8.7
A&R Bar-B-Que
$South Memphis, South Memphis / Whitehaven
The South Memphis pit where rib tips are the whole religion
rib-tipsold-schoolsouth-memphis
old-schoolcolliervillehot-pitplate-lunch
Captain John's Bar-B-Que
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
7.8/ 10
0 reviews“Collierville's hot-pit classic, cooking since 1981”
Captain John's Bar-B-Que is a Collierville mainstay that has run since 1981, on a site that smoked as Coleman's back to 1974. Guided for decades by the Johnson family, it is an unhurried hot-pit joint, the type Memphis Magazine files under Classic Dining, where the cooking method has outlasted every trend that passed through the suburb. The menu is plainspoken and built on the pit: hot-pit pulled pork and slow-smoked ribs cooked the old-fashioned way, plus plate lunches that anchor the midday crowd. The smoked BBQ bologna is the thick-cut slab regulars order by name, and sides like slow-cooked, smoky beans round out a tray that has not chased reinvention. This is one of the oldest barbecue addresses in Collierville, still hot-pit smoking after four-plus decades, cooking for a suburb that never asked it to change.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 10am–9pm, Sun closed
- Closed
- Sunday
- Price
- Budget-friendly ($)
- Don't miss
- Pulled Pork Plate, Ribs, and BBQ Bologna
What to Order
1
Pulled Pork Plate2
Ribs3
BBQ Bologna4
BeansWhy It Stands Out
One of the oldest barbecue addresses in Collierville, still hot-pit smoking after four-plus decades under the Johnson family. Order the pulled pork or the BBQ bologna and taste a method the suburb never let go.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 106 US Highway 72 E, Collierville, TN 38017
- Phone
- (901) 853-8004
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 10am–9pm, Sun closed
- Website
- captainjohnsbbq.com/
- Price Range
- $
- Established
- 1981
Ratings Breakdown
6 dimensions, each scored 0-10
Smoke7.9
Bark7.7
Tenderness7.8
Value8.1
Atmosphere7.3
Consistency7.7
Back to Best BBQ in Memphis
Good to Know
Captain John's Bar-B-Que — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Captain John's Bar-B-Que?
Regulars point to Pulled Pork Plate, Ribs, BBQ Bologna, and Beans.
What are Captain John's Bar-B-Que's hours?
Mon–Sat 10am–9pm, Sun closed
What days is Captain John's Bar-B-Que closed?
Captain John's Bar-B-Que is closed Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is Captain John's Bar-B-Que expensive?
Captain John's Bar-B-Que is budget-friendly ($).
What kind of barbecue does Captain John's Bar-B-Que serve?
Captain John's 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.
When did Captain John's Bar-B-Que open?
Captain John's Bar-B-Que has been serving Memphis barbecue since 1981.
More to Explore
Browse All 
