A Smokin’ History ★ True Values ★ Giving Back
In fall of 1983 we opened the original Calhoun’s for business on Kingston Pike, just past Pellissippi Parkway. Soon after opening, we put our smokers on a trailer and filled a refrigerated semi with ribs and buckets of our signature sauce. Our destination? The National Rib Cook-Off in Cleveland, Ohio.
After a weekend of round-the-clock smoking, cooking, and basting, Calhoun’s
left with the grand prize ribbon and the bonafide right to call ours the “Best Ribs in America.”
We haven’t looked back. The now iconic two-story barn, complete with a silo, has become a place where friends and family gather to celebrate what’s good in their lives while they sample some of Tennessee’s best BBQ, ribs, steak, and sandwiches.
We use the same recipes and methods. After all, you don’t need to update perfectly smoked meat, delectable sauces, and scratch-made sides. Since 1983, thousands of people have tried those ribs, and you can experience our award-winning food for yourself at any one of our many locations in Knoxville and East Tennessee. Our newest location is now open for business in Oak Ridge on the water along Melton Lake.
Our first building was a way for us to pay homage to our agricultural roots, Southern hospitality, comfort food, and the craftsmanship and traditions of Tennessee barbeque. Though our more modern restaurants have changed with the times, we continue that legacy.
So come on down and experience the best hospitality and BBQ around.
Proudly a Local Favorite for:
Ribs • BBQ • Craft Beer • American Classics • Waterfront Dining • Patio Dining
Calhoun’s invites you to gather round one of our tables with family and friends, try the best BBQ, steak, and ribs in Tennessee, and make some sweet memories.