Central BBQ
BBQ Joint$$$$
Downtown Memphis, Memphis
"Amazing taste, THE BBQ in Memphis..pulled pork was great!"(4 Tips)
"Amazing service and the BBQ nachos are a must!!"(5 Tips)
"... up after visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. Good for live music and most important of..."(4 Tips)
"Try the Ghost River beer with a slab of ribs and some onion rings."(41 Tips)
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Best BBQ in Memphis. Don't believe the hype about a certain other place that you might want to rendezvous with friends. This place is better hands down.
Upvoted Mar 14
David DayJune 24, 2016Awesome BBQ all around from Ribs to Brisket and Pork! Having all of the regional sauces available is phenomenal! Huge and spacious with a good local beer selection! The service was fast and courteous!
Elaine ErnstAugust 24, 2013Plate with brisket, chicken and chopped pork, potato salad and greens. OMG!! Sooooo good! Get in here, people! Stop in after you see the National Civil Rights Museum. It's across the street!!
Best BBQ in Memphis! My favorites are beef brisket sandwich, smoked hot wings naked, potatoes salad, and of course, the smoked ribs slab, try half(dry) & half(wet). Good local beer selections!- Great place to fill up after visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. Good for live music and most important of all-Award Winning BBQ!
Brett ElliottJune 12, 2019I got a rib plate with bbq beans and homemade chips. The ribs are fall off the bone good but I wasn’t that wild about the sauce. But the beans are some of the best I’ve ever had. Chips weren’t great.
Kevin YancyMay 8, 2014Don't be discouraged if long waiting line to/out the door. They r incredibly efficient @ getting u n & seated for some great BBQ. I've historically been an Interstate BBQ fan but this is my new fav!
MarcApril 24, 2015Thrillist Top BBQ List: ...outdoor deck... loin back ribs are rubbed w/their special rib rub, marinated overnight, and slow smoked. Get the house-made potato chips w/chunky bleu cheese dressing
Cyndi BatesFebruary 18, 2019Staff was friendly and funny! Food was fanstatic! The ribs are fall off the bone good. Green beans and potato salad were our favorite sides.
Rodrиго РивераJune 21, 2019Tasty pulled pork sandwiches and ribs. Crowded and noisy but spacious. Great place to taste the local Memphis food
Cedric JusticeOctober 8, 2019The greens were bland, but with vinegar sauce are good. The wings were better than the ribs, surprisingly. The mac, Cole slaw, and potato salad were all wonderful.
Tia DelayOctober 14, 2022I know Memphis is known for bbq but dang this place was tasty! 10/10 for entertainment, food and service.
Sean McBrideApril 1, 2014Delicious ribs (my favorite in Memphis) and a big selection of local craft beers. Talk to the guy serving the beers about them, he knows a lot!
Wendi HaysAugust 10, 2013My new favorite BBQ joint in Memphis. The staff is beyond incredible and made the experience twice as enjoyable. They're doing everything right at Central BBQ.
Lucille FisherDecember 31, 2013Sooo good! And the turkey salad is exceptional! One of the best I've had. And don't miss the Peanut Butter Pie!
Ricky SherrillMay 24, 2016This is in my top two BBQ joints Memphis. Try the "Combo plate with ribs" to get a good taste of what they do.
Karen I WoodallAugust 15, 2015This was an experience trying dry rub BBQ sauce on ribs. It was truly good no it was beyond good. It was Mmmmmmmmm delicious.
Meghan MyszkowskiApril 29, 2014I'm a vegetarian...and I ate the chicken. It's THAT good. Run here as fast as your legs will carry you and then waddle away happy.
2nd best of the bunch. Be careful parking at the museum during the day. Get the nachos with their housemade chips- Paul LuningApril 22, 2019Great barbecue - not fancy, not oversauced, just tender and tasty. Real banana pudding. Good selection local tap beer.
Marie La RueNovember 29, 2022Ribs are addictive. Excellent sausage too. Coleslaw and beans slideswere underwhelming.
Gonzalo BolivarJune 30, 2013If it's your first time here, come with friends, spend $30 and share the combo plate and a half-slab of half-n-half (wet & dry) ribs.
Nancy VOctober 13, 2014The wings are some if the best I've ever had! Good selection in beers. Great onion rings.
Connie HaroJune 26, 2016Beef brisket and ribs were super yummy! Friendly staff and a convenient location! Definitely worth the stop!
Jon MooreNovember 6, 2019Well deserved to be one of Memphis’s best BBQ joints! Food was delicious, fast and staff were friendly 🍖- Chuck WestfallJuly 21, 2013Try the Ghost River beer with a slab of ribs and some onion rings. Be sure to bring your friends and your appetite!
Melissa BynumSeptember 27, 20152 people can easily split a full rack of ribs. Get 1/2 wet and 1/2 dry rub. Mac and cheese was awesome
RossJuly 14, 2015order the half dry/ half wet ribs with a side of pulled pork and spend the rest of your day smiling
Nash PleasantSeptember 9, 2018Dry rub ribs all day with a dash of the house seasoning. Also try the bbq bologna sandwich for something unique to Central- Cedric JusticeOctober 8, 2019The greens were bland, but with vinegar sauce are good. The unsweetened tea was sweet; the sweetened tea was practically syrup. The wings were better than the ribs, surprisingly.
Brandon BanksAugust 5, 2015Ribs and Mac and cheese along with the sauces. The brisket was a little on the lean side
Sharbour RayNovember 30, 2018After taking a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum just hop on over to Central BBQ for some of the best fall off the bone smoked meats.
CalvinDecember 31, 2015Very tender pulled pork bbq. All sauces were excellent as well. I would definitely go back.
Gabriel M.July 4, 2021Delicious dry rub ribs, dare to say the best I’ve ever had. Sides are great too.
Mr. Ibeabuchi3 weeks agoBest barbecue in Memphis hands down, the beef brisket is definitely my favorite at this joint.
Jeff BJune 7, 2019Being from Texas hard to say anybody elses BBQ is good. Central does a damn good job
- Sharbour RayDecember 8, 2018After taking a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum, just hop on over to Central BBQ for some of the best fall-off-the-bone smoked meats.
Amanda MoloneyFebruary 8, 2015Pulled pork was outstanding! Beans are great, but spicy. Highly recommend!
Alberto Hernández De SantiagoJune 3, 2015Awesome BBQ ! Pork or brisket, you'll enjoy it ! I guarantee !
Tone MosleyNovember 29, 2015Not incredibly impressed. Half slab rib were good w/ your choice of sauces. Greens watered down & Mac n cheese bland. Great beer selection.
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Memphians know great BBQ and won’t settle for anything less. Central BBQ has been ranked in the top 3 BBQ restaurants in Memphis since 2003 and taken top honors 10 times.
Closed until 11:30 AM tomorrow (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 11:30 AM–9:00 PM
(901) 672-7760
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
No
Music
Live Music
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Drinks
Beer
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- 7.7
"I love tops BBQ. Don't be in a hurry if you go through the drive-thru. I have sat for close to 30 minutes waiting to be served there. Once you're in the Drive-Thru line you're pretty much locked in."
Jeanne Gustafson - 6.6
"One awesome place! Full of wrestling history and GREAT food. Ribs are outstanding. Pork rinds are a fantastic appetizer!"
Zach Hedrick - 8.4
"Ribs, pork shoulder and brisket are awesome"
Alex Hale
Places people like to go after Central BBQ
- 9.4
"A great museum that will probably take 4 hours if you like to read and watch everything available. Very interactive and modern!"
Drew M - 8.8
"Get there early and plan to spend a few hours. This is not something you want to rush through. You could easily spend three hours or more here. So worth the time."
Amanda Whetstone - 8.1
"my condo on beale street gets all the sounds and sights you could ever want. Dont miss the crawfish!!!!!"
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