Central BBQ Poplar

The 21 Best Restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee | Eater Nashville

"Memphis’s barbecue scene hasn’t necessarily drawn the attention of its competitive Kansas City, Carolina, and especially Texas, but there’s a bona fide style of smoking up meats here. First off, the regional style really leans on the dry rub for seasoning and flavor. Because Memphis and the immediate area are known for hardwoods, expect to see hickory and pecan flavoring meats with long smoke times. Beef brisket here comes pre-sliced, all the easier to eat with your hands at the table. While most people will be keen on ordering the pork ribs, which are excellent, perhaps the best meat that exhibits the Memphis-style dry rub approach is the smoked chicken wings, which come in a variety of flavors like jerk, dry spice, and sweet heat. Central BBQ has four locations in town, but expect owner Craig Blondis to hang out at the Poplar Avenue outlet, greeting customers and joyfully giving out plates of smoked meat." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones