- Attraction: Elwood’s Shack
- Location: 4523 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122
- Industry: Restaurant
- Website: https://www.elwoodsshack.com
Pull into what appears to be a random Lowe’s parking lot on Summer Avenue, and you might wonder if your GPS is broken.
But tuck around the corner past the loading dock, and you’ll discover a cinderblock treasure that’s been causing Memphis food lovers to lose their minds since 2013.
This ramshackle spot doesn’t look like much from the outside—deliberately so, given its name—but step inside and you’ll understand why up to 800 people stream through on busy Saturdays.
You’ll find yourself in an authentic neighborhood hangout where silver-haired regulars sit next to first-timers, where firefighters grab lunch alongside old hippies admiring the Led Zeppelin posters on the walls.
The menu reads like someone couldn’t decide between opening a deli, a smokehouse, a pizza joint, or a taco stand—so they just said yes to everything. And somehow, miraculously, it all works.
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Keep Exploring →The Famous Fish Tacos
The Steelhead Trout Taco: This isn’t your typical taco, and that’s exactly why it’s become the restaurant’s number-one bestseller. Picture a flour tortilla buttered on both sides, sprinkled with cheddar cheese, then topped with chunks of steelhead trout before hitting a hot pizza oven.
The result?
A puffy, dimpled pillow that’s crispy on the outside and loaded with fresh avocado, mixed greens, and creamy horseradish sauce. You’ll hear customers ordering these constantly—some claim they’re the best fish tacos in Memphis, and the fervent repeat orders seem to back that up.
Why They Stand Out: These tacos break all the traditional rules. The tortilla gets crisped with cheese but stays tender, not hard.
The generous portions mean you might struggle to finish even one, and the flavor combination of the salmon-like fish with that horseradish kick creates something totally unique to Memphis.
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Discover MoreExceptional Barbecue
The Ribs: Memphis is rib country, and Elwood’s holds its own against the big names. These baby backs get basted halfway through cooking with vinegar, barbecue sauce, and crushed garlic, then wrapped in foil for another round in the smoker.
You’ll get ribs that are crusty on the edges but fall-apart tender inside. The bones slide right out while the meat stays put—that’s the mark of properly smoked ribs.
The Brisket: Slow-smoked with a beautiful crust and deep smoke flavor, the brisket earns serious praise from Texas transplants and Memphis natives alike.
You’ll find it tender enough to pull apart easily but with enough structure to hold up in sandwiches. Some folks prefer it on its own, while others love it piled onto the GT burger—a half-pound Angus beef patty topped with brisket, bacon, and cheese.
The Shack Attack: Feeling ambitious?
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Keep Exploring →This massive platter showcases everything the kitchen does best: ribs, brisket, two wings, pulled pork, and half a chicken, plus Texas toast, potato salad, and coleslaw. It’s designed for sharing, though one food blogger admitted to tackling it solo over ninety minutes.
House BBQ Sauce: Made with molasses, maple syrup, and Old Charter 8 bourbon, the sauce leans slightly vinegar-forward.
The kitchen goes through about 25 gallons per week, and while some prefer it on the side, others slather everything in sight. It’s not too sweet, letting the smoke and meat flavors shine through.
Beyond The Barbecue
BBQ Pizza: With Elwood’s past life as a pizza joint, the barbecue pizza deserves attention. A thick, fluffy crust gets topped with fresh smoked pulled pork, mozzarella, and that signature sweet sauce. Everything comes out hot from the oven, setting it apart from places serving reheated meat.
The Debris Po’Boy: Roast beef debris piled high on a hoagie makes for one messy, delicious sandwich. The juices soak into the bread just enough without making it fall apart in your hands.
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Discover MoreChicken Philly Sub: Smoked chicken with sautéed veggies and two kinds of cheese on a soft hoagie bun creates a surprisingly satisfying alternative to the beef version.
The Reuben: Classic deli fare gets the Elwood’s treatment with house-made pastrami sliced thin and stacked impossibly high. You’ll need both hands and possibly extra napkins.
BBQ Quesadilla: Flour tortillas crisped up with cheese and your choice of smoked meat make for a fusion dish that actually works. The generous portions often mean taking half home.
Breakfast & Brunch Favorites
7-Up Biscuits: These fluffy, slightly sweet biscuits serve as the foundation for several breakfast items. The most popular version layers on applewood bacon, vine-ripened tomato, and homemade pimento cheese—Southern comfort on a plate.
Breakfast Croissant: A buttery croissant stuffed with fried egg, your choice of bacon or sausage (or both, if you’re smart), avocado, provolone, and mayo. The sausage adds a meaty richness that makes it worth the upcharge over typical fast food breakfast sandwiches.
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Keep Exploring →Eggs Over My Hammy: The breakfast pizza option gets creative with eggs, ham, and cheese on that signature crust. It’s messy, indulgent, and exactly what weekend brunch should be.
Breakfast Burritos: Massive flour tortillas packed with eggs, potatoes, jalapeños, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and your choice of protein—including brisket or pulled pork for those who want barbecue at breakfast.
The Shack Experience
The Setting: This is quintessential hole-in-the-wall dining. The cinderblock building sits practically in the Lowe’s parking lot, and most people do park over there since the restaurant’s lot is tiny.
Inside, you’ll find limited seating, memorabilia covering the walls, and a line that often snakes to the door during peak hours—though it moves surprisingly fast.
The Vibe: Part diner, part barbecue shack, with a rock-and-roll concert venue aesthetic mixed with blues feel. It’s deliberately unpretentious, attracting everyone from business professionals to families with kids to construction workers.
You’ll see picnic tables outside when weather permits, sometimes with fans running to keep things comfortable.
The Service Style: Order at the counter, grab a seat, and your food arrives at your table usually within five minutes—impressive given how much cooking happens from scratch. There’s a second line for takeout orders to keep things moving during rushes.
Good To Know
The Pricing: You’ll find breakfast items running $4-$12, sandwiches $7-$14, burgers $9-$13, and pizzas $9-$26. It’s not budget dining, but the generous portions and quality ingredients justify the cost. Most people feel they’re getting solid value, especially compared to chain barbecue joints.
Finding The Place: First-timers often drive right past it. The building faces the Lowe’s, and there’s minimal signage from the street. GPS helps, but keep your eyes peeled for the small structure tucked behind other businesses.
The location might seem sketchy at first glance, but the steady stream of vehicles parked out front tells the real story.
Parking Situation: The restaurant’s lot is small and fills up fast, so most folks park in the adjacent Lowe’s lot. It’s become an accepted practice, though technically you’re using Lowe’s parking.
When To Visit: Lunch hours see serious crowds, especially on weekends when they might serve 800+ people. Arrive early or late to snag easier parking and shorter lines.
Breakfast is open from 7am weekdays and 8am Sundays, while dinner service runs until 9pm except Sundays when they close at 3pm.
The Crowd: Totally family-friendly despite the dive bar aesthetic. You’ll see everyone from toddlers to grandparents. The diverse customer base speaks to the food’s universal appeal.
Beverage Selection: No Coke or Pepsi here—instead, you’ll find unique craft sodas that pair nicely with the food. Sweet tea is available, and interestingly, you can bring your own alcohol, especially popular during weekend brunch when they offer BYOV Bloody Marys.
Special Touches: The owner brings back elderberry jam from his family’s 200-year-old Texas property. The chocolate chip cookies get baked fresh every morning using three kinds of chocolate chunks. Small details like these show the care behind the casual exterior.
Elwood’s Shack
📍 4523 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122
