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
competition-bbqchampionshipdry-rubpulled-porksuburban
Memphis BBQ Co.
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
8.8/ 10
1,234 reviews“A world-champion pitmaster's Horn Lake smokehouse”
Memphis BBQ Co. sits in Horn Lake, Mississippi, just south of the Tennessee line, and it is run by Melissa Cookston, a multiple-time Memphis in May World Champion. The restaurant translates the precision of championship competition cooking into a casual, everyday room, a rare chance to eat trophy-grade technique without entering the contest. The ribs are the main event, cooked with the same attention to bark, bite, and smoke ring that earned Cookston her titles. Pulled pork comes juicy and clean, the smoked wings carry real hickory, and the banana pudding is the tidy Southern finish. This is not competition theater; it is a working restaurant where the pitmaster's résumé shows up on every plate. For anyone chasing the ceiling of Mid-South smoke, the short drive south is the point.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Tue–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun 11am–3pm
- Closed
- Monday
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Championship Ribs, Pulled Pork, and Smoked Wings
What to Order
1
Championship Ribs2
Pulled Pork3
Smoked Wings4
Banana PuddingWhy It Stands Out
Memphis BBQ Co. is run by Melissa Cookston, one of the most decorated competition pitmasters in the world. Her championship ribs make eating here about as close as it gets to tasting a Memphis in May winner without entering the contest.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 709 Desoto Cv, Horn Lake, MS 38637
- Phone
- (662) 536-3762
- Hours
- Tue–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun 11am–3pm
- Website
- www.memphisbbqco.com
- Price Range
- $$
- Established
- 2011
Ratings Breakdown
6 dimensions, each scored 0-10
Smoke9.2
Bark9.0
Tenderness9.2
Value8.2
Atmosphere8.0
Consistency9.3
Back to Best BBQ in Memphis
Good to Know
Memphis BBQ Co. — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Memphis BBQ Co.?
Regulars point to Championship Ribs, Pulled Pork, Smoked Wings, and Banana Pudding.
What are Memphis BBQ Co.'s hours?
Tue–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun 11am–3pm
What days is Memphis BBQ Co. closed?
Memphis BBQ Co. is closed Monday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is Memphis BBQ Co. expensive?
Memphis BBQ Co. is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Memphis BBQ Co. serve?
Memphis BBQ Co. 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 Memphis BBQ Co. open?
Memphis BBQ Co. has been serving Memphis barbecue since 2011.
