In October 2006, Pat Martin walked past his favorite Mexican restaurant in Nolensville and found it had closed. He ran into the landlord on the spot, signed a lease on the 950-square-foot shack, and opened Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint with no restaurant experience and a consuming passion for West Tennessee whole hog barbecue he had learned from the pitmasters at Thomas and Webb in Chester County during his college years. On opening night, they ran out of food by 5:45 PM. That problem has gotten worse in the best possible way. Martin’s appeared in Season 9, Episode 5 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Porkapalooza,” which aired May 24, 2010. Guy called the pork “beyond juicy and flavorful” after watching Martin smoke a 200-pound whole hog over hickory wood for over 24 hours. The restaurant has since expanded to multiple Nashville locations and outposts in Birmingham, Louisville, and Charleston.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
City: Nolensville, Tennessee
Cuisine: BBQ
DDD Season: 9
DDD Episode: 5
Episode Title: Porkapalooza
Original Air Date: May 24, 2010
Address: 7238 Nolensville Rd., Nolensville, TN 37135
Phone: 615-776-1865
Website: https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com
Status: Open (multiple locations)
What to Eat
The Whole Hog Platter is the reason Martin’s exists — a 200-pound hog smoked over hickory for 24-plus hours, pulled and served with the bark and the tender interior meat together. Michael Symon called it “the perfect bite of pork.” The Redneck Taco is the signature item Guy recommended specifically: whole hog pork on a hoe cake (cornbread pancake) with slaw and hot sauce — one of the most satisfying things you can eat at a BBQ joint. The BBQ Sandwich on a toasted bun with slaw is the everyday classic. The Pulled Chicken and Brisket are the other pit options. On the sides: the Broccoli Salad with bacon and the Hushpuppies with onion are the items Food Network specifically highlighted. Find a Nashville area hotel on Booking.com — Nolensville is about 20 minutes south of Nashville.
Plan Your Visit
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Check the website for current hours at the Nolensville location and all Nashville area locations.
Address: 7238 Nolensville Rd., Nolensville, TN 37135
Phone: 615-776-1865
Website: https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Stream the Porkapalooza episode on Amazon and bring Pat Martin’s whole hog spirit home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Dry Rub Variety Pack and Guy on Fire for your own live-fire BBQ sessions.
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Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint appeared in Season 9, Episode 5 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Porkapalooza,” originally aired May 24, 2010. Pat Martin opened the original Nolensville location in 2006. The restaurant has since expanded to multiple locations across four states.