7.7
Big Bill's Bar-Be-Que
$$East Memphis, East Memphis
East Memphis pit with the longest hours on Kirby
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Leonard's Pit Barbecue
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
8.2/ 10
1,432 reviews“Memphis's first BBQ restaurant, a 1922 origin story”
Leonard's Pit Barbecue holds the distinction of being Memphis's first barbecue restaurant, founded by Leonard Heuberger in 1922. The address has moved over the decades, but the lineage has not broken, giving Leonard's the longest continuous barbecue tradition in the city and a genuine claim on its origin story. The cornerstone is unchanged in spirit for over a century: slow-smoked pork shoulder piled on a bun with coleslaw, the pulled pork sandwich Heuberger is credited with inventing. Ribs off the pit, BBQ spaghetti carrying the Memphis smoke, and that signature crisp slaw fill out a menu that reads like a founding document for the city's barbecue. Every chopped pork sandwich in Memphis descends from this template, dressed in a tangy tomato-based sauce, and here you can taste it at the source rather than a copy.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 11am–8pm
- Closed
- Sunday
- Price
- Budget-friendly ($)
- Don't miss
- Pulled Pork Sandwich, Ribs, and BBQ Spaghetti
What to Order
1
Pulled Pork Sandwich2
Ribs3
BBQ Spaghetti4
ColeslawWhy It Stands Out
Leonard's is the origin story of Memphis barbecue, credited with inventing the pulled pork sandwich as the city knows it. Slow-smoked shoulder on a bun with slaw is the template every Memphis sandwich descends from.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 1100 N Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN 38016
- Phone
- (901) 360-1963
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 11am–8pm
- Price Range
- $
- Established
- 1922
Ratings Breakdown
6 dimensions, each scored 0-10
Smoke8.0
Bark7.8
Tenderness8.5
Value9.0
Atmosphere8.0
Consistency8.2
Back to Best BBQ in Memphis
Good to Know
Leonard's Pit Barbecue — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Leonard's Pit Barbecue?
Regulars point to Pulled Pork Sandwich, Ribs, BBQ Spaghetti, and Coleslaw.
What are Leonard's Pit Barbecue's hours?
Mon–Sat 11am–8pm
What days is Leonard's Pit Barbecue closed?
Leonard's Pit Barbecue is closed Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is Leonard's Pit Barbecue expensive?
Leonard's Pit Barbecue is budget-friendly ($).
What kind of barbecue does Leonard's Pit Barbecue serve?
Leonard's Pit Barbecue 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 Leonard's Pit Barbecue open?
Leonard's Pit Barbecue has been serving Memphis barbecue since 1922.
