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It’s What’s For Dinner: Some of the Best Memphis BBQ Restaurants

Memphis is a city steeped in rock and blues and barbecue. With over 100 BBQ joints, BBQ cooking doesn’t completely define all of Memphis food or cuisine, but it is certainly one of the overriding favorites!

Want to eat at a place which has received rave reviews? Want tangy over sweet or sweet over tangy? Which spices do you prefer? You’re sure to find each feature in Memphis, pork haven of the South and, many would add, of the country!

According to Travel Channel, “What makes Memphis’ style unique is its penchant for pork products (ribs, shoulders, tips, the whole gamut!), and slow cooking the meat in a pit, known as “pit barbecue.” In most cases the old-fashioned way dominates and ribs are slow cooked over hickory wood and pork shoulders are hand pulled. But beyond general commonalities, each well-known Memphis BBQ joint has its specialties.

Memphis barbecue restaurants with rave reviews

Introduce yourself to Memphis cuisine at Central BBQ, where what stands out is the “bark” on a plate of pork, described as the dark, super smoky crust. The original seasonings recipe appeals as well.

Tom’s Bar-B-Que is popular for its Greek-inspired seasoning from the owner’s country of origin. Don’t be surprised if your taste buds encounter some paprika and oregano.

Payne’s Bar-B-Que is all about chopped or sliced pork sandwiches with hot or mild sauce sure to blow you away. A & R Bar B Que has as its crowning jewels a half-slab of pork ribs, smoky dry-rub rib tips and a chopped pork sandwich. The juiciness of the meat is remarkable as well.

Memphis food is pretty bold. Looking for smoked Cornish hen? Check out Cozy Corner BBQ. This scrumptious dish is offered in addition to the usual BBQ options.

If you’re in Memphis and in the mood to be a little more flexible in your definition of BBQ, you will love Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous where meat is grilled with direct heat over charcoal rather than pit smoked. Enjoy the dry-rub ribs flavored with paprika and oregano and served with a delicious crust.

Given the popularity of BBQ in Memphis and the city’s fine food, each year there is a World Championship Barbecue Cooking contest in May in which Memphis BBQ takes center stage and hundreds of teams compete for honors in this pork extravaganza!

Sweet Magnolia Tours offers tours of Memphis and vacation packages that get to the heart of the flavor of the city, including the music, the sights and BBQ. For more information, see our vacation packages as well as our Memphis Mojo Tour package.