In a city famous for its smoky barbecue and Southern comfort food, finding a restaurant that serves both hearty breakfasts and mouthwatering meats feels like hitting the jackpot. Tucked away in East Memphis, Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q is a neighborhood favorite where old-school cooking, generous portions, and a welcoming atmosphere keep diners coming back for more.
This family-owned spot proves that great food doesn’t need fancy decorations or complicated recipes. From fluffy biscuits and creamy grits to tender pulled pork and smoky ribs, the menu celebrates the flavors that make Tennessee dining so memorable.
Early mornings bring classic Southern breakfast favorites, while barbecue lovers can satisfy their cravings with satisfying sandwiches, flavorful meats, and comforting sides. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite before work, enjoying lunch with friends, or planning a casual family meal, there’s plenty to discover.
What makes this Memphis restaurant special isn’t just the variety of food. It’s the simple pleasure of sitting down to a filling meal in a place that feels familiar from the moment you walk through the door.
If you love authentic Southern flavors and hidden neighborhood gems, this unpretentious barbecue joint deserves a spot on your Memphis food itinerary.
Breakfast And Barbecue Live Happily Under One Roof Here
Most barbecue joints sleep in, but Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q fires things up at 7 a.m. on weekdays. Saturdays and Sundays start at 8 a.m., so weekend sleepers still get a fair shot.
This longtime family-owned spot sits in East Memphis and runs as a simple counter-serve restaurant. You walk up, place your order, and let the kitchen handle the rest.
The real charm comes from the menu’s split personality. The restaurant serves classic Southern breakfast plates in the morning alongside its barbecue offerings.
That means one friend can order grits while another grabs a pulled pork sandwich. Nobody has to compromise, and nobody has to drive to a second stop.
Closing times change through the week, so plan ahead before a late craving. Fridays and Saturdays run until 9 p.m., while other days wrap up earlier in the evening.
Sunday closes at 7 p.m., which matters if you’re planning a lazy weekend supper. A quick glance at the hours saves a sad drive home.
The counter setup keeps things moving without fuss or fancy rituals. It’s the kind of place where the food does the talking.
I like that approach in a city packed with barbecue options. Simple service lets the smoke, the sauce, and the sides take center stage.
Families, solo diners, and workday lunch crowds all fit the format easily. You don’t need a reservation, a dress code, or a game plan.
Just show up hungry at whatever hour feels right to you. Breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m., while barbecue remains a popular choice throughout the day.
Offering both breakfast and barbecue gives this Tennessee kitchen a distinctive appeal, even though breakfast is limited to morning hours.
Hickory Smoke Is The Secret Handshake Of This Kitchen
Hickory wood gives Memphis barbecue its familiar backbone, and this kitchen leans right into it. The meats here are hickory-smoked, which brings that deep, woodsy flavor fans look for.
Smoking takes time, and there’s no shortcut that tastes quite the same. Slow heat and wood smoke turn tough cuts into something tender and rich.
Memphis has a strong pork tradition, so a local barbecue counter faces a tough audience. Holding steady in that crowd for years says plenty about consistency.
The menu features barbecue pork shoulder, ribs, and chicken, along with other Southern favorites. Think of hickory as the quiet friend who makes every party better. It doesn’t shout, but you’d notice right away if it went missing.
Sauce matters too, and Memphis fans tend to have opinions about it. Asking for extra sauce on the side is an easy way to customize your order.
That way, you can taste the smoke first and add sweetness or tang after. Some folks go heavy, while others keep things nearly bare.
There’s no wrong answer, as long as you’re honest about your preferences. Barbecue should match your mood, not someone else’s rulebook.
I believe smoked meat tells you a lot about the people tending the fire. Patience shows up in every bite when the process gets proper attention.
For first-timers, starting with a classic pork order makes good sense. It gives you a clear read on the kitchen’s style before you branch out.
After that, the rest of the menu feels like a friendly invitation. You’ll probably start planning your next order before finishing this one.
Your Barbecue Sandwich Comes With Slaw Right On Top
Slaw on a sandwich might sound strange if you’re new to Memphis. Around here, though, piling it on a pork sandwich is practically a local custom.
Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q builds its reputation around the classic barbecue sandwich. Chopped or pulled pork meets sauce, a soft bun, and that cool crunch of coleslaw.
The contrast is the whole point. Warm, smoky meat pairs with cold, tangy cabbage for a bite that feels balanced.
Sandwich sizes give you some wiggle room depending on your hunger level. A regular works for a quick lunch, while a jumbo fits a bigger appetite.
You can also turn a sandwich into a plate with sides. That option makes sense when lunch needs to carry you through a long afternoon.
Here’s a tip worth remembering on busy days. Grab plenty of napkins, because a well-sauced barbecue sandwich rarely stays tidy.
Messy food is part of the fun anyway. If you finish without sauce on your fingers, did you even try?mPrefer your slaw on the side? Just ask, and you can control how much lands on your bun.
That flexibility helps picky eaters and slaw skeptics alike. Everyone gets the sandwich they actually want.
For travelers passing through Tennessee, this sandwich offers a quick lesson in Memphis food culture. It’s affordable, filling, and easy to eat on the go.
I like how something so simple can feel so tied to its city. Bread, pork, sauce, and slaw tell a story without saying a word.
Pair it with a sweet tea, and lunch is officially handled. Your afternoon will thank you for the solid fuel.
Ribs Earn Their Spot As The Star Of The Show
Ribs are one of the restaurant’s featured barbecue offerings. That’s no small honor in a city where ribs are basically a religion.
The rib plate pairs smoked pork ribs with your choice of sides. Coleslaw and macaroni and cheese make a classic combo if you can’t decide.
Eating ribs is a hands-on job. Forks are optional, and dignity is negotiable.
Hickory smoke gives the meat its flavor before sauce enters the picture. Then you can decide how saucy you want things to get.
Ribs work best when you’re not in a rush. Give yourself time to enjoy them, because hurrying through a rib plate feels like skipping the good part of a movie.
Planning a dinner run? Weekday evenings close at 7 p.m., so don’t wait too long to make your move. Fridays and Saturdays stretch until 9 p.m.
Those nights give you a little extra breathing room for a later supper.
Ribs also travel reasonably well if you’d rather eat at home. Takeout lets you enjoy them in your sweatpants without anyone judging the sauce on your shirt.
I believe ribs are the true test of any Memphis barbecue counter. They show patience, skill, and respect for the smoking process.
Adding a sweet tea on the side keeps the meal balanced. Cold tea cuts through rich, smoky meat beautifully.
For a group, ordering ribs alongside sandwiches lets everyone sample different styles. Sharing is encouraged, though guarding your last bone is understandable.
However you order them, ribs make a strong case for a return trip. Few things beat a plate that leaves you happily sticky.
Country Ham And Grits Make Mornings Worth Waking Up For
Country ham, grits, biscuits, and hashbrowns turn breakfast here into a proper Southern spread. It’s the kind of plate that makes coffee feel like a supporting actor.
The Big Breakfast stands out for anyone with a serious morning appetite. It’s a generous plate built to carry you well past lunchtime.
Biscuits come out of the kitchen ready for butter, jam, or gravy. Adding a side of gravy turns a simple biscuit into a dunking project.
Grits bring that creamy, comforting texture Southerners know well. A little butter and salt, and you’re in business.
Hashbrowns add a crispy contrast to the softer parts of the plate. Together, everything feels like a classic diner breakfast done the straightforward way.
Country ham deserves its own moment. Salty and full of flavor, it gives the whole plate a bold anchor.
Here’s a fun twist for adventurous eaters. Since barbecue is available all day, nobody stops you from ordering pork alongside your eggs.
Early birds benefit most from the 7 a.m. weekday opening. It’s an easy stop before work, school drop-off, or a long drive across Tennessee. Weekends begin at 8 a.m., giving you one extra hour of sleep.
That feels like a fair trade for a hearty morning plate.
I can’t imagine a better start to a Memphis road trip than this. A filling breakfast sets the tone for a day of exploring.
Counter service keeps things moving, so breakfast doesn’t eat up your whole morning. You get good food without a long, drawn-out routine.
Leftovers are possible if your eyes outsize your stomach. Plan accordingly, or bring a hungry friend for backup.
Sides Here Refuse To Play Second Fiddle
Baked beans with bits of barbecue meat mixed in? That’s a side that clearly wants a bigger role.
Sides at this Memphis counter cover the comfort-food basics. Baked beans, coleslaw, french fries, onion rings, and macaroni and cheese all show up on the lineup.
Coleslaw might be the most talked-about side of all. It works on a sandwich or on its own, which makes it a true double agent.
Onion rings bring that golden crunch many people crave with barbecue. They’re perfect for sharing, though sharing is technically optional.
French fries round out the classic lineup. They’re an easy pick for kids and anyone who likes keeping things simple.
Macaroni and cheese offers creamy comfort next to smoky meat. It’s the cozy blanket of the side dish world.
Plates often let you choose multiple sides, so strategy matters. Mixing something creamy with something crunchy keeps every bite interesting.
A smart move for groups is ordering different sides and passing them around. Everyone gets a taste test without committing to one choice.
Banana pudding also appears on the menu for anyone saving room. A sweet finish after barbecue feels like a Southern tradition worth keeping.
I like that the sides here feel familiar rather than fancy. They taste like the dishes you’d find at a backyard cookout or family reunion.
That familiarity is part of the appeal. Nobody needs a glossary to understand what’s on the plate.
So next time you order, give the sides real attention. They might just steal the spotlight from the main event.
Catfish, Burgers, And Nachos Keep The Menu Surprising
Not every craving involves pork, and the menu here seems to understand that. Catfish, burgers, and barbecue nachos give everyone something to grab.
The catfish plate brings a classic Southern fried fish option. It’s a welcome choice for anyone wanting a break from smoked meat.
Burgers lean old-school, with double cheeseburgers available for big appetites. Picture a no-frills diner burger with fries, and you’re on the right track.
Kids especially tend to appreciate a cheeseburger option. It makes family outings easier when not everyone shares your barbecue enthusiasm.
Barbecue nachos combine tortilla chips with smoked meat and toppings. It’s a fun mashup that brings Memphis flavor to a snack favorite.
Nachos work great for sharing at the table. They’re also handy when you want barbecue in a more casual, pick-at-it form.
Chicken also appears on the barbecue side of the menu. That gives poultry fans a smoky option without going the fried route.
A turkey leg is another eye-catching choice. Ordering one feels a little like a fair day, minus the rides.
This variety makes Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q easy to recommend for mixed groups. One person can go full barbecue while another sticks with fish or a burger.
I believe a good neighborhood spot should welcome every appetite. That flexibility keeps people coming back for different meals and moods.
Trying something unexpected can also become your new favorite. Sometimes the side road on the menu leads somewhere great.
Next visit, consider ordering outside your usual habit. You might discover a dish worth bragging about to your friends.
Old-School Diner Comfort Feels Bigger Than It Looks
From the outside, the building could pass for a quick drive-thru stop. Inside, the dining room offers more space than many first-timers expect.
The vibe leans relaxed and old-school. It’s a simple counter-serve setup with tables ready for a sit-down meal.
Fountain drinks and sweet tea keep things classic. Nobody’s reinventing lunch here, and that’s exactly the point.
This family-owned spot has been feeding Memphis for a long stretch of years. The restaurant has a long history in Memphis, with the Three Little Pigs name dating back to 1982.
That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. It grows from steady cooking and a comfortable, unfussy setting.
The atmosphere suits a quiet breakfast with the newspaper or a laid-back family dinner. It’s casual enough that nobody worries about what they’re wearing.
Counter service means you order up front and grab a seat. It’s simple, quick, and friendly to busy schedules.
The space also works for solo diners who want an easy meal. You can eat at your own pace without feeling rushed.
I like spaces that feel lived-in rather than designed for photos. Comfort beats trendiness when you just want a good plate of food.
Bringing grandparents or little kids along feels natural here. The easygoing mood welcomes all ages without fuss.
Diners like this are becoming harder to find in many cities. Holding on to that old-school feel gives this Tennessee kitchen real character.
Take a moment to soak it in during your visit. Some places simply feel like part of the neighborhood’s living room.
East Memphis Makes This Stop Ridiculously Easy To Reach
Finding good barbecue shouldn’t require a treasure map. Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q sits at 5145 Quince Rd, Memphis, TN 38117, in a convenient East Memphis location.
That area makes it handy for locals running errands or workers grabbing lunch. Travelers can swing by without fighting downtown traffic.
Quince Road connects easily to other parts of the city. A short drive puts you on the way to shopping, neighborhoods, and major roads.
Planning a Tennessee road trip through Memphis? This stop works well as a first breakfast or a final barbecue send-off.
Takeout is a popular choice for many diners. Grabbing a to-go order lets you enjoy barbecue at home, in a hotel, or at a park picnic.
Hours run seven days a week, which keeps planning simple. Weekdays start early, and weekends begin just an hour later.
Friday and Saturday evenings stay open longest, until 9 p.m. That makes them ideal nights for a relaxed barbecue supper.
Affordable pricing adds to the appeal for families and students. You can fill up without draining your wallet.
I believe the best local places are the ones that fit into daily life. Easy access turns a one-time visit into a regular habit.
Memphis is full of famous barbecue names that draw big tourist crowds. A neighborhood counter like this offers a more everyday taste of the city.
That everyday flavor might be the most authentic Memphis experience of all. It shows how locals actually eat on a normal Tuesday.
So save the address in your phone before your trip. Your future hungry self will be grateful for the planning.
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