Elwood's Shack — Restaurant in Memphis

Our quest for barbecue throughout our trip to Nashville and Memphis gave us an unexpected turn here at Elwood's Shack, in that it wasn't on the list of places to try my partner put together before our arrival. Good thing. Apparently well known with the locals, it has more positive reviews from customers than negative ones. We found it searching on our phone as we were in the area.

Reading what some people wrote about the actual structure, we didn't know how much of a shack it would be, so driving up curbside, we thought it was fine. Obviously, it's not going to be a building that houses fine dining. Because it was March, they had plastic siding around the outdoor seating area with picnic tables, to keep out the cool temperatures and wind.

We went inside, stood in line and ordered off the menu posted above the counter. There are lots of fun things to look at while you wait - nostalgic posters, name brand products to purchase, amusing wall decor.

I had read in one online review someone loved their fish taco, and since I haven't really had a good one since leaving CA, I had my mind set on ordering this for my lunch. My partner wanted more ribs, wings and the like, so he got a large sampler dish.

The fish taco was amazing. I asked for shrimp as it was on the menu, but the staff confirming I wanted a fish taco with smiles, they apparently gave me whatever they had fresh that day, so mine had salmon. Delicious. Beautifully browned and crispy flour tortilla with arugula mixed greens.

The mixed grill plate which they call "Elwood's Shaq Attack" had pluses and minuses. We were happy to have the choice of ordering the ribs wet, as we'd had only dry ribs up until this point which were consistently very thick and sandy. These were moist and flavorful. The spicy jerk chicken wings were also good. The beef brisket served in a little Styrofoam cup didn't look like much but it was succulent. The chicken leg didn't appear or taste fresh nor did the pulled pork. The sides that came with the meal - Texas toast, potato salad and slaw were all fine.

As with any eatery, knowing what to order that is to your liking is key. After eating here this one time, we know what we would order again and know that we would eat here often if we had the opportunity. I could eat one of their fish tacos easily more than...

“Elwood’s Shack held me when my ex ghosted my birthday… and it took care of my emotional calories too.”

I came to Elwood’s Shack two weeks after a breakup so messy my therapist refused to pick up anymore. Everything felt empty—my messages, my fridge, my will to care. Then I tried the brisket taco.

That brisket taco isn’t just tacos—it’s a melody on a tortilla. Smoked beef so rich you briefly forget you’re single, and slathered with horseradish sauce sharp as your ex’s last text. I didn’t just eat it; I committed. I texted every friend who ghosted me: “Best taco of my life.” No reply—but that taco never ghosted me.

Opened on Summer Avenue, Elwood’s Shack is a Memphis hole-in‑the‑wall turned sanctuary. Their meats—from pulled pork to ribs—are slow-cooked in a barrel smoker and deliver a smoky hug in every bite  . Locals rave about the brisket, calling it “off the charts good” and worth every crumb .

Everything else—BBQ pizza, Seattle dog, Reuben, burritos—has its own cult following. The brisket burrito, jam-packed with eggs, jalapeños, potatoes, cheese, and pork, is chaos in a flour tortilla and yes, worth the grease spot on your shirt . And fish tacos and pulled pork tacos? Legendary. Redditors keep coming back for those alone .

At Elwood’s, the staff actually cares. On one visit, a worried manager inspected a plate and brought out a fresh one just to make sure it was “right.” That’s not customer care—that’s emotional healing hardware .

By the end of my meal, I wasn’t just full—I was healed. The queso, the smoke, the laughter of strangers biting into something they believed in—it patched up something in me. I sat in that quirky, shrine-like shack, fork in hand, and realized: I’m not okay—but this food… this food is damn near close.

Would I go back? In a heartbeat. I’m broken, but in Elwood’s I find something real. Something that won’t leave without...

Elwood’s is very highly rated, and its location and appearance certainly fit the bill. I mean, good Que should come from a shack-right? However, the first clue that appearances can be deceiving came when the young lady at the counter stated that their favorite dish were the fish Tacos. Huh? Then she did not know which type of rib they served. As it turned out, Elwood’s, like every other Memphis BBQ restaurant we visited serves Baby Back Ribs. I prefer spare ribs, they are meatier and seem to retain the smoke better.

Elwood’s BB ribs are unlike any other BB I have eaten. It looks like they retained a portion of the loin on top making them the meatiest BB ribs ever. The meat was indeed “fall off the bone” tender but I take issue with other reviewers that this is a good thing. First, any rib whose meat falls off the bone is just pulled pork. Ribs are meant to be eaten on the bone; there should be a good chew and only the meat you bite should come off. Here one bite deboned the whole rib. Second, fall off the bone usually means one of two things; either the meat was boiled first of it was overcooked and/or has been sitting around for a while. Neither is my idea of a well-cooked rib. The ribs did have a nice smoke ring. The bark was dark with a dusting of rub which reminded me of Old Bay Seasoning-salty with late heat. Unfortunately, they were a little too salty for my taste. The bark was also a little tough with a jerky like consistency.

My wife had the pulled pork. Unfortunately, the meat was dry and the bark even tougher than the ribs.

For sides we had the cole slaw and potato salad. The potato salad was yellow indicating mustard base but both it and the slaw had more of a pickling spice flavor, salty and vinegary.

I had high hopes for Elwood’s but Memphis has...