About Central BBQ

To find the best restaurant in town – go where the locals go.

Memphians know great BBQ and won’t settle for anything less. Central BBQ has been ranked in the top 3 BBQ restaurants in Memphis since 2003 and taken top honors 10 times.

At Central BBQ we slow smoke all our meats: ribs, pork, chicken, turkey, beef brisket, sausage and bologna. Our premium meats are rubbed with a secret combination of dry spices, marinated for 24 hours, then are smoked low and slow in the pit over a combination of hickory and pecan woods. No sauce is ever introduced into the pit.

You’ll want to try Central’s BBQ Nachos and smoked hot wings too. Save room for dessert - one of our resident hippies makes most of the desserts – so you know it’s good!

Craig Blondis and Roger Sapp met on the BBQ circuit in the mid-80s. After competing in Memphis in May’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and many other local and regional BBQ competitions they made the leap from friends to business partners. The pit at the first Central BBQ on Central Avenue was fired up in 2002 and from day one has been a success thanks to their wonderful customers.

To keep up with increasing demand, a second location on Summer Avenue was opened in 2006. With a reputation for great BBQ and great times, the Summer location has become a gathering spot for banquets and parties. With three huge Hi-Def TV’s the Tiger Room at Central BBQ is the place to watch University of Memphis Tiger sports.