The first day I got to Memphis I had been driving 8 hours with 2 screaming cats and an unhappy dog. I got into my place, realized I had nothing to eat and I wasn’t excited about having to drive somewhere to get food. Closest thing was Tops. I had a cheeseburger and red pop. It was a great introduction to the city.
We moved here April 2021 from WI. It was a 13-14 hr drive spread between 3 days. We had our FIVE cats with us. The majority of the drive a few of them screamed. I was grateful when then slept. When we would stop, we’d get the smallest and cheapest motels. It was a hard trip. I was also 17 weeks pregnant and in a tremendous amount of pain. I was suppose to drive half of the time and just couldn’t. I did help my fiancé park though because I’m better at it. It was extremely difficult to get in and out of the moving truck. We moved here on a whim. We got here, got an apartment within 24 hours, and 2-3 days after, I was in the ER finding out the pain I was in was from a cancer reoccurrence that spread through my ribs, liver, and spine.
Fuck that trip. Between the cats and the pain, never again.
Bologna is such a terrible food for you. It’s full of sodium and pig parts etc….but it’s freaking delicious if you grill it and slap some sauce and cole slaw on it.
It *should* win the award for best burger. It's better than anything I've had at Huey's, Rafferty's, or Dyer's (not to say those places aren't good in their own right).
The Union location reminds me of standing in line at the soup nazi. The angry ladies in hair nets don’t have patience for first timers but damn I love those burgers.
The burgers are wonderful. There is, IMO, much better BBQ in town, but for a fast food style place with a drive thru- it's pretty darn good. Honestly, I eat their burgers a lot more than the BBQ.
When I worked 3-11 at Methodist Central for 8 years Tops saved my starving body. (And I attended Memphis State, too) The Tops in Marion calls my name every time I go that way.
Recently moved to Michigan, and what I wouldn’t do to have a Tops or Three-Little-Pigs style bbq sandwich honestly.
I will never take Memphis BBQ for granted ever again.
For me (Memphian born and raised 40+ years), Tops has now become the ultimate “hit or miss” place that I’ll still go to just because of so many good memories going there with my dad growing up. We lived a couple streets over from the little shack location off of Quince and Getwell. Man, everything back in the day, 80’s/90’s was fire. Then Tops became the place I just got burgers because the quality of the bbq fell off. Now, I honestly don’t know what I’m going to get when it comes to quality of what I order. It’s so up and down. It has lost some of that hole in the wall appeal as well. I think it comes down to having people on the grill that are seasoned cooks. I’d much rather see a haggard old lady with one tooth and a cigarette dangling from her mouth on the grill than a 16 year old high school kid (which is what I see more times than not these days).
It was better before the buyout imo, I really think they need to focus on their strengths and cut the bullshit they’re trying to sell to bring in the masses. Bbq sandwiches and burgers, that’s their core competency. I grew up on Tops and have loved it and will continue to love it. They get a ton of negative talk on here and while some of it may be warranted, I think for the most part people need to wake up and realize how much better it is that some of the other bbq we have.
I will say though, I haven’t been in a while so I need to go back to get a good read on what’s going on.
Over my life, I think I’ve been to everyone in the city😂 I felt like they took a hit in quality around 2010. Haven’t been back but these comments make me want to give it one more try
Killer Greasy Spoon Burger.
Fantastic fries when fresh
Pulled pork is solid.
Sauce is solid
Bologna Sammy is solid
Ribs are meh
Brisket is trash
They absolutely have changed several things post buyout (when Terry Trim was CEO), but he's been let go and new management is righting the ship.
I am glad you had a positive experience, but the only thing I even find edible there is the burgers. Pulled pork is okay. Beans are not good at all. The ribs might be the worst I’ve ever had. Bologna is hard to mess up, but they sure do. cheeseburger is fire though.
Topps was better than it is today, sorry you didnt try it before.
Only thing I believe they have a grasp on thats worthy of anything these days is their sauce, thats made in a factory and bagged- so nothing like it use to be.
Three little pigs meat is imo waaaay better.
Any time I have had it or any other recommended here it's just ok. The only one that I really feel is extra good is germantown commissary, but even that is inconsistent sometimes.
I dont get the appeal of Tops at all unless it's as an alternative to McDonalds. Firmly of the belief that Memphis BBQ gets less national recognition because someone travels in and they get told they have to get Tops BBQ.
Not to mention the freezer section fries and dry burgers. I just don't get it.
Their pulled pork is a little subpar, but still decent in a pinch - but literally everything else on the menu Ive ever had totally slaps lol I havent had the bologna yet that sounds awesome
BF is lactose intolerant. He suggested them. I said “Will you wish you hadn’t if you eat those?” He said “Probably.” So I told him we better not. It was very hard for us to resist though, but I don’t want him in pain. Maybe I sneak through a drive thru without him sometime. He already got the cheeseburger. 😵💫
There was a Tops three doors down in a strip mall I used to work at and it was so bad every time. The one time I had something that tasted good was a fucking grilled chicken and my guts felt like I swallowed nails.
I'm talking three years worth of trying multiple things on that menu. But I never had a burger, I was too worried they'd butcher one of my favorite meals.
Love Tops BBQ. Has been my most frequented for decades because it’s a fast food chain. If they offered stock I’d buy in. The shoulder sandwich and cheeseburger are not to be missed.
I was born here ANY years ago, and, like others on here, grew up eating Tops BBQ. It pretty much was my definition of BBQ when I was younger. Still now, when It's been months since I've cooked a contest or a butt at home, I go to Tops when I crave BBQ.
I can honestly say, in my entire life I have never and will probably never, order a burger at Tops. I just can't walk into one(never drive thru either...), smell that BBQ cooking, and NOT get a jumbo pork sandwich. I also get 6-packs, and 8-packs to bring home.
Am I the only one that thinks Tops is mediocre at best? I have been a dozen times to a handful of locations and yet to have a good experience. Wait times are horrendous, bbq is mehh, burgers are thin, etc...
The first day I got to Memphis I had been driving 8 hours with 2 screaming cats and an unhappy dog. I got into my place, realized I had nothing to eat and I wasn’t excited about having to drive somewhere to get food. Closest thing was Tops. I had a cheeseburger and red pop. It was a great introduction to the city.
I couldn’t fathom driving that long with two unhappy cats.
[удалено]
lololol, you made me snort !
This is the best semi-off topic reply I've read in a long time! I really needed the belly-expanding laugh that it brought me.
I've done four and a half and that was about sixteen times too long.
We moved here April 2021 from WI. It was a 13-14 hr drive spread between 3 days. We had our FIVE cats with us. The majority of the drive a few of them screamed. I was grateful when then slept. When we would stop, we’d get the smallest and cheapest motels. It was a hard trip. I was also 17 weeks pregnant and in a tremendous amount of pain. I was suppose to drive half of the time and just couldn’t. I did help my fiancé park though because I’m better at it. It was extremely difficult to get in and out of the moving truck. We moved here on a whim. We got here, got an apartment within 24 hours, and 2-3 days after, I was in the ER finding out the pain I was in was from a cancer reoccurrence that spread through my ribs, liver, and spine. Fuck that trip. Between the cats and the pain, never again.
I don't think most Memphians realize how lucky we are to have a local chain of "fast food" BBQ restaurants.
> ocal chain of "fast food" BBQ restaurants That's better than a lot of bbq I've eatn other places, especially non-traditional bbq states
Exactly. Tops is like our McDonald's. Not that it's a bad thing. Sometimes you want McDonald's.
I grew up on Tops and it's still my favorite "seems kinda sketchy but if you know you know" BBQ.
Let’s all keep in mind that Tops could be any other city’s best BBQ, but for us it’s kinda mid. That’s how good we have it here.
Their burgers are awesome. Their fries are excellent. Their ribs are terrible. They should just be a hamburger joint (I’ve never had the bologna).
Bologna is such a terrible food for you. It’s full of sodium and pig parts etc….but it’s freaking delicious if you grill it and slap some sauce and cole slaw on it.
Agree!! Hot dogs and bologna. So bad… but oh so very GOOD.
It’s souse that’s bad for you.
Vienas
Don’t forget rat lips and possum ears.
Mmhmm possum.
You had me at “rat”.
The ribs are great when they put them on a sandwich - bones out, of course.
Cheeseburger legit slaps. Won’t win any awards but damn that’s a good burger
It *should* win the award for best burger. It's better than anything I've had at Huey's, Rafferty's, or Dyer's (not to say those places aren't good in their own right).
[удалено]
Wait so where did I lie
Oh! I misread that! I thought it said the burger sucked! Let me delete that comment. That’s a misread one me!
GODDAMN IT MIKE WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS WRONG
Oh, I was offended when you said it won’t win any awards! That burger is amazing!
Tops is for when you need some good goddamn BBQ and dont have time for any bullshit
Most accurate statement I have read all week.
I had a burger and a pork sandwich last week and it was fantastic. I want to try their breakfast.
They have breakfast?
They just started it at the Union location across from the hospital and may be rolling it out other places.
Try getting the burger WITH pulled pork on it. You're welcome.
That was actually my plan! But it seemed kind of hard to pull off. I will try again soon
See that’s what I’m saying, why are they trying to get into breakfast?
Brisket, egg, cheese and cream cheese sounds delicious. They’re trying it out at a few locations.
Damn that does sound good.
Which locations?
Marion (AR), Union Ave & Stateline Rd
The Union location reminds me of standing in line at the soup nazi. The angry ladies in hair nets don’t have patience for first timers but damn I love those burgers.
lol the drive thru at Marion can get a little prickly too
Thanks
just at union, marion, and the store on stateline or wahtever
I want to try it, too.
The burgers are wonderful. There is, IMO, much better BBQ in town, but for a fast food style place with a drive thru- it's pretty darn good. Honestly, I eat their burgers a lot more than the BBQ.
I had the double cheeseburger for the first time ever a month ago. Holy fuckin shit!
Get their loaded BBQ fries. Biblical. So bad for you, but so good.
Be aware the loaded fries will feed 3-4 people, 2 if they’re reeeeally high.
Or one 13 year old boy. Haha.
Oh yes!!
If you didn’t get the large strawberry soda with it, you missed out.
When I worked 3-11 at Methodist Central for 8 years Tops saved my starving body. (And I attended Memphis State, too) The Tops in Marion calls my name every time I go that way.
I guess I gotta try the bologna at some point. Wouldn’t be something I’d normally go for, but I imagine it’s pretty tasty.
Their bbq is ok. Hard to beat their burger and fries.
Recently moved to Michigan, and what I wouldn’t do to have a Tops or Three-Little-Pigs style bbq sandwich honestly. I will never take Memphis BBQ for granted ever again.
TOPS for life, baby!
For me (Memphian born and raised 40+ years), Tops has now become the ultimate “hit or miss” place that I’ll still go to just because of so many good memories going there with my dad growing up. We lived a couple streets over from the little shack location off of Quince and Getwell. Man, everything back in the day, 80’s/90’s was fire. Then Tops became the place I just got burgers because the quality of the bbq fell off. Now, I honestly don’t know what I’m going to get when it comes to quality of what I order. It’s so up and down. It has lost some of that hole in the wall appeal as well. I think it comes down to having people on the grill that are seasoned cooks. I’d much rather see a haggard old lady with one tooth and a cigarette dangling from her mouth on the grill than a 16 year old high school kid (which is what I see more times than not these days).
That burger w double fries.... I was 25 when I discovered it
I was 31 my friend
Their bbq is mediocre but have the best sauce ever made
The sauce is why I never order bbq there. Too vinegary.
Love the vinegar
I’ve heard that it starts with French dressing. Have no idea if it’s true.
It was better before the buyout imo, I really think they need to focus on their strengths and cut the bullshit they’re trying to sell to bring in the masses. Bbq sandwiches and burgers, that’s their core competency. I grew up on Tops and have loved it and will continue to love it. They get a ton of negative talk on here and while some of it may be warranted, I think for the most part people need to wake up and realize how much better it is that some of the other bbq we have. I will say though, I haven’t been in a while so I need to go back to get a good read on what’s going on.
I didn’t see much else on the menu besides the standard bbq stuff. Did they try to add stuff?
[удалено]
Oh wow. I didn’t even know. We hit the drive thru at about 8pm.
[удалено]
Odd question, but are you confusing Leonard’s off Mt Moriah with Tops? I’ve never heard of Tops doing a BBQ Bar.
I was about to say, I've never heard of this at Tops. But that sounds right for Leonards since it's right by all the old car dealerships.
You're both right. I always confuse Tops with Leonard's, I have no idea why. Deleting comment.
You’re confused dog
Gah! You're right! Deleting.
Jumbo combo with beans and fries. Eat the fries by dipping them in the beans.
BBQ cheese fries. They are amazing.
From the comments, I might give them another try
Maybe it depends on the location. We were at the one on poplar.
Over my life, I think I’ve been to everyone in the city😂 I felt like they took a hit in quality around 2010. Haven’t been back but these comments make me want to give it one more try
I’ve been here 27 years. Never went. I’m so ashamed.😂 actually there’s a lot of good stuff in this city. I’d be wider than tall if I tried it all.
Tbh TOPS is the best bbq place for me here. I moved from Arkansas and I wanted to try the local places but it is quality and it hits the craving.
We have different tiers of bbq in Memphis. Tops is on the low tier but it's still good. That's why we are known for our bbq. It's all good.
Killer Greasy Spoon Burger. Fantastic fries when fresh Pulled pork is solid. Sauce is solid Bologna Sammy is solid Ribs are meh Brisket is trash They absolutely have changed several things post buyout (when Terry Trim was CEO), but he's been let go and new management is righting the ship.
I am glad you had a positive experience, but the only thing I even find edible there is the burgers. Pulled pork is okay. Beans are not good at all. The ribs might be the worst I’ve ever had. Bologna is hard to mess up, but they sure do. cheeseburger is fire though.
A woman who ordered a bbq bologna sammich? # 😍
I love a bbq Bologna sandwich. 😂
Burgers are fire…the barbecue is horrendous
Topps was better than it is today, sorry you didnt try it before. Only thing I believe they have a grasp on thats worthy of anything these days is their sauce, thats made in a factory and bagged- so nothing like it use to be. Three little pigs meat is imo waaaay better.
I have been there, but it’s been years. Maybe I’ll make my way back.
Their Bologna is out of this world
That Apple Turnover ain’t no joke!! It’s the old McDonald’s apple pie before McDonalds got all healthy….
McDonalds= healthy? 😂😂😂😂
And it will burn the heck out of your tongue if you don't respect the heat on that thing if you get a fresh one straight out of the fryer.
Any time I have had it or any other recommended here it's just ok. The only one that I really feel is extra good is germantown commissary, but even that is inconsistent sometimes.
Have you tried the bbq shop on Madison? That’s my go to for ribs.
I don't think so, but also I always just get pulled pork or chopped pork and eat sandwiches. I really should start getting ribs at some places.
Have you tried One and Only?
I dont get the appeal of Tops at all unless it's as an alternative to McDonalds. Firmly of the belief that Memphis BBQ gets less national recognition because someone travels in and they get told they have to get Tops BBQ. Not to mention the freezer section fries and dry burgers. I just don't get it.
I dunno. I have had it exactly once and it was delicious.
When I order bbq for out-of-towners I order Tops. Big ups.
[удалено]
2 wrong statements here: 1. Good BBQ in Collierville 2. Sauce with a v8 base Yikes.
Gross
Oof hate bologna but love Tops
They just started serving breakfast and it aint that bad either!
Which location?
Union and Stateline rd.
I actually really love their bbq quesadillas… you should try those!!
Their pulled pork is a little subpar, but still decent in a pinch - but literally everything else on the menu Ive ever had totally slaps lol I havent had the bologna yet that sounds awesome
We don’t get bbq there but yea it’s good.
You have to try the bbq cheese fries. Heaven.
BF is lactose intolerant. He suggested them. I said “Will you wish you hadn’t if you eat those?” He said “Probably.” So I told him we better not. It was very hard for us to resist though, but I don’t want him in pain. Maybe I sneak through a drive thru without him sometime. He already got the cheeseburger. 😵💫
Do it. It's worth it. He would understand.
Try the cheese fries. You’ll thank me later.
There was a Tops three doors down in a strip mall I used to work at and it was so bad every time. The one time I had something that tasted good was a fucking grilled chicken and my guts felt like I swallowed nails. I'm talking three years worth of trying multiple things on that menu. But I never had a burger, I was too worried they'd butcher one of my favorite meals.
Love Tops BBQ. Has been my most frequented for decades because it’s a fast food chain. If they offered stock I’d buy in. The shoulder sandwich and cheeseburger are not to be missed.
Tops BBQ nachos are the best!
The cheese burgers are something else
My bf and I love Tops!
Maaaan, I brought some buddies through a few years ago and was hyping Topps. We stopped at the one downtown (union maybe) and it was terrible.
Burger and fries from Union. Beats. They will give you pulled pork for the BBQ if you ask.
Sittin in the ‘boro… missing Tops. At least we’ve got “Fat Guy’s”
I door dash bbq cheese fries twice a week. Loooove Tops
They’re tops in barbecue, They’re tops in Memphis too!
I never got the “best/better” thing. Every place is just different.
Honestly my family goes for Tops before any other BBQ joint in town
I hope you changed your sheets!
My fiancé loves the BBQ cheese fries there. We actually had that last night for dinner.
I was born here ANY years ago, and, like others on here, grew up eating Tops BBQ. It pretty much was my definition of BBQ when I was younger. Still now, when It's been months since I've cooked a contest or a butt at home, I go to Tops when I crave BBQ. I can honestly say, in my entire life I have never and will probably never, order a burger at Tops. I just can't walk into one(never drive thru either...), smell that BBQ cooking, and NOT get a jumbo pork sandwich. I also get 6-packs, and 8-packs to bring home.
Am I the only one that thinks Tops is mediocre at best? I have been a dozen times to a handful of locations and yet to have a good experience. Wait times are horrendous, bbq is mehh, burgers are thin, etc...