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MEMPHIS
CULINARY EXPLORATION IN TENNESSEE
MEMPHIS = PIG CITY
Nestled on the bank of the mighty Mississippi river, Memphis has a deep and colorful history of bbq and blues. Home to Beale where music legends such as BB King, Elvis, and Johnny Cash performed and recorded their art. Memphis is also home to Memphis in May, the World Championship of BBQ. After hearing all that you may ask is smoked meat all Memphis has to offer? Not even close, they have great places for dipped chicken, pastries, and even a little Korean deli in a convenience store. So if you have a hankering to explore Memphis then scroll on down a see what the Pig's pick recommends when in the city that made the smoked pig famous.
The Pig
PIG'S PICKS
Where to eat Chicken, and big pig BBQ in Memphis.
UNCLE LOU'S
PIG SCORE: 4.0 / 4.0
WHAT: DIPPED FRIED CHICKEN
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Fried chicken dipped in sweet & spicy love sauce
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WHY: Uncle Lou is one of a kind.This may be a hole in the wall, but it is home to the best dipped fried chicken I have ever tasted. His sweet and spicy love sauce as, is the stuff of dreams. The flavor combination is something that may haunt you for the rest of your life. Located in a little strip mall close to the airport, this will be my first and last stop every time I'm in Memphis. BEST DIPPED FRIED CHICKEN EVER!
PAYNE'S
BAR-B-Q
PIG SCORE: 4.0 / 4.0
WHAT: MEMPHIS BBQ
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Chopped pork sandwich
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Slab o ribs
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WHY: This old cinderblock building houses a true classic Memphis BBQ joint. They slow smoke the meat for hours with Hickory, then chop not pull the meat before they slop a little sweet Memphis style BBQ sauce and then top the sandwich with a yellow mustard slaw. To the owners and employees of Payne's, BBQ is a lifestyle and a passion. One taste and you can tell this place is special.
MUDDY'S BAKE SHOP​
PIG SCORE: 3.9 / 4.0
WHAT: ADULT PASTRIES
PRICE: $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
5101 Sanderlin Center #114, Memphis, TN 38117
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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The Prozac
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WHY: My first thought was could a tiny cupcake be worth the price? Yes! Muddy's elevates cakes and cupcakes to a new level. The amazing quality is only surpassed by their commitment to using local organic ingredients. These are creative and crazy good, if I lived in Memphis and close to Muddy's I would be much heavier.
GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY
PIG SCORE: 3.9 / 4.0
WHAT: MEMPHIS BBQ
PRICE: $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Pork sandwich, Memphis style
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WHY: This little establishment has been around for over 100 years. It started out originally as a commissary or general store and turned into a BBQ joint in 1981. They are a small building and will often have a long wait. The pork sandwich Memphis style is pulled pork with coleslaw on top. A comfortable place for classic Memphis BBQ.
LAS TORTUGAS DELI MEXICANA
PIG SCORE: 3.9 / 4.0
WHAT: MEXICAN STREET FOOD
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Chorizo & Egg Tortugas
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Elote
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WHY: They specialize in Mexican city cuisine and spcifically tortas. A torta is a specific mexican sandwich. Theirs is made using fresh baked bread, hollowed out only using the outer shell.
GIBSON'S DOUGHNUTS
PIG SCORE: 3.8 / 4.0
WHAT: SWEET ASS DOUGHNUTS
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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The New Orleans
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Boston Creme
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WHY: Gibson's has been a Memphis institution since 1967. It is a family run and owned business, that turning out some top quality doughnuts at a GREAT price. I was fortunate enough to meet Don the owner and we talked about 30 minutes on doughnuts and BBQ; two topics close to his heart. Just like his doughnuts, he was gracious and fun to be around. This is a must stop.
QUICK CHEK
PIG SCORE: 3.8 / 4.0
WHAT: KOREAN QUICK SERVICE
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Bibimbap Burger
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Dolsot Bibimbap
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WHY: Holy crap, this little convenience store hides a Korean deli that is shocking. First I'm standing in Memphis, second, I'm standing in a convenience store that is oddly unimpressive. Unimpressive that is until you try some of the Korean food from the back room, they serve Bibimbaps in actual stone bowls and a bibimbap burger that nails it on all cylinders. This was trend worthy and gets high marks from the pig. Nice job Quick Check.
CENTRAL BBQ
PIG SCORE: 3.8 / 4.0
WHY: The ribs are marinated for 24 hours before being smoked for hours. The dry rubbed ribs are smack your mama good. Grab a plate and sit out on their covered porch to enjoy the Memphis weather and the regional specialty.
WHAT: MEMPHIS BBQ
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
WHAT TO ORDER:
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Dry rub ribs
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Pulled pork
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THE BAR-B-Q SHOP
PIG SCORE: 3.8 / 4.0
WHAT: MEMPHIS BBQ
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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BBQ Spaghetti
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Ribs
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WHY: The Bar-B-Q shop is a great Memphis style BBQ, they do everything right including theor sauces. They would have made the Pig's list on their own, but what wowed me and made this a must where to eat is the BBQ spaghetti. They smoke the past for 12 hours before they even cook it. The flavor is so deep and crazy that you have to try it to explain it.
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ELWOOD'S SHACK BBQ
PIG SCORE: 3.4 / 4.0
WHAT: MEMPHIS BBQ W/A TWIST
PRICE: $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Breakfast pizza
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WHY: When they call this place Elwood's shack, they aren't kidding. It is a tiny ramshackle building in the back corner of a LOWE'S hardware store. You almost have to know where this place is to find it. The menu is a very non traditional BBQ menu. Here you'll find BBQ Nachos and quesadillas or BBQ pork sandwich with Jalapeno slaw. The creativity makes this worth the trip.
ONE & ONLY
PIG SCORE: 3.4 / 4.0
WHAT: MEMPHIS BBQ
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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Pulled pork sandwich
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WHY: My new friend Don from Gibson's insisted that I try One & Only. Don will be happy to hear this, he was right. The sauce was a sweet and spicy glaze, the pork was chopped, not pulled. The chopping makes it more tender. I was running short on time, Prince the owner had a sandwich ready for me, I was in and out in all of five minutes, but I can vouch for the pork, it was solid.
RUM BOOGIE CAFE
PIG SCORE: 3.2 / 4.0
WHAT: GREAT JAZZ, OK BAR FOOD
PRICE: $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER: A good buzz
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WHY: Okay, I went here for a couple of reasons a few items on the menu looked good and they had live music. This place is a MUST stop for live blues, in fact, some of the best you will find on Beale street. So a great place to hang for a drink and music, but maybe eat somewhere else on your way here.
COLETTA'S
PIG SCORE: 3.2 / 4.0
WHAT: ELVIS'S HANG OUT
PRICE: $ - $$
PAYMENT: Credit/Cash
MAP IT:
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WHAT TO ORDER:
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BBQ pizza
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WHY: A Memphis institution, Colletta's has been around 90 years. There are two locations, make sure to go to the one on S Pkwy E, this is where Elvis would go and get the BBQ pizza. That's right Elvis, the king of Rock & Roll, walked these rooms and ate food from this kitchen. They were the foirst to do the BBQ pizza and it was a Elvis stand-by. So want to eat like a King? Then head down to Coletta's.
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