5 Best Barbecue Joints in Memphis, Tennessee to Try

Memphis isn’t just a city; it’s a barbecue pilgrimage, famous for slow-cooked pork, sticky ribs, and a smoky aroma that hangs over Beale Street like a barbecue hymn.

Whether it’s dry-rubbed or sauce-slathered, Memphis ‘cue is about tradition, big flavors, and legendary joints where the stories are as rich as the pork shoulder.

Skip breakfast—here’s where you want to eat in Memphis.

Central BBQ

Ribs are practically religion at Central BBQ. Both the dry-rub and sauced versions are essential eating (get a combo!).

Pulled pork nachos and homey sides (greens, mac, and pork rinds) have made Central an icon with four locations and a cult following.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken (with PBJ)

Hear me out—Gus’s is iconic for its spicy fried bird, but its “PBJ” (Pulled Pork + BBQ Joints) menu shines for those craving smoked meats.

The combo platters (fried chicken and ribs!) and classic sweet tea make this a Memphis essential.

Payne’s Bar-B-Q

This unassuming cinderblock joint may serve the best BBQ sandwich in America—a pile of chopped pork doused in spicy-sweet sauce and neon yellow slaw, as tender and flavorful as anything in the city.

Expect a line and leave room for ribs!

The Bar-B-Q Shop

Home to the city’s famous “Dancing Pigs” sauce, The Bar-B-Q Shop is all about old-school flavor and hospitality.

Try the dry-rubbed ribs or the “barbecue spaghetti”—a Memphis original—and soak in the local flavor that draws both regulars and tourists in droves.

Cozy Corner Restaurant

One of Memphis’s true hidden treasures, Cozy Corner dishes out ribs, Cornish hens, and those famous smoked bologna sandwiches.

It’s a humble setting, but the flavors are anything but—expect big personality, soulful sides (fried corn!), and some of the city’s best value.