8.0
Blues City Cafe
$$Downtown, Downtown / Beale Street
Beale Street's ribs-and-blues room, open until 3am
beale-streetlive-musicwet-ribs
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
9.0/ 10
2,456 reviews“Home of Dancing Pigs sauce and Memphis's best BBQ spaghetti”
The Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison Avenue is a Midtown institution known for two things above all: its famous Dancing Pigs sauce and what many locals rank as the best BBQ spaghetti in the city. It has held its stretch of Madison for decades, a room where the sauce is as much a signature as the smoke. The BBQ spaghetti is the destination order, pulled pork folded into a rich, smoky tomato sauce that clings to every strand of pasta, a version widely regarded as the city's finest. The dry-rub ribs come off firm and smoky, the pulled pork sandwich stays juicy, and the Dancing Pigs sauce, now sold in grocery stores across the region, ties the whole menu together. This is Midtown barbecue with a signature you can taste and take home.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 11am–8pm
- Closed
- Sunday
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- BBQ Spaghetti, Dry Rub Ribs, and Pulled Pork Sandwich
What to Order
1
BBQ Spaghetti2
Dry Rub Ribs3
Pulled Pork Sandwich4
Dancing Pigs SauceWhy It Stands Out
The Bar-B-Q Shop's BBQ spaghetti is widely regarded as the best in Memphis, pulled pork folded into a rich, smoky sauce that clings to every strand. Its Dancing Pigs sauce is a Memphis icon sold across the region.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 1782 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
- Phone
- (901) 272-1277
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 11am–8pm
- Website
- www.thebarbqshop.com
- Price Range
- $$
- Established
- 1987
Ratings Breakdown
6 dimensions, each scored 0-10
Smoke8.8
Bark8.5
Tenderness9.0
Value8.5
Atmosphere8.8
Consistency9.2
Back to Best BBQ in Memphis
Good to Know
The Bar-B-Q Shop — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at The Bar-B-Q Shop?
Regulars point to BBQ Spaghetti, Dry Rub Ribs, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and Dancing Pigs Sauce.
What are The Bar-B-Q Shop's hours?
Mon–Sat 11am–8pm
What days is The Bar-B-Q Shop closed?
The Bar-B-Q Shop is closed Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is The Bar-B-Q Shop expensive?
The Bar-B-Q Shop is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does The Bar-B-Q Shop serve?
The Bar-B-Q Shop 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.
When did The Bar-B-Q Shop open?
The Bar-B-Q Shop has been serving Memphis barbecue since 1987.
