It was good. Great experience but, they put so much tangy sauce that the buns on the chopped pork was soggy and soaked through. Same with the link/hot dog bun. The service was good. There was a line (it's a very popular place) and it's plenty of parking. Next time I'm in town I know to ask for the sauce on the side or light sauce. read more

Didn't think I could like mustard based cole slaw, but this place changed my mind. Very limited menu, but I guess that means they do what they are good at. My wife had the chopped pork plate with a side of beans. She said they were very good. I had a half slab of ribs with the medium sauce, comes with the aforementioned slaw. Plenty of meat on the ribs and they had a good taste, but my mouth kept telling me they were boiled at some point. I don't think they were, I think it was the sauce. Still a place to try if you are looking for some Memphis BBQ. I will will warn you to not let the building or the "kitchen" scare you away. read more

I finally made it this place. I've wanted to go for some time - ever since I saw that Payne's had made it to the Sweet 16 of a national BBQ "tournament." I love the store. It's a throwback to the 40s or 50s maybe based on the floor tile. Food is served from a kitchen directly across from the order window and sauce is ladled onto the meat from a sauce pan kept warm by a gas stove. CASH ONLY! The meat was good and the sauce was good as well. The slaw was a vinegar-based version and the beans had some meat in them as well. All food is served in the same square, partitioned styrofoam containers with plastic ware and Cam drinks. I enjoyed the ambiance and the prices were reasonable. read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - Order's up! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Ribs were not smoky and lacked flavor. Good ribs can be eaten without sauce. After watching a plethora of tourist ordering the pulled pork sandwich, I assumed I ordered the wrong thing. In this case maybe I should have followed the crowd. However, baked beans were super yum! read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

For anyone new to Memphis...and for Memphians as well, the age old question is..."where can I find the best BBQ?" In the BBQ capital of the world, it's tough to give a 5 star review unless you really are completely set apart from the rest. A 4 star BBQ review...in Memphis...in my book is still great. The location is daring, but adds to the experience. All they need is a stove and a massive oven to cook their meat...and it gets the job done! I love the chopped plate. The smoky flavor is excellent. The mustard slaw isn't my favorite, but I do like how it is different than a typical slaw. The portion size is significant! And I don't feel like you can go wrong with anything you order on the menu. Try the hot dog or the Bologna sandwhich! read more

See all

In my pursuit of "100 things to eat in Memphis before I die", I was lead to Payne's. All I can say is thank goodness! Ambience: there is none, so get over it. The building is an old auto shop converted to a restaurant. The decor is minimal and the seating is simple. That's because the food is the main attraction! Service: order at the walk-up counter with the old menu board hanging above. The workers are very friendly and the food is ready in a flash. Food: OMg, delicious! I ordered the BBQ bologna sandwich with hot sauce and a side of beans. What I got was a work of art on a styrofoam plate! Seriously, check out the picture. A massive slice of perfectly cooked bologna topped with slaw and spicy BBQ sauce on two slices of white bread. Yes, it's messy. Yes, the bread is no match for the monster slice of bologna and falls apart. I don't care. It was insane! The slaw was not creamy, more of a mustard / vinegar dressing, which was the perfect compliment to the BBQ. The sauce was just spicy and tangy enough. The combination of the elements of this sandwich were perfectly complimentary. Makes me want to get in the car and drive back right now (@ 5:22 am). The menu is pretty limited with the BBQ basics of ribs, pulled pork, bologna, and sausage. Options for sides are even more limited: beans or a bag of chips. I went with beans and they were certainly not dumped from a food service can. Loaded with meat with a thick sauce, these beans were solid. The drinks only come in bottle or cans. At $7 for a sensational sandwich, a healthy portion of beans, and a bottle of water, this meal was a steal! read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - BBQ bologna with slaw and hot sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis bbq is often about name and advertisement. I have been to 10 or so of the big name spots and my absence of a review tells you my thoughts. Blah. Mass produced BBQ is usually very average. Hunt the small joints. Yeah you may need to get off the beaten path and out of your comfort zone but if you do it you will find the real Memphis pit BBQ. Paynes is awesome. Small. Hand smoked daily. This is the real deal. The pork shoulder is moist and the hot sauce is superb. Get out there and eat the good stuff. Skip the big box BBQ read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - 5 napkin/5 star sammich - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Just another great BBQ place that doesn't seem to get mentioned as much as the popular places around town. I do not normally rave about pulled pork, but this pulled pork sandwich was WOW! Smokey, tender with a great sauce and a nice crunchy mustardy slaw. The sauce puts it over the top with it's sweet yet tangy flavor that makes you want to drink a bottle. This is a true bbq joint that makes you feel at home. You will not regret the drive out to this fantastic Memphis eatery. read more

Emeril Lagasse talks about the "Trinity" of Creole cooking----Bell Peppers, Celery, and Onion. In Memphis we also have a Trinity when it comes to BBQ Sandwiches---the Pork itself, along with Slaw and Sauce. Nobody in Memphis understands this relationship unless you've been to Payne's. I've had Pork that was cooked better. I've had better Slaw. I've had and made better Sauce. It's the combination that will make you bow down and worship the BBQ Sandwich at Payne's. I'm pretty sure the Slaw makes this Sandwich transcend other fine offerings in Memphis. This Sandwich is the Perfect Storm of flippin' flavor. Come at me! I've eaten at every BBQ joint in Memphis, and Payne's Sandwich is at the Top of my Sandwich List. I laugh at some of these reviews talking about Payne's being dumpy. It's in Memphis, not West Palm! Lamar Avenue isn't the Suburbs. You can't get Memphis BBQ in a nice restaurant ( Disregard my Review if you think Corkys is good for anything besides their Bread). Here is the deal at Payne's----Get a Jumbo Sandwich. Watch Mrs. Payne yank a big shoulder out of the Pit. Watch Mrs. Payne Slice off and chop about 3 big pieces of Pork. Watch Mrs. Payne put a big spoon of yellow, glow-in-the-dark slaw on the pork along with some BBQ sauce from a small saucepan that sits on a crappy stove. Get a darn cold Grape Soda and some beans. The bun on the sandwich is warmed and slightly toasted on the flat-top next to the stove. Go sit your butt down and eat the thing at a table. You'll be back next time you want some BBQ. P.S. Get a Fried Pie if they have them. read more

Great bbq in addition to the smoke sausage. The slaw is quite tasty as well. Payne's has a great reputation for good food!

This is my favorite barbeque spot in Memphis. Their pork barbeque is the one to beat in Memphis as far as I'm concerned. To go along with a barbeque sandwich, I highly recommend the smoked sausage which is as ordinary as you can get but with their distinctive slaw and sauce, just as addicting as the barbeque. I've been tempted to try and replicate the smoked sausage at home but every time I go to buy a package of similar appearing fat, red sausage in the grocery store, I read the ingredients and then can't force myself to buy it. Better that I remain ignorant about what I've been enjoying at Payne's for many years I think. The distinctive thing I find about Payne's barbeque is that they always strive to include a small amount of the crisp and crunchy well done outer bark mixed in with the tender and flavorful inner meat which gives a barbeque lover an overwhelming rush of sensory sensations when it registers on the taste buds. I've tried their bologna which I found tasty, but not extraordinary- not worth skipping the barbeque and smoked sausage. As another reviewer pointed out, Payne's is definitely not a tourist trap. Try to plan ahead and avoid their bathroom, which may not have been serviced in 40 years or since the place opened. Avoid the area during non daylight hours, Lamar Ave was once a ritzy street lined with many elegant and stately homes. Historic Elmwood Cemetary is nearby. read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque and smoked sausage - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Definitely. Payne's chopped pork sandwich is as glorious as everyone claims. That yellow-green slaw is a weird color for food, but it just works. And the pork itself...mmm, there are no adequate words. It's not at all like pulled pork; the choppedness adds a miraculous new dimension to the sandwich. I had made a note to myself to try the baked beans as well, but then on the day I forgot. Now I have an excuse to go back...as if I needed one. read more

Mustard slaw, which I don't care for. Ribs were tender, but not falling off the bone like some reviews say. Pork sandwich was good, but they put the slaw on it even after we ordered it on the side, so we had to pick around the slaw. Sausage sandwich lacked flavor, very bland. read more

We sought out Payne's and I ended up disappointed with the experience. We heard about this place somehow and I looked up the reviews and saw they were good so we decided to make this the one food stop for our day trip to Memphis. I wish we would have went somewhere else. Be prepared that they are cash only. That sucks but I understand and won't hold it against a small place. Of course the gas station next door had a broken ATM so we had to drive around to find cash. After making our way back I was super hungry. My husband had the pulled pork and I had a sausage. Both came with this yucky mustard slaw type stuff on it. My husband didn't mind but I scraped mine off. The sausage was way too sweet tasting with no other flavor. My husband thought his sandwich was ok but then he had stomach trouble for the rest of the day. At least it was cheap. read more

After visiting many, many 'cue joints over the years, a pattern is beginning to emerge - if the joint is located in a former service station, it is probably going to be pretty awesome. Payne's Bar-B-Que on Lamar is another example of this. This place is far from fancy - in fact my fellow 'cue traveler was downright scared of bathroom. If a knock is to be had at this joint, they need to do a little work on the restrooms. As stated earlier, this place was a service station in a previous life. It is spartan, and the main dining area is clean with a touch of worn. Ms. Payne was working the counter when we arrived, along with a few other family members. The counter area is small, containing a fryer, the pit door, a fridge, and a range. Judging from some of the pictures, the flame shooting out of the back right burner is intentional - maybe even a nice eternal flame tribute. I don't have a clue, but it still stood out. We ordered half a slab of hot ribs, beans, and coleslaw. Here's the rundown: THE MEAT! The ribs were excellent, and very saucy. It appeared to be a St. Louis Cut as opposed to a whole slab. The silver skin was still on the back, which is pretty much the rule with just about any 'cue joint. That said, it didn't hinder the hickory smoke penetration into the meat, and it had a nice snap. The ribs were moist and had excellent pull. Due to the sauce, we couldn't discern any noticeable dry rub on the meat. Overall, a straight-up great rib. THE SIDES! The Beans - They were excellent! They contained a nice amount of porky delicious, and were out favorite side (okay, so we only had two). One word of warning - ours were served hot. Like flashpoint of the room hot. Took those suckers a while to cool down. This was a problem because they were so good. We may have left with burnt mouths. The Slaw - It was accurately described in other reviews as a "neon" color. It appears to be a creation native to Memphis - a Mustard Slaw. The stuff at this 'cue joint was a finely chopped slaw as opposed to shredded. Either way, it was very tasty, and one of our favorite examples of this kind of coleslaw. At some point, we'll probably experiment with this recipe. Good stuff. THE VERDICT! Good, cheap eats. Strike that - Awesome, cheap eats. Talking to some of the other patrons, the Chop Sandwich is awesome - and available in Huge as well. While we did not have one, it looked and smelled amazing. The bologna also looked good - while me fellow 'cue explorer is not a bologna fan; this half could easily take one down. Both of these are on the list to get next time. Anyway, a bit off the subject... The place is awesome, and in a former service station. It is also cheap. The only knocks being we didn't try the entire menu and the restroom could use a good amount of work. This being the case, and the overall greatness of this family 'cue joint, we're dealing out (with a hit for the facilities) FOUR STARS. read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - A big old plate of awesome! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Darn good BBQ! Payne's my hat is off to you. You showed me a side of Memphis that I ain't never gonna forget. Your baked beans left a lasting impression on me that I will cherish the rest of my life. I don't know what it was about those beans, but they were Heaven on Earth. I sure am glad I can't make em like that, otherwise I'd never eat anything else! Your prices were very affordable, and for that I am very thankful!! Your pork ribs were tinder and just the right amount of smokey, and the sauce was oh so good!!! Your portion size was hefty, and left me with a full belly. If I ever get the chance to get into Memphis Tennessee again, Payne's will be at the top of my to do list!!!!!! read more

This is Memphis' best BBQ. This old building clearly used to be an auto service station. Cinder block building - now with a magical smoker inside. Perfect pulled pork served up on paper places. read more

Tried Payne's after I read a few reviews. I thought the old gas station location might be kitsch. Unfortunately, the experience was pretty pedestrian. The staff were very lovely, courteous, efficient & kind. The pulled pork was okay. The yellow mustard Cole slaw was more like a soup. I wasn't very crazy about it. The beans were typical baked beans. Sweet. They had Eric's Momma butter packaged cookies for sale which were excellent. read more

This review is for the food only. This is not an upscale place in the least bit, but I am from out of town and was in search of tasty bbq. Payne's delivered. They have large portions, delicious food and reasonable prices. That is pretty much what I'm looking for almost every time I'm eating, so 5 stars. I found them on yelp and felt responsible to leave a review of my own. One thing I found a bit different was the coleslaw was neon in color and was not the cabbage type of coleslaw that I am used to. I had no problem with it though. If I'm ever back in Memphis, I'll be sure to stop by and I might go easy on the slaw or get no slaw at all. read more

A showcase of true Memphis barbecue at its best. On a recommendation from my father, who is a BBQ guru, I delayed my departure from Memphis until after Payne's opened then next morning. I'm so happy I got to experience this great. This place is located in an old automotive garage in a questionable neighborhood but that only adds to the ambiance. I had to try the chopped pork sandwich, ribs and unique mustard coleslaw. I went to the ATM before I arrived since I read that they only take cash, FYI they now take cards! Ordered the regular chopped pork sandwich which came with hot BBQ sauce and the infamous mustard coleslaw on a bun and I also order 1/2 slab of ribs which comes with coleslaw and had a can of Grape Fanta to wash it all down. The sandwich was tasty and the crunchy bits mixed in are very different and added a nice texture that was unexpected. When I come back I will probably order the slaw on the side because it overpowered the pork a little since the pork was perfect by itself. The ribs were very tender on the inside and and were finished with a nice crunchy sauce. Overall very different from the Texas BBQ that I am accustomed to but in a great way that I was not expecting! I also highly recommend the grape Fanta which it just brings me back to my childhood for some weird reason. read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - 1/2 rack ribs, chopped sandwich with hot sauce and customary Grape Fanta. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This is a Memphis local spot. I always bring family and friends here and they enjoy it. Nothing fancy just great food in a tiny restaurant.

Stop #1 on the first of, hopefully, many family Memphis-In-My-Mouth trips from St Louis. This is a down home place with unique recipes. The dining area is in two bays of an old service garage. You go up to the window and Ms. Payne or her son takes your order and chops your pork for your sandwich. This is not commercial, cookie-cutter, chain store BBQ and that's a good thing. By the way, I don't consider 3 stars a bad rating. The large chopped pork sandwich has mild smoke, is chopped very finely and is juicy with crunchy bits of outside crust mixed in. It is topped with a unique, bright yellow-green slaw (that has yellow mustard as an ingredient) and Ms. Payne's sauce. The sauce is bright red, sort of clear almost like sweet-and-sour sauce, and reasonably tangy. The slaw and sauce were different from any place I have been, making Payne's special. Ribs were very moist, tender and sauced with the same sauce. Her beans were the best we had on our trip, with a lot of caramelized onion flavor, thick and obviously cooked a while. She has other things like smoked sausage, little homemade fried fruit pies, that we did not try, but probably will next time. We liked this food just fine and you owe it to Ms. Payne and yourself to give it a try. I would rather not rate it relative to other places, because it is unlike other places and I doubt if there is really any bad BBQ in Memphis. Would I go back? Yes, because of the home cooking, the total lack of any ambiance and the little business run by a nice lady and her son. I would ask for slaw and sauce on the side for both the pork sandwich and ribs, that way I can regulate my slaw and sauce consumption. The slaw is sharp (with mustard) but grows on you. If I were making it I would back off the yellow mustard a bit. A fun experience, worth of the term "dive". On a return trip, this would definitely be one of my lunch choices. This is truly Ms. Payne's home cookin'. read more

So the tour de BBQ is on since last night I drove 10hrs straight from tx to get my first taste of Memphis style BBQ and let me say it didn't disappoint. Now I order the sliced pork platter. Sauce and flavor are very overwhelming. Not in a bad way at all. It's just coming from the smokey TX BBQ to tangy style Memphis style it takes you by surprise. All in all the place is cute and unique with limited seating although that wasn't a problem since we got here before the lunch rush. The vinegar in slaw really punches you in the face but the sweetness of the pork calms it all down. Although the winner of it all in my book were the beans. I would travel cross country for these beans alone. The staff were friendly and welcoming. If you're ever in the Memphis area and are looking for good taste of culture this is the place to come. Really good place. Just a couple loose ends tied up like maintenance to restrooms and this place would be top notch. read more

See all

Still the best Bar-B-Que sandwich in Memphis! Join Fans of Payne's Bar-B-Que https://www.facebook.com/groups/343000462445077/ read more

BEST BBQ SANDWICH EVER! Seriously, we eat here every time we visit Memphis. Chopped pork with plenty of burnt ends, tangy red bbq sauce, and ELECTRIC YELLOW slaw on top. Nothing like it. read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This chopped pork sandwich has a unique mustard slaw that is more sweet than mustard flavored. The meat is a little too fatty for my preference, but has an exceptional flavor as well. There aren't many sides from which to choose. Just chips and baked beans. The beans are really good. Prices can't be beat. $28 for our family of 4. The atmosphere is what you would expect from a hole in the wall barbecue pit. Old, window unit AC with floor fans keep it cool enough. The place is kept clean, even if dilapidated. It's in a higher crime part of town judging by bars on most windows, so not really a date spot. Go with a group of friends for lunch! read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - This is the jumbo size pork sandwich! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

"Hole in the wall" is definitely how you would describe this place. Fantastic is how you would describe the BBQ. Sure, the Rendezvous is the tourist attraction, but this place is THE real, down home source for BBQ. It's cheap and it's fantastic. One plate would satisfy the biggest man. If you're not keen on the ambiance, take it to go! I would love to make this a regular stop on my visits to Memphis. read more

Where to start? Everything about Payne's is as good as it gets :-) from the down home, nothing-fancy-about-this-place decor both inside and out to the honest and amazing BBQ and sides, you cannot go wrong with Payne's. A friend and I went for lunch one afternoon while in town and each loved our choices: she had the pork ribs, beans and slaw, and I had rib ends, beans and slaw. Both meat plates weer succulent and flavorful- nothing dry or overcooked at all. The beans were chockful of meaty pork bits, and the slaw had that Memphis mustardy-vinegary bite that so perfectly complements the sweet and smoky flavors in the meat. Repeat: Cannot. Go. Wrong. They close early and are not open Sundays so get there early and enjoy every last bite! read more

I had never heard of Paynes before and now that I've eaten there I'm sorry for wasted years.. mustard based slaw and killer bologna are some things that make them unique. The jumbo chopped pork sandwich was one of the finest I've eaten. Thanks Sylvia!!! read more

Not sure what the hype is about here. I visited recently for lunch and the establishment is not in the best shape and neighborhood, but I thought maybe the food would make up for that lack. The menu is pretty limited with only sandwiches, plates, and ribs for options. You get mild, medium, or hot as options for sauce. Sides only include a mustard-y cole slaw and beans. The meat itself is all right, pretty soft and definitely not dry like some other places I have been to for barbecue. However, the sauce, although it definitely could be a great bbq sauce, was WAY too sweet. Actually, everything was way too sweet here - the beans and the slaw. I feel like so much sugar was dumped into everything but sugar does not bring out any flavor!!!! I actually like cole slaw less liquidy than it was made here (someone I was eating with equated it to baby food...). I won't be back, but I guess I can say I tried it. read more

Best slaw & chopped pork sandwich in the country. Payne's is real memphis barbecue. Service is friendly and quick. Everything here is good.

HOLY MOTHER. I don't even like BBQ but this was SO AMAZING that I've recommend it to literally everyone I've ever talked to when they say "where do I get the best BBQ in memphis?" UM HERE. I don't think they serve anything but lunch and it's cash only. so worth it. read more

This 5 star review is based on the food and hospitality, don't expect white tablecloths and linen napkins here. What you can expect though is some of the best BBQ on the planet served by a welcoming family. Oh, bring cash because they don't take plastic. Walked in and were greeted warmly. Not a huge menu here, but they hit on all the pig bbq basics. Vegetarians, nothing here for you but BBQ is probably not your first choice for a place to try anyway so no big loss. Had the chopped pork sandwich, shared some beans, and grabbed a pack of butter cookies off the counter. The sandwich was served sauced on a bun (that I did not touch) with their famous yellow slaw. I chose mild sauce and it was definitely right for me. The meat had a lot of smoky flavor and the bark was crunchy. There was a lot of bark too, which was great to me because it's the part I'm always accused of picking out of the BBQ we make lol. The mustardy creaminess of the slaw perfectly balanced out the sweet tanginess of the sauce. I don't even know what to say about this sandwich, other than GO GET ONE!!! Beans were zesty and full of delicious meat and cookies were yummy and a nice finish to the meal. When we were leaving, we had a chance to talk to the woman running the register. She told us they had been around for 45 years and were family-run. Her mother was working in the back and most of the recipes were ones that her grandmother taught her mother how to make. Really heartwarming story! I would encourage anyone visiting to skip the cliche BBQ and try this family business! read more

Best pulled pork sandwich in my life. So good I got a second. But 1 is probably big enough for most people.

I was on a quest for my first taste of Memphis BBQ. As I was getting out of my car I asked a woman leaving what she thought, she said "best ribs in Memphis!". So I ordered the plate of ribs (hot, medium, or mild option-I chose hot per employee recommendation). It came with coleslaw and I ordered side of beans. Everything was fantastic. The meat pulled right of the bone, it had a great flavor and the sauce added a slight heat, sweet/tang to make this meal incredible. I was apprehensive of the coleslaw based off looks (we make it differently in PA), but it was the best coleslaw I've had to date. The staff was so friendly and when I asked for their suggestions they were helpful. read more

Payne's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Been back a few times since the last review and well i was tripping this place is 5 stars even without the tea. The best bbq slaw in Memphis its hitting hands down no other bbq restaurant in town comes close. read more

First time to Memphis and this is the first place I stopped for BBQ due to the reviews. I was a little nervous due to the surroundings of this place as it's a little bit off of the beaten path. I have always lived by the rule, "don't judge a book by its cover or the library it is in". Perfect example here! The ribs are simply the best! I am in the middle of a Half rack and am savoring every little piece. The bones fall out and a fork is required unless you want to be licking fingers all day. Savory, sweet, perfectly charred, and this really incredible mustard slaw. The only thing that is missing is sweet tea here. Come and get some! You won't regret it! read more

I've eaten at Payne's for over 40 years,back when legendary pit master Horton Payne was back in the kitchen chopping shoulders on a huge wood block. I have in the ensuing years eaten barbecue all over the country and Payne's remains the standard by which all others are judged. I'll never forget the first time I was taken to Payne's in 1977. The place was smoky, and I got a chopped hot sandwich. The sandwich is the same today: a towering pile of chopped smoky luscious pork shoulder, hot sweet sauce, and that Gold Dollar mustard sweet slaw. It is perfection. I always get chips and a coke or a grape soda. The smoked sausage is made similar. It's very good. The ribs are a later addition, they are very good as well. But 99% of the time I still get that jumbo chopped hot. It cannot be beat, and should be what you order on your first visit. It might change your life. read more

Definitely not what I expected of Memphis BBQ. This was a very wet, sloppy, saucy pile of sliced meat on a bun. It was topped with MUSTARD slaw. Not good at all. read more

Heard it was good, so I stopped in. I mean... yup. I'll eat it. Wasn't the best thing that knocked my socks of. It was moist. It was tasty. It wasn't as good as momma lacy. read more