I visited on 11/20 (my second visit) with Joe S. He's right, It is simply the best. The crunchy stuff is the best part!

Hello, My mom and I are planning a trip through Jackson in October and she has celiac disease, which makes her very sick if she eats wheat gluten. I've read reviews that you are aware of this condition and responsive to diners who have it (http://www.yelp.com/biz/paynes-bar-b-que-memphis?osq=Gluten+Free+Restaurants) I have some questions: 1) Do you have a menu of items that are gluten free that you could send me? 2) Are your servers and cooks generally careful not to cross contaminate wheat/gluten onto GF items? (Using the same tongs to touch things that have gluten and then those that are GF, using one grill for GF items and non GF food) We will definitely tell our server when we come in that we need special attention paid to our meal, but having a staff that, as a practice, take seriously what gluten can do to people with celiac disease is really reassuring. It would be great to be able to offer my mom something she'll enjoy and not have a bad reaction to. Thank you in advance. read more

This is definitely a hidden jem. The best chopped pork sandwich I have ever had. The sauce and mustard based coleslaw compliment each other perfectly. The bologna sandwich was awesome as well. The baked bean are full of meat, great sauce and southern love. This place is great and gritty like Memphis itself. read more

Just perfect. Go here now. This place is clearly designed with the one goal of getting you some delicious barbecued pig. I ordered the rib plate, a chopped pork sandwich and a tamale (just over a buck so why not) and each item was simply amazing. The mustard slaw was something I've never had before and its tangy flavor was a great compliment to the very sweet ribs. The tamale was excellent as well. read more

The hot bbq was good. Not super spicy. The pulled pork was pretty darn good. Got the jumbo as a recommendation because they said it had some bark/burnt ends mixed in and it did! She pulled a fresh piece of meat out of the smoker chopped it up fresh just for the order! The chow/slaw on the sandwich was really good. Also got a bologna and it was good but we didn't finish it all but could have eaten a bucket of pork! Yum. The area is a little run down but there was a cop in the lot and it was secure around the eatery read more

We found this crusty gem a couple of years ago. It's not convenient from the interstate, but with technology, it's easily doable. This place is definitely our gold standard for BBQ. This no frills, "making it all happen in the shell of a garage/gas station turned food truck feeling restaurant" makes me smile just thinking about that BBQ. The tender/ crisp outer texture combined with the juicy deliciousness of that fall-off-the- bone goodness makes me swoon. This was my first experience with mustard slaw. I went in open minded, and after a couple visits, I am persuaded that it is the perfect side. Our last trip through wasn't during meal time, but we picked up an order to go because it is that good. By the time we reached the hotel several hours later and ate, the delightful texture of perfection had melted, which was disappointing, but not surprising. So the moral of the story is: plan your meal so that you enjoy it fresh and hot. The restrooms are intimidating and not the best part of this stop. read more

I've lived in, and eaten out in Memphis since forever, and Payne's is my favorite Bar-B-Que hands down. And, Mrs, Payne is the nicest lady ever! read more

This is the real thing! Best Bar-B-Q pork sandwich in Memphis. I always bring my clients here for a taste of what Memphis is famous for.

Well, I'm in a pickle, here is why. I've sworn allegiance to another bbq joint in town and have backed it since day one. But then, a couple years later, I try Payne's... holy cow. I prefer Memphis style bbq to all other bbq styles, I love pork and I love sauce, and I prefer the Memphis style of both those things. With that said, this is definitely one of the best bbq shops around, competing for the best in my mind. My first trip here, I had the ribs, the pork sandwich, and a smoked sausage. The pork sandwich is one of the best I've ever had, the key to it is in the slaw! The slaw on the sandwich with mustard, and the tangy sauce, and the perfectly cooked pork, was a game changer. The ribs were great, not the best, but man oh man the sauce really helps them out. The bbq sauce is a great blend of sweet and tangy, and I normally don't appreciate tangy sauces but this place has nailed it. The ribs aren't as tender and don't fall of the bones as easily as at other places around town, but flavor can compensate for that, and these ribs have it. But then comes the real king of this place, the smoked sausage. It is fantastic, and I have gone to this place in consecutive days just for a sausage. Yes, I've also tried the fried bologna in my constant visits, and it is just as good as everyone says it is... but everything else is just as good or better! Oh, and the beans are a must. Thick and flavorful and delicious, these beans mean business. A smoked and beans is all you'll need to become a believer that Payne's is among the best of Memphis. read more

Simple place with excellent BBQ. Try the beans!

Forget any top 10 local BBQ list in the US that doesn't include Payne's. By far the best BBQ sandwich in Memphis and I'd put it up against any other competitor out there. Go for the medium sauce and get extra napkins - you're going to need it! read more

I'll start by saying that I am spoiled rotten with the Memphis BBQ scene. I thought this place was pretty weak compared to the heavy hitters like BBQ shop, showboat and Memphis BBQ. I was uncomfortable with the location, it's not in a good neighborhood, but I grew up next door to the mall of murder and I eat at uncle Lou's regularly, so no biggie there. The weak part is the food and service. The cashier and food prep people were not friendly to me or my friend and seemed to be annoyed with the concept of making money (this seems to be a trend in Memphis). The well touted BBQ sandwich with the mustard slaw (what kind of self respecting southerner likes their pork BBQ sandwich without slaw??) had an overpowering vinegar flavor like their slaw and BBQ sauce were both mostly white vinegar! You know, the stuff grandma uses to clean pickle jars? It's not made to be eaten. While I know many people who just love vinegar based BBQ sauces (called basting sauces by me), this was way over the top vinegary, so it loses my vote. The meat was pretty good and was cooked almost perfectly, so that brought the review up to 3 stars. The sauce turned out to be alright as well (though heavy on vinegar... Not my fave), so the slaw was the culprit. I scraped it off my sandwich (shock! Horror!!) and it was still just another vinegar based BBQ sauce on a regular Memphis BBQ sandwich. Nothing outstanding. But again, I'm spoiled by this wonderful pork loving city and its amazing BBQ. (I sure say vinegar a lot, don't I) so feel free to check this place out if you have a love affair with vinegar, you shall not meet me there. read more

I take pride in being bold enough to eat at any "hole-in-the-wall" shack, but Payne's makes even those places look good. Run down is being generous. I saw more than one suburban family walk in, then walk right out. But the uglier the restaurant, the better the food, right!?! Well, maybe not this time. My pulled-pork sandwich was just o.k., nothing special. And the only choice of sides was beans or slaw. No fountain drinks, but a warm can of soda. All of this for $8 bucks. Come on people, we can do better than this. This place seemed to be popular with the tourists who want an authentic Memphis meal, but I'd tell them to go elsewhere. read more

Absolutely amazing. Every now and then one has a culinary revelation, when you eat something and your mouth just experiences pure happiness. For me the chopped pork sandwich at Paybe's was one of those moments. No exaggeration, it is one of the top three things I have ever eaten. I have had more tender pork, and the slaw would be "interesting" on it's own; but god as my witness the combination of all of this on a plain supermarket hamburger bun is culinary perfection. Adding to the experience for me is the atmosphere. This joint is in what used to be a service station. You walk in and there is a haze of smoke lingering. The menus is on a sign board on the floor and the walls are bare. Behind the counter is a little four burner stove from the 70's where they heat up the sauce. They chop the meat to order and pile it high on your sandwich. Payne's is the BBQ experience that i came to Memphis for....and will come back for again.... read more

I usually subscribe to the adage that if you can't say anything good about a restaurant, you should not say anything at all, however, this is my exception. On a recent cross-country trip my wife and I sought out BBQ spots...finding some excellent ones, some mediocre ones and this one which was BAD! Eating in a place that looked like it had not been cleaned since "Uncle Jack" had his 1954 chevy engine steam-cleaned didn't bother me too much. Some call it rustic, not me. We came in for the BBQ based on the plethora of excellent reviews, however, to be fair, I agree with the few negative reviews that claim otherwise. Let me get to the food. We had the jumbo pulled pork ( the ribs had another 40 minutes to smoke). The meat itself was fair to good, however, the sauce was horrible. It tasted metallic and was barely edible. Again, the sight of a dirty stove with an aluminum pot with an acidic sauce may seem rustic and quaint but not my idea of the makings of a good sauce. The beans were nothing to write home about and the mustard-based slaw was also barely edible. What gives with this slaw? Some might think this is a unique combination but so is pickle juice and ice-cream! This does not work. To call this place the best of Memphis does a disservice to patrons with taste buds that still work! It "Paynes" me to say: don't waste your time here like we did. read more

Payne's is great. Everything on their menu is good and their BBQ beans are positively the best in the Universe. I go there as often as I can. read more

I was visiting Memphis and researching all the BBQ places for the best pork sandwich and I found it at Paynes. I had a regular chopped pork sandwich and a Coke for less than $5. The meat was perfectly cooked and on a nice roll, I had the medium sauce. But it was the tangy mustard slaw that made the sandwich. Very fast friendly service. Don't let the neighborhood or look for the place stop you from trying this gem, read more

stopped in on a recent trip. the building appears a bit tired. family owned and operated, great service. they made me feel very welcome and served excellent pulled pork plate with trimmings. i would certainly buy their (mild) sauce to take. simply wonderful. serving too big, couldn't finish it read more

The real deal.On a good day they have by far the best ribs in Memphis or anywhere I have been.On a bad day the meat can be a little off.Great sauce.They are family run and very nice and friendly.I hear many rave about the sandwiches and slaw which I do not eat.Unfortunately no chicken.Closes early due to the neighborhood and cash only.Safe.Never had any problems.No panhandlers or sketchy customers like some other Memphis restaurants. read more

We went to the inner parts of Memphis for some tips from this place. I was more impressed at a customer's request for a barbecue bologna sandwich than I was of the food. To be fair, I tried it after I had Corky's. And Corky's was very delicious. When in Memphis again, I'll have to give this place another try. read more

Drove 7 hours from Dallas. My husband had the rib plate and I had the pork plate. The meat was tough. The beans and cold slaw were full of vinegar and mustard. The place was dirty. Enter the restrooms at your own risk. The people were nice. read more

I drove two days to try their chopped pork sandwich. It was worth every hour I spent in the car. If I was on death row, this would be my last meal. read more

This was my sister and I's favorite BBQ stop along our trip cross country when we ate at about five BBQ places! The spot is definitely a hole in the wall. Behind the counter where you order you can see a stove with a pot of sauce cooking right on it! I asked for the ribs, but unfortunately they said they weren't done cooking (I always take this as a good sign, I would rather a restaurant not serve food that isn't up to their standards than just serve anything, I think it speaks to the level of respect a place gives their food) Instead, I got the pork sandwich platter. The meat was tender and juicy, full of flavor and was a huge scoop! I had seconds waiting in my container after I finished my sandwhich. I got it spicy and it was definitely spicy. The beans were amazing, with little bits of crispy meat mixed in. The sauce was very mustard-y, which I loved and left a lingering taste on your tongue. If you want a real Memphis BBQ experience, skip Rendezvous and head here! read more

I had the pulled pork sandwich and it was wonderful. It was loaded with smoked pork and the relish was the best I ever had. My son had the sliced pork and he simply engulfed the sandwich. The sandwich was a meal in itself. It was worth the stop and I would highly recommend. read more

So on a road trip passing through Memphis, we had to stop to get some Memphis barbeque. A quick Yelp search and we settled on Payne's Bar-B-Que. I'm so glad we did. Set in a converted gas/service station, Payne's is a no frills type of place. It's a dark interior lit by sunlight with a walk up counter. They don't accept credit cards, so bring some cash. They don't have an extensive menu, but what they have is excellent. I recommend the chopped pork sandwich. It comes with a mustard slaw on top. I got it with the spicy sauce. This sauce combined a sweet and tangy flavor with a spiciness that complimented each other. It was an amazing combination of flavors. The beans are phenomenal. We may not have ordered enough. Finally the ribs were succulent. Again I got it spicy. The Mustard slaw was great on the sandwich, it lent itself to the overall experience, but alone it might be a little too much unless you just love mustard. I can't wait until my next road trip through Memphis. read more

Take a chance, get over the decor (or lack thereof) and location, bring some cash, and enjoy what real Memphis BBQ is.

Best chopped pork sandwich I've ever had. Unlike any other. Owner was also incredibly friendly. Even though I'm not a local, the place and the sandwich itself felt absolutely authentic. read more

I lived in Memphis for 10 years and this is the best BBQ in town. I have eaten at over 30 bbq joints in Memphis. The sliced pork sandwich is the best in the country. The honey mustard based coleslaw is a great blend with the pork and sauce. I can say I have honestly eaten there over 100 times and have never had a bad experience. Payne's is always my 1st stop after I leave the airport. You can even buy a t-shirt that smell almost as good as the smoked pork read more

This is clearly the best in Memphis, which is saying a lot.My favorite way -- get take-out for a gathering. Go and ask for chopped meat for 8 sandwiches. They give you a trays of meat and slaw, and a bottle of hot bar-b-que sauce. Get beans, too. Go home, make the 8 sandwiches -- you should have tons of extra meat left over. read more

Payne's is a great place in a not so great location. I avoided this area for a while (even though I live by it) Big mistake! The sandwiches here are great! Its a little different from some of the other places around Memphis- vinegar based slaw and the BBQ is a little different too. Lots of food for the price. But come early because I think the restaurant closes at 5. The atmosphere of the place is great but its worth it! read more

I am pleased with the chopped plate. The pork was very good, as well as the beans and the mustard slaw was very tasty.

After reading the other reviews I decided to try it.I had the hot jumbo pork sand witch.I must admit it was very good,the bread was fresh and the meat was tender ,the sandwitch was soooo good,and it was very filling. I also had a beef hot dog I was disappointed ,it wasn't anything to write home about.yes I would eat here again. read more

We stopped on our way south on I/55. Pulled pork was decent. Really enjoyed the tamale and beans.

The absolute best BBQ sandwich in the BBQ Capital. The place is nothing to look at, but it is clean and the food is superb!

I came as a result of a recommendation. I got the chunk pork and was sad that I hadn't asked without sauce. Actually since I had gotten to Memphis all the barbecue came dry so that was what I expected. The sauce was way too sweet and messed with the flavor of the pork. The slaw was interesting with yellow mustard added-an acquired taste, I am sure. The baked beans were the best part-amazing with big chunks of bacon. Sketchy surroundings, but the price was really low. So, if you like sweet sauce and are on a budget, this is your place. read more

Outstanding!!! Get over the building, get over the neighborhood, taste is everything and this business has it! The smoked balogna sandwich and the ribs were flavorful and tasty. it hit the spot for us and they were so nice, we took their picture and put it on Facebook along with a picture of our food. Will be back next time we are in Memphis. read more

Best chopped pork sandwich in Memphis. I always take out of town visitors here for it. A unique experience. Can't comment on other items as I can't bring myself to order anything else. read more

I have been a fan of Payne's since 1973. I now live in Texas but as soon as I cross the bridge from Arkansas, I head straight there for my chopped shoulder and smoked sausage fix. The best I've ever had. read more

Ok. I live in Virginia and love smoked pork whether a butt or ribs. I love Lexington (NC) style, especially the orgiinal Lexington BBQ and Kings in Petersburg, VA. I read about Payne's in this summer's Southern Living and added it to my Restaurant category in my Outlook Contacts. Flew in today and checked to see where I was going to have dinner and picked Payne's. I went early not realizing that they close at 6PM. Walked in at 5:40 and no one was there. Figured I had driven 10 miles so what the heck. Ordered the chopped pork sandwich and backed beans and had my choice of tables. By the way, disregard the look of the place. Come on in! I can honestly say that this was the BEST chopped pork BBQ sandwich I have ever eaten and it was overflowing with the pork. I chose the medium sauce and noted that the pork was topped with what looked like slaw. It was slaw but it was unlike any slaw I have ever eaten. Delicious! The beans were great too. I classified the sandwich as a 4 napkin sandwich which is good. If you are hungry and within 50 miles, make the trip. I can't wait to get back! read more

Great place....relatively cheap for the size of portion and quality of food...my friend had a chopped barbeque sandwich and I had a slab of ribs....yummy.....going back ... read more