8.0
Arnold's BBQ & Grill-Memphis TN
$$Downtown,
The Edge District's smoke-filled secret-alley handshake
Arnolds Bar-B-Que
Hickory Hill, ·$$
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
8.3/ 10
0 reviews“The South Memphis pit behind the Arnold name”
Arnolds Bar-B-Que on East Shelby Drive is the flagship behind the family's downtown offshoot, the original room where the pork-shoulder cook was worked out. It is an old-school South Memphis joint that has fed its stretch of the city for years, the kind of counter where the regulars order without reading the board. The menu stays true to the Memphis playbook: hickory smoke, a sweet-tangy tomato sauce, and dry-rub ribs pulled straight from the pit with sauce on request. Rib tips run smoky and tender, and the chopped pork sandwich stacks hand-chopped shoulder under the house sauce. The loaded BBQ fries, an avalanche of pork and toppings, are the item that built the Arnold name in the neighborhood, and a full BBQ plate with sides and slaw rewards a proper sit-down. This is the source the downtown patio is trading on.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Tue–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun–Mon closed
- Closed
- Monday and Sunday
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Dry Rub Ribs, Rib Tips, and Chopped Pork Sandwich
What to Order
1
Dry Rub Ribs2
Rib Tips3
Chopped Pork Sandwich4
Loaded BBQ Fries5
BBQ PlateWhy It Stands Out
This is the Shelby Drive source of the Arnold family cook, where hickory smoke and a sweet-tangy sauce meet dry-rub ribs and loaded fries. Order the rib tips and taste the recipe the downtown branch is built on.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 6721 E Shelby Dr, Memphis, TN 38141
- Phone
- (901) 566-0005
- Hours
- Tue–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun–Mon closed
- Website
- riny.top/arnold-s-bar-bq
- Price Range
- $$
Back to Best BBQ in Memphis
Good to Know
Arnolds Bar-B-Que — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Arnolds Bar-B-Que?
Regulars point to Dry Rub Ribs, Rib Tips, Chopped Pork Sandwich, and Loaded BBQ Fries.
What are Arnolds Bar-B-Que's hours?
Tue–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun–Mon closed
What days is Arnolds Bar-B-Que closed?
Arnolds Bar-B-Que is closed Monday and Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is Arnolds Bar-B-Que expensive?
Arnolds Bar-B-Que is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Arnolds Bar-B-Que serve?
Arnolds Bar-B-Que serves Memphis Style barbecue — Memphis BBQ is rib country. The great debate is wet vs. dry: dry ribs are coated in a paprika-heavy spice rub and served without sauce, while wet ribs are glazed with a tomato-vinegar based sauce. Memphis also claims BBQ spaghetti and the BBQ nachos.
