8.0
Arnold's BBQ & Grill-Memphis TN
$$Downtown,
The Edge District's smoke-filled secret-alley handshake
Central BBQ
Downtown, ·$$
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
9.0/ 10
0 reviews“The downtown home of Memphis's modern barbecue boom”
Central BBQ's Butler Avenue location plants the brand downtown, within reach of the ballpark and the river, and it carries the same reputation for smoke that does not slip from counter to counter. It is where the modern Memphis boom Central helped start meets the crowds who come to the city center for it. The cooking holds the line: dry-rubbed and wet, tomato-glossed ribs plated together so a single tray covers the whole Memphis argument, plus a chopped pork sandwich that stays juicy and smoked turkey that rewards a break from pork. The award-winning pork nachos remain the order visitors chase, a loaded pile of pulled pork worth the walk from the river. Convenient without cutting corners, the downtown room is the easiest introduction to why Central changed the city's barbecue expectations.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Daily 11am–9pm
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Dry Rub Ribs, Wet (Sauced) Ribs, and Pulled Pork Nachos
What to Order
1
Dry Rub Ribs2
Wet (Sauced) Ribs3
Pulled Pork Nachos4
Chopped Pork Sandwich5
Smoked TurkeyWhy It Stands Out
Central built its name on consistency, and the downtown room serves the same polished dry-or-wet ribs as every other counter. The award-winning pork nachos are a pilgrimage order steps from the river.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 147 E Butler Ave, Memphis, TN 38103-4399
- Phone
- +19016727760
- Hours
- Daily 11am–9pm
- Website
- cbqmemphis.com/
- Price Range
- $$
Back to Best BBQ in Memphis
Good to Know
Central BBQ — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Central BBQ?
Regulars point to Dry Rub Ribs, Wet (Sauced) Ribs, Pulled Pork Nachos, and Chopped Pork Sandwich.
What are Central BBQ's hours?
Daily 11am–9pm
Is Central BBQ expensive?
Central BBQ is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Central BBQ serve?
Central BBQ 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.
