Memphis BBQ - who has the best?

[sedated]

I'll be stopping in Memphis on my way back from out of town. I have one chance to grab lunch at the best BBQ joint there.

If anyone here has an opinion as to the best BBQ restaurant there, let me know.

Right now I'm pretty much deciding between Corky's and Rendezvous, but if any of the locals have better suggestions, let me know.

(Sorry if repost)


EDIT: I saw a lot of reviews that said Rendezvous was overrated, so decided not to go there. Corky's was way out of the way, so we went to Interstate.

It was a sit-down place with a server, which was unexpected after years getting used to Gates, Bryants, Zarda, etc. Service was quick, but not the friendliest in the world - but that only added to the atmosphere, which is pretty simliar to Bryants, with the grungy tables and faded pictures on the wall.

The menu was huge! Giant selection of sandwiches, sides, plus unusual items like BBQ spaghetti, onion rings, etc. But since its known for pork, I got the pork ribs and my g/f got pulled pork sandwich (with slaw).


The beans tasted like Bush's out of a can, but with a bit of shredded pork in it. Nothing special, I will take Zarda or Jack Stack beans any day of the week. Grade: D

The slaw was like KFC slaw (which I don't mind), but was expecting something a little more...unique. "Meh" on the slaw. Grade: C

The ribs were excellent. They were cooked near perfect and were the best I can remember from a restaurant. Grade: A

The pulled pork was somewhat dry, but tasty. The slaw on the sandwich was hard to notice. I'm not a pulled pork fan in general, but this was certainly not the best I've had. Grade: I would give this a B- in most other places, but a restaurant known for pulled pork gets dropped to a C-.

The sauce was great! It was thinner than most KC sauces (vinegar-based, duh), and more savory. It had a good amount of kick, not overwhelming, and had a citrusy taste too. I bought a bottle to bring back. Grade: A

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by sedated

Memphis to STL via I-55 North = 4 hrs,
STL to KC via I-70 West = 4 hrs.

I can’t remember the exact route, but we got off 55N at Sikeston MO, took 67 West through Poplar Bluff, there was an Ellsinor in there somwhere, then I think 21 North through Ellington, 106 West through Eminence and Summersville, 17 North to Waynesville, 7 North through Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, Clinton, and all the way back to Belton and into KC.

We didn’t go through Springfield, we figured it was too far south to save time, but in hindsight the difference in speed would have made up for it. All I know is I’m NEVER taking that backwoods route ever again.

Yeah, you took the super-shitty route. Especially at night.

Eminence is the ass-pit of humanity, and it takes about 6 hours to get from there to St. Joe.

[PunkinDrublic]

Memphis has my favorite BBQ outside of KC. Of course everything tastes good after years of crappy Texas BBQ. The mom and pop BBQ joints where I live are being run out of town by Dickies. Seriously where I live there seems to be a chain BBQ place on every corner.

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by sedated

Memphis to STL via I-55 North = 4 hrs,
STL to KC via I-70 West = 4 hrs.

I can’t remember the exact route, but we got off 55N at Sikeston MO, took 67 West through Poplar Bluff, there was an Ellsinor in there somwhere, then I think 21 North through Ellington, 106 West through Eminence and Summersville, 17 North to Waynesville, 7 North through Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, Clinton, and all the way back to Belton and into KC.

We didn’t go through Springfield, we figured it was too far south to save time, but in hindsight the difference in speed would have made up for it. All I know is I’m NEVER taking that backwoods route ever again.

Now, realize I was going to Olathe or K.C. North, and maybe it took us a bit longer than 8 hours to go via STL.

I thought you probably had taken the back roads route. Last fall we had a missions conference up in the Lake of the Ozark, somewhere, and had to take some of those roads. I agree it was "lots of fun."

The route I gave is much faster and shorter than the one you took ... and easier to travel. But, if you can make it in 8 hours via STL ... then that is not a bad route at all ... especially if there is bad weather.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Herzig

I agree with you about Rendezvous...it is $20 a slab....I enjoyed Central BBQ much better.

My wife went to college in Memphis and has had almost every well known BBQ place there. She swears by The BBQ Shoppe...says it is the best she's ever had and I've taken her to almost all the well known KC places...ok Joes, Jack Stack, etc.

Memphis is all about the dry rub and KC is all about the sauce.

Also...Gus's Fried Chicken downtown is a must eat place in Memphis

This has been repeated so much (national TV shows) it has become a truth, but it's absolutely wrong.

[Herzig]

Originally Posted by Stewie

This has been repeated so much (national TV shows) it has become a truth, but it's absolutely wrong.

Maybe so, but from what I've seen and tasted in both cities, that appears to be a big distinction. Also, KC seems to be the only place you can find Burnt Ends that i've seen. People in Memphis don't know what the hell they are..KC also seems to Q' more beef.

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by luv

If you were on Beale Street, Blues City Cafe isn't a BBQ joint, but they have surprisingly awesome ribs.

That's the place I had earlier mentioned in Post #10. Our "Super-Boring-Spring-Break" in '98 included Mardi-Gras on Beale Street; the kids (now 18, 20, and 22) recall that, but don't include the experience of eating ribs in Memphis at that place as part of it. (Plastic-beaded necklaces for all!) Hot Springs and Nashville, though, were, to them, in spite of the go-karts and horseraces in Hot Springs.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Herzig

Maybe so, but from what I've seen and tasted in both cities, that appears to be a big distinction. Also, KC seems to be the only place you can find Burnt Ends that i've seen. People in Memphis don't know what the hell they are..KC also seems to Q' more beef.

You find both styles of wet/dry in KC. Memphis has this "dry" persona for some reason. As for beef, everyone does brisket, but you have to go to Texas for "beef BBQ."