Elwood's Shack

BBQ at Elwood’s Shack for the win! Would have never expected myself to stop by a small shack on the shoulder road of a Lowe’s to eat BBQ, but I’m glad I gave this highly rated spot a try. I especially love how tender and fatty the beef brisket was cooked. The Memphis style ribs is smoked to perfection and each bite falls off the bone tasty. These ribs easily wins all other larger chains by a landslide. The steelhead trout taco was also very tasty on a crispy crunchy tortilla. The fish is slightly fishy, so I’d go with a brisket or cooked legged meat next time. I’d come here if I were a construction worker picking up grub alongside my trip to the hardware store. Recommend stepping outside for fresh air and a better dining experience.

Elmwood Shack is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. The team here isn't just serving food; they're dishing out true Southern hospitality alongside their legendary, humongous smoked brisket sandwiches. This brisket is so tender and flavorful, it's easily the best in all of Tennessee. And for those who might be hesitant about the area, don't be. Elmwood Shack has security from day into the evening, so you can focus on what matters most: that amazing sandwich. This place is a definite local fan favorite for a reason!!

Fantastic! I stopped here for lunch on a Saturday. Service was great! The interior was decorated in a fun manner, but it was pretty dusty all over. I got the ELWOOD MELT. It was excellent! I would absolutely order this again.

I ordered the Philly cheese brisket wrap, baked beans and the BBQ brisket nachos. The food overall was excellent. Brisket was tender and flavorful, and the wrap was delicious. However, the BBQ sauce really missed the mark. It clashed with the flavor of the brisket and threw off the taste of the nachos. Thankfully, the service made up for it…fast, friendly, and absolutely no wait time. Would definitely return, but I’d skip the BBQ sauce next time.

Had the red headed stepchild barbecue sandwich and my son had I think it was meatloaf sandwich. Both were outstanding. Went back the nxt day and got another barbecue sandwich with coleslaw it was also outstanding!

I'm from Wisconsin, where the best fish frys are found at dive bars - so when I read a review complaining about "dust on the TV," I knew the food was going to be spectacular. The guy who took my order made my first experience there fun and memorable as he helped guide me through the menu. I ate in the fairly small (as to be expected from the word "shack") air conditioned dining area, and enjoyed a fantastic meal in a wonderful oasis from the Memphis-in-July weather. If I'm ever within 100 miles of the area, I will definitely be back!!

Omar was great with help of knowing what to order! We had the Smoked Turkey Deluxe, Redheaded Step Child, Smoked Wings with beans and potato salad. All was exceptional! Definitely recommend!

It's definitely a hole in the wall kind of vibe. But awesome people, great food, and never judge a book by its cover. Definitely a Memphis MUST! First-time experience. Turkey cheddar deluxe on a croissant. Best croissant I have ever had in my life! My boyfriend ordered the pulled pork sandwich.

A little hidden gem within Memphis. Ended up getting the golden texas burger and Tijuana dog, and id say probably the best burger and dog I've had in a while. Give them a try if you plan on stopping by the area! Absolutely friendly service too, makes you feel like family once you walk in. It is a small building but it is cozy and they have indoor and outdoor seating for wherever you prefer to eat.

Elmwood Shack in my Go-To Spots in Memphis I come from the airport to here. It was sooooo Good I came back to the airport and stopped by to get something for the plane ride home. I eat BBQ all over the country and a brisket and BBQ expert, I've been to plenty of spots, and this one keeps calling me back. What makes Elmwood Shack stand out? Consistency. Flavor. Comfort. You can roll through anytime breakfast, brunch, lunch it's all served all day, and it's all done right. Normally, I get the brisket sub (which is ), but I switched it up with the brisket wrap. No regrets. Bursting with flavor. My wife got the brisket taco, and the kids went in on their brisket plates--yes, it was a whole family affair. Shoutout to Daniele she knows the menu like the back of her hand. She gave us the rundown on the most popular items and made sure we were taken care of. Then used a highlighter to show the most popular items I enclosed below. I enjoythe vibe? I always feel like I'm eating at someone's house who knows how to cook and host. Friendly staff, good food, clean environment that's the trifecta right there. Spoke to Tim the owner really good guy. Scroll down for the pics rust me, they speak for themselves. If you're ever in the area, do yourself a favor and swing by Elmwood Shack. It's a five-star experience all the way.

Elwood's has the best food especially the bbq Service is always on point I've always loved the ambience, the vibe the music absolutely everything

Elwood's is always five stars. My family orders all the things all the time. Most recently, we brought food in to eat at mom's and I snapped pics of several things that were ordered and loved. Please note, servings are big. My sister & I usually plan for left overs or split something. If you order for pickup and see a line when you come in, be sure to stay to the left. There is a line to order and one to pick up, and the pickup line moves if there is one.

Elwood's shack is more than a shack. Its got one of the best homestyle barbecue in town! We tried red head stepchild sandwich, salty dog, and a sampler platter which are all 10/10. The brisket is tied for top brisket in town, which they smoke overnight. The man at the front is also friendly and funny. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and pull up to a good time!

It was a beautiful day so we walked in to order and then just a few minutes later they brought our food to us out on the picnic tables under the awning. I really enjoyed the sautéed onions and jalapeños with the burnt ends. Great lunch with a lot of delicious flavor. It's what a bbq joint should be, smells like heaven, not fancy, and full of folks with a common interest...good, simple eats.

I used to like Elwood's, but the dive bar feel to it has become a problem. It's just dirty. I was in there last week. Leak in ceiling. No big deal. It happens. Source of leak was the hvac system. HVAC guy doing the work asked an employee when the last time they changed the filters. She didn't know, of course. But HVAC guy said it must've been years because it was so gross. Years!!! If they care so little about the operation of their restaurant, I can't imagine what the kitchen is like. Never again.

Amazing food, the whole menu. It's always on point. Omar is the ultimate host for this charming hole-in-the-wall spot. He is such a nice man, hilarious, and knows the menu forwards and backwards. The barbecue is elite, the pizza is excellent, the hot dogs are the best in town, the sandwiches from the burgers to the French dip are top notch, just an amazing place. Did I mention the brisket quesadilla and the fish tacos? Please do yourself a favor and go visit this place.

Elwood's is a staple. We come here regularly, service is always great, food delicious, and the ambiance of well... a shack that serves food:)

Been to quite a few barbecue places in Memphis. For Memphis style you won't do better than Elwood's. Great service. Hole in the wall feel. Don't miss it!

The fish taco is the best thing on the menu, and it is unlike any taco I have ever had. It is so good. The restaurant isn't impressive looking, but the food is great!

Great little spot. Had the wet ribs and the jerk wings. Wings were a tad dry for my preference but still good flavor. Ribs were good. Staff was amazing.

While in Memphis, on the eternal quest for the best hole in the wall barbecue, we made our way to Elwood's Shack. Located literally in the parking lot of a Home Depot, this little shack serves up some tasty food. Despite craving barbecue, both my father and husband ordered the Reuben sandwich and I ordered the debris Poboy. Not quite barbecue, but I definitely do not regret my decision. The debris Poboy was quite tasty and could easily hold its own against any New Orleans Poboy. The potato salad was delicious as well and I would definitely recommend coming here if you're looking for a good bite to eat.

This place was recommended by my husband's coworkers. We were in the area so decided to try it out. When we first got there I thought we were lost since I didn't see it at first. It literally looks like a shack next to Lowe's. Very "home" feeling entrance as you enter two doors like a house. The lady at the register (I didn't get her name) was very helpful when we told her we were first timers. She showed us the menu that has all the highlights of their best sellers to make it a bit easier to select and start off. We ordered the combo plate with brisket and burnt ends, and the soup of the day a cup of shrimp corn chowder. When the chowder came it was bigger than I expected. It tasted just like my grandma's with that shrimp twist to it. Needless to say I devoured it. The combo came and although pic may look messy, it was delicious. The burnt ends had the right amount of flavor with that jalepeno kick at the end. The brisket was tender and the fat just melts in your mouth. It was so good that I barely used the bbq sauce with it. As for the sides, the beans were good, and the slaw was one of the better ones we've had, but the potato salad was best. Definitely the recommendation did not disappoint. We will definitely be back to try other dishes.

I've eaten here a lot, and I ordered several different plates from pork to chicken to tri-tips. Now I often just pick whatever the specials are, but I've never been disappointed.

Unbelievable bbq shack... came here on a road trip on a Thursday, and had to stop by again on Sunday when headed back through town. Food's amazing, and great vibes

Good food. Service is good. Not much on ambiance but other things make up for it. Parking can be a little difficult but again it's worth it.

Im from Houston TX and there's nothing that really beats good old Texas BBQ. I googled brunch places around me and this was one of the places that popped up. I'm so glad I went here. Memphis BBQ can definitely compete with Texas BBQ! The girl at the front counter was super welcoming and friendly and knowledgeable about all the menu items we had questions about. I ended up going with what she described and it was amazing! The portions were hearty and plentiful. The flavors were amazing. I loved the potato salad. The food was great and service and friendliness were top notch. Whenever I'm in Memphis again I will for sure stop by this place again! An even plus plus is this place is super dog friendly! I walked in with my service dog and no one had a problem with her even though we sat outside with the other dogs. Highly recommend to anyone even to people without dogs!

The sausage biscuit was 8/10! Great flavor on the sausage. Biscuit was moist. The smoked chicken was tough, and the beans were too sweet. The brisket was dry, but the flavor was very good. Cole slaw was standard, and the texas toast had a nice seasoning on it.

We had their platter that had a little bit of everything. I personally am not a fan of BBQ but my husband and dog are, and Elwood's were their request. I actually loved it all. I've tried BBQ in Texas and Louisiana, this place was de-li-cious. Very worth it

We were only driving thru Memphis and looked for a good BBQ joint. Of course I rely heavily on my fellow Yelpers for experiences. We couldn't pass this up, even though it's off the beaten path and we were driving a big U-Haul truck. You can easily drive by it because it's tucked behind a business on Summer. There's also very little parking. Just park and follow your nose to the smell of great BBQ. Don't let the outside fool ya! Once you step foot inside, it transforms into a quaint restaurant with incredible aroma and very homey! It took a few minutes to peruse the menu; especially since we had one shot at trying to pick the best choice. They were very helpful and I asked if I could just get a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on it. It wasn't in the menu but they made it happen. Not a long wait but the tables filled up fast. We got our food and oh boy!!!! It was even better than it looked. I'm drooling just thinking about the savory flavors. One of the best bbq sandwiches I've had in a long time. Everything was absolutely perfect This place deserves a 6th

Medium rare NY roast beef was more like a well done roast beef. Not exactly over stuffed or tasty. Also ordered the Chili, but was via uber. They should put the sour cream on the side, till ready to eat. Some sandwiches here are great, others need removed.

7-6-25, We are regular customers and customer services is always great. However, they missed the spot on my French Dip that day. The sandwich was tasteless and little to no meat. The au jus was watery and no taste. What the heck going on here. The owner needs to take notice of a bad sandwich.

I was only in Memphis for the afternoon but wanted to try some "Memphis BBQ" like everyone talks about. This spot was great and the sandwich is something I'll be craving again. Customer service was super informative and friendly. If I'm ever in the area again I'll be back!

The nachos were very good. Needs a little bit more cleaning in the place, but they have been busy since walked in, so must not have had a lot of time. The guy behind the counter was fun and very enthusiastic about the food and what to order. All the people that came in acted like they were regulars.

As soon as you open the door the amazing aroma hits you in the face and instantly your mouth starts watering. The owner greats you with a smile. Ordered three different meals from the incredible menu that offers a wide variety of food. Something for everyone. Got our food fairly quickly and it all was amazing including the sides. Definitely will be back.

This should be a Triple D find. It is a real side of the road little dive in the parking lot of a Home Depot. It has picnic tables outside and a few tables inside its eclectic shack. The lady taking orders and serving food is a special kind and friendly woman that exudes happiness. She gets it and knows how to make you feel welcome. Yes, there was two of us. We just couldn't decide on what to order so we picked a few items and shared. We got the KC Candy Melt which had burnt ends, jalapenos, bbq sauce and a TON of cheesy goodness. It was grillled on a Texas buttered toast. I HIGHLY recommend. The BBQ sauce is just the right amount to make this delicious with the never ending pully cheese. Second up was the Seattle Dog. The best damn dog there is. If you love specialty hot dogs, this is a don't miss. The hot dog holds up to the toppings. It's thick and juicy. There is a bit of cream cheese, with slaw, grilled onions, jalapeños and BBQ sauce. My personal favorite. Third up was the Debris Poboy. The roast beef is tender and flavored like grandma used to make. The bread is authentic Poboy French bread, trust this guy from New Orleans. It made me miss home. It's a great throw back to being a kid. We finished with the blue cheese and jalapeno coleslaw and tator salad. Both were delicious. The tator salad was really creamy and tasted a bit like there could've been cream cheese in it. YUM! No we didn't eat all of it and of course we took leftovers home. lol I'd definitely go back when in Memphis. That dog will forever be on my mind.

The location was a little difficult to find but extremely unique. We found it going home to Atlanta from Little Rock, Arkansas. The food was delicious. We loved it am only sorry it is so far away from Atlanta

Elwood's Shack is a very descriptive name for this business. It is literally a shack that sits on the side of a Lowe's. The staff here were extremely friendly and outgoing and added to my overall experience. Inside, the building is still rather humble, but very cool in a funky kind of trashy-chic kind of way. I went with their pork plate. The pork was very good and I applaud their barbecue sauce. It was very good. Their sides of beans and coleslaw were also good. I was also tempted to try one of their hot dogs, so maybe next time (and there will definitely be a next time). These hole-in-the-wall type places are often better than tourist type places. This is a place where the locals go to and once you try the food here at Elwood's Shack, you will see why the locals choose to dine here than those big name Memphis, Tennessee tourist-trap type restaurants. I would definitely recommend Elwood's Shack and I will give it five stars overall.

Stopped here on a long drive from Nashville to Dallas. Approaching the restaurant we almost thought we were in the wrong place as it's literally a small shed looking structure that is very much befitting its name. The unpaved lot and beat up cars did not stop us and we ventured in to be met with super friendly service and even more delicious barbecue. I would highly recommend getting the Memphis dry rub ribs with a side of the sauce because the dry rub was so tasty and different than what you may get at corporatized bbq joints or in Texas.

I absolutely love this place. I've been 4 times in the past 6 months and haven't had anything yet that I didn't like. From friendly staff to great portions to deliciousness...I haven't been disappointed yet! I ordered the Philly previous visit, which was wonderful and so large, became dinner as well. My last visit was the Texas melt...which I'm definitely ordering again!

How is it that the weirdest places have the best food? Delicious breakfast. Plenty of free parking ( it's next to Lowe's). One question- what is that plastic dome hanging in the bathroom? Is it the Cone of Silence from Get Smart?

If hole in the wall places with phenomenal food, fantastic service and great atmosphere are what you're looking for this is your place. We had the Red Headed Step Child and the two meat combo. Both were delicious!! Server was funny and told us all about their menu. We're going back to try the breakfast tomorrow!

Service was very quick and everyone there seemed to be in good spirits. Has a great vibe to it. The food was extremely good! It's a bit pricey but I think it's worth it. Will be coming back.

I loved the atmosphere of this local dive. They helped me order in a way that saved me money and got me more food than I originally planned. I ordered the Shack attack and burnt ends. Some of it was great, others not so much. The Pulled pork was very dry. Brisket was a mix of being dry or too fatty. Sides: slaw, beans, tater salad all very yummy. The Ribs were fantastic, the chicken good, and the burnt ends just okay.

Food is great, service is great, and any food you eat in a shack in the parking lot next to a Lowe's is amazing, trust me!

Elwood's Shack isn't a lot to look at on the outside. Or the inside, for that matter. There are only a few tables to sit at, and the decor is fairly sparse. The restaurant is hidden behind a minor shopping center too, and the parking lot is kind of small. But this place is 100% worth stopping for if you want Memphis BBQ, and let me explain why. I ordered the Elwood's BBQ Burrito with pork. And the size of the burrito by itself will fill anyone who has an appetite. The burrito is mostly pork too- check my photo if you don't believe me. Even though I went before 10 AM (and only the breakfast and brunch menus were available), the BBQ pork inside the burrito itself was delicious and well made and was made to high Memphis BBQ standards. The other ingredients were fresh too. The fried eggs, jalapeños, potatoes, cheese, and such added a nice flavor- but the absolute real star was the pork. I was given two BBQ sauce containers, and it had that tomatoey, thin Memphis BBQ sauce flavor that you expect. The staff was super friendly too, and they joked and chatted with the regulars who were there- first time in a long time that I have heard a staff member say 'Tell your momma hi for me!'. Super friendly and they wanted to make sure that I got what I wanted to eat. This was an amazing breakfast burrito, and I heartily recommend that anyone who stops in tries it out!

One of my top favorite places! Everything I have tried has been so good! Club sandwich, tacos, pizzas, and BBQ nachos are some of my favorites. BBQ quesadillas are good too!

Although it's really a shack and the ambience is minimal, the food was fantastic. I would totally recommend going to Elwood's for your barbecue when in Memphis Tennessee.

Great place to eat! Don't let the looks of the shack deceive you. Some of the best cooking is done in here.

The food was amazing! I would highly recommend this place. I ordered a combination plate with sausage, brisket, chicken, beans, and potatoes salad. I also ordered two jerk wings. The brisket, sausage, and beans were amazing. The potatoes salad was less than desirable and the chicken was dry but was still good with bbq sauce. We also ordered the grits, brisket, English muffin with fried eggs and bbq sauce. Now this was AMAZING. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. We also order a Philly cheese brisket wrap to go and will update this when we try it. The service was great! The young guy at the register was so patient with us as it was our first time. He was so helpful and recommended some excellent choices. The ambience of the place was family friendly. The place was small and quaint and truly a shack but was definitely worth our time! I would nightly recommend this place to those who want a unique experience.

I LOVE recommending the shack in the Lowe's parking lot. It's small but mighty. There will probably be a line. It won't be the most beautiful restaurant you've ever walked into, but they'll be fast, and the food will be consistent. It's cozy and everything you'd want from a hole in the wall. Yes, the BBQ is great. But I come here for the trout taco. I ordered my fiancé a taco and he was puzzled as to why we just ordered one, but didn't say anything. He knows to trust me. The taco is big and can feed one person. That being said, I could eat five of these for being so delicious. The brisket taco is just as good, the trout one makes me feel "healthy." Basically it's a taco wrapped in a quesadilla with a tangy sauce and some vegetables. It's just 10/10 every time. They cook that thing PERFECTLY. Just go!!!!

This is a super unique barbecue spot that also serves sandwiches, pizza, and some Mexican-inspired dishes. I like it because it's one of the few barbecue restaurants that is open on a Sunday. The location by Lowe's often has live music as well. Just know that if you go in the summertime, indoor seating will be limited and you will be sitting outside in the heat!

This restaurant is true to its name and is a little shack, but it has some amazing food. It is kind of difficult to find, as it is located behind a laundromat. You have to drive back there to get to it. They have some parking spots available in the back or you could probably park in the adjoining grocery store's parking lot too. This restaurant has armed security on site, which seems to be a common theme in Memphis. They have a little patio out front and a small dining area to eat at. The staff there was friendly. They have a menu full of subs, salads, burgers and barbecue. I ended up ordering the Philly Cheese Brisket on a hoagie bun with a side of potato salad. It took about 12 minutes for me to get my food and it was fresh, hot and delicious. The potato salad was good. The hoagie was very unique and flavorful. I will admit, this place seems to have some issues that warrant an armed security guard. When I first arrived there, the security guard was getting cursed out by a homeless man that he was chasing off of the patio. While I was eating, a strange man came in with a gun visibly sticking out of his pocket and had a weird interaction with the owner before just leaving. Those issues are no reflection on the restaurant and the fact that they hired a security guard shows that they care for their customers safety. This place has some good food and appears to be a Memphis staple. I recommend checking this place out.

Great no frills BBQ joint! Its physically address is on Summer Ave. But it's next to a Lowe's and we parked there and walked over. We were here on a Saturday around lunch and ordered and were served very quickly. I would think it would be packed during the week at this time. Interior is sparse with maybe 8-10 tables and a couple of TV's to watch. There are probably 6-8 picnic tables outside with 2 large fans to keep the air moving. We both had pulled pork with Texas toast, beans and potato salad. Everything tasted awesome! Pulled pork was juicy and flavorful. BBQ sauce was very good not too hot with a good twang to it. I was expecting the potato salad to be sweet but it wasn't. The beans were a little spicy but were excellent. Highly recommend if you want great BBQ without all f

Food was awesome!! Hit this place on a whim. Small but outside tables. Right next to a Lowes as I recall.

Absolutely incredible BBQ.. driving coast to coast we desided we needed to stop for BBQ and this place had great reviews and was close to our route 40.. as we walked in we were immediately greeted by the man behind the counter.. through a cheerful smile he told us the highlights of the menu.. he could not have been more pleasant.. food was fantastic.. I went with the plate and got pulled pork brisket and debris.. spicy slaw and beans. The gal got a pulled pork sandwich.. l inhaled mine.. nothing left but a clean plate.. hers was piled so high she had to eat half of it with a fork.. do yourself a flavor.. check this spot out..

Quick service and great food. The restaurant had a great vibe and fun decoration, def recommended.

At first glance, one may completely miss this place. It's located along side the Lowe's parking lot and honestly didn't look like an actual storefront. But behind that unsuspecting facade lies the most astounding array of meats we've found so far on our food-journey through Memphis! We were greeted by a friendly lady who was chatting away with her fellow coworkers behind an impressive counter. It smelled intensely smokey and delicious in there. Husband went for their Elwood's Woody (pastrami, 2 eggs over hard, provolone, avocado, bacon and mayo on marbled rye). THAT was intensely delicious. I opted for avocado on toast...with a side of 2 eggs over medium with bacon. (I traditionally don't eat bacon but it sounded like it would hit the spot. ) We are dying to go back to get down on more of their fantastic food! Don't let the deceptive exterior fool you...they know what good food is!!