This Mississippi Town is Home to Some of the South’s Best BBQ
Barbecue fans, this delightful Southern city has some of the South's best 'cue. Here's where to get your BBQ fix in Tupelo.
May is National Barbecue Month, and since the South is the birthplace of BBQ, weβre excited to point you in the direction of some of the Southβs most progressive barbecue offerings. Youβll find them in Tupelo, Mississippi (aka the birthplace of Elvis), which is garnering quite a bit of attention for its progressive barbecue scene.
When youβre ready to get your βcue fix, head to Tupelo. Here are six great barbecue stops that will scratch that BBQ itch!
Clayβs House of Pig
Located in a still-operating bait and tackle shop, Clayβs House of Pig, dubbed C.H.O.P. by Tupelo locals, is known for serving some of Mississippiβs best barbecue. Made from scratch daily, Clayβs in known for its generations-old βBBQ Tatersβ recipe, which features a baked potato topped with slow-roasted pulled pork, queso, slaw and jalapenos. And if you need proof itβs some of the best in town, arrive early because Clayβs sells out every day around 2 p.m.
Kermitβs Outlaw Kitchen
Kermitβs Outlaw Kitchen is a locally owned and operated farm-to-table restaurant that pays tribute to βThe Kingβ with their signature Elvisβ Coal Roasted Banana Boat. The grilled dessert features a whole banana, chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers and honey. (Sounds like an Elvis craving, doesnβt it?) Wrapped in foil and tossed in the wood burning grill, this treat is served with sweet magnolia gelato.
Neon Pig
Neon Pig is a funky restaurant and butcher shop that features fresh cuts of the day, self-serve craft brews by the bottle and a variety of local goods for sale. Although itβs not technically barbecue, the restaurantβs famous Smash Burger is considered βBest Burger in Americaβ and features a combination of aged filet, ribeye, sirloin, New York and Bentonβs bacon ground together and served on a ciabatta bun with bacon bits, cheddar cheese, onion and a special sauce. (Yes, seriously.)
Blue Canoe
Blue Canoe is known as Tupeloβs home for original live music, but itβs also a tasty destination for top-notch Southern fare. Their decadent menu runs the gamut β everything from sliders and sandwiches to burgers and craft beer on tap. Mondays are especially intriguing as Blue Canoe offers up 50-cent wings every Monday with the purchase of a drinks.
BBQ by Jim
BBQ by Jim takes its passion for BBQ quite seriously, as the website says βThere is no love more sincere than the love of BBQ.β We tend to agree! BBQ by Jim serves up drool-worthy BBQ thatβs made exclusively from Boston Butts (thatβs the front shoulders for pulled pork), and what butchers call βthe St. Louis styleβ for ribs, where the meat is thick and well-marbled. A quick tour of the menu reveals an abundance of options in addition to BBQ β including pie β chocolate, lemon, peanut butter and caramel.
Cafe 212
Not all βcue is created equal β nor is it all made of meat! For the non-meat-eaters, check outΒ CafΓ© 212, which features a grilled sandwich thatβs meaty β but meat-free! The βPleasantville,β as the sandwich is called, features a thick portabella mushroom as the star of the show. And rest assured, if youβre dining among carnivores, there are plenty of options for them at Cafe 212 as well.
Enjoy you barbecue adventures!
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Find more great Southern dining destinations in our βFood & Diningβ section. Click HERE and prepare to drool!
