Central BBQ - Downtown

Central BBQ is the definition of a classic barbecue spot! From the moment you walk in, you can tell they’ve got the whole down-to-earth, authentic vibe down pat. One of the highlights for me was definitely the banana pudding — it’s to die for! So rich and creamy, I couldn’t finish it all in one sitting, so I had to take some home to enjoy later, which honestly isn’t like me, but it was THAT good. The ribs were also fantastic — flavorful, tender, and cooked just right. The sauces were delectable, with just the right amount of smoky sweetness to complement the meat perfectly. One thing I loved was being able to bring our dog along — we sat out on the patio overlooking the Civil Rights Museum, which made the whole experience even better. It’s a great place to relax, enjoy good food, and have a nice view while hanging out with your furry friend. They’re also super accommodating for large parties, making it a great spot for family gatherings or celebrations. The friendly staff, the laid-back atmosphere, and the delicious food combine to make it a must-visit. If you’re craving authentic barbecue with a welcoming vibe, Central BBQ will not disappoint. I’ll definitely be coming back soon!

First, for reference. I travel for a living and eat wings 3 to 4 times a week alll over America. Wings - TREMENDOUSLY GOOD. Seriously, these are some of the best smoked wings I've ever had. I just got them dry rubbed with Jamaican jerk. Ribs- Excellent, inside was very moist. The outside was a little overdone for my taste though. Brisket - OK.. it lacked the smoke flavor it should have had. Onion rings - They dont make these in house, they were average. Both sauces were very good. When I come back I will probably just get wings...but I may try the pork or chicken.

I had the BBQ ribs and my wife had a pulled pork sandwich. Nice place, relaxed atmosphere, and across the street from the Civil Rights Museum which we visited. We are glad we went. The barbecue ribs use a rub which was authentic for sure. Being from the north, I'm more fond of sweet saucy barbecue sauce myself. The green bean side was delicious and the onion rings were good. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich and she really liked it but, like me, missed the fact that there was not any sweet barbecue sauce to be had. Their mild sauce which comes from a dispenser along the wall was not sweet. She did think the vinegar base sauce is pretty good though. If you want authentic Southern BBQ and a Memphis vibe this is a great place to go.

If you’re in Memphis, Central BBQ Downtown is a must-visit! The ribs are smoky, tender, and full of flavor — easily some of the best in town. The pulled pork sandwich was juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the sides (especially the mac & cheese and baked beans) were delicious. The service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere has that authentic Memphis BBQ vibe — casual, lively, and full of the smell of great barbecue. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a true taste of Memphis BBQ!

Skip this one. The greens were great & the meat was smoked well. Everything else sucked horribly. Very plain sandwiches. No sauce, no slaw... but asked for slaw, paid for slaw. Flies, gnats, bad service. Was told to stand here, not there, no here, not there, go here, sit there.. and it was hot. They don't believe in AC or pest control. Sauces were boring & no better than mcdonalds. They literally put all the sauce around the outside to make it look like they gave a damn. It was all over the paper they put your food on. Bun was dry. They wanted a tip but never came to see how we were doing, that we got what we paid for, or cqre how bad we were all sweating. The sides SUCKED (aside from greens). Potato salad was very vinegar forward and not good at all.

Holy meats. I’ve never been crazy to pork ribs, being from TX, but this place’s dry cumin+ rub is ridiculous. Greens and BBQ beans are top flight (oh, those greens…). Top-flight Memphis BBQ, folks. Do it.

The ribs are extremely tender, served with a distinct smoky sauce. The prices are relatively quite high, but make no mistake these ribs are a definite standout comparable to the best joints in Kansas City or Houston

Just left after paying $160 for my family. EVERYONE left food in their plates. Not only were several dishes cold, they were nasty. I just knew the greens taste like canned glory greens. The Mac n cheese I cannot even explain it. Taste like powder cheese. The brisket is sliced extremely thin like rubber and has TONS of fat on it. The turkey was dry and flavorless. I'm pissed off because of the amount of money we spent on our food to have left it behind to go into the garbage. We will NEVER eat there again. We called once we left and the staff confirmed that they were glory greens. A damn shame!

Great BBQ spot in downtown. One of the many locations in the area. The service was quick and easy. You order and pay upon arrival. You'll be given a number and get to sit at any open spots. Plenty of seating inside and out. The BBQ nachos were delicious - we added brisket onto ours and got a full size (there's also a half size). They have my partner's favorite wings in town! A chill lunch spot. Plus, their sweet iced tea is delicious

I wanted to love it but I didn't. The service is great, they're friendly, helpful, fast to serve and it runs pretty fluidly even when you see a line going out there door. They have some solid sauces but the brisket had no flavor to is and the same for the pulled pork. The sides were solid but at the price you're paying these days, I just expect more I guess. Prices we pay for ordering at the counter spots exceed sit down restaurants but as a casual BBQ spot, it's worthy of a stop in while in Memphis.

Yum! Stopped by for lunch and it was busy. Enough street parking out for all. There is a security guard inside (which was odd) and she had some attitude ... don't be stepping up to order with a friend, one person only at the register! I got the app sampler which was HUGE! The slider was amazing, came with home fried chips. The nachos were good too. I couldn't eat anymore so I gave the wings and sausage + cheese to a hungry gentleman near my hotel. The banana pudding had a few black bananas.

Was in town for work and needed to try Memphis bbq, my coworker recommended this place and it did not disappoint! I got the half chicken plate with green beans and collard greens. I love that this place does sauce on the side!! Smoked chicken was fall off the bone tender, would definitely get again. Also love the souvenir tye-dye cup your get to take home when you order a soda!

Yes! Mouthwatering. The wait for our food was not long. The ambiance was simple yet clean. And the food: well the food was superb. I loved both the ribs and the brisket. The slaw was pretty good. The sausage and cheese plate was duly amazing. I like the vinegar-based BBQ best (but I am partially a North Carolina girl, so this is my bread & butter). Everything here was delicious and my mouth is watering as I type this review.

I had a trip coming up to Memphis at the end of October and there were three things on my to do list while I was there: Visit Stax Museum, go to the Civil Rights Museum and eat at Central BBQ. If you haven't had it, add it to your list cause that bbq is amazing! Nothing has changed from when I had it the first time back in 2015. From the bbq sauce to the banana pudding. Everything is good. I came around 4pm which was at the right time cause there was no line although it gets pretty long since it's a popular bbq spot in Memphis. And it's across from the Civil Rights museum so ppl work up an appetite and walk across the street. I couldn't remember what I ordered the first time but on this visit, I ordered the pulled chicken and pork with a side of baked beans and Cole slaw with banana pudding. Service was great! The manager went above and beyond to make sure my experience was memorable. 5 stars! And the sweet n spicy sauce really elevates the meat. And the banana pudding was off the chain. There's nuts in it; maybe pecans so if you're allergic, I'd recommend passing on it. Not sure if they have peach cobbler but if they do, I'm trying it the next time I'm in town. I know that'll be good too.

We went out of our way to come back here... Quality/Quantity - Simple menu, usually done well. Starters - 3 whole wings with honey gold sauce (we had to ask what "Honey Gold" sauce was). The wings were dry and over cooked. I think they tried to disguise it with extra sauce, see picture. Combo Plate - Pulled chicken and pork, and brisket. The pulled chicken and pork were cooked perfectly, melted in our mouths. The brisket was over cooked also. Self service drinks and sauces - The mild sauce was my favorite. The "hot" sauce was not that hot in my opinion. Did not care for the vinegar, and mustard and ketchup was normal. Atmosphere - Decent size location. Indoor, semi indoor/outdoor and outdoor dining; see pictures. Open 7 days a week from 11am to 9pm. Street parking, never an issue. Service - 1 star... The security guard spent her whole time talking to the cashier. Well, other than to tell my wife to make sure she was standing behind the line... I guess only one customer is allowed to be at the counter at a time??? We were almost the only customers here. Then when we got to the counter, there was NO menu. We were supposed to memorize our order, including all the sides and sauce flavors.,. Lastly the bus girl/runner just shouts your # and you are supposed to catch her before she leaves. There were 4 of us and she only gave us two plates. We got here on a night where the majority of the employees were in a bad mood. Were we just unlucky...? Or is this normal service? Price - $42 + way more generous tip then deserved. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2002 with your 7+ locations. Can I suggest you spend a little more time at this location with some basic customer service training? Or do tourists not matter?

The service was great greeted with a big smile, ordering was easy. The inside is eclectic and fun. The food was a mix of good and bad, ribs and sausage were great....brisket was a huge disappointment never had meat slicer sliced brisket, no less it was dry, not really edible. Coleslaw was average under seasoned. The beans were ok, tasted like canned beans.

As you enter you are bless with a heavenly smoke arroma; this is what heaven smells like. Ribs are my fav here all the way. Smokey n delicious. Brisket came in second. Everything else was good. Quick service. Plenty of tables inside. Good size parking in the back. Live Band seals the deal. Great place.

What's drools, sweats, and whines in delicious agony? This guy after eating one of everything at Central BBQ. WOW this was a treat. Quick service, spectacular smoked meats, and good BBQ atmosphere. Hope to return when weather improves for a patio seat.

Overall good! The plates are well sized, including the kids meals. If you get a sandwich, you cannot change the sides. Good flavor, brisket is good. Super clean, you have a lot people coming around making sure everything is clean and taken care of. Three different seating options, inside, inside with live music and outdoors. Great ambiance and not super loud, even for lunch.

The barbecue really was just OK. The ribs were decent. The brisket was not good. Rubbery almost. Not a lot of flavor. Apparently Memphis is not a good place for brisket because this was the second restaurant. We had a bad experience. The ambience is awesome. It's counter service and then they carry your food out to you. They have decent selection of local tap beers. Three stars for the food, four stars for the ambience so I rounded up to four stars. Overall, I would say this is a 3 1/2 star experience.

Where is the hype?!? $30.00 Combo plate of meats (brisket, turkey, chicken) served lukewarm - taken back came back only thing warm was the dry chicken. Oh, I have pictures. Sides - potatoe salad definitely store made and the mac and cheese most definitely is powered cheese craft like. Service was cool. You are greeted, you walk up place your order, find a seat and they'll bring it out. Disappointing as everyone seems to suggest "Central BBQ" - nothing to write home about. It's a BBQ spot overall clean and not too loud.

We came in the 28th at 4:45 The security lady at the front was seriously sweet as pie! The slim girl behind the counter with the long hair was also sweet as pie! In fact everyone that works here is lovely! The bbq is fantastic. The pulled pork was less fatty than I like but most people would disagree with me. The sausage is INSANELY good, in fact I've never ever liked sausage from bbq places, but this was soooo porky and juicy! Yum!! The onion rings are crispy The potato salad is rich and creamy It's a shame we live 3000 miles away or we would be here each week

My brother and I made the drive down from STL to Memphis to see a Grizzlies game and stopped by for some BBQ. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We ordered the slab for two, a half chicken, and a pound of brisket (fatty). They were out of the mac and cheese so we ordered green beans in addition to BBQ beans, fries, and potato salad as our sides. They bring the food to your table but it's otherwise self serve. The sauced ribs were very tasty and the brisket was nicely smoked as well, but the half chicken was pretty dry and bland. The green beans were especially disappointing and we agreed that we should've ordered more fries instead. The meal was pretty good but overall expensive and had some disappointing items that I wouldn't get again if I went back. If we're ever in Memphis again we may try another BBQ place in the area.

My husband and I took a tour while visiting Memphis, and lunch at Central BBQ was included as part of our tour package. The luncheon included pulled pork (4 oz) on a bun, creamy Coleslaw, chips, and a fountain drink. The pulled pork, which was a dry rub, was very good (4.5/5), and further enhanced by your choice of their BBQ sauces. The coleslaw was good (3/5) but nothing exceptional. They had a good variety of fountain drinks. I'm always happy to find Diet Dr. Pepper among restaurant choices! Service was excellent. They fed our tour group of 18 persons quickly, and staff cleared the tables equally efficiently. We were seated in a back room; and the front room with "regular" patrons was equally busy. Our guide mentioned that they often have a long line even to enter the restaurant. This is a large and bustling restaurant with a lot of cool artwork and artifacts. I can't speak to price as our meals were included as part of our tour package.

Easy to order, easy to decide, and the ambiance is nice! A quick service place where you just put the number down and they come by. Because it's quick service, the service isn't really extra or good necessarily, but there's nothing wrong with it. It's just a place to come and eat. The food is good! I'm not the biggest fan of barbecue but this place was delicious, I loved their sauces, and their sides are great!

I've had a lot of bbq and this ranks in the top 3rd. We were fortunate enough to visit when it wasn't super busy. We were able to order and sit quickly. The food came out in 10ish minutes. It seemed appropriate. We had a sampling of the menu across our 5 orders. The ribs and greens were top notch. The half chicken was good - leg and thigh especially. The breast was a little dry but the vinegar sauce made up for it. The Mac and cheese was also quite good and worth mentioning. The banana pudding was also quite unique and good. It had way more cookie than I've ever had in banana pudding but it worked. The inside of the restaurant had a juke joint feel with lots of Memphis memorabilia. Would go back.

Central BBQ is the real deal, a standout Memphis barbecue eatery. I usually make it a point visit the original (1st location) to iconic Restaurant/Eateries but I always seem to visit this Downtown (3rd) Location when I am here. It is a superb location and it is literally in the shadow of the Lorraine Motel (where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated) which is now a National Civil Rights Museum. "A Must Visit"! Just about everything on the extensive menu, from the pulled pork to the chicken, is very good. But there are several dishes here that are better than very good. Smoked wings These have a ton of unique flavor, and the complexity of the smokiness is supremely satisfying. Also, the above average size and quality of the poultry is a welcome change of pace. Additionally, the hot sauce is a slow build of heat, and has its own flavors that you won't get in a generic, store brand hot sauce. The Hot Sauce is Worthwhile And Unique and I was able to to score a bottle free of charge. They don't even sell it! Their Sweet Heat Sauce is also superb tossed with their wings! BBQ Nachos Pulled Pork served atop a bed of tortilla chips, topped with BBQ sauce, cheese sauce, shredded cheese, and jalapenos. The nachos are finished off with a light dusting of BBQ Shake. Also available with chicken, beef or turkey I've always thought there was only one, menu-dictated way to order barbecue nachos: on tortilla chips. While tortilla chips are a perfectly fine base for a mess of pulled pork, cheese and sauce, they're not the best way. The best way is to order your nachos on Central's house-made potato chips Central BBQ's local success in Memphis has sparked national interest over the years, The restaurant and founders have appeared on several national TV shows including Pitmasters, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and BBQ with Bobby Flay, plus national publications such as USA Today, Garden & Gun, Southern Living and Men's Health.

While in town for family business, we stopped at this place for a late lunch/early dinner. I order the brisket/fries. It was VERY fatty and not that tasty. I ordered Cole slaw on top of the sandwich and that was just OK. Sauce wasn't great either. Fries were standard. I would not return here.

Central BBQ was highly recommended to us by several people so we were so disappointed with our experience. Coming from Texas we have high standards for BBQ and everything was just fine. The brisket was so dry, same with the pulled pork (although we did love the extra seasoning they had on the tables and the selection on bbq sauces). The sides were lacking flavor, but the onion rings were very good.

I dont even know where to start! I spent months researching bbq for Tennessee in general. This was highly recommended. Location, it's right across from the Lorraine Motel. Little morbid but still a nice view. There is a big parking lot behind and adjacent. Big location. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for outside. There is a patio with shade and fans. We ordered a $20 pitcher of beer along with a combo tray we split between the 3 of us and some nachos. Honestly we were left in a small food coma following. The beer was great. It was a local brew. The combo tray had fresh bbq and so did the nachos. It was more than enough for 3 people to share. Probably even 4 could have. Great service. We asked for recommendations and they were provided. Very attentive and welcoming. Would gladly come back.

We stopped in at Central after visiting the Lorraine Motel right across the street. There was a line to order out the door, so be sure to bring comfy shoes to stand in. My husband had the pulled pork bbq plate and I had the mushroom burger. Our food arrived very quickly after ordering and was very good. For the cost, I would suggest skipping the sides-they weren't spectacular and seemed a bit expensive for the amount you received. The bbq on the other hand was great! They had plenty of sauces and heat levels to pick from so there is certainly something for any bbq lover. Unfortunately we didn't find out until after we ordered it that they were out of the banana pudding, we opted for the chocolate cake instead and it was good. The sauce station was also a nice bonus, so if you are torn between two sauces have no fear, you can try them all!

The pull pork was good and the collard greens and baked beans were also worth ordering. The Mac and cheese was not my favorite.

Wow, we loved it! Nashville hot chicken sandwich and the rib platter for 2. It was a relaxed atmosphere. Walk up to the counter to order and bring it out. People were friendly. Mac and cheese was creamy, with a velveta cheese. Beans, coleslaw, and potato salad were good. The banana pudding was really good to end with.

Yummmmmmm! Stopped on our way to the airport for dinner around 6pm. You order at the counter then all food is brought to your table by way of table number. Counter service was fast and easy. The restaurant itself is open seating style with option for indoor or outdoor seating. All seating is tight because they are a very busy place. More spacious options outside on the back patio. We had pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork salad and sweet potato fries. It was so good! Pork is served "naked" with sauce bar available for your bbq sauce preference. I opted for the mild option which seemed to be the perfect blend of sweet/vinegar. For the salad you get an option of dressing to go along with it, go with the blue cheese! (Lord, still drooling over it). Salad is served in a giant edible taco shell bowl and is massive! We were told it was some of the best bbq in Memphis, I can stand behind that comment. So good!

Food was decent. Sweet tea was delicious. Ambiance was definitely Memphis & southern style. The BBQ wasn't extremely flavorful, but the sauces were decent. The macaroni and cheese was my least favorite item, it had a fake cheese consistency and the flavor was just not there. I was disappointed because BBQ and macaroni and cheese are some of my favorite foods. Overall, the baked beans and sweet tea saved the meal.

Horrible!!!! We had the 3 meat rib combo chicken nachos and jerk wings. Wings to die for sweet with a lot of heat a good combo... no everything else taste so old like day old and reheated. I would not recommend this for anyone!

I wanted to love this..I really did. I mean, we were in Memphis..so I expected great things in BBQ. But this just didn't do it. The staff were very nice. They brought out water for my dog. And I'm not going to blame them for the sketchy neighborhood. The place was nice inside. But the BBQ itself was just nothing to write home about. Nothing particularly bad, but I've had way better at many places.

Central BBQ I received a few recommendations of bbq places to try in Memphis and this was on the list. Lucky for us it was walking distance to where I was so we went work a big group of friends. The customer service was great from everyone! The line was a little long but you order at the front and then you seat yourself and there was plenty of seating for our big group. I ordered a full slab of ribs (with the sauce on it) and a combo platter with chicken and 2 orders of brisket. For my sides, I had the mac and cheese, beans and a salad. I also ordered a slice of cheesecake for dessert and the meal came with a roll. I have to be honest I was not impressed at all. The ribs were just okay. The brisket was not brisket-int the way brisket should brisket. They seemed like pre-packaged strips as opposed to cut from a whole brisket. We expected a chicken bird (as in like leg and thigh or breast) but we received shredded chicken and they didn't mention that to us up front that the combo would only allow for shredded chicken. The Mac and cheese didn't have much flavor to me and didn't seem baked. I didn't try the beans but my brother was not impressed. The only thing that was really good to me was the cheesecake and that could just be because I'm a sweets girl. Maybe I'm biased because I'm from Texas but I was pretty disappointed because the reviews I heard were very high!

This was recommended to us and was a pretty good little joint. It had a great vibe and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. You order then sit and get the food delivered to you. The sweet potato fries were a hit. The Mac and cheese was homemade and pretty good. The ribs were great. They had an awesome, tasty bark. The pulled chicken and pork were very tender and delicious. The onion rings were great, perfectly cooked. The baked beans were standard. Overall I would go back for the meats!!

Had the pulled pork nachos and dry rubbed smoked chicken wings. Nachos were amazing. Chips were really good. Pulled pork was super moist. Wings were very good. Too much dry rub on them. Had to shake some off. Liked the smoked wings at Kings Palace better.

BBQ is supposed to whisk you away to childhood memories, like catching a whiff of a nostalgic fragrance. However, Central BBQ fell short of that mark. #sadface While I was brimming with excitement to savor Memphis BBQ, my hopes were dashed by what felt like an average attempt at slow-smoking bliss. But hey, at least the cashier sprinkled some A+ service into the mix. And just when I thought this place was the epitome of safety with its security, surprise! The secured guard decided to take a coffee break. Enter a homeless fellow who, with my guard down, ended up giving us an unexpected, unwelcome performance. Lesson learned: not the best neighborhood vibes around here. If this is Memphis BBQ, take me back to the smoky haven of Texas.

This was a great experience because the service was friendly, the menu simple, and DELICIOUS! The ambiance was rustic and friendly. Definitely a Memphis vibe enacted in an authentic way. I highly reco to all.

Came here because I know the ribs are solid but they had ran out of ribs so I went for the brisket plate. I do not recommend...the brisket did not taste smoked at all, cut too thin, did not really have a smoke ring, really just tasted like it was boiled. I would recommend getting the ribs but the brisket is a hard pass. The sweet potato fries and onion rings were the highlight of the dish I ordered. You order first then find a table. The restaurant itself was spacious and had a lot of seating even for larger groups.

Great spot for Memphis BBQ! If I have visitors in town, this place is on the list for lunch for sure. Love their patio and cannot miss with their food.

I love to see a restaurant with a line out the door! When traveling to Memphis with a group, there is no getting out of trying BBQ. As a pescatarian, I didn't expect much. I expected to thrive off of a liquid lunch with downing beer and ordering some French fries. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had a portabella mushroom sandwich (3/5). It was substance. Nothing amazing but their sauces here are amazing--I'd totally buy it and put it on EVERYTHING. Live music. Indoor and outdoor seating. Extensive beer and seltzer list. Safe area. *Bathrooms need some work.

One of our goals when I travel with my good friend from college is to hit up well known BBQ joints in the regions we visit. This year Memphis was on our itinerary so "Memphis Style BBQ" was on our list, and Central BBQ was one of the places we were determined to visit. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon we decided to visit the National Civil Rights Museum and go out for BBQ afterwards. When I fired up my Yelp App I was delighted to see that one of Central BBQ's locations was right next door to the museum -c so our itinerary for the day was set. (BTW -- the National Civil Rights Museum is excellent and I highly recommend it -- I reviewed it in another Yelp posting.) Fortunately we finished our visit to the museum and arrived before the Grizzly's playoff game ended so it wasn't too busy yet. You place your order at the counter, get a table number and when the food is ready a server brings it out. I ordered a half rack of ribs with sides and a local beer. The ribs could be ordered wet, dry, or half and half. Previously, I ordered traditional Memphis BBQ ribs with a dry rub at another local establishment and I was not that impressed. At Central BBQ I decided to order mine "wet," and I much preferred them l "wet" over "dry." That said, the underlying dry rub is an essential component of the overall flavor and I found that Central BBQs mixture really showcased the essence of a very good, paprika forward, Memphis BBQ. I also found their ribs a tad more unctuous and fall off the bone tender than elsewhere. Rating BBQ in places like Memphis (and comparing it to Kansas City BBQ, or Carolina BBQ, or Texas BBQ, Wild Turkey in Conover, WI, or Fette Sau in Brooklyn, NY) is kind of like rating pasties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (near where I live). Everyone knows what they like and everyone thinks what they like is the best. So let me say, Central BBQ was my favorite in Memphis. As for you, go to some different places like we did and let us know what you think. Like me, you'll have a favorite, but also like me, you'll probably enjoy most, if not all the BBQ you eat in Memphis, just as much as I enjoyed the food at Central BBQ.

Great vibe and ambiance. I've had better pulled pork nachos but the smoked wings with the honey gold sauce were on point. Grabbed a slice of coconut cake to go and my goodness was it delicious . I'll try something else on my next visit,, hopefully they'll have brisket next time.

I have mixed feelings about central bbq, but overall i enjoyed it. first off, theres 2 lines. 1 for pick up and 1 to order. head to the counter, order and then sit. your food will be delivered. i loved that they had all 3 styles of their sauces off to the side for you to try or add onto your meat. very friendly and patient staff. the banana pudding is absolutey amazing, i highly suggest you get it. so many bananas, its thick, and i love the topping. the sides of potatoe salad was amazing. not too mayo forward, thick, nice size potatoes, and good flavor. the mac was okay, it was juicy and moist, but i wouldnt say it was the best side of mac i had. their 3 sauces are to die for. i loved the spicy one the most. to be honest, the sour one was up there too. i grabbed the plate of the half chicken. im glad i grabbed the sauces. to be honest, i felt it was kinda dry. i appreciated the skin, but overall i wouldnt come back for this chicken. i just dont think this style of BBQ is for me. like i said, im glad i grabbed the sauces since this isnt a dry rub or sauce forward style, but more of a slow smoke so they let the smoke do the work.

I had really high hopes for Central BBQ after reading reviews and wanted to love it but I was pretty disappointed. I can see where you would love Central BBQ if you haven't had a lot of good barbecue but as a Texan, I have high expectations and this just didn't live up to the hype at all. We visited on a Friday night and had to wait outside for a few minutes which was to be expected... the security guard was nice and made conversation. However, the worker at the counter taking our order was not personable at all. You get prompted to leave a tip which seems a little ridiculous since the food is just being brought to your table... you get your own drinks, silverware, etc. (plus, you're asked to leave a tip before you even know how the "service" is). One item from the order came out quickly and the food runner took the number off our table but we had to explain that we were still waiting on two other items to be delivered. Rib Combo Plate (6/10) - We got the ribs dry, sausage as both of the meat choices, and mac n' cheese and potato salad as the sides. The ribs were very disappointing... they were definitely overcooked and pretty dry on the inside. The rub tasted burnt with minimal flavor. We had ribs earlier in the day at The Bar-B-Q Shop that were much better. The sausage isn't homemade and had the texture of a hot dog... not impressive by any means. The sides were rather small... the potato salad was pretty good (the best part of the plate) but the mac n' cheese tasted like Stouffer's (which isn't a compliment). The "rolls" are just King's Hawaiian Rolls from the store... they were good but the bread should never be better than the ribs or mac n' cheese from any barbecue place. Wings (9/10) - These were a throw in but ended up being our favorite item! We got an order of 6 and they were a great size. We ordered them dry and they were incredibly seasoned... probably a little TOO seasoned but it tasted amazing so I won't complain! They were super crispy on the outside but the chicken was moist and flavorful on the inside. I'd rank these within the top 5 wings I've ever had! Peanut Butter Pie (8/10) - We took this home with us and really enjoyed it! The base is similar to a chocolate cake consistency which is different than most pie bases that are crumbly. The filling had a great peanut butter flavor without being too sweet. Overall, I wouldn't recommend Central BBQ to others visiting Memphis... I've heard great things about Memphis barbecue and refuse to believe that this is their best. It was pretty average, especially for the price. I'd come back for the wings but that would be about it.

Great food. Good (not great) service. Cool old building and a nice neighborhood. We will definitely return. My partner and I opted for the 3 meat plate with a half rack of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork plus Mac and cheese, potato salad, and sweet potato fries. The meats: Brisket was the star of the show. Super tender and flavorful. I was kind of surprised (and my partner kind of disappointed) by how thinly sliced it was. It sure tasted great though. The ribs were awesome, too. Dry rub was flavorful and they were incredibly tender. Could've gone very hard on these. The pulled pork was good but not great. I always feel like it comes out a tiny bit dry and leaves something to be desired in terms of NEEDING sauce when other meats don't. It wasn't bad but I'd probably pick something else next time. Service was quick but a bit curt. Kind of all business. I wouldn't have been surprised by this if the restaurant was super busy but it was nearly closing time - can't really lose points for this but it just didn't add any. Overall.. it was really good honestly. Didn't have any standout service or 100% great food to warrant the fifth star, but I will happily return.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for Central BBQ, but this came recommended to me from someone born and raised in the Memphis area and I personally understand the hype. The individual that recommended it also had recommendations of what to pick from the menu. I tried the jerked wings he recommended and they were amazing! I got a pulled pork sandwich since the menu said it was one of the best and it was also very good. Overall, the food was superb particularly the wings. Service was quick and the security officer at the front is a real sweet lady that seems like a lot of fun and does her job thoroughly. I appreciated the artwork and fonts used throughout the restaurant and the way it kind of held the vibe of Memphis as a city.

Solid barbecue place with lots of seating options. It's right next to the Civil rights museum which makes it a good option. Service was pretty quick.

My wife and I stopped in here Wednesday August 2nd, and I'm so glad we did. This place is solid. You order at the cash register, and find a seat, then they bring the foos to you. We stopped in around 7:30 and the place was packed. After we ordered we managed to grab two seats at the bar. We ordered the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Sausage & Cheese Plate. Both were very good. I really like the way they sliced the sausage into coin-size pieces and fried it on the flattop. I also liked the cheese. Service was great. I really like this place. It is conveniently located across the parking lot from the Lorraine Motel (where MLK was shot) and the National Civil Rights Museum. If you are in the area, you should give it a try.

Ordered the half rack with greens and potato salad. I enjoyed that it was right next to the Civil Rights Museum since my son and I got hungry so convenience wise it was good. I think the plate I ordered was a bit over priced for the amount of food you get but it was a nice experience.

Great food, great service and a must try in Memphis. We ordered a rack of ribs and sides. The sides were pretty boring, but the ribs were delicious. So moist and tender. Would love to return in the future.

Food was just ok - ribs were fine - pulled pork was good but would absolutely never recommend the dry rub wings. Staff was helpful. Did takeout so can't speak to dining experience. Location was hard to find.

Forgot to take pictures of the food but it was good! The service was fast and good! The place is really cool and they had live music!