05/08/2023
WHO HAS THE BEST BBQ IN MEMPHIS?
This is not a popularity contest.
Keep reading to be a judge.
Just for the fun of it, let’s all be Memphis BBQ judges.
How It Started
As a multi-certified food competition judge that’s judged over 300 sanctioned food contests in 31 years, I get asked that question frequently. “Who has the best BBQ in Memphis?”
For one thing, that’s a very subjective question since everyone has different opinions and preferences, and, we all taste different things.
Secondly, you would have to try ALL of them to know and keep records using your judging criteria BEFORE you can award one of them your personal “Best BBQ in Memphis” trophy. With well over 100 restaurants specializing in BBQ in the Memphis area, I might recommend you start with a list of 15 or 20 that receive honorable mentions in this post or, add your own and compare each restaurant based on Ribs and Pulled Pork as separate categories.
Scoring from 1-5 (5 is the highest)
Start with a 5 for each and deduct points as shown below.
Date:
Restaurant Name
Must be located in the Memphis local vicinity.
Category
Ribs
Pulled Pork
Appearance (how good it looks)
Deduct 1-5 points
Tenderness/Texture (dry, mushy, or moist.). “Falling off the bone”is NOT Tender. It’s overcooked. Anyone can do that. Deduct 1-5 points for that. Ripping or cutting ribs apart means there tough and undercooked. A gentle tear is Tender.
Flavor
In Professional BBQ contests, BBQ is smoked pork. Beef brisket or Chicken can be added to your categories and judged separately against all other brisket and chicken you’ve judged in each of your restaurants. See how many flavors you can identify and ask yourself if they are balanced equally, OR, is one dominant like too spicy, too sweet, too much tomato or vinegar, or, too fruity, or not much flavor at all. The most important of all flavors is Smoke. In Memphis, if you cannot taste the smoke, is it real BBQ? The meat should be judged first without any sauce. Then, with sauce. Is the sauce balanced? Or, does it have a dominant flavor(s)? It is NOT “All About the Sauce” if it’s a BBQ competition. Sauce is a separate category. How well does the sauce compliment the meat?
Overall Impression
That’s Appearance, Tenderness, and Flavor all combined to make its best impression on you only, and not others with you. This is your Total Score.
Service is not being judged, but, feel free to leave a score for that, too.
Now that you have the informed basics, go out and start judging. Take lots of notes and one photo and let us what you think and who your favorite is. Happy judging and please tip your servers!
RULES
Be polite at all times y’all.
Rudeness, disrespect, and profanity will get you blocked permanently.
Chuck Averwater
Founder and Administrator
COPY BELOW AND PASTE THIS IN YOUR POST
DATE:
RESTAURANT
Which Location if more than 1.
RIBS: (Yes or No)
PULLED PORK: (Yes or No)
APPEARANCE OF MEAT:
TENDERNESS/TEXTURE:
FLAVOR:
OVERALL IMPRESSION: (Total Points)
SERVICE (Optional)
Add One Photo
COMMENTS:
