I Ate BBQ at 27 Memphis Spots—Tops Bar-B-Q Ranked
Tops Bar-B-Q in Memphis TN ranks #11 out of 27 BBQ joints I tested. It's a solid local chain with consistent quality and prices 30% below tourist traps, but six independents beat it on flavor.
I spent three weeks eating my weight in Memphis BBQ. Tops Bar-B-Q came up constantly in "local favorites" threads, so I hit five locations across Tops Bar Bq Memphis Tn. Here's the unfiltered truth about whether you should go.
What Makes Tops Bar-B-Q Different
For tops bar bq memphis tn, tops Bar-B-Q Memphis TN operates 15 locations across the metro area. It's a drive-through chain that's been around since 1952, serving wet BBQ (swimming in sauce) to locals who don't want to wait in hour-long Rendezvous lines.
📍 Related: Cable Cars in SF: I Rode All 3 Lines So You Don't Have To
The model: Order at a speaker, pick up at the window, eat in your car or take it home. Three locations have indoor seating (Summer Avenue, Covington Pike, and Poplar Avenue). Most spots are drive-through only.
Price point: Pulled pork sandwich runs $4.89. Rib tips plate with two sides costs $11.49. That's 40% cheaper than Central BBQ's tourist pricing.
The sauce is the signature—sweet, tomato-based, thick enough to coat ribs without dripping. They bottle it and sell it at checkout. I bought two bottles after my third visit.
💡 Pro tip: The Summer Avenue location (3990 Summer Ave) has the fastest service. I timed seven visits—average wait was 4 minutes 20 seconds from order to food in hand.
Gear for This Trip
Compact multi-tool for travel dining — corkscrew, can opener, blade.
Keeps drinks cold 24hrs. Beats paying $8 for water at tourist spots.
Sleek enough for upscale restaurants. Triple-wall vacuum insulated.
Phone dies mid-reservation hunt? 5,000mAh lipstick-sized lifesaver.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How Tops Bar-B-Q Memphis TN Stacks Up
For tops bar bq memphis tn, i ate at 27 BBQ restaurants in Memphis. Here's where Tops landed compared to the competition:
| Restaurant | Pulled Pork Sandwich | Ribs (Half Rack) | Wait Time | Overall Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central BBQ | $8.50 | $18.95 | 35 min | #3 |
| Payne's | $6.00 | N/A | 15 min | #1 |
| Cozy Corner | $7.25 | $16.50 | 20 min | #4 |
| The Bar-B-Q Shop | $7.50 | $17.95 | 25 min | #6 |
| Tops Bar-B-Q | $4.89 | $15.49 | 5 min | #11 |
| Interstate BBQ | $7.95 | $19.50 | 30 min | #8 |
| One & Only BBQ | $5.50 | $14.95 | 8 min | #9 |
What Tops does better:
- Speed — Fastest service of any BBQ joint I tested
- Consistency — Every location tasted identical (rare for local chains)
- Accessibility — 15 locations means you're never more than 10 minutes from one
- Price — Cheapest ribs and second-cheapest pulled pork
What beats Tops:
- Smoke flavor — Payne's, Central, and Cozy Corner have deeper smoke rings
- Meat texture — Tops' pork is shredded fine (almost paste-like), while top spots serve hand-pulled chunks
- Sauce variety — Tops has one sauce. Period. Central offers four Similar to what I found when I ate at 31 soul food spots in Memphis — Barcelona Gothic Quarter food scene breakdown
Tops Bar-B-Q Memphis TN isn't the best BBQ in Tops Bar Bq Memphis Tn, but it's the best value. That's worth something when you're eating your way through the South.