Iconic Food Tours: Top 8 Restaurants to Taste Memphis’s Best Barbecue

You can’t toss a souvenir Elvis figurine in Memphis without hitting a barbecue joint, but all smoked pork is not created equal. If you’re looking for the best barbecue in Memphis, then follow along for these eight BBQ establishments that will blow your mind and your taste buds.

Hotels near Memphis, Tennessee: 32

Start with the classics at Corky’s in Pleasant Acres

Corky’s barbecue may be a chain, but its smoky, slow-cooked barbecue is still some of the best in Memphis.

Put simply, Corky’s is not to be missed on your list of places to go in Memphis. The first location opened in 1984 and the chain has since expanded across the South. And, once you take a bite of the tangy, saucy ribs, you’ll understand why. Owner Don Pelts spent more than a decade working at other barbecue spots before opening his own, and the years of experience show. Even though it’s a chain, every last bite is still cooked low and slow over a combination of hickory wood and charcoal to achieve a perfect smoky flavor.

Don’t be chicken: Try the game hen at Cozy Corner in Uptown

The highlight of Cozy Corner’s barbecue menu is the Cornish game hen, rubbed with herbs and spices and smoked whole.

Sure, pork might be the king on Memphis grills, but don’t discount your other options. At Cozy Corner, the specialty is Cornish game hen, rubbed with a tantalizing blend of herbs and spices and then smoked whole. It’s definitely messy, but it’s also totally worth the extra napkins. And, of course, they also serve a full menu of other barbecue classics, including ribs, wings and some killer barbecue bologna sandwiches.

Skip the frills at Payne’s Bar-B-Que in Rozelle

Pair a smoked pork shoulder sandwich with the famous beans at Payne’s Bar-B-Que, homemade by Mama Payne herself.

The next stop on your Memphis BBQ tour might not win any interior design awards, but you won’t care once you take a bite out of a smoked pork shoulder sandwich. With slow-smoked meat and slaw piled high over a soft bun and a healthy splash of spicy Memphis-style sauce, Payne’s Bar-B-Que in the Midtown neighborhood serves up one of the best sandwiches in town. The restaurant doesn’t have a website, but that just means more time to devote to barbecue! And don’t miss the beans, which are homemade by Mama Payne herself and a favorite of many Memphis locals.

Dine with the stars downtown at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous

Barbecue at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous is grilled rather than smoked and occasionally attracts celebrity visitors to Memphis.

At Charlie Vergos Rendezvous (known to many residents as simply the Vous), you’ll find a mix of locals and tourists and, if you’re lucky, the occasional celebrity. People like Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Justin Timberlake have stopped by the Vous for a taste of some of the best ribs in Memphis. While the cooking style isn’t traditional—they’re grilled rather than pit-smoked—you can’t argue with the taste, which is sweet, spicy, smoky and completely delicious.

Shake things up with Asian flavors at KC’s in Cypresswood

KC’s combines the Asian staple of fried rice with rib tips and fresh veggies for a unique twist on the best barbecue in Memphis.

If you’ve never eaten food from a trailer in a flea market, you’re in for a treat. Head over to the Westwood neighborhood and keep an eye out for the bright red caravan—that’s KC’s, where owner Kirby Carter, who learned to cook in Chinese restaurants as a teen, combines the Asian staple of fried rice with rib tips and fresh veggies. The portions are huge and the wait time of around 20 minutes is totally worth it for a unique twist on Memphis barbecue that you won’t find anywhere else.

Make a Greek pit stop at Tom’s Bar-B-Q in Oakhaven

Tom’s Bar-B-Q, which puts a Greek spin on barbecue with flavors like oregano, has been featured on Food Network.

When Greek immigrant Tom Stergios moved to Tennessee in the 1980s, no one knew that it would lead to some of best barbecue in Memphis. He infused the menu at Tom’s Bar-B-Q with the flavors of his home country (like the unmistakable taste of oregano in the spice rub) and barbecue fans have flocked there ever since. The spot has been Halal certified and featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, cementing its place as one of the most unique, tasty restaurants in the city.

Eat like a TV host about town at Central BBQ

Central BBQ features marinated meat smoked over hickory and pecan wood and has four locations in Memphis.

If you’re on the hunt for the hands-down best barbecue in Memphis, then Central BBQ is a must. Since opening in 2002, the local restaurant—with four Memphis locations—has consistently been at the top of local “best of” lists and has been featured on shows like Pitmasters and The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Ribs, brisket, sausages and more are rubbed with a special spice blend before being marinated for 24 hours and then smoked over a mix of hickory and pecan wood. If you still have room at the end, don’t miss out on the homemade banana pudding—it’s a Memphis staple.

Grab a slice of BBQ pizza at Coletta’s on South Parkway

Barbecue pizza is a highlight at Coletta’s and was a favorite of the famed Memphis resident Elvis Presley.

You might not expect to find pizza on a Memphis barbecue menu, but Coletta’s has been an institution in the city since 1923. It wasn’t until the 50s, though, after sailors who had been stationed overseas in Italy began requesting pizza, that owner Emil Coletta sent his son to Chicago to learn about the then-exotic dish. When his son returned, armed with pizza-making skills, the pair decided to put a Southern spin on their pies, and the barbecue pizza was born. One of Elvis’ favorites (yes, that Elvis!), the crust is topped with piles of smoked pork, mozzarella and tangy barbecue sauce. Not in the mood for pizza? There’s a full menu of traditional Italian dishes as well as barbecue spaghetti. Buon appetito!

Whether you want your Memphis barbecue tour to be strictly traditional or a little more creative, sampling the local food is sure to help you get the most out of your trip. Pack some clothes you don’t mind getting saucy, a few packets of wet wipes and enjoy!