For what it is worth, I make really good BBQ at home. I rarely go to eat BBQ because I am often times disappointed with the meat quality, either it's too fatty for me, too tangy because it's been injected with something, too sweet, or sometimes even too boring. But when I do actually go out and get BBQ, it is NEVER from this place anymore. Somehow, Central has hit ALL of the characteristics that I do not like in BBQ. And each time I have tried them, I have experienced one or more disappointments. When I order spare ribs, I do expect a certain amount of "Bitter-Bite" because of the nature of how the ribs are cooked. But all too often I find a certain higher percentage of a rack of their St Louis cut inedible; therefore, not worth the cost when you are not able to eat all you pay for. And I have never experienced the consistent amount of fat on ribs as I do when I go here. Some fat is to be expected of course, but I prefer more tender smokey muscle than fat. My lady is from Missouri, and she was told once she moved here that Central was the 'Best BBQ' place for the cost, and it became the only place she went to. I wholeheartedly disagree, and so does she now since tasting several local residents' personal backyard BBQ. Do not believe the hype Yelp reviewers have given this place when it comes to their ribs. You have been warned. Note: When they say "Award Winning," make sure to look at which awards they have won. And take notice that those awards are not given for consistency. read more

A must-visit in Memphis. I've tried the pork, bbq ribs, beef brisket and most side dishes and have always left with a smile. I also like how their bbq sauces are all warm. read more

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I was expecting more from the Central BBQ. It was good, but it didn't knock my socks off. We had the pulled pork, sausage and brisket for meats and the Chips and Blue Cheese, Fries and Greens. Everything is good. If you're in the area and the wait isn't long, it's worth it. But if the line is around the corner, which it can be according to the locals, I'd wait until it slowed down. A good brisket and pulled pork doesn't need any sauce. They can stand on their own. These needed some sauce. I tried the mustard and the mild sauce. The mild sauce did wonders for both meats. The sausage was good by itself and wasn't too salty. The Chips and Blue Cheese was exactly what you expect. I wouldn't order those again unless I was over 10 nanograms of THC. The staff was very friendly and the Central BBQ was running smoothly on our visit. When they realized they forgot my wife's beer they had it out in a flash. Great service. read more

Keeping this short, because nothing really new to add, just power in numbers. 1) Prices are super-affordable. 2) Loved sitting outside and they had live music the night I was there. 3) Sweet tea was deee-licious. 4) Pork sandwich a knockout, and the baked beans great with bits of jalapeño. Everything is clean, orderly, organized. Would definitely return. Takes cards. Order at the counter, they bring it out to you wherever you are sitting. read more

Best BBQ EVER . Get the BBQ nachos with whatever else you get. I'm from St. Louis and this blows everything else away read more

Central BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Can't say anything bad about this place. Plus dog friendly on patio. Had the rib dinner for two dry rub.. read more

Central BBQ - Rib dinner for two.... dry with sauce on the side - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Central has top class ribs. Wet or dry rub it doesn't matter it will be good. The beans are nice and spicy so no need for more sauce. It was my first choice of BBQ in Memphis. read more

So, why not 5 stars? Because it's essentially chaos eating here. It's packed almost anytime you visit and the ordering and seating process is just crazy. I never enjoy sitting down eating my food while my fellow patrons wait for me to be finished so that they can grab my seat. It's downright stressful. But the 'cue, wow the 'cue........ They've got some serious bark going on here, the rub they're using really shines through. You can taste the hours of smoke in the meat. Somebody put a lot of time and effort and love into what they're making here. It's always a great thing when a place lives up to the hype. I've been reading and hearing about Central BBQ for so long, I'm glad I was finally able to eat here. In addition to their amazing BBQ they have a world class taplist, the day of my visit they even had Bell's Hopslam, one of the top rated beers in the world!!!!! What other BBQ joint has a tap list like this??? Probably none of them. Also of note, despite the chaos of seating/dining the staff here are all super nice people who go out of their way to keep you satisfied and to keep the place running as best they can. If you're in the area and want some great 'cue and feel as though you can brave the chaos, then some great food awaits you here!!!! Enjoy!!!! read more

We stopped by to grab some dinner, but were disappointed when we arrived. The place was dirty and the bathrooms were out of order, so we had to go to the bathrooms connected to a trailer in the back of the place. They got our order wrong, and the salad wasn't given to us until about 15 minutes after the other food came. The food was pretty bad, apart from the Mac & Cheese, which came in a really small container, even though it was supposed to be a full meal. Would not recommend. read more

This was my first experience with Memphis BBQ and I'll never forget it. The sauces are amazing and the homemade chips are tasty. It's the way BBQ should be done and you just can't find food like this where I'm from. I can't wait to return for some ribs! read more

SO- this may not be a winning endorsement in the eyes of most bbq fans, because I'm vegan. But here it is nonetheless: We were thrilled to find a bbq place that served a vegetarian bbq sandwich (just a portobello), which can be made vegan by taking the cheese off. This place was a lifesaver on a family vacation that pleased the omnis and satiated the vegans.The chips were homemade and the turnip greens didn't have bacon in them! Sauce was super yummy. We slathered EVERYTHING in it. The staff were soooooo nice (which was a welcome surprise, given that were were asking pesky vegan questions in a bbq joint). read more

In short: - The dry rub was better spiced that the wet part - Sauces were amazing - Sides (baked beans, slaw, green beans, onion rings) all pretty fine After being heavily disappointed by Rendezvous, we decided to carefully review the voices on Yelp again to decide where to go. That meant that we'll try to ignore any potential tourist trip and stay away from Beale Street as far as we could. The plan seems to have worked out. We really liked how casual Central was, and even though you had to practically service yourself, i.e. get your drinks, sauces or more paper towels etc. on your own, the staff was always friendly and answered all our questions despite the business in the store (I am blind sometimes and cannot find things right in front of me). The only mistake they made was to bring us a wet slab when we actually ordered a 1/2 dry 1/2 wet. We had a full slab for two with 4 sides and finished the whole thing within minutes. The ribs were just a little bit too fatty, but very nicely seasoned and not overcooked, which was great. However, they were not particularly moist - you had to use quite a bit of force to pull them apart and bite parts off with your teeth. Personally I can forgive them thanks to the great sauces they had. Normally I am not a big fan of barbecue sauces; most of them just taste somewhat strange to me. But Central had all of them perfect, even the hot sauce which I normally never eat. For me, the sauces were actually the highlight of the place. Finally, the sides were alright. I liked all of them except the cole slaw (which I prefer with more sauce) and thought the onion rings were particularly good, but in general this is a place you come for because of the meat. I understand why this is a place where people get souvenirs from, but we are still looking for the perfect Memphis ribs. read more

OK, so, when I asked around (hotel concierge, server at a breakfast restaurant, couple of other locals) about where to get BBQ in Memphis, the same names kept surfacing. Central BBQ, Rendezvous, Corky's... One person said, "Don't bother with Rendezvous." Another said, "Corky's is a chain." So we landed at Central. Glad we did, although I would love the opportunity to compare the others. I'm a BBQ guy. I've had Kansas City BBQ, North Carolina BBQ and Brisket in Texas. Memphis BBQ was the last on my list. I had a sampler platter and added ribs to the pulled pork, pulled chicken and brisket with a few sides. I prefer my pork to be pulled, not chopped, but that's a personal/regional preference. I thought all the meats were respectable, but my favorite was the brisket, not typical for me. I LOVE smoked meat, but there wasn't much flavor to any of the meats from the rub. No sweet, salty or spicy. The smoke was the overwhelming flavor across the board. If I sound unimpressed, it's not that, it's just that I had very high expectations. The place was packed on a Thursday night, so a lot of people like it. I think my favorite part of my visit was their straight up BBQ sauce... The spicy one might have had some whisky in it? The other sauce was mustard based. I liked all of them. A nice variety. Central is without a doubt a solid BBQ joint. I'd definitely go back! read more

Ambience, food and service were amazing. The ribs were smoked and cooked to perfection and topped with a dry rub and a splash of their BBQ sauce. If you are a microbrew beer fan, you will love their beer selection: both bottled and on tap. There is a good selection of local beers. I had their Mac and cheese which was creamy, golden and it had a pinch of spices in it--the perfect combination; their beans were also amazing. The service was great, a few folks came to check on us to see how we were doing and wether we needed anything. I definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for good BBQ and a good beer. Enjoy! read more

A must when you're in Memphis. I got some kind of multiple meat combo- ribs, pulled pork, turkey and brisket. Everything was absolutely phenomenal. The spicy BBQ sauce was life. Long lines, but it's a short wait. The potato salad was really good as well read more

The ribs were nothing special. Thick hard dry bark around them. The Mac and cheese was very soggy and over cooked. The Cole slaw was okay and the brisket and pulled pork were a little dry. The girl up front said they give military discount only on Tuesdays. Am I a soldier only one day a week? read more

Central BBQ - Too much dry bark on the ribs. But my husband ate them out of hunger - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Second time here- the first time was six years ago and we loved everything. This time it was the only reason we stopped in Memphis and were not disappointed. The pulled pork sandwich is tender and delicious. We had sides of greens (delicious) and cole slaw. The tea here is also delicious - I mix half with the unsweetened version. Hands down these guys make the best sauces. Their vinegar and mild BBQ are unbeatable read more

My first time eating here in Memphis. I'm completely amazed by this place. All Jones aside. This place here is the bet. I've eaten all over this country and have not had BBQ like this until now. I had the dry rub chicken wings and just couldn't help myself. A+++++ read more

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I got there at 10:45am to find a line at the door waiting for them to open. As I waited I had time to review the menu posted above the counter. You get a full view of the kitchen and smoker. That only makes you hungrier as you wait. They have a selection of 4 sauces to try I preferd the mild. The pulled chicken was some of the best I've ever had and I've eaten pulled chicken all over the south. I would highly recommend stoping by here. read more

Central BBQ - Pulled chicken with fries - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Stopped in after reading all the reviews. Had to try Memphis BBQ. Got there on a Saturday shortly after it opened, around 11.10am. Order at the counter, then they bring the food to your table. They have some quaint patio seating which we took advantage of. Ordered 1/2 slab of ribs with mild sauce. It was good, nothing to write home about. Tender, but not falling off the bone. Also got a 1/2 lb of turkey, skip it, just salty and nothing special. The beef brisket was not good. Definitely do not order. It's thin and chewy, nothing like the thick and juicy cuts of brisket you maybe used to. The pulled pork sandwich was the best entree. It's what they are known for, and definitely the best on the menu. Also got fries and onion rings, tasted as you wpuld expect. Mac and cheese was solid, creamy and a bit of a spice on top, would order again. Baked beans were not good. Also got a house salad which was average. They also had a decent selection of beers. Place probably deserves a 3.5, but I can't on Yelp, and given the hype, I was a bit disappointed. read more

Central BBQ - Ribs, salad, pulled pork sandwich, brisket and turkey - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I'm from Memphis and there are a few other places I would rather go for barbecue than Central, but it is a great location for midtown and I often order take-out from here. The barbecue served at Central BBQ is cooked well, and tastes good. I don't enjoy their sauce recipes though, the regular and the hot are both a little on the sweet side for my personal preference. They do have a pretty tasty rub though. One knock on them I will say is they serve their BBQ Nachos with shredded cheese instead of Nacho cheese sauce, which I think is the superior option. Central BBQ is greatly helped, however, by one item I did not expect to find here. They serve fresh, homemade potato chips, which are quite possibly the best potato chips I have ever had. They're slightly spicy, I believe they are seasoned with their BBQ rub. They also sell pork rinds seasoned with the same spice mix. The potato chips are crispy, spicy yet sweet, and out of this world. You have to try them to understand. In sum, Central BBQ serves pretty good but not great Memphis barbecue for pretty good prices. However, you MUST go here at least once in your life and try their chips. You owe it to yourself and your progeny. read more

Stopped in here back in May with the family. Being from a BBQ town, my BBQ standards are pretty high and this place did not disappoint. Long line out the door when we arrived at around 7:45 PM. Being able to order a beer and drink it while in line is a bonus! The BBQ Nachos were awesome and the pork plate and sides were really good as well. would definitely go back next time in Memphis. Awesome spot. read more

Central BBQ is definitely very good BBQ. But after eating ribs at Charlie Vergos, I can't say Central BBQ is the best. The combination platter (3 meats, 2 sides) is good to share for lunch. We had the ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The ribs were good - very good - but honestly I don't understand what the big deal is about ribs, whether it's Central BBQ's or anyone else's. The brisket was good and the pulled pork was dry. We had to douse everything in sauce, and I'm still not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I liked the four varieties of sauce, and the "hot" was my favorite. I'm middle of the road when it comes to spice tolerance, so I was surprised that I preferred the hot BBQ sauce. Central BBQ didn't impress me, but it didn't completely disappoint me either. Plus, the drinks come in plastic cups that you can take home as a souvenir. read more

Was in town around lunchtime, so I found this place. Good Yelp reviews? BBQ in Memphis? Count me in! Got the pulled pork plate, with baked beans and greens. I am a huge fan of mustard BBQ sauce on pulled pork, so I asked for it with mustard. Didn't realize that mustard was just that: plain yellow mustard. Not mustard bbq sauce, just plain old yellow mustard. The kind that squitters out of the yellow plastic barrel sitting in the back of your fridge. Uh-oh. Strike one. I ate the pork with the mustard on it, and then went and got myself some hot bbq sauce for the meat untouched by the yellow. The hot bbq sauce was much better on the pork, though pretty average for the style of BBQ sauce. The pulled pork itself was just OK. Properly cooked, tender, but just lacking in flavor. The little pieces of bark were nice, but didn't make it great. The baked beans were average. Not sweet, not smoky, not spicy, not meaty. All of those things a little, but really none of them. You could call that balanced, but I'd call it lacking a direction. The greens were kind of bland, like did you even put a hamhock or some bacon in there? Tried the ribs, and they were salty and smoky and not much else. Good texture, though. They were properly cooked, but were a bit too salty and not enough of any other kind of seasoning. The service was really friendly, and they had a good beer selection. Stone, Schlafly, now we're talking! Hate it when BBQ places have sucky beer, and love it when they have actual beer. Central BBQ has actual beer, folks. You don't have to wash down your BBQ with some lame American Lager. Had to ask for a glass though. I would have given it a solid three stars. The BBQ was competent. Competent is fine. You want competent. You hope for excellent, mind blowing, or even orgasmic, but considering you could also get awful, terrible, or nasty, competent will do. This is me paying Central BBQ a compliment: All of my complaints aside, the BBQ was indeed competent. Hopefully not the best in the city, but acceptable. So, why a mere two stars? My wife, who has a nut allergy, ordered the banana pudding after flatly being promised that it had no nuts in it. When asked directly if there were nuts in the pudding, the server directly said there were none, without batting an eye. Well, as it turns out, there were nuts in the banana pudding. Strikes two *and* three. Central BBQ, educate your staff a little better. One spoonful and she knew it. They were little pieces, but they were most certainly in there. Server girl with the big booty and big eyelashes, if you don't know PLEASE go ask someone. Now my poor wife has to drown herself in benadryl and keep the epi-pen handy. In all, I'd go here again if I lived nearby and it was convenient. Next time I am in Memphis, I'll skip it. There is much better BBQ to be had at home. read more

I just moved here and to be honest, I'm not crazy about barbecue. That being said, I loved this place! I love the "why have dessert?" board, the tye-dye shirts, the goofy boys in the back, and the lady who took our order. I suppose it was pretty obvious that we weren't familiar with the place. She guided us through our orders then gave us a free bag of chips. (Which are awesome, by the way.) I had the beef plate with mac and cheese and onion rings. The onion rings were awesome and the rest of the food was pretty good as well. I liked the sauces (except the mustard stuff) to the point of licking my fingers. My dad (who has lived here for 3 years now) had a salad with chicken on it. I'm not sure if he liked it...but he finished it. My sister (who's visiting) had the pulled pork with chips and potato salad. She liked the pork (so did I) and the chips, but didn't care for the potato salad. I'll definitely go back. I'll take my other family members when they come to visit and I'll recommend it to my other Yankee friends. read more

If you like ribs that don't even need any sauce, then this is your spot. Everything was above average & this is definitely a top 3 BBQ place in Memphis. read more

Simply put, this place defines Memphis style BBQ. Locally owned, they cater, they're fast, friendly, and a really fun vibe to the place. Try the chips dipped in mild sauce. Amazing. I love their pulled chicken and turkey. The only problem I have with the place is I'm so full and happy when I leave I don't want to do anything else for a solid two hours afterwards. This place rocks! read more

This was the first stop after my husband picked me up at the airport. We were excited to try it, since we know TX BBQ and were curious how different it would be. You cannot compare the two styles of BBQ. It's like comparing apples to oranges. The pulled pork was tasty - juicy, great flavor, and excellent with the different sauces that you can get at the service station inside the restaurant. The ribs were fantastic! To start with, it's awesome that you can do half dry and half wet, that way you can try both. They were fall-of-the-bone tender and delicious in taste. But, the highlight were the jerked wings. Amaze-balls! I mean, that dry rub was the best. I haven't had wings this good in a while. Maybe ever. We should have ordered the full and not the half order... Go there if you have the chance. It's gooooood! read more

"Lawwwwwdddd the SAAAWWCCE!" in the most country twang you can scream! Whether it's the sweet heat (FAVORRRITTTE...#QUEEREYE) or the mustard... you will not be able to slow down. I got the pulled chicken plate with greens and potato salad. The greens seemed to have been cooked a little too long and the potato salad was average "store bought like". Service was expedient and friendly. We HAVE to go back to the SAAAWWCCE! BOLD AND BRILLIANT with some KICK ASS! YASSSSSSS! IF this is what Memphis BBQ is all about.. please give me my membership...please and thank you! read more

This little piece of heaven... oh my! A little shack with a porch outdoor seating is perfect for family night or a nice lunch with friends. The food is FANTASTIC... I don't care what you order, you will love it! Very Memphis, love the 901! Service is fast and they have great beers on draft. Seasonal and local. read more

A Memphis classic, great food and service every time. Get the pulled pork sandwich with slaw!! And don't forget to take a bottle of their delicious barbecue sauce home with you. read more

Good to great BBQ all around! Ribs are always good, Wings are always perfect! Love the nachos. Like most places the pulled pork is hit or miss. Smoked chicken is awesome. All sides are good. Service is best at the downtown location. Even offers vegetarian options. read more

Wow! My first time here in Memphis. The ribs are delicious. The meat falls right off the bone and the sauces taste amazing. This place is very casual and friendly. I enjoyed my meal and I would definitely come back! I ordered the half rack of ribs (half wet and half dry), Mac n' cheese, and green beans. This hit the spot for a hungry guy looking for lunch. In 4 hours, I will be ready for dinner. read more

This place was so tasty. Was on a road trip with the family last week and drove through town. Found this place and stopped in to feed the hungry beasts (our boys) I had the bologna sandwich (I'm a mid-western girl, I gotta have it) and it was awesome. Husband had the combo plate with chicken and...something and he loved it. Also started with the sausage and cheese app. Sausage was killer, great snap and good taste. Staff was efficient and friendly! read more

Amazingly fast! Tasted great! BBQ beans awesome, ribs awesome! Potato salad OK! Great customer service! They have good selection of craft beer as well as domestic. There was a line but it moved fast! Clean dining and seating area! read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in for some BBQ before heading to the Stax museum and had the best time! Howard, Tish, Bianca, and JC were all very friendly and personable! We ordered the ribs for two, half wet and half dry, mac n cheese, coleslaw, green beans and barbecue beans. Honestly, it was some of the best BBQ I have ever had! Thank you so much!! Also great beers!!! read more

I live in St. Louis and hopefully the locals don't kick me out but Central BBQ in Memphis lived up to my expectations. I mean, there was a line out the door - the masses and local folks of Memphis can't lead you astray, can they? This place is the visual you get when you think about Memphis BBQ. Now to the good stuff - My reviews boil down to the FOOD! I had the BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos. They were divine. Ribs - wet - dry - either way - some of the best that I've ever had. My mouth is watering right now and my eyes are rolling into the back of my head at the mere thought of this BBQ. Get there and Get there NOW! read more

I love their dry ribs! Great customer service as well. Always a line of people, but they move quick and it never takes too long.

Great BBQ! I've been here a few times and loved everything I've tried. Highly recommend the ribs and don't leave with getting the banana pudding read more

oh my gracious. I cannot say enough good about this place! the line out the door nearly scared me away, but I am glad it didn't. Service is fast and food is scrumptious! I cannot wait to make another trip to Memphis for Central BBQ. read more