In 1922 Leonard Heuberger traded a Model T Ford for a 7-stool sandwich stand in South Memphis and started selling chopped pork sandwiches for five cents. That modest beginning grew into what became, by the 1940s and 1950s, the world’s largest barbecue drive-in restaurant, with 20 car-hops working the canopied lot serving a daily parade of regulars. Leonard’s Pit Barbecue appeared in Season 3, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “The Memphis BBQ Tour,” which aired May 26, 2008. Guy Fieri helped make the sauce and called the chopped pork sandwich “all-star barbecue.” Owner Dan Brown, who started working at Leonard’s as a 15-year-old sandwich man, carried the recipes and standards forward until selling to a new ownership group in 2021. Leonard’s is the oldest barbecue business in Memphis and one of the oldest in the country.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Leonard’s Pit Barbecue
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Cuisine: BBQ
DDD Season: 3
DDD Episode: 9
Episode Title: The Memphis BBQ Tour
Original Air Date: May 26, 2008
Address: 5465 Fox Plaza Dr., Memphis, TN 38115
Phone: 901-360-1963
Website: https://www.leonardsbarbecue.com/
Status: Open
About Leonard’s Pit Barbecue
Leonard Heuberger moved the operation to 1140 S. Bellevue in 1932, enlarging it repeatedly as demand grew. In the 1930s he offered delivery by bicycle, a forerunner of modern takeout and catering. The massive drive-in era peaked in the 1940s and 1950s before consolidation brought Leonard’s to its current Fox Plaza Drive location, which opened in 1997. An old delivery truck still sits in the dining room as a nod to the restaurant’s history. The recipes passed down from Heuberger to Dan Brown to the current ownership team have remained intact through a century of operation. Elvis Presley was among Leonard’s longtime fans, which tells you something about the place’s standing in Memphis.
If you’re making a trip to Memphis for the BBQ tour, find a great place to stay nearby on Booking.com.
What to Eat at Leonard’s Pit Barbecue
The Chopped Pork Sandwich is the signature and the dish Guy called “all-star barbecue” during filming. The Mr. Leonard Sandwich is the house namesake item worth ordering by name. The Sweet Mustard Coleslaw was specifically highlighted during the DDD episode as the ideal companion to the pork. The all-you-can-eat buffet includes ribs, chicken, baked beans, green beans, mac and cheese, cornbread, and banana pudding on days when it runs. Call ahead to confirm buffet availability.
For your own Memphis-style BBQ at home, Guy Fieri’s Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce brings sweet smoky depth to pork shoulders, and Guy’s Flavortown Dry Rub Variety Pack covers every cut you put on the pit.
Plan Your Visit
Leonard’s is open Monday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Hours are limited so call ahead before making the trip.
Address: 5465 Fox Plaza Dr., Memphis, TN 38115
Phone: 901-360-1963
Website: https://www.leonardsbarbecue.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream The Memphis BBQ Tour episode on Amazon before hitting all four stops. And Guy on Fire is the outdoor cooking bible for anyone inspired by a century of Memphis pit tradition.
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Leonard’s Pit Barbecue appeared in Season 3, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “The Memphis BBQ Tour,” originally aired May 26, 2008. Leonard’s has been open since 1922 and is the oldest barbecue business in Memphis.