BBQ Restaurants In The Mid-South: Let's Make A List

BBQ Restaurants In The Mid-South: Let's Make A List

Ah, Memphis Barbecue. Here in this part of the country, we're surrounded by a mouth-watering meat tornado of smoky goodness, scrumptious sauces, and plenty of slaw to go around...and we love it.

In the 11 years I've lived here, I've often heard that there are upwards of 100 bbq joints in the area, but let's be real. I've found a few long lists out there, but we mostly only hear about a handful of restaurants.

Central BBQ spread

In our quest to share our BBQ mastery with the world, it's easy to focus on the favorites, but what if...

One and Only BBQ nachos

What if together make a huge list?

Let's see how many BBQ restaurants in the area we can find.

World famous Rendezvous dry-rub ribs.

The criteria for adding to the list is that:

  1. The restaurant must be BBQ focused, not just have 1 or 2 bbq items on the menu.*
  2. It should be Memphis, Shelby County, North MS, West Memphis, edging over into Middle Tennessee is fine, etc.
  3. You must include an address or phone number and/or website or Facebook page link in order for your comment to be approved. It's going to be hard for me to find "John's BBQ shack" without any other information. Bonus points if you tell me why you like it, or some other unique fact.
  4. Food trucks count, as long as they have an online presence of some kind that allows people to find out where they are.
Payne's ribs slathered in sauce

So let's do it. Perfectly-seasoned racks of ribs, tasty bbq spaghetti dishes, pulled pork sandwiches, cheese-laden nachos, and other smoked and slathered delicacies we can list in this here comment section.

It just might be the best comment section ever.

Comments Make Us Happy

25
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Jonathan Cole
You're really missing out by not expanding the geographic parameters to Brownsville - just an hour's drive away. Helen's BBQ is life changing. Her pulled pork sandwich wins against anything I've tried in Memphis. Her smoked bologna is also amazing. If you can stand it, order the BBQ pulled pork and bologna sandwich. She's been profiled by the Southern Foodways Alliance. Helen’s Bar-B Que 1016 N Washington Ave Brownsville, TN 38012 https://www.facebook.com/HelensBarBQ/ Here's my post about Helen's https://placeatthetable.net/2016/07/23/helens-bar-b-que-in-brownsville/
January 12, 2017 1:28pm
Holly Whitfield
Heard about Helen's many many many times. Seen the SFA documentary. I'll clarify in the post but I definitely had this area in mind for the "etc" part of my geographic location!
January 12, 2017 1:37pm
RMP
It hasn't been updated for a number of years, but someone put together a Google Map with 100+ sites: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&msa=0&z=10&ie=UTF8&mid=1U8g3qIjnIDH4AHs-aoRMe3X7K2s&ll=35.11900380709504%2C-89.86796049999998
January 12, 2017 1:42pm
RMP
There used to be someone building a master Google map of Memphis BBQ -- it had over 100 entries: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&msa=0&z=10&ie=UTF8&mid=1U8g3qIjnIDH4AHs-aoRMe3X7K2s&ll=35.11900380709507%2C-89.86796049999998
January 12, 2017 1:54pm
Kate
I'll start with the obvious one, The Bar-B-Q shop at 1782 Madison Ave. Ribs, Dry, Sauce on the side and best slaw around. You simply cannot beat the service. Great bar and great atmosphere. The menu has variety if pork is not your thing and you can even get Bar-B-Q Spaghetti. Th Bar-B-Q Shop 1782 Madison Ave Memphis, Tennessee 38104
January 12, 2017 2:07pm
Don
Loven Fresh BBQ 8305 US-64, Oakland, TN 38060 (901) 465-6568 https://www.facebook.com/Loven.Fresh.Smokehouse.Barbecue/ One of my favorite BBQ places in the area. Great pulled pork. One of the only places that I always get a sandwich at.
January 12, 2017 2:31pm
Holly Whitfield
Thanks Kate! Love that spot.
January 12, 2017 2:32pm
Holly Whitfield
Sounds delicious! Thanks Don!
January 12, 2017 2:33pm
Holly Whitfield
Impressive. I'll take a look.
January 12, 2017 2:33pm
Don
Next I will follow up with probably my favorite place to eat in Memphis. Elwood's Shack 4523 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122 (901) 761-9898 http://elwoodsshack.com/index.html I love everything about this place. Best BBQ pizza I have ever eaten and great smoked jerk wings too. They also serve a bunch of items not BBQ. I love this place and hope that they reopen soon from their fire.
January 12, 2017 2:44pm
David Boulanger
Try Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q in Cordova. 2358 N Germantown Parkway. 901-388-0998. Turkey and Chicken are out of this world. Spare ribs are fantastic. No freezers or microwaves here. They even grind their own meat for burgers. You have got to try it.
January 12, 2017 3:21pm
Karen Pulfer Focht
My favorites are BBQ Shop on Madison and Rendezvous...dry.
January 12, 2017 4:58pm
Ferdie King
A&R BBQ 1802 Elvis Presley Blvd Memphis, TN 38106
January 12, 2017 6:59pm
Alan Katzen
I love One & Only BBQ's baby back ribs, BBQ quesadilla, pork shoulder pulled from only fresh bone-in whole pork shoulders, twice-baked potato salad, fresh turnip greens flavored with our beef brisket, Millie's housemade banana pudding & Holly Whitfield's I Love Memphis blog!! Full disclosure requires I point out, I am one of the owners of One & Only BBQ.
January 12, 2017 11:36pm
Lee Strain
A simple chopped bbq brisket sandwich - Memphis style (slaw on sand.) with plenty of sauce at Memphis BBQ CO in Horn Lake is our go-to bbq meal. I put a dash of sauce on the warm fried pork skins made on premise while I read the menu . Good luck choosing just one thing from all the incredible choices and leave room for dessert. Good luck with that too. https://www.memphisbbqco.com/
January 12, 2017 11:53pm
Shelly
The absolute best BBQ is at the Germantown Commissary! I grew up on this BBQ and it doesn't disappoint. http://www.commissarybbq.com
January 13, 2017 3:34pm
Brant S
Yes!! I was just coming to leave this same comment. Helen's is about the best I've had.
January 14, 2017 3:11pm
Brant S
As far as local, Baby Jack's is probably my favorite. Both in Bartlett and now Arlington. http://www.babyjacksbbq.com/ Outside of Memphis, Helen's in Brownsville takes the cake, but if you're north of Brownsville, Badbobs is great! There is a location in my hometown ( 1965 St John Ave, Dyersburg, TN 38024) and also near UT Martin. http://www.badbobs.net/home.php
January 14, 2017 3:18pm
Cedric
My Memphis favorite is still Tom's BBQ. If I have to take anyone from out of town to one spot it will be Tom's. Aside from all the regular menu items Tom's BBQ features rib tips which was showcased by Food Network on DDD. https://www.tomsbarbeque.com 4087 Getwell Rd Memphis, TN 38118 901-365-6690 [multiple locations]
January 15, 2017 6:05pm
Emily Roberts
The Rib Cage at Pickwick- amazing cheese plate! https://www.facebook.com/Ribcagepickwick/?rf=155321567813735
January 25, 2017 10:22am
Alana LaCombe
You'll probably see this one a lot! The Bar-B-Q Shop 1782 Madison Ave Memphis 38104 (yeah, Midtown) 901.272.1277
January 25, 2017 12:34pm
Eelco vW
George's Fresh Memphis Barbecue in Collierville. https://g.co/kgs/CwLh7X
January 25, 2017 8:08pm
ROBJ
Marlowe's on Elvis Presley Blvd http://www.marlowesmemphis.com/ 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd Memphis, TN 38116
January 27, 2017 2:10pm
Luke
1) Paynes BBQ 2) Cozy Corner 3) BBQ Shop 4) Memphis BBQ Company 5) Central (the one in midtown not downtown) 6) Toms 7) Morris Grocery 8) Wellingtons Haven't been to One and Only nor Corkys believe it or not, so list may not be truly exhaustive. Not a fan of the commissary nor rendezvous.
January 28, 2017 2:22pm
kaybar
In Atoka, TN (Tipton County) there is a pretty good BBQ sandwich shop/sit down(barely). Sparky's BBQ.
February 14, 2017 6:36pm