Today, I had some muddy ribs that were so delicious, we felt compelled to order another half slab to share! Turnip greens were on point and mac and cheese was very good. While Central kind of fell off my radar in recent years, lunch today featured the best ribs I have had in Memphis. The staff is kind and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The tables are clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]And the decor is old school.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place has history.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will definitely be prioritizing Central BBQ on future visits. This chef means business! read more

1st time dining at Centra BBQ and it was Great. We have a variety of bbq and sides. The only thing missing was Lemon for my Tea!!! Love Visiting Memphis!! read more

Ordered online after leaving the Tiger game and it was ready when we got to Central BBQ. Really fresh buns & warm & delicious 6 pack & fries & beans. read more

Finally, some fall off the bone ribs that tasted delicious in Memphis. I've been to a few other well reviewed barbecue joints around town and was completely let down with chewy not tender ribs. Being that Memphis style barbecue is my favorite. I was so happy to come across this place on my visit. You order at the counter and sit down the gentleman brought out my food quickly and was polite and asked if I needed anything else. I had the half-and-half ribs, half dry half wet. The smoke was not overwhelming yet gave a great flavor to the meat. I noticed the smoke ring as I bit into it. The sauce and dry rub were exceptional. Absolutely delicious. Anytime I'm in town. This is where I will go to get my barbecue! read more

My mom took a bite out of an okra with a hair fried in it. Disgusting. Never eating here. Please save yourself the trip and money. This mid cafeteria-grade food is not worth it. read more

First time having Memphis BBQ and it was delicious. There are so many options at Central so we tried it all! The nachos are made with potato chips and are decadent! The pulled pork was moist and tender and the dry rub chicken wings are amazing. read more

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excellent food, prompt service! Highly recommend! Never disappoints. Several locations around town, very consistent.

Unfortunately when you screw up an order, you can an uber-critical review. Staff was friendly, but it took an act of Congress to get some sauce which was out at the station. Brisket definitely needed sauce as it was on the drier side. Pulled pork was sooo dry. Ribs were NOT fall of the bone. The only real meat on the ribs were on the cap. No real meat in between the ribs. Luckily I got these wet and the sauce was nice and sticky. Asked for mac and cheese as my side and was given baked beans. The kitchen ticket even said mac and cheese, so not sure how that got screwed up. The banana pudding is banana-forward, but more in the flavoring of the pudding than actual bananas. With so many BBQ joints in the Memphis area, I'll try something else before coming back. read more

My daughter loves the bbq at Central so we come here often! She always gets the bbq plate with baked beans and slaw and finishes the plate right up. I got the bbq chicken baked potato tonight and it was delicious! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place always has a good crowd and you can get in and out in no time at all.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 10 out of 10 recommend! read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Baked potato w/ bbq chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I don't believe I have ever revised a review upwards (maybe I have?) but I am making an exception. I have eaten here 15 or 20 times since my original review and pretty much every time the food has been good. I have either had the pork or bologna sandwich and they are solid. I am too nervous about ordering the ribs again because of that bad experience above, so I cannot give 5 stars. Will leave it at 4 stars. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I should also note it has a nice rustic atmosphere and I particularly like the covered outdoor patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service has also always been good. read more

I have ZERO idea why someone would give this place 3 stars. Like most BBQ experiences, reviews are going to reflect preferences over actuality. "One man's junk is another man's treasure." For me Capital BBQ is now a staple in my future Memphis visits. Having several branches, this Poplar location is my favorite with plenty of seating and serve yourself beverage station. You order first from a counter so service is not really factor but the bussers driving by to clear plates and napkins (you use A LOT) regularly is appreciated! The bbq here is as outstanding as advertised! Moist and tender with great smoke taste, the pulled pork platter I ordered was worth every penny, generous in portion (beans, fries, were my two sides) and reasonably priced. The table shared pork nachos which my wife claimed to be her favorite appetizer ever. The REAL winner for me was the wings that came out smoky, with drumstick and wing together. These were some of the best wings I've ever had! A delicious blend of sauces made the meal a win all the way around! At the End of the Day the south will always tout their bbq as the best. If they know what they're doing most places just add to the experience and the bbq is just great. Capital BBQ give you a great experience along with the great BBQ. read more

The food was excellent! The service was fast. The staff was friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The faculty was clean and ample.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm from Texas and I thoroughly enjoyed the bbq. Had ribs, brisket and sides. Delicious! read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Brisket, ribs, potato salad, beans and Coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

While waiting for my food to arrive, I couldn't help but overhear that the table next to me was on a first hinge date so I was already excited for dinner AND a show. The more I thought about it, the more I got to thinking: "ribs on a first date? That's a bold choice...". After my first bite I realized it would be a bold choice not to! The good news? The brisket passed the flop test. The bad news? I myself did not ;) Yep, no doubt about it, we've got some Mötley Qüe™ on our hands! On a scale from 1 to Nikki, I give it a Sixx!! read more

I realize it was the end of the day and a holiday however the bbq pork sandwich was way more fatty than I'll eat. The bread was messy and looked like slop. Picked through it and had to throw it out. Won't be back anytime soon. Service was pickup so no complaint there. read more

We were here visiting Memphis for the first time and thought, "We gotta have bbq!" This place did not disappoint. Food was tasty and plentiful, such a good value for the price. It's half self serve half served, you order from the front counter then sit and the food comes to you. We ordered beers but had to pick them up ourselves. Now for the food: I got the half rack, half wet, half dry. Dry is not very flavorful but the wet side was perfect. Sticky, barbecue-y, and tender with that nice crust. Everyone here was super courteous, very family friendly! read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Half rack of ribs, half wet/half dry - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Always so helpful and I have special requests for my planes! They take care of everything and package so carefully to prevent spills! PC Aircater read more

After searching for barbecue I stumbled upon this place since Paynes was closed. And I'm not a happy camper. The young lady at the counter needs to smile. Straight faced the entire time ordering. I went with the 3 meat combo with ribs and beef brisket and pulled pork. I had Mac n cheese, greens and baked beans as my sides. Let's start with the ribs! Slightly disappointing lacking in flavor, yet somewhat tender. The beef brisket was dry and didn't really remind me of brisket honestly. Not much smokeyness to the meat if that makes since. The pulled pork was dry and after asking it to be chopped up it was not. So I had huge dry chunks of meat. As for the sides. I know a can of glory greens when I taste them and that's what they are serving which is ridiculous. Mac n cheese is below average at best and they top it with paprika for color. The baked beans were beans with a bit of spice. I spent 45$ and I'm upset about it. I'll never be back.. read more

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My husband and I were excited to try some Memphis BBQ and boy were we disappointed. My husband got the 3 meat plate with sausage, brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw & banana pudding. The brisket was very dry, the pulled pork had no flavor and we both didn't love the sausage. He normally loves coleslaw and banana pudding and he didn't finish either! I ordered a brisket sandwich and was told I could have coleslaw or no side with it. The sandwich was very dry and came on a cold hamburger bun! I can't recommend the food here. read more

Ribs were tender. Definitely needs sauce to make it all Come together. The peanut butter pie was killer. Love that chocolate crust.

Good food, the ribs were huge and had lots of meat. I would have liked a sweet habanero sauce their sauce was just a little too tomatoey. The potato salad, baked beans, green beans and banana pudding was excellent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service was good and loved the decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will be back! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Absolutely delicious, clean and fast![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a nice atmosphere and friendly staff![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will def be coming back read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Regular Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of baked beans and the slaw on the side instead of on the sandwich. - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The best food by the beat people. It's always a favorite of mine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a unique experience & a real group pleaser.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Food was amazing best barbecue in Memphis. The staff were very efficient and friendly. If you come to Memphis it is a must eat!

Been a fan of the " Poplar Crew" for a while. I've only had 1 order with an error and I think it was my mistake not my Central Pop Crew. I love me some you because my service is always A1 whether in person or pickup. Thanks for sharing the love, by loving what you do....it shows!!! read more

We stopped in Memphis on a cross country road trip and we were excited to try some good Memphis bbq! Unfortunately we were passing through on a Sunday night and most of the classic bbq joints were closed until Tuesday. So we decided to try Central bbq since it was open and made an online list of best Memphis bbq. The pros: 1. It was open 2. I liked that you could do a half dry/half wet rack of ribs to compare the styles 3. It was affordable compared to some other places I've been to 4. Solid pulled pork and ribs (I especially liked the wet ribs). Cons: 1. they were out of almost all of their drinks and bbq sauces 2. The Cole slaw was too sweet 3. The greens were a bit too salty. I enjoyed the first few bites but then I couldn't finish them 4. No corn bread :( the roll was sad looking Overall, decent bbq but I think there are probably better options in Memphis. read more

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The pulled pork was drier than the Sahara desert. Number one in the city for BBQ my behind! The fries were better than the BBQ. I will never go back and do not recommend! read more

I ordered the chef salad with chicken to go. When I got home, I found that the chicken was in huge pieces, full of gristle, and pieces of fat. The salad contained whole baby carrots rather than shredded. I ended up throwing most of salad away because it was just not good. read more

Ribs - unreal. Fall off the bone, delicious sauce and perfectly cooked. Sausage - fantastic, nice spice, well done. Brisket - hard pass. Dry, overcooked, unfortunate. Chicken - no go. Nothing special, dry, simple Easy ordering system at the entrance, regular refill stations for drinks. Fast casual feel, good for business meetings. read more

Great BBQ the cashier was very helpful and helped me get my order the way I wanted it.

The decor was cute and rustic. The cashier was friendly and did not rush me to place an order. I didn't smell smoked bbq from the kitchen as expected. The kitchen workers were loud. My lemonade was bitter and too concentrated. I wasn't able to drink the lemonade, even after diluting. The pulled pork sandwich tasted bland. I was t able to grasp the flavor or actual seasonings, despite the pork being saturated in bbq sauce. Once I returned to my car to eat the sandwich, the sandwich fell apart. It was too saturated with coleslaw and sauce. There was more coleslaw than pork on the bun. I was disappointed because I do not like soggy, stale, or saturated bread. Also, the potato salad was bland...Another disappointment in Memphis!...No return for me. read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Good place to stop. Came in from AZ with some expectations. Stopped at two places for lunch this day to compare. Enjoyed the dry ribs, great rub. The BBQ sauce was okay. The Spicy BBQ was mostly apple cider vinegar. Tried all four. As I enjoyed them they didn't stand out to me. Food was great definitely worth trying. read more

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The food was cold or barely warm. The Mac and cheese was cold and directly from the Kraft box- no baked goodness here. The pulled pork portions were generous- but cold and came out slathered in traditional BBQ sauce. The French fries were battered and cold. The okra was tasty but room temperature. read more

It was fine but I would go to tops or try somewhere else before going back. The sausage on the appetizer was extremely salty. There was a lot of fat in the pulled pork. The sauce selection was fun! read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Pulled pork and green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I've tried this Central BBQ (Poplar location) twice in the last few months. The first time was OK, decent but definitely not great, and certainly not living up to the hype this place gets. I figured it had to be an off night or they were slammed and couldn't focus on quality. After eating there again today (just at the tail-end of lunch when it was not even close to slammed), boy was I wrong... I can honestly say that I've never had drier meat than the brisket and pulled pork. I've had moister beef jerky. You really have to try hard to dry out pulled pork. I choked down most of the very small portion of pork after dousing it with gobs upon gobs of BBQ sauce, but I literally could not chew the leathery brisket. Aside from being dry as a bone, the flavor on the brisket was non-existent. Luckily, I decided to give the bologna a try as the 3rd meat in the combo, and good thing I had...otherwise, I would've gone hungry. To be clear, the bologna was edible, but not great...mediocre at best, really. Beans were good, but not great...of course, it's harder to mess up baked beans than it is to dry out pulled pork so I guess the quality standards at this place aren't quite at the bottom of the barrel (yet). Oh, did I mention I paid $25 for a combo plate and beyond the fact that the portions were laughable for that price, they didn't even include my 2nd side...not that I would have any desire to try their slaw now. If you're in the mood for BBQ, there are plenty of options for decent smoked meat all around this city. This is not one of them. My vote is less than 1 To the owners/operators: You really need to run a check on QA with your management and staff, or you won't have that reputation to rely on much longer. read more

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I had not been to this location before, it was nice and had a large outdoor seating area. The bbq nachos were totally amazing!! I could not eat all of the half order, they were piled up high!! Their onion rings are delicious and crunchy! You order at the counter but they bring your food to the table. They have a variety of yummy sauces as well. read more

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I was so ready to have some good BBQ, but after trying this place (and One and Only and Rendezvous), it's fair to say that y'alls idea of BBQ is very different from what Texans consider BBQ. The ribs were tasty, but disappointing. If you need a knife to separate the ribs, they just aren't up to par.Fall-off-the-bone these were NOT. And strangely enough, the place has no metal knives, only plastic ones that weren't up to the task of cutting open the ribs. The brisket was a tad better, but not moist enough. It was a cool place and I sat at the bar, but 10 of their 12 taps were out of commission. Overall their "bbq" falls short of what I have eaten for decades. Tasty if you don't know any better, but disappointing if you do. read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Damm good brisket sandwich ...lots of tender. brisket. Lg sandwich is way tomuch for one person

I had a pretty good experience at Central BBQ! Nice outdoor seating that's accommodating for big groups and a casual ambiance. I really enjoyed the dry ribs and tried them with all four sauces they offered. It's a nice touch that they keep the sauces warm. However the brisket was lackluster. I would recommend sticking with the ribs. read more

Central BBQ Poplar - Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Work in the nearby area & at lunchtime they're packed HOWEVER you can get in and out in no time! Highly recommend! Everyone is nice and food is delish!! 10/10 read more

Super fast and excellent food! It was ready 10 minutes early so we only waited 5 minutes. Large portions!