but it was the smoked brisket he made for kolaches that proved his true calling. In 2016, the Shotgun Willie's BBQ food trailer began appearing around Nashville, and by 2017, the Nashville Scene named his brisket "Best in Nashville."
The restaurant's menu is built around USDA Prime beef brisket, Tennessee-style pulled pork, Texas Hill Country sausage, smoked chicken, and salt and pepper pork ribs. Each meat plate comes with two scratch-made sides, dill pickles, and pickled red onions. The sides are anything but ordinary: Queso y Mac combines cheese dip with macaroni, Mr. Tony's Magic Green Beans are a playful take on a classic, and the Dill Pickle Potato Salad features red potatoes, fresh dill, and a hint of Old Bay. For dessert, there's Texas Sheet Cake and Bourbon Banana Puddin'.
Shotgun Willie's BBQ has earned recognition from the Nashville Scene with multiple "Best of Nashville" awards and a visit from Texas Monthly's barbecue critic, Daniel Vaughn, who named it one of his top 20 BBQ trays outside of Texas in 2023. In 2026, the restaurant received a Michelin Recommended award, solidifying its place among the best barbecue in the region.
In May 2024, the restaurant moved to a larger space in Madison, about four times the size of its original Inglewood location, with more smokers, more parking, and even a mechanical bull. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM until sold out, Shotgun Willie's offers walk-up, dine-in, and takeout options. Whether you're a Nashville local or just passing through, this is real Texas BBQ worth the trip.
Recognition
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