4. Restaurants

Tops Bar-B-Q

4183 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN, 38122
  • (901) 324-4325
  • Store is closed

Tops Bar-B-Q Menu

  • Sandwiches
  • Sandwich Combos
  • Plates
  • Other Special Items
  • Ribs
  • Side Orders

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tops Bar-B-Q

  • Sandwiches
  • Sandwich Combos
  • Plates
  • Other Special Items
  • Ribs
  • Side Orders

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  • Tee C.

    I grew up on Tops BBQ and the Berclair location on Summer is by far the best one these days. The food is always hot, the service is always fast, and they always put plenty of juicy large chunks of pulled pork on your sandwich. Their beans are always very well seasoned, too. I make sure to drop by and get a jumbo pork combo with double beans every time I'm in Memphis. Oh, and they also make one of the best cheeseburgers in Memphis, too!!!

    (5)

  • Veronica L.

    The burger. For the love of all that is holy, get the burger! It's incredibly well seasoned and flavorful. The BBQ is nothing to scoff at either, but with so many other incredible options in town, it's not my first choice. The fries were so-so, a little underdone for me but not inedible. The surroundings leave something to be desired, but it's retro and cool looking if nothing else. You'll see all kinds in the dining room: families, couples, weirdos, you name it. But it's a great slice of the city at large. And be nice to the ladies working--they're sweating their butts off in that kitchen for your tastebuds!

    (3)

  • Joelle P.

    Everything you've heard about their cheeseburger is true. If I could give a 6th star to a specific food item, this would be it. That seasoning is phenomenal and while I was supposed to be sharing the cheeseburger and brisket with my boyfriend, I snarled at him, allowed him to take only one bite, and then told him to stick to the brisket. But I digress. The fries get 1 star. Heck, I'd give it no stars - I just wasn't a fan. It reminded me of those "curly" fries (that look more like dents than actual curls) that you find in the frozen food section. The baked beans were OK, not phenomenal, and the brisket, while actually very good, paled in comparison to that glorious cheeseburger (which is why I told Andy he could have the whole brisket - aren't I sweet?). Anyways, the reason I'm stuck on only 3 stars is because the cashier who took our order was the rudest woman I have ever met in my entire life. Complete with a blonde mullet and multiple ear piercings, she reminded me of the mean grandmother that lived down the street growing up. She was impatient, surly, and let out very audible sighs when I didn't spit out my order without hesitation (a thousand apologies for pausing when I was picking out my side items). I really loooove their burger, but I think I'll go to another location next time. Seeing that lady put me in a bad mood and life's just too short for that.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    Have been going to Tops all my life with my father. It brings back good memories to go in any location. There is not a better deal in BBQ. The sandwiches are great and I have been known to get a burger when the self Induced flue has set in. The picnic pack is great for parties! I tried the ribs and they were well cooked but had no seasoning. Would probably not get them again.

    (4)

  • Louie W.

    We stopped here because my husband was being nostalgic. He used to enjoy it when he was younger. He was a little disappointed, not the same (probably its because of the coleslaw). I thought it was an ok barbecue, not the best but, good.

    (3)

  • Cecil S.

    A standard in Memphis, by which I judge the consistency of all BBQ establishment, You know exactly what you're getting when you go to tops The best part to me is the owners ability to hire and retain staff for life, they treat their employees well.

    (4)

  • Candace B.

    I am a fan of Tops and have been for years. I love this location about 5 minutes from my house. Everyone here is always sure nice. They do have seating but I usually call my orders in and pick them up..the food is always waiting on me when I get there. There BBQ is great but I have to say they have one of the best cheese burgers around...and don't forget the crinkle fries. We get an order of burgers before we go out on the weekend for a late night.

    (4)

  • Debbie F.

    I have to agree they have excellent bbq. Over the years, this particular location has not been consistent in the amount of meat on the jumbo bbq. On my last visit, the amount of meat on the jumbo was more like the amount of meat that would be on a regular. It was more like a slaw sandwich with a little bbq thrown in. When questioning the size of the sandwich, the employees will tell you the owner has told those fixing the sandwiches to reduce the amount of meat in order to save money. If customers do not get the bang for their buck, I would think that would lose money by losing customers instead of saving money. I would hate to see the amount they put on the regular. Also on this last visit the only employee out front was the one fixing the orders. She had to call someone from the back, interupting her personal conversation, to take my order. While on her way out, she turned around to go back and finish the conversation before she took my order. Once she did finally come out, she began doing things behind the counter and still not taking my order. No one was manning the drive through either. The hamburgers are really good, but you have to watch the grill so they don't overcook them. They also need to cook the fries more so they aren't mushy. If you visit the one at National and Summer, you definitely get a much better sandwich and service.

    (1)

  • Elvis P.

    I don't know why, but this place is the one to go to for fast BBQ! They bust ass cooking and piling food on your plate and sometimes even the older servers tell stories of brushes with the famous!

    (3)

  • David B.

    The lady in the drive through was extremely rude to us when we had an issue with our card. She assumed that we were broke losers which is not the case. The card was not declined which simply means she just needed to swipe it again. She got a very bad attitude with us and started rushing saying "I need to know quickly" with attitude and then my wife simply said "ok we heard you" since lady screamed it at us. Then she said it was gonna charge it if we didn't tell her quickly. Which we just wanted our food and my wife was trying to log on to bank since it is odd for her to say it was charging but yet we had balance remaining which isn't the case on banks side. We were there for less than a minute. We just told her forget it and drove off- she should never be this rude to ANYONE!!!!

    (1)

  • John M.

    Good BBQ Sandwich and Cheeseburgers! Nice people and service is pretty quick. Sandwiches and fries made to order.

    (4)

  • Joseph M.

    It's pretty good.The food is ok but the drive thru is very slow.I actually like the cheese burger better than their BBQ.I eat here sometimes but I mainly go to central for bbq.The cheese burger is the only thing worth getting.

    (3)

  • Miriam S.

    One word: cheeseburger. The ONLY reason to go to Tops is the cheeseburgers. Don't waste your time on the BBQ, it's not good. Don't order fries, they are bland. The cheeseburger will change your life it is so amazing (thus the 4 stars). This location is my favorite as it looks like a step back in time to the old drive-in days and in my opinion, the food (read cheeseburgers) is best at this particular location. Service is patient, friendly, and consistent. No beer/wine. Very inexpensive. Did I mention the cheeseburgers? ;)

    (4)

  • Rodger B.

    Searching for Memphis BBQ but pressed for time? Don't worry, Tops has you taken care of. For around 5 bucks you can get a jumbo BBQ sandwich and 2 sides. I personally opted for the baked beans and the fries, both of which I doused with Tops hot bbq sauce. Went there twice in the same day the last time I was in Memphis, so that gives you an idea of the impression it had on me. So good that I bought a pound of BBQ to take with me....all the way to Columbus, OH!

    (5)

  • Michael Q.

    I have been eating here as my coworkers go there and it is okay ( although portions are tiny and prices are high ), but not after today. I was out in the good weather on my bike and pulled into Tops here on Summer to run across to the neighboring business for a powerball ticket. Now it is past lunch and well before dinner and only one red camaro was parked in the lot all other spots were empty. In maybe two minutes I had my powerball ticket. When I was getting on my bike the manager came out and asked why I parked in her lot. I said sorry if I took your space but they are all free now. She said " So you can take our spot but not theirs." I calmy explained the neighboring store has a steep lot with gravel at the entrance and it is difficult to manuver the bike so I parked there for just a minute seeing all the empty spaces. She kept on and said something like why don't you park there. I again said it is a difficult lot for a bike. Aren't we all together out there? What kind of manager bolts out to an empty lot when a guy on a bike in January parks there for just a couple minutes (and she then tries to start a conflict)? One thing Tops has never had is very upbeat employees but this takes the cake. If I needed another reason besides living longer to skip the greasy pork they serve I have it now. Maybe it is a blessing in disguise!?!

    (1)

  • Chuck B.

    Consistently good BBQ with a friendly staff at this location. The smoke from the pit rolls across Summer Ave and is irresistible. The cheeseburgers are quite good as well and Tops gets all of their meat from the local Charlie's meat market which has really good meat.

    (4)

  • Drew L.

    Pretty good brisket. Even better potato salad (mustard based) and BBQ baked beans were awesome. 4/5!

    (4)

  • Turid D.

    Believe it or not these folks make great cheese burgers. We've also enjoyed their ribs and pork BarBQ. Call your order in and pick it up at the drive through window. Easy and very reasonable.

    (4)

  • Raymond D.

    Great Memphis BBQ. Best of all bbq for breakfast. Very busy at lunch but friendly. Beans are tangy but great with the meat they put in them. Fries are good and crunchy. Not a big fan of the coleslaw I like mine a bit sweeter. So all and all good all the way round.

    (4)

  • Lisa P.

    No one beats Tops when it comes to BBQ. In a city like Memphis with so much BBQ to choose from, you would not believe that Tops comes to the top of the list with so many people. Whenever I come to Memphis, I head for Tops. This particular location is one of fond memories for me..its been there forever and I used to go to it from the time I was a little girl (I am 45)! It is definitely the best value place for BBQ in town. You can order all white meat for no extra charge and have them load it up with extra sauce and extra coleslaw like I do. Their sauce is the best around, not sweet like a lot of other places, but it definitely has a kick. The bbq beans, slaw, and potato salad is definitely the best. The people who work there have been there many years and are good at what they do and are also very nice. I go here whenever I get the chance!

    (5)

  • Hayes H.

    THEY MICROWAVE their ribs... What a shame. It would be 5 stars if not for that

    (3)

  • George T.

    Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Great Ribs and Pulled Pork. When I go, I go for BBQ, but I have also been told that their burgers are out of sight as well. This place is as classic as it gets. The pit is right there, and you feel like you're transformed back in the 1950's when you step inside. It's the most classic Tops in the city, and it is a must-visit!

    (5)

  • Wayne R.

    Love Jumbo bbq combo! This place is a great to get a quick to-go meal, and their shredded pork shoulder sandwhiches are awesome! I just tried their baked bean side for the first time tonight... it was great! It had pieces of shredded pork!

    (4)

  • Jerold S.

    A friend told us to stop at this location, so glad we did. WOW!! It was great. The Brisket sandwich was amazing. The cole slaw made it. Wife got me another one. We asked for extra bbq sauce on it, that's a no no. She looked at my wife and her eyes said, don't mess with perfection. LoL ahahaha the sweat tea ROCKED!! So overall, it was by far one of the best BBQ sandwiches I ever had. Can't wait to go back in a few weeks when we visit Memphis again. P.S. The other Memphis location is kinda trashy. Drive to this one. Perfect location. Love TOPS BBQ MEMPHIS

    (5)

  • Mitch B.

    Tops is what I love about regional BBQ. I roll into Tops starving from a flight from hell (rev to follow) and was greeted by that killer, smokey aroma and some of the friendliest service I'd had in a while. I'm checking the menu and see that there is no cut of meat listed under the BBQ menu items. Me- "Can I get the large sandwich combo with an extra sandwich? Make it sliced brisket" ( I'm from Texas so....) Nice Tops girl- "Sorry Hon. This is Tops Tennessee. The only meat we serve is pork shoulder" Sweet! Texas specializes in brisket, St. Louis does ribs, Tennessee pork shoulder! And Tops does Tennessee BBQ very well. WHEN YOU GO- everything about the sandwich is great. Lean, chopped nuggets of smoked pork shoulder with a killer slather 'o' slaw would probably satisfy the most particular BBQ fan- but I'm not done. They offer a "hot" BBQ sauce at the counter. I had to see what these folks considered hot. While food can never be too spicy for me, lemme tells ya, this sauce was HOT! Try if your brave- make sure you get the large drink if you do. Beans and more slaw were excellent sides. Decent deal as well; combo+ extra sandwich and large drink were $10...and I could'nt have eaten another bite!

    (4)

  • Katie K.

    In the mood for some bbq? I know a place that Tops it off! I had never tried Top's jst because I always go to Corky's since I see it advertised more. I decided to try something new and I will definitely be back for more! There bbq sauce is nice and tangy with lots of flavor not your typical too sweet sauce! Also, their meat was tender and the rolls were absolutely delicious! Need a party catered? Use Top's they give not only offer a good quantity but they also have great quality! The prices are affordable as well! I will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Mahendra P.

    It's called Top's for a reason. Top's is a local BBQ chain in Memphis. In total, it has about a dozen restaurants, all of which are in Memphis or a one county radius of the city. I've been to almost all of them dozens of times in total, and there are slight differences from joint to joint. But a review for one of them is almost always equivalent to a review for all of them. In terms of location and taste, Tops has the best pork BBQ sandwich in Memphis, because almost anywhere in the city, there is a Top's nearby. In terms of taste alone, it is in the top three. The key difference between Top's and other BBQ joints is that it is where Memphians actually go to all the time. You get a real sense of the people and the city, as opposed to what you get at other BBQ joints in the city, which are often tourist traps. In fact, the restaurant was voted as having the best pork BBQ sandwich in Memphis by readers of the Memphis Commercial Appeal in 2006. (The Commercial Appeal is the largest newspaper in Memphis)

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    Best BBQ for your money. You might could find some slightly better BBQ, but not for the price! I've eaten at most of Memphis's finest BBQ places and keep coming back to Tops. For me it is their sauce that makes there BBQ. The meat is good but I've had better. But for less than what you might pay at a McDonald's you can get a serious taste of Memphis!

    (5)

  • Jolynna M.

    I've reviewed several other barbecue spots in town, and wanted to be sure and include Tops, because they definitely deserve a mention. There are several locations in town, and you can always tell you're near one when you drive by and smell that wonderful BBQ smoking. I get hungry just driving by. The pork sandwiches are excellent and I always get mine with slaw (naturally) and a side of beans. Their baked barbecue beans are fantastic. The shops are all small - more like fast food joints than restaurants, So don't go for the ambiance, people. But definitely go.

    (4)

  • John G.

    To start, I am only a fan of their burger.Tried the BBQ and it wasn't happening. I am a southern California boy which means we have burger joints like Memphis has BBQ. I have tried so many places looking for that good burger that needs nothing but the lettuce, tomato, and onion. Outside of Roxies Grocery, there is no place in Memphis I would go for that burger fix than Tops. The double cheese is awesome. Next time you crave a good standard grease burger that doesn't need all the restaurant fixins try Tops.

    (4)

  • David M.

    Great place for good basic barbecue, fries and beans. The greasy cheeseburgers will make your arteries ache, but sooo worth it! Late night hang out for certain photographers, artist and production types.

    (4)

  • Shawna B.

    Good cheap authentic BBQ, got two sandwiches with the works (slaw & all) with some bangin' sides, service was quick & the ladies working there were sugary sweet. We even got a burger to go on our trip through America & ate the burger much later--guess what? It was also bangin'. Sure, you can find other BBQ in Memphis that might be tastier, but Top's is quick, delicious, & a little slice of southern kvitch.

    (4)

  • Stephen O.

    My favorite BBQ growing up, my dad took me there all the time. I love the spicy sauce (Deen is right on the money) and the regular sauce too. I buy that stuff by the pint. The jumbo pork sandwich is one of my absolute favorites in the city, and I get the "6-pack" sometimes and feed myself for three days. I do also want to give a shout out to their delicious burgers, they are amazing. My dad's favorite. Go to Tops and get a taste of local's BBQ.

    (5)

  • Mak J.

    Awesome Southern BBQ experience! Love the ambiance, or a lack thereof. Hope to go back sometime!

    (4)

  • Brian D.

    A bit of a nostalgic place for me, I don't know if it's the memories of going there with my grandfather as a child, or if it's the staff, or the food that keeps bringing me back. As a child I remember often grabbing a quick lunch with my grandfather here. (a quick note, it hasn't changed that much since the 70's, the fake tiffany lights are gone as are the really old booths, replaced by a more modern fast food look.) The staff, well, think Flo from Mel's Diner and you probably have a good image of the staff here. Friendly enough, to the point, and usually barking orders! Then there is the food. It's a different consistency sauce, think Heinz 57 sauce. But a taste that I like. The burgers are great, cooked to order, and the new menu items including the ribs are pretty darn good as well. Give them a try!

    (4)

  • Deen W.

    Thank you to whoever recommended the burger on a talk thread. That, coupled with the CA's "Best Burger" article compelled me to swing into Tops today while passing and order one of those bad boys. (Note: go in if you are ordering the burger - they are made to order and take a little longer than a standard BBQ sandwich) This burger was, as promised, so, so GOOD!!! The combo comes with 2 side items. I got the fries & baked beans. The beans were good. The fries were blah. I mean, they are just basically some cafeteria-style crinkle cut fries fried up & served. No salt. No seasoning. Tops, though, is a no-frills kind of place, so it kind of fits. I just wish they'd open one in Cordova.

    (5)

  • Anne H.

    Upon a recommendation from a co-worker who is a lifelong Memphian, I finally got the burger from tops. I hit the drive through and got the cheeseburger combo with sides of beans and slaw. The burger was good and anytime I can get bbq and a good burger through a drive-thru without firing up any kind of grill, it's a great day! Overall, definitely a good experience and I'll be trying it again!

    (4)

  • j g.

    tops is the bbq of my youth. its usually chopped- which I like. sauce is not the best but the bbq is decent and prices are right. Pig n whistle is usually what i get to feed a crowd. Better Q and still a good value. do drive through in bartlett and a 6 pack feeds at least 8-10 .

    (3)

  • Cristina H.

    i hate the sauce!!!! pleeease change it

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:30 am - 9:3

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Divey
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Tops Bar-B-Q

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