Not what it used to be I used to eat here 20 years ago when I worked downtown. My coworkers and I would go and the dining room would be full. I just went at 8pm on a Saturday and the dining room was empty. There were maybe 2-3 people standing inside waiting for to-go orders and 4 cars in line in the drive thru. From the time I got to the line to the time I got my food was an hour. I asked when entering my order if they were just busy and would be speeding up or should I leave and they said they were speeding up. They did not. When I finally got my food, I asked the lady at the window what was going on and she was rude. She also asked if I wanted to add a tip which I found funny. The food itself was alright. The bread was just normal, unseasoned white bread. The slaw was seasoned well but a bit watery for my taste. The spaghetti was cooked properly and the sauce was fine but there was very little pork in mine. Overall, the service was very off putting and the meal wasn't worth the drive or the wait. Such a bummer because I've been singing their praises for decades. I doubt I'll go back. read more

Interstate Barbecue - Spaghetti Dinner with slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We arrived just after they opened, the staff was kind, professional and not too much on words. We got exactly what we ordered excellent food from great people! They had a wall of all their family members throughout the years and it felt awesome seeing their family journey. It wasn't fancy but it did feel like home. I got the pulled pork combo that was great! I'm positive I'll be back many more times. read more

This review is for the black lady in the drive thru not the food, very, very rude, does not give you time to order and just keeps saying "anything else, anything else", if she's not the owner I recommend the owner dismiss her immediately I would not have my business known for this rude behavior, and it's not been an isolated incident, she's terrible and needs to work somewhere to which she has no interaction with the public period. read more

See all

On May 25th 2026 I visited Interstate Barbecue being that it was 7 months ago that I was last there. My order was a footlong with slow barbecue sauce combo, a small cup of potato salad and a large pulled pork barbecue sandwich. I was very and deeply Disturbed and disappointed on top of the price for horrific food that I received. The footlong hot dog itself looked old and it was hardly any slow available on my sandwich on top of tasting old. This has confirmed that I will not be making another visit here at interstate Barbecue again there is just no excuse for food to not live up to what it should especially for the price that you pay for it. read more

Legendary spot here that shouldn't be missed. Amazingly friendly service, and the food was as good as I remembered.

Made 3 attempts to try this place. Each time I have showed up the doors are locked. The last time we called ahead and confirmed they were open. Still the doors were locked. read more

Sadly this place needs some work. Beef ribs were very tough and chewy. The pork ribs were salty and tough. The fries were the big winner here. Not sure what happened here, but this place didn't work for us. read more

See all

Yum. Popped in on the way to Mardi Gras in LA. Place was almost empty but the service was fantastic, food was too. read more

Interstate Barbecue - Interstate BBQ in Memphis TN, ribs and spaghetti. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Ordered a rib tip plate, which cost me $16.74 upon me getting home getting ready to eat. My food was everywhere inside the box beans all over the rib tips itself was so hard I couldn't even eat them I tried calling the establishment, but they kept hanging up so I called this morning and they was rude again hanging up and she finally answered the phone with an attitude. I told her what was wrong and she told me that I'm supposed to check my order before I left I'm at the drive-through mine you and I didn't see a sign instead of fixing the order right she told me they won't do it and to have a good day and hung up the phone they get my business again read more

Jim Neely's Interstate BBQ The secret is in the sauce at this iconic barbecue joint, where owner and founder Jim Neely began selling his smoked creations back in 1979. Inside and out, Interstate is perfumed by smoke from slow-sizzling barbecue round the clock. That is because the pork shoulders are out in the pit at 5pm for the next day's lunch and they start the day's ribs every morning. Chopped pork shoulder had a few crusty outside shreds. A large chopped pork sandwich is the most Memphian dish on the menu, made as per local custom with a layer of cool cole slaw atop the well-sauced meat. It is a total mess that disintegrates as you eat it, but the most delicious mess imaginable! Interstate Barbeque's menu is rather large and includes the classic pork ribs and chopped pork, but it's their Bar-B-Q Spaghetti Dinner that attracts most diners. Stated as an Interstate original but that's debatable as The Bar-B-Q Shop boasts that their location was the first to create this dish. As it was Brady Vincent, a former railroad cook who opened a barbecue restaurant called Brady and Lil's. When Vincent retired in 1980, he sold the business to Frank and Hazel Vernon. The Vernons moved the restaurant to its current location on Madison Avenue and renamed it The Bar-B-Q Shop, but they still make barbecue spaghetti using Vincent's original recipe. BBQ Spaghetti Iconic Memphis Staple Locals and outsiders alike seem rather divided on the merits of barbecued spaghetti. Some praise it as a high delicacy while others seemed baffled by it altogether. I, for one, fell in love with it at first bite. Why mess around with potato salad or french fries? If you can accompany your pork barbecue with a side dish that incorporates even more pork barbecue with soft noodles in superb sauce! Barbecue spaghetti is a dish from Memphis, Tennessee, that combines spaghetti with a sauce made from shredded smoked pulled pork, sautéed peppers and onions and barbecue sauce. read more

See all

Wonderful down home spot. Not too busy today and waitress was personable and helpful with this being my first time. Spaghetti is my favorite. We had the sampler, ribs and nachos read more

Rib tips weren't cut up small they were barely tips it looked and tasted like they just put them them in the oven they were thick pieces of dry ribs and they don't give you fries it came with coleslaw and baked beans it wasn't what I expected at all but the sauce was good read more

The food was horrible. The ribs tasted like they were boiled and put in the oven. They also tasted reheated. The pulled pork was dry. There was no sauce to go with it. It also didn't taste like it was cooked on the grill. The coleslaw and baked beans also were not good. No one was in the restaurant, but the cashier was not very friendly. She was the only one working, but considering there was no customers she had no reason to be upset. Everyone else was in the back cooking so I don't know why the food tasted the way it did. I am here visiting and when I come to Memphis, I try different restaurants for their barbecue. This is absolutely the worst place I've ever been in Memphis. read more

Baked BBQ. Too saucy, No smoke in sight. Came for authentic Memphis bbq. Sadly it did not happen. Service ok. read more

If Yelp let us do half stars. I would have given them a three and a half. I work near this place and have eaten here for years. I can say they use to have very good BBQ. Its still pretty good but I can tell a difference betweenthen and now. The food use to be much fresher when you ordered. I think they pre-make things that sits for a while on heat now. The food I received today was good. It just tasted like it had been re-heated......maybe in a microwave? The Smoke Sausage looked like it was a little overcooked and the BBQ Spaghetti tasted like it was heated up or microwaved. It a shame because I really like their food when everything is fresh made. Dont get me wrong it was still pretty good. Mr. Neelys wife and daughters work hard in the pick up area. They are always very nice to me. It could be lack of good help or other factors but I hope they get back to the fresher food soon. I love their BBQ Spaghetti! I got it on the side one time and never stopped ordering it. Its the only BBQ Spaghetti I will eat. I hope to come back and update later! read more

See all

I was not a fan of this location. I was driving back to my hotel and saw this restaurant and turned around. It sounded like a famous BBQ joint, and I was correct, old time Memphis BBQ. I read the the reviews and almost pulled out to leave, but I went in to make my own memories. Unfortunately, I should have trusted my first thoughts and moved on down the road. The inside was a little dated, but clean. There was nothing wrong with the service, my issue as the food was just ok at best. The ribs did not have any flavor except for the BBQ sauce that is bathing in. My other meat was the beef sausage. Kinda like a large hotdog that was cut into pieces and covered in sauce. If the sides were made there, they must be making the sides for the local grocery store also. The onion rings appeared to me as frozen and heavily breaded. I would not return with such good food in area. read more

Ribs were good. Sides were ok but a staple Memphis bbq place through the years. One of my kids had the bbq nachos and it looked great.

I grew up on this world famous bbq. It's the best and I love every item on the menu. People ask me what to order from this restaurant well my reply is order everything it's all good. The pull pork is the best hands down. I travel from all over the world just to get back here and eat. read more

Good food and good service it's in the hood so if the doors are locked just knock lol read more

Interstate Barbecue - Pulled pork ribs slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I should've taken a picture of my food, I'll go back and add a few. Our offices are down the street (close to downtown Memphis), and yesterday I was craving BBQ. This was not my favorite visit. The lady at the drive-through was not the warmest, so you must know what you're going to order before you get there to make your process seamless. I usually get a beef, chopped sandwich combo, and I stuck to my routine. The beef chopped did not disappoint. I decided to venture out and try five piece wings as well, thinking there would be smoked barbecue wings, and they were so greasy! I could not enjoy them. I kept asking for water, or sweet tea, and they didn't have anything but Sprite. maybe it was just an unlucky day, I'll definitely go back another day and hope to have better luck at the downtown Interstate BBQ location. I've attached a picture of the menu, so definitely know what you want before you order!! read more

Interstate Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

A friend who lived to Memphis recommended Interstate Barbecue's Rib Tips. On our way home after the Juke Joint Festival, we picked up some to eat on the plane ride. There was so much, I ate a few tips and saved the rest for home. They were scrumptious along with the sides. I can't wait to get back to Memphis for more. read more

The food was horrible, messy and wet bread! My French fries was half done. The cook sucks! That's makes the restaurant look bad! I called and complain. Antoinette C. was passive aggressive and wasn't listening. She took longtime giving us our order, meanwhile we watched another customer come in and he was served before us and then she ask us what's our. Wow! Really, we drove 20 minutes to get food and was disappointed! I suggest the cook take pride in their work. Not a sandwich that's sloppy made. Not fair to the customer!People want what they paid for. read more

As beautiful a state as TN is, this BBQ by the former Neely's of television land (no longer together) is NO competition. Texas is BEST. The place was filthy, but we have seen worse. After we left, I was reading reviews and saw Gus' in downtown reviews was were we should have gone. Oh well, next time. My cobbler was awful. The woman waiting on us was a Neely showing all the pics on the wall and who they were. That was nice to her do. read more

Interstate Barbecue - The Neely's BBQ.. Gonna be hard to TX.. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Great barbecue! Ordered the sampler plate. Everything was fantastic including the waitress. I highly recommend this place if you want some good ole fashioned BBQ! read more

We had great hopes for this place based on its reputation and being featured on Food Network. However, we were disappointed by the customer service and the food itself. We were visiting Memphis and decided to try two "famous" local spots -- Interstate and Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. On our first night in town, we headed to the S Third St location of Interstate BBQ. We arrived at 6 pm. The lights were on inside and the hours on the door said that it would close at 7 pm. However, the doors were locked. We were confused and hungry, so we headed south to Southaven and had dinner at Gus's instead. The next day, I called the Third St location. I got a recorded message that informed me that they only did takeout orders after 6 pm. We arrived at 5:30 pm and found everything the way it was the day before: lights on but doors locked. We went into the takeout side of the building and found out that we could order by going through the drive-thru. Since we wanted to sample things, we got the sampler platter. We took it back to our hotel to eat it. It was overall good but had some weak points. I'll start with the worst part: tough meat. The meat was not anywhere near fall-off-the-bone tender. Our favorite BBQ spots have tender meat. This made for more work eating the beef and pork ribs. Another bad part of the meal was the size of the sides. They were all put in containers about half the size that we expected, especially when compared with most other BBQ spots we have visited. There were two good parts about the items we tried. First, the beef ribs. Ooooh! Why aren't these available in more places? I like eating chunks of seasoned beef, and these delivered on that kind of eating experience. I felt like a happy caveman eating these beef ribs. I also liked the BBQ spaghetti. As with other reviewers, I encourage you to try it. It's only available in the Memphis area. It wasn't my favorite thing, but it was dead center comfort food: soft noodles, a slightly sweet BBQ sauce, and little bits of BBQ pork mixed in with the noodles and sauce. read more

Closed on Sunday's I wish I could have tried this place before I went back to LA I heard a lot of good things Y'all need to be open for take out if u would be so kind read more

Fantastic food. Come and enjoy the best bbq you'll ever eat. We've been here many times. Ordered the sampler which includes, pork ribs, beef ribs, bbq spaghetti (so good), pulled pork, pulled brisket, hot link, Cole slaw, baked beans with meat in it, and bread. You can get it at the drive thru or eat in. !!! read more

Ribs I never had before were dry and just everything was gross. I ordered chicken , pork and beef sandwiches...

AWFUL. The food was horrible. Eating the styrofoam container was probably more edible than eating the week old slop they served. Food quality has declined considerably over the past few years. Everything tasted old and stale as if it were prepared the week before. The ribs were very small and extremely dry and tough. The baked beans and Cole slaw especially were horrible. I took one bite and could not eat anymore. Absolutely nothing was fresh. The restaurant did not even pretend to serve fresh food. The service was equally awful. I had come by twice at different times a few days earlier and I noticed cars stopping to order but the restaurant was strangely closed during its operating hours and the doors locked. There was no notice at all posted on the door or window notifying patrons that the restaurant would not be open at its usual hours either. This is very bad business for a restaurant to run itself this way. Today when I stopped I did find the restaurant open but again I noticed several cars waiting at the drive through window and they were all pulling off when no one came to the window. I finally stopped at the window and I had to sit there and wait several minutes then knock on the window before a woman walked up. She opened the window, she never smiled or greeted me, and she simply barked "what do you want?!". I told her my order and she slammed the window shut to go and prepare it She later came back to the window and asked for my card and i handed it to her and she walked to the register and I could see she was ringing me out and then for some reason she took my credit card and disappeared around the corner out of view which made me very nervous. I was right there. She could have handed me my card. Why would she take it out of view? I waited several more minutes and she came back to the window, and shoved a reciept and a pen in my face. Again she never smiled. After I had signed the reciept she handed me the plate and immediately turned her back and slammed the window shut. There was no thank you at all. I will never go back to Interstate BBQ. It should be criminal to serve such old, hardened and dry (super tough) ribs. Those ribs had to have been over a week old. On top of the horrible food the cashier, 'Stacy', treated me like she was doing me a favor. She does not understand that its customers like myself that help to keep her employed. I could tell from her behavior that she had no class, was rude, and probably wasnt making much because she did not seem to care at all about the customers. Or her job. Hands down this was the ABSOLUTE WORST BBQ that I've ever eaten. Anywhere. Never again. read more

Interstate Barbecue - Pork rib plate. Everything tasted a WEEK OLD. The ribs were super dry and tough. Nothing was fresh. I tossed the entire plate. NEVER AGAIN. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Nice people but food just not good. I've been here 2 times and wanted to give another try since right off Highway. Got the pulled pork sandwich and onion rings for a change. Homemade rings are awesome! These are from Burger King! . The pulled pork has no smoke flavor and taste old. The sauce was ok just needs flavor. I am disappointed for the last time. Save your money and go to dicky bbq it at least taste better then here. Sorry but truth hurts. I can't be the only one that feels this way there was one other table at almost 6 is sad read more

I have seen this restaurant featured on Food Network so it was a welcomed treat to get the opportunity to dine here while visiting Memphis. The decor is home-like with many family pictures adorning the walls. There was a large flat screen in the large dining room showing a football game. There is plenty of seating and could easily host both small and large gatherings. The ribs were delicious and came with a side of beans and cole slaw. The sauce on the ribs was sweet, just how I like it! The cole slaw was crunchy and the beans were smoky. The menu was extensive and I would have loved to sample even more items. The restaurant ships so, if you're like me and still thinking about the goodness of that Memphis meat-you can order online. I would definitely return. read more

Interstate Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I really like ribs, so while visiting Tennessee I asked everyone for recommendations. The Interstate barbecue received the most recommendations without any hesitation. We arrived early for dinner. It must have been between shifts as the service was slow. They also mixed up our drink orders but quickly corrected the mistake. We both had beef ribs. The small plate came with 4 ribs which was more than enough for me. They included sides or coleslaw, potato salad and beans. The ribs were meaty and tasted good. I wish were were in the area longer so I could try the pork ribs. read more

See all

This is the one place we travel across town to get the pork or beef rib tips. They have the big dinner, which is meat and two sides with bread. It's enough for two. They have plenty of meat for the Keto lifestyle. Right off the expressway at the Thord street exit. Well worth the trip. Ladies working the drive through is cool too. read more

See all

Whenever I'm in the neighborhood I have to stop when I can. Food always made to order. Always mouthwatering and finger licking read more

Interstate Barbecue - The great history wall. Tell the history of interstate bbq, which has been serving great bbq to the public - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

by far the best barbecue in tennessee. period. the neely family has been making their pork and beef for generations and the whole family still works here. try the chopped beef sandwich with cole slaw on top. you're going to want to order a pound to take home. stephanie is mr. neely's daughter and the sweetest waitress in memphis. don't believe any bad reviews on this place. sit down and eat. the service is friendly and the food is incredible. read more

See all

I've been here many times. I drive from New Orleans to Chicago and visa versa a few times a year, and I try to work my schedule around getting here at lunch or dinner. The last couple of times have been less than optimal. The people here are fantastic. Family or friends maybe of the Neelys possibly???. Just seems they've all worked here for a long time. They have their routine down. So.. I came in this time (July 2019) had to use the toilet first, as I walked thru the door someone yelled "take a menu and sit where you want"... I pointed and said "going to the toilet", she said "take a menu with you" .. (I didn't). Since I'm on the toilet part, I saw a guy with mop and broom coming out of the toilet area, and there was a "wet floor" caution in front of the door. Yeah! A clean washroom! Excellent! Doesn't always happen when traveling. I opened the door and.... yuk. Looks like another floor might have been mopped then. I stepped to the urinal, and it looks like dried old urine (multiple layers) all over the urinal. I carefully did my business and went to a dirty sink. You know how there's a sink, and soap, but the sink and faucet is so unclean that you think the soap might not be strong enough to make you clean if you touch it??? A dilema, I know. I had to wash my hands. No paper towels. You know the manager and/or owner have to be seeing this on the daily, butt....apparently not important. But enough toilet review. I came back to grab a menu (cringing to think others may have taken one into that unsanitary washroom). I kind of knew what I wanted, so I looked (didn't touch) the menus splayed on the table and a server came up, leaned over and asked what I wanted. I ordered a 2 meat combo with baked beans and potato salad. THE FOOD: The baked beans are the best I've had hands down. Anywhere. The bean taste, sweet with molasses, spiked with pieces of pork, bbq flavor. Wow. I could eat a quart myself! Potato Salad is very good. Creamy and chunky with potato. Tasty. The meats.... I got ribs and chicken and both have the same good and bad things about them. The good.... awesome Smokey flavor and an amazing bbq sauce! The meats are tasty and flavorful. Fall off the bone. The bad.... The ribs fell off the bone, but were just a tad dry. The bone ends crumbled from overcook. Could have used more sauce. The chicken.. when I split the breast looked moist and delicious inside but when I started eating, had a dry, get caught in your throat quality. Could have used more sauce. (At some point my server came by while I was eating and dropped off the bill on the table). Why didn't ask for more sauce? I never saw the server again after she put the bill on my table. And I didn't want to walk around to the cashier while the food was getting cold and drying out! Anyway, I ate it. And the great white bread it comes with. Why does white bread taste so good here?? I was reading a paper, so I left my credit card on the table waiting for the server to pick it up, but that never happened. 15 minutes later, I walked up to the take out cashier area and paid it. Moral of the story?? This was 5 star years ago. It's kind of run down now, not so clean, not so customer focused. Not too much attention on keeping the meat moist. Still great sauces and sides, but only GOOD meat quality. Very poor upkeep on tables/chairs, and horrendous conditions in the men's room. C'mon Neelys!! Do better! read more

Interstate Barbecue - 2 meat combo with ribs and chicken Baked beans and potato salad WHITE BREAD!! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Interstate BBQ is like the uncle who's not afraid to tell you that you didn't live up to the family's expectations. You're upset. You may even shed a tear, but he's not wrong, and so you still kind of love him. Extensive selection of sausage products. read more

The service was slow. The restaurant was not busy. We had pulled pork. It just didn't live up to the hype. My barbecue is much better. So are my baby back ribs. Won't return. read more

I like that there's a lot of space like it could seat hundreds, that they were on tv, and all the pictures on their wall of fame but bbq was pretty bad. I kind of figured something was wrong when it was dinner time and no one was there besides us and the staff. We devoured a sampler platter. Pork ribs were the best of the platter yet it was still basic ribs, beef ribs so and so, pulled pork same, sausage had a spoiled taste and brisket I don't know how to describe it but both were horrible, they were all piled on one plate and covered with an ok bbq sauce. You might have seen them on food network which is probably why you here but I probably wouldn't recommend them. You can miss this place as theirs a big sign painted on the side of its outside wall. read more

See all

You may have noticed I steer into the curve when it comes to dives. Interstate is a dive with a drive thru. I love that combination. This joint has peeling paint on the outside, and a crusty demeanor coming from the electric, speaker box voice. But...it's all about the food, right? So, here we go. I ordered a large pork sammy combo (fries & a drink, $9.50). I was not expecting much from the fries, but since I needed to get across town & was getting a grumbly tummy, I dug into the fries. Hot, fresh, crispy on the outside...and thick cut. This is what potatoes aspire to become (although the truly ambitious ones also aspire to be drowned in gravy & cheese). The sandwich is truly enormous. There had to be 3/4 of a pound of the juiciest, most tender pulled pork on a nicely toasted bun. I already think they have the best BBQ Sauce in the galaxy...so good, it deserves it's own entry in the Hitchhikers Guide. There are three factors that I use to judge a BBQ joint - the pork sandwich, the sauce, and the nachos. For that reason, I passed over something very tempting on the menu - a rib tips sandwich ($8). There are also two other sandwiches on the menu worth further investigation - a pork rib and a beef rib sandwich. Say What? Aggies, beware... The ONLY reason for four stars and not five is that I did not get a thank you when my order was handed to me. This place is worth the confusing labyrinth of interwoven freeways needed to get there. Or...if you are in the airport, there is one way down a ghost town of a concourse. read more

Interstate Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee