Choo Choo Bar-B-Que in Chattanooga: Memphis-Style Ribs and Brisket Near the Riverfront
Choo Choo Bar-B-Que is a casual counter-service smokehouse specializing in Memphis-style ribs and brisket, located within walking distance of the Tennessee Riverwalk and the Hunter Museum.
What Choo Choo Bar-B-Que Actually Is
This is not a sit-down restaurant. You order at the counter, collect your food, and eat at a handful of tables in a modest dining area or take out. The operation centers on a traditional offset smoker, and the menu rotates based on daily meat availability rather than offering every item every day. On days when brisket is available, it sells out by early evening; the same applies to pulled pork and turkey. Ribs, however, run consistently. The restaurant sits in a straightforward storefront with minimal decor, a setup that prioritizes smoke and execution over atmosphere.
Meats, Sides, and Pricing
Rib plates come as a half-rack or full rack and cost between $14 and $18, depending on size. A brisket plate (when available) runs $16 to $22 per pound; expect to spend $25 to $35 for a filling portion. Pulled pork plates fall in the $12 to $16 range. All plates come with two sides. The side roster includes collard greens, mac and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. Sauce is available on the side; the house sauce is tomato-forward and moderately spiced, complementing rather than masking the meat.
Individual meats by the pound (without sides) cost roughly 20 percent less than plated orders, making that option sensible for light appetites or multiple people sharing. Pricing can shift seasonally or with supply, so confirm current rates by phone or visit.
How Choo Choo Compares to Other Chattanooga Barbecue
Choo Choo's Memphis lean distinguishes it from two other established local options. Terminal Barbecue, also downtown, leans toward Texas brisket and offers a larger dining room and beer selection, but lacks the consistency on rib quality that Choo Choo delivers. Edley's Bar-B-Que, on the north shore, blends Carolina and Memphis traditions with a more extensive sides menu and table service, though it commands a price premium of roughly 15 to 20 percent per plate.
Choose Choo Choo if you prioritize ribs, want a quick transaction, and don't mind a bare-bones setting. Pick Terminal if Texas brisket is your target. Go to Edley's if you prefer a full-service dining experience and don't mind higher cost.
Who This Place Suits and Who It Doesn't
Choo Choo works for lunch crowds, people on a riverfront walk, and anyone craving Memphis-style ribs without ceremony. It suits solo diners and groups of up to four comfortably given table space. Families with children are welcome, though limited seating means peak hours (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 5 to 6:30 p.m.) can feel tight.
It does not suit anyone wanting full-service dining, alcohol, or a destination atmosphere. It also will disappoint if you arrive late afternoon expecting a specific smoked meat; availability dwindles as the day progresses.
What Your First Visit Involves
Walk in and scan the board behind the counter. It lists what's available that day and current prices. Order by meat type and quantity (half or full rack, or by the pound). Tell them your sides. Pay at the register. Collect your food in a paper boat, grab napkins and sauce, and find a table. Eat immediately; these meats don't benefit from sitting. The whole transaction takes five minutes.
Hours, Parking, and Location
Choo Choo operates Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. Street parking is available on the surrounding blocks; a small lot directly behind the restaurant holds four to six cars. The riverfront location means a two-block walk to the Riverwalk and three blocks to the Hunter Museum, making it a logical stop during downtown tourism.
Choo Choo has earned its place in Chattanooga's barbecue roster by committing to a single tradition and executing it with consistency rather than range.
