The King of Barbecue: Memphis Ranks Second in LawnStarter’s Best BBQ Cities in America List
Regarded as the heartland of smoky and tangy delicacies, Memphis has been rated the second-best city for barbecue in America in a comprehensive study conducted by LawnStarter. Despite the high ranking, a rightful sense of pettiness looms over the city as it is known for its unique and authentic barbeque.
LawnStarter’s Ranking Methodology
LawnStarter, widely recognized for its creative studies, undertook a broad survey and rating of over 500 U.S. cities and towns in terms of their barbeque reputation. The assessment was calculated based on a combination of 20 metrics split across five different categories: access, consumer satisfaction, competition awards, elite BBQ memberships, and hosting (involving competitions hosted).
Given this multifaceted ranking system, only Kansas City, Missouri managed to surpass Memphis, raising a few eyebrows among many BBQ aficionados.
A closer look at Memphis BBQ Ranking
Notably, the numerical-based rankings present a factual outcome yet a lingering feeling of a slight cannot be ignored amongst Memphis’ BBQ lovers. Even though Kansas City led the list, it fell behind in two crucial categories, ranking 57th and 46th. In contrast, Memphis impressively ranked 11th as its lowest score, a clear testament to its fervor in BBQ.
Further, particularly in the elite memberships category, Kansas City astonishingly ranked 1st with 19 memberships, outdoing Memphis. Yet Memphis proudly secured the top spot in fields such as the number of National Barbecue & Grilling Association Members and winners in the “Memphis in May” World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest.
Despite Kansas City clinching the overall top position, it’s incontrovertible that Memphis continues to be a force to reckon with in the BBQ scene in America, boasting a quartet of key achievements including:
- Number of National Barbecue & Grilling Association Members: 1st
- Number of Top-Rated Barbecue Vendors (4.5+ Stars and 10+ Reviews): 8th
- Winners in “Memphis in May” World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest: 1st
- Number of KCBS “180 Club” Members: 2nd
- Number of Barbecue Festivals: 4th
Other Cities Featured in the List
Among the top five cities, Houston came third, followed by Kansas City, Kansas, and Los Angeles. In the state of Tennessee, Nashville secured the 20th position, Knoxville 52nd, and Chattanooga 79th. Clearly, Memphis holds the torch in Tennessee when it comes to first-rate BBQ.
Final Thoughts
Although these rankings put Memphis at second place, its unique take on barbeque, devotion to its BBQ traditions, the vast array of vendors, and a satisfied fanbase make it a solid contender for the top spot. It warrants the attention of all BBQ devotees and LawnStarter, to perhaps take a real bite and relish the authenticity of Memphis-style BBQ – maybe then, the rankings would tell a different story.
