Chopped pork and mustard slaw perfection
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.
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Selection follows the published criteria; Payne's Bar-B-Q met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Memphis since 1972 — 53 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Memphis.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Memphis has kept Payne's Bar-B-Q busy for 53 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Memphis regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best barbecue sandwich in Memphis for 2025 for a chopped pork sandwich with neon mustard slaw that has ended arguments since 1972.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
The details, verified.
- Legal / trading name
- Payne's Bar-B-Q
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1972, Memphis, TN
- Location
- Memphis, TN
- Centurion Award
- Best Barbecue Sandwich in Memphis — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
Frequently asked questions.
What is Payne's Bar-B-Q?
Family-run since 1972 in a converted gas station, Payne's chopped pork sandwich with mustard slaw is a Memphis benchmark.
Is Payne's Bar-B-Q award-winning?
Yes — Payne's Bar-B-Q is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Barbecue Sandwich in Memphis, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best barbecue sandwich in Memphis for 2025 for a chopped pork sandwich with neon mustard slaw that has ended arguments since 1972.
Where is Payne's Bar-B-Q?
Payne's Bar-B-Q is in Memphis, TN.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Barbecue Sandwich in Memphis Memphis, TN · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Payne's Bar-B-Q
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Payne's Bar-B-Q (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear.
Own this business? Claim the listing for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.