BBQ in Memphis

[tercel89]

What is the best all around non-chain BBQ place in the Memphis area ? I am taking my wife to the Memphis area and we want a nice good eating BBQ place but dont want to have to wait in line 2 hours.  I make my own BBQ pork at home the old fashioned way with an open pit so I don't want any "City BBQ "  made in an electric smoker and no chain-store type BBQ place. Any information is appreciated .

Edited September 30, 2022 by tercel89
spelling

[Chucktshoes]

The BBQ Shop

Cozy Corner

Payne’s

Neely’s Interstate BBQ

Leonard’s

any one of those will do you right. 

Edited September 30, 2022 by Chucktshoes

[Grayfox54]

Sadly the owner of my favorite BBQ joint passed. It just hasn't been the same since. 

I will tell you to skip Rendezvous and Corky's. Overpriced tourist traps. You can get better food cheaper elsewhere. 

[Ski]

If you don't mind the "hole in the wall diner" feel try Three Little Pigs. It's my favorite. I'll second the "Avoid Corky's" advice. Rendezvous had good charbroil ribs (if that's what you're after), but I haven't been there in many years.

[Garufa]

Tops Tops Tops.  Me want Tops.  

In all seriousness, Memphis folks either like Tops BBQ (I like) or hate it but there is no disputing they make a damn fine burger.

Edited September 30, 2022 by Garufa

[deerslayer]

4 hours ago, Garufa said:

Tops Tops Tops.  Me want Tops.  

 there is no disputing they make a damn fine burger.

I’m a Tops fan, but I don’t think I’ve ever had their BBQ. 

Edited October 1, 2022 by deerslayer

[Capbyrd]

9 hours ago, Chucktshoes said:

The BBQ Shop

Cozy Corner

Payne’s

Neely’s Interstate BBQ

Leonard’s

any one of those will do you right. 

This is a good list.  Tom’s is worth it too but I like their Bologna.  
 

BBQ shop is liked by a lot of people but it’s pretty meh in my opinion. 

[Capbyrd]

4 hours ago, Garufa said:

Tops Tops Tops.  Me want Tops.  

In all seriousness, Memphis folks either like Tops BBQ (I like) or hate it but there is no disputing they make a damn fine burger.

I’m the hater.  The BBQ is chopped which is wrong and I don’t even think they have a good burger. 

[ou812]

https://oneandonlybbq.com/    The one and only! ..Central BBQ is good but I only like it at the Central ave location. but it is closed now being remodeled.  I do not know how the Poplar location is.. but the summer ave always has been crap. 

The only time I have been to interstate bbq it wasn't that good....    Stay away from the  Commissary in Germantown..   yea not a tops fan..   

Edited October 1, 2022 by ou812

[tercel89]

Thanks guys. I looked up some of them and a few use charcoal. Since I make my own at my house with wood I guess I'm a bit picky. Thanks very much for all the information. Ill try to take a picture of whatever I get . Most times I get regular pulled pork but I think I'm in thr mood for ribs .

[tercel89]

I ended up at The BBQ Shop. The food was great. Like I said , I make my own BBQ at home with an old fashioned cinder block pit I built. I dont use sauce and my pork and deer is usually only wet from it's own juices. Sometimes I will make some vinegar based sauce and mop it on the meat every few hours. But anyways , I ordered some ribs and ordered them "wet" with sauce. WOW !!!! The sauce they use and that was on the table was AWESOME !!! I am not a sauce person but this was just great ! It was NOT sweet and was NOT tangy. It was as if they used tomatoe paste , sour cream , cumin , and some other non-tangy spices. This sauce was just great ! I guess it I can say it was creamy. The meat was great . I like cole slaw and hate it when slaw is sweet but their slaw was mustard based and was GREAT ! It seemed to have some onions cut up in it too. The best slaw I ever had in my life ! My wife had the bbq sandwich on Texas toast . The sandwich had a ton of pork in it. I was pleased ! Thanks for the suggestions to all you guys. Ill try to post pictures of my wife's sandwich cut in half and my rib plate.

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by tercel89

[The Legion]

I like to go to Ty's BBQ on Stage Rd. in Bartlett.  They have a variety of items on their menu.

[Chucktshoes]

1 hour ago, tercel89 said:

I ended up at The BBQ Shop. The food was great. Like I said , I make my own BBQ at home with an old fashioned cinder block pit I built. I dont use sauce and my pork and deer is usually only wet from it's own juices. Sometimes I will make some vinegar based sauce and mop it on the meat every few hours. But anyways , I ordered some ribs and ordered them "wet" with sauce. WOW !!!! The sauce they use and that was on the table was AWESOME !!! I am not a sauce person but this was just great ! It was NOT sweet and was NOT tangy. It was as if they used tomatoe paste , sour cream , cumin , and some other non-tangy spices. This sauce was just great ! I guess it I can say it was creamy. The meat was great . I like cole slaw and hate it when slaw is sweet but their slaw was mustard based and was GREAT ! It seemed to have some onions cut up in it too. The best slaw I ever had in my life ! My wife had the bbq sandwich on Texas toast . The sandwich had a ton of pork in it. I was pleased ! Thanks for the suggestions to all you guys. Ill try to post pictures of my wife's sandwich cut in half and my rib plate.

 

Told ya.

[Grayfox54]

Legion, thanks for the tip. I'll have to give Ty's a try.

I used to love Fat Larry's in Bartlett. The ribs were awesome!  But, like i said, the owner died a couple of years ago and the last time I went it was still pretty good, but just not as good as it used to be. 

For just a simple old sandwich, I think Tops is the best in town. 

[Capbyrd]

No one has mentioned Baby Jack’s which I think has some of the best pure meat in town.  I like Central’s sauce.  But Baby Jack’s is so good you don’t need sauce. 

[Erik88]

This thread makes me wish Knoxville had better BBQ. 

Am I the only one that prefers a mustard based sauce? 

Edited October 3, 2022 by Erik88

[jpx2rk]

I like some mustard based sauces, Narvarro's in Englewood has a pretty good one with good BBQ as well.  Jordan's BBQ in Cleveland has good samichs, and the 'nanner pudding is always welcome in my mouth.  

[tercel89]

2 hours ago, Erik88 said:

This thread makes me wish Knoxville had better BBQ. 

Am I the only one that prefers a mustard based sauce? 

If you have the room and time build your own pit. I love BBQ and there were just 2 good places in my town so I built my own BBQ pit and made a burn barrel with it. I'll try to post a picture of mine. It's the old school type where I burn my wood in a barrel and then shovel the wood into my pit every hour . A few shoulders take around 12-15 hrs but it's worth it.  I have cooked deer , chicken , turkey , pork , beef , and hopefully this winter I'll catch a few wild hogs to cook on there too. Next spring I plan to cook a goat. here's my set-up. The pit is up front nd the wood burn barrel is off to the side. 

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by tercel89

[Snaveba]

2 hours ago, jpx2rk said:

I like some mustard based sauces, Narvarro's in Englewood has a pretty good one with good BBQ as well.  Jordan's BBQ in Cleveland has good samichs, and the 'nanner pudding is always welcome in my mouth.  

Mustard based sauce

 

[Chucktshoes]

I’m not a mustard based sauce fan, but they’re far better than that mayo based abomination in Alabama. 

[Capbyrd]

40 minutes ago, Chucktshoes said:

I’m not a mustard based sauce fan, but they’re far better than that mayo based abomination in Alabama. 

BBQ Shop is mustard based which is why I don’t like it. 

[Chucktshoes]

15 minutes ago, Capbyrd said:

BBQ Shop is mustard based which is why I don’t like it. 

I’m a dry rub guy for my ribs. 
 

Also, I was unaware of the sauce base at the BBQ Shop, so maybe I like mustard sauces more than I thought. I really, really love their hot BBQ sauce. 

[Erik88]

52 minutes ago, Chucktshoes said:

I’m a dry rub guy for my ribs. 
 

Also, I was unaware of the sauce base at the BBQ Shop, so maybe I like mustard sauces more than I thought. I really, really love their hot BBQ sauce. 

You'll know if it's mustard based because the sauce is more on the yellow/gold side than red.  

 

 

[deerslayer]

15 hours ago, Capbyrd said:

No one has mentioned Baby Jack’s which I think has some of the best pure meat in town.  I like Central’s sauce.  But Baby Jack’s is so good you don’t need sauce. 

I’m a big fan of Baby Jack’s, but can’t speak intelligently about their BBQ or anyone else’s.  I’m the weirdo who is always more interested in their smoked turkey or chicken

[Snaveba]

Memphis Sweet (sauce) is the way to go (IMHO). 
 

Reece’s on Winchester is also a good local joint. 
 

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by Snaveba