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Food South Main, Memphis

Central BBQ

A place to eat in South Main, Memphis, moderately priced ($$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Lunch.

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Central BBQ in South Main, Memphis
Photo: Central BBQ - Downtown · Google

Why go

Local favorite for pulled pork, dry-rub ribs and smoked wings across from the museum.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Memphis, alongside 5 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with National Civil Rights Museum and Lorraine Motel.

Type
Food
Neighborhood
South Main
Price
$$
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Lunch

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond Memphis. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    National Civil Rights Museum

    Museum built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.

    Sight · 0.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Lorraine Motel

    Site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, preserved as part of the National Civil Rights Museum.

    Sight · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Arcade Restaurant

    Memphis's oldest cafe, a 1919 diner on South Main known for sweet potato pancakes and its neon sign.

    Food · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.1 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    South Main Street

    Arts district of restored warehouses, galleries and shops along the Main Street trolley line.

    Shopping · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.1 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Central Station Hotel

    Hotel in the restored 1914 Memphis Central Station, still served by Amtrak's City of New Orleans.

    Stay · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.2 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

    Downtown outpost of the Mason, Tennessee, spicy fried chicken shop, a short walk from South Main.

    Food · South Main & the Riverfront · 0.3 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Central BBQ is a stop on our Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More places to eat in Memphis

2 more curated places to eat in Memphis. See the full Memphis guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Memphis run from 48°F in January to 93°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Central BBQ itself, we suggest: Lunch.

Modelled monthly averages for Memphis from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Memphis weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Central BBQ, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
147 E Butler Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
Coordinates
35.13384, -90.05718
Destination
Memphis, Tennessee
Website
cbqmemphis.com

Central BBQ: quick answers

How much time do you need at Central BBQ?

Plan on about an hour at Central BBQ. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Central BBQ?

Our pick: Lunch. Insider tip: Order half-and-half ribs, wet and dry.

Where is Central BBQ?

Central BBQ is at 147 E Butler Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, USA, in South Main. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Central BBQ?

Central BBQ appears on Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Central BBQ to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Memphis.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.