Best Barbecue Sandwich in Memphis · Memphis, TN
Payne's Bar-B-Q, family-run since 1972 out of a converted Lamar Avenue filling station, makes what many Memphians consider the city's definitive chopped-pork sandwich: smoky shoulder piled on a bun, dressed with mustard slaw and a tangy-hot sauce.
Bare-bones, cash-friendly, and beloved, Payne's is a purist's barbecue joint — no frills, no fuss, just one of the great pork sandwiches in a city that takes the subject seriously.
Each Centurion Award is a dated record tied to one year’s evaluation — earned annually, never carried over. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
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This page is the standing record for Payne's Bar-B-Q (2025). It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed.
If you’ve put in the years, you may already clear the bar. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.