For some reason, I had been craving (Disclaimer: NOT pregnant) BBQ ribs for a couple of weeks. Another disclaimer: I find myself, as I'm getting seasoned, not wanting to eat as much meat as I used to. For some, this is a bad thing, and for some it's a good thing; it just depends on what floats your boat. Nevertheless, lest I digress. After some research, I found this place while traveling in Memphis, TN, called Corky's Ribs and BBQ. So, I invited two colleagues with me and went. Let me say that, truly, it was worth the wait for me. I ordered the 1/2 rack of ribs with coleslaw, baked beans, and a side of Twice-Baked Potato Salad. The waitress asked me how I wanted them: dry-rubbed, wet, or muddy. I was looking at her like she had three heads, and she explained what each meant. So, I went on the wild side (no judgment) and asked for muddy. My colleagues all ordered the same, and one ordered some Pork Burnt Ends , which were to die for. Ladies and gentlemen, or should I say, "folks," you're talking about some good eating in that place. As much as I wanted to eat all of it in this sitting, it would have been a sin and shame to eat all that food in one sitting. So, I did that ladylike thing and ate half, boxed up the rest to eat for dinner the next day, and called it a day. But wait, she brought out the rolls, which were still in the oven cooking as we were eating. Corkey, you know you are so wrong (in a good way), bringing out delicious rolls like that; are you kidding me? If you are in Memphis, TN, or passing through, check them out. The hospitality and atmosphere were wonderful. BTW, I heard our waitress reading off the dessert menu to a couple next to us, and I asked for my check quickly so I would not be tempted to order some or take it to go. read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Pork Burnt Ends Dinner - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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What a wonderful treat! Best barbecue ribs and sides that I've had in a very long time, maybe even ever! If you're in the Memphis area, be sure to stop in for the dry ribs--and the burnt ends with grits! Great atmosphere when you walk in! Everyone is so welcoming and friendly! Our waitress was fun, very kind--even taking our picture! We may just have to drive the four hours for dinner, because even Birmingham barbecue isn't as good! read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Ribs and grits! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This is one of our go-to dinners when we want something quick. I put large baking potatoes in the air fryer and we have a bag of roasted veggies from sam's. They only take about 15-20 minutes less than the time to cook potatoes. Any who, See how I just put that together. Its a full slab of ribs, we get one side wet/bbq sauce and the other half dry seasoning.. the meat is so tender I use my hands.. the have the perfect amount of smoke. Real close to home cooked ribs,cause we have a smoker. We never go inside, cause we are only getting ribs.and its always a few cars ahead of us and a few cars behind us. read more

Well, unfortunately, I'm 2 for 2 this week. Stony River was a bust and now Corky's. Back in the day, this original Corky's was awesome. I had not been back to this location in many years. I hoped it would at least be close to the way they were. Boy was I wrong. I'll start with the good. The service was great! It was very clean and nicely decorated. The food was pretty much terrible. I got a full slab of ribs. I got them half wet half dry. The ribs were so tasteless and tough. I couldn't even eat them. The menu says they were smoked for hours. My guess is they were cooked in an oven. Full slab of ribs also cost $30... not even close to worth it. The true onion loaf that they used to have was really good, now is just a stack of bland onion rings. The coating didn't even have any taste. The baked beans were still pretty good. But the size you get now for $3.99 is what places normally use as a side sauce container. The beans used to come in a nice little ceramic pot. We also got deserts to go. They were ok but definitely not made in-house. I can't express how disappointing this meal was. read more

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Friendly vibe! Solid BBQ. Got what they recommended! Ribs and catfish. Catfish was moist good flavor was even better with the hot sauce on it. The ribs had a great pork flavor and smoked ring. Just the right amount of chew definitely hit the spot. Also took home a homemade banana pudding. It was quite good. read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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I hadn't been to this Corky's in 25 years (I believe the original location burned down and this was the rebuild), but it was just as delicious as I remembered. The restaurant was quiet, with good music playing, and we were greeted and seated promptly. Our server was friendly and our drink order in immediately. We had an order of the burnt ends dinner, which was tender and delicious served with baked beans and by far the best coleslaw I've ever had. Additionally we had a pulled pork sandwich, and fried pickles. The pickles were better than anything I've had anywhere else. Reasonably priced and a great experience overall. read more

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Ordered the 1/3 slab rib dinner (half dry rub and half wet rub), onion loaf, Mac & cheese, southern green beans, cheese grits, and iced sweet tea. The 1/3 slab rib was pretty salty. The wet rub tasted better than the dry rub. The butter rolls were complimentary and one of my favorite parts of the meal. Definitely get the onion load because that appetizer was pretty unique and tasted good. The green beans were super salty. The sweet tea was too sweet for me. Service was a little slow but the waitress was nice. Ambiance: Family friendly read more

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Limited parking. A drive through. Catering. The staff were so friendly and attentive. Definitely felt the southern hospitality. The ribs fell off the bone and the pork was excellent. The seasoning didn't give ya indigestion. It just left you feeling completely satisfied. The cole slaw was DELICIOUS. It was like a deviled egg minus the egg. The place was clean. Our server provided honest feedback. Definitely recommend and would go again. Extremely pleased with the staff and the environment. read more

If you're going to go here, order this: Rack of dry ribs Spaghetti Catfish *optional Extra rolls Enjoy read more

Decent spot to grab a plate. Ordered the pulled pork sandwich and the shredded chicken sandwich. Sauce was good, personally would have had little more on there but there's table sauce for you to add if desired. Greens were seasoned and cheese grits on point. Pecan pie was a must and did not disappoint. Good price as well. read more

Did a cross country road trip and this was near my hotel. We don't really have great bbq in Arizona, the best bbq I've had for along time. Every bite was good, the sides were great and the rolls were delicious. I do regret not getting a bag of rolls, because the ones that they give you are delicious but very small. Definitely worth the stop. read more

Welp..... been telling my husband about this place forever. We live up north. Was in town and we came today. The WORST service I've ever had. The server was very polite and nice, but totally inattentive, not around and uninvolved. My food wasn't HOT but it was good. I think it was based on the server being so negligent!! Another thing..... once seated, we were given To-go plastic cups with lids for our drinks. When we looked around, EVERYONE else had regular cups!!! Like....wtf was that about?!!! I had to ask another server to get her twice!! Anyway.....I still tipped her, but I don't think I'll go back!!!! I belive in spending my money for good service and food. read more

Excellent typical Memphis BBQ meal after a long drive from Nashville! Brenda was all personality and Corky Jr. was so friendly! The atmosphere was comfortable and cozy! read more

Back to Memphis & we had to stop in for dinner. We were meet by James & he got our drinks & order right away. Got hot rolls & food arrived quickly. I had BBQ pork dinner, wife had chicken sandwich, sis-in-law had catfish. All was delicious. Nice vide in the restaurant as you can have a conversation without the music taking over. read more

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We had Mimi as our server-she was attentive and upbeat and efficient. We had the famous onion loaf, which I love! We had bbq plate and a burnt ends plate. Bother were tasty, but I'd stick w pulled pork! read more

Recommend trying their dry rub ribs, toasted dinner roll and white cheddar grits! Great service and allows you to change your sides. read more

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After being let in, I was not served for 30 minutes. Several families walked in after me, were served an entire meal, and even paid before I was even given a cup of water. I contemplated leaving, but I decided to come back to explain the situation to one of the more senior servers, who apologized, sincerely I might add. Yet, the biggest feeling of defeat came when another man who came in just after me was clearly prioritized. I didn't even get silverware or napkins, nothing. I don't want to spark unnecessary controversy, but I have enough suspicions to believe that this restaurant displays blatant prejudices against non-white and non-black ethnicities. I sat and observed: Hispanic, Arabic, or Asian patrons were not served with the same expediency or respect as the others. It is so laughably obvious too. I don't understand how one could have the boldness to discriminate against people with such laser-pointer like precision. And personally, I'm tired of smiling and saying yes ma'am yes sir to ignorant, prejudicial people just to get subpar treatment. I still tipped 20%. Ugh. Shame on them. The food is not that good compared to what Memphis has to offer, but that's not why I leave one star. Good service is an essential part of the food. This restaurant fails on all fronts, and I do not recommend it. Anyone who sees this happening to other patrons but continues to support this establishment has questionable values. Update: oh my gosh, reading the reviews on here and on various websites--I'm not the crazy one. Hispanic, Asians, Arabs do indeed get subpar service. Sounds like grounds for a civil suit. read more

The staff was nice yet they forgot my dessert and I was too far to go back. So pretty bummed about that. Food was tasty yet not a tasty after reheating. The beef brisket was a little over cooked. I've had better Corky's. So This one is going to get 3 stars. Just make sure you can eat. Oh restaurant inside looked awesome and had lots of seating. read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We came to Corky's Ribs and BBQ as a pit stop for lunch and we loved it! The brisket queso was outstanding! Two of my favorite things put together so beautifully. The pork, coleslaw, beans, and pecan pie was wonderful! The staff was attentive and ambiance definitely made me feel like I was at a local shop. I loved it! read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Pecan Pie - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Fantastic! Had to stop for more Memphis bbq on the way back through town, and not disappointed at Corky's. Love the atmosphere, perfection, 80s music n' all. It was an off hour when we came, so the parking was easy and seating/service was fast. We got pulled pork sandwiches and they were great. Service was super friendly. Would come back all the time if we lived in area. read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich n' fixin's! - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Corkys used to be my favorite BBQ of all time but they changed their sauce!!! It's now more vinegary/less sweet and it's not as good. I always get their ribs and bbq nachos read more

While in Memphis for the Thanksgiving holiday, my dad, husband, and I were looking for some barbecue. We found Corky's and decided to give it a try. Despite being more of a chain-style restaurant, the barbecue was decent. To start, we decided to try their hush puppies and their fried onion loaf - think of a blooming onion from outback steakhouse. Unfortunately, both of the starters were quite disappointing as they were overly greasy and lacked any real flavor. For my entrée, I settled on the half slab of ribs and pulled pork combo with mac & cheese and green beans as my sides. The ribs were some of the best dry rub ribs I think I have ever had. And the pulled pork was juicy and flavorful as well. Again, the side dishes were a bit of a letdown and lacked any real flavor. We opted against dessert and all felt that the barbecue meats by themselves really shined, but there is definitely room for improvement in terms of their side dishes and appetizers. read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Half slab combo - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Do not order their twice baked potato for a $5 add on price as a side to anything. They give you the same amount of potato salad you get when you order catfish and they give you tartar sauce. I would be highly embarrassed to charge somebody an extra $5 for that little potato salad when the entree already comes with two sides. I'm afraid Corky's has seen the last of my money. The catfish and cold slaw are good, but I came primarily for the twice baked potato salad. The volume I received was abysmal. I can get good catfish anywhere, and that's where I'll go next time. A day later: I followed directions and called the location. Manager Shamir was more interested in talking over me and didn't even listen. She said I got the right size and that's what I get when I order from DoorDash. She said Angela Baker would be reaching out to me. They did NOT make this right. $40 for a lunch that I couldn't even enjoy because of their potato salad served in one of those tiny plastic cups they serve sauces and condiments in. Literally the same size as the tartar sauce they delivered. Goodbye Corky's! read more

Food was awesome. I got. Burnt ends and grits. Friend got chicken. The food was great the service was even better. Nick was great.

In town for work and looking for some Memphis BBQ. Nice ambiance and friendly staff. Food fell way short! Wet ribs tasted old or held heated for way too long. We're basically burnt and dryed out. Beans tasted canned, grits were awesome though. Terri at the bar was working hard and super friendly! read more

James our server/bartender was a solid 10! Food was a 10, service a 10 and being a southern gal not ever having had a mix of greens (collards/turnips) ..... I just had to buy a pint to go, incredible. Don't miss out on the banana pudding as well. Not that instant stuff. read more

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Anita is absolutely amazing!! she helped us order and everything was delicious! good music playing in the background too! read more

There are a lot of barbecue options in Memphis. I have been to many over the years. And, when in Memphis, missing the Poplar Store is not going to happen. Ask for Tiara. She makes terrific food in a comfy setting fun. read more

Great food presentation. Great customer experience I ordered the beef brisket sandwich it could've been better. Ive been hearing about Corky's for 10 years and I moved down here recently and went there and was disappointed. It was not as good as I was hoping for. The sandwich itself was small the bun was slightly burned central bbq for tastes better than that and I'm ashamed to even say read more

The service was great! The food was subpar. The brisket was dry and the ribs were dry also. The baked beans and cole slaw were average at best. read more

The culinary experience was exceptional, service was prompt, and the establishment maintained impeccable cleanliness.

Fall off the bone ribs, I enjoyed my half dry rub, half wet rib order, and these were the most tender ribs on our visit to Memphis. My son loved the pulled pork plate and all the sides were good. Loved the decor and paintings! Service was pretty non-existent for our table, but would still return for that great food and vibe! read more

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Sat, Dec 27, 11:30am, party of 6. Much anticipated, as I grew up in Memphis but now live out-of-state. One of my favorite places for Memphis Q. Appetizers: sausage, cheese and pickle platter, as well as onion loaf. Platter was sparse, and sausage was heavily sauced. Don't eat pickles or peppers, so you'll have to ask someone else. Shared sampler platter (Capt Don's Dinner) w/my wife, included shredded brisket (no flavor, over-cooked and too much sauce), shredded pork (same as brisket but more flavor), shredded chicken (who shreds chicken?), and 4 teeny-tiny wet ribs. Ribs are the reason I go to Corky's when I can, but no more. There was VERY little meat, no fat, and no flavor. Grossly over-cooked. More like the ribs you'd expect at a Golden Corral or Chinese buffet. And for all this? WAY over-priced. Sigh. Another victim of Covid? Changing times? I don't care. The only reason I gave them a two was because of the good service I received (sorry, don't remember his name). Next time I crave Memphis queue, I will go to Central or Rendezvous. read more

Quaint restaurant. Seated quickly and was greeted by the server almost immediately. Wife ordered the burnt ends. I had the pork and spaghetti. Meals arrived in a reasonable amount of time and were hot. Only real noted issue was the coleslaw. Way too much sauce that made it really sweet. read more

Food, service, music and atmosphere was very nice! Love the new look inside the poplar location.

Went there for a good dinner. Order a reasonably priced chicken sandwich. A few minutes later, the waiter comes out of the kitchen with a piece of fried chicken on a bun so big that if I dropped it I would cause a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, essentially destroying the Memphis area. So cool! Place was very quiet which makes no sense due to the size of the chicken they are serving. If you come here, prepare to get your socks blown off. read more

Shared the Captain Don's platter with my bestie! $29.99 with 4 sides and we were full! Add the brownie pie (just an undercooked brownie with walnut bits) for $4. This place is awesome! read more

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First time in Memphis, TN. We are from San Antonio, TX. This was a great dinner experience. The service was prompt and friendly although our waiter was a bit too serious for the night we were having. Tried to get him to smile but, no such luck. Hopefully he has a better night tomorrow. The food was tasty and well cooked. Everything came out hot and fresh. Our drinks were refilled and needs were met 100%. A great server! Just wanted to see him have a better night. ‍ Tried Corky's draft beer. Kinda reminded me of a Shiner Bock but not quite. In that realm though. The place is a cute small shack like establishment. Elvis galore along with other celebrities who have visited. Loved the background music!! And it was very noisy at all. The ambiance was perfect. Those desserts were heaven though! Chefs kiss! Overall, a great experience for an all around first time. Great job everyone!! And thank you for a great meal. read more

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Ribs were too fatty and no good choice of sauces. Cat fish not fried all the way. I was a little early but no one was there customer wise which confirmed my suspicions. The waitress was very nice though! read more

After yet another disappointing visit to their Collierville branch I decided to go to the original location hoping that they'd have better food and service. I gotta say I think the food was definitely better here. Maybe they smoke more ribs or something because the ribs in Collierville were all bones. But the ones here were noticeably better. Still charging for rolls though (60 cents each) which kinda makes me wince. But I can't eat the ribs without some carbs. Ordered the dry rub on a couple of full slabs. They looked kinda muddy in places. Not sure if that was from being wrapped in the foil perhaps. Wait at the drive through window once I got there was over 10 minutes for a couple of slabs and rolls. Seemed kinda long read more

Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Dry rub full slab - Barbeque Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee