Memphis, Tennessee
Being from North Carolina, it is sometimes difficult to acknowledge that other forms of barbecue deserve praise. One style is a strong contender for North Carolina’s title belt, and that is Memphis-style.
Memphis-style barbecue relies heavily on the dry rub, a mixture of salt and various spices applied to the meat before it is added to a cooking pit. It is possible to order ribs “wet” in Memphis, but most locals will apply sauce afterwards and not during the cooking process. Memphis-style primarily features pork ribs and the shoulders. Other meats, such as chicken, turkey, sausage, and beef brisket, can be found in most Memphis barbecue restaurants.
In our most recent trip to Memphis, we went to Central Barbecue’s downtown location. Central Barbecue is a local chain that began in 2002, focusing on traditional Memphis-style barbecue. There was a line on the Sunday we visited, but like many other top barbecue joints around the country, Central Barbecue was able to move us through quickly. Overall, Central BBQ was reasonably priced, the food had good flavor, and the portions were filling. I suppose that is about as good a recommendation as this native North Carolinian (please don’t call me a Tar Heel) can offer for another style of barbecue.