Blazing a path from Dallas to Memphis and then on through Tennessee to my next destination (stay tuned), I made a few tasty stops along the way. What was on the menu for my roadside dining? Well, BBQ of course!

Here are some notes about three great BBQ joints I visited while on the road.

Nick’s Bar-B-Q & Catfish

1012 Bobby L Glover Highway, Carlisle, Arkansas 72024

Just off I-40 about 100 miles west of Memphis, Nick’s is a homey and welcoming roadside restaurant. The catfish is killer as are the St Louis style ribs.

Find out more at nicksbq.com.

Helen’s Bar B Q

1016 North Washington Avenue, Brownsville, Tennessee 38012

If any enQUEsiasts reading this series of posts about great BBQ restaurants in the American South intend to pay a visit to any of the places I recommend, make Helen’s among of your top most likely. Seriously, Helen’s is the real deal. My lunch there one of the very best meals I had during my three-week BBQ adventure – and, man, that is really saying something!

The pork was the most tender I can ever remember eating. The tangy sweet and sour sauce was distinctive. The smoked bologna was like a dream come true for this hillbilly gourmand.

In the sleepy town of Brownsville, Tennessee – about halfway between Memphis and Jackson and not too far from the Nutbush City Limits made famous by Tina Turner, there’s been a pit in operation at this same spot for many years. It’s been owned by Helen Turner since 1996. You can see the plumes of hickory smoke billowing out the back this tiny joint from about a mile away and probably smell its full aromatic glory from slightly farther if you’re downwind and lucky.

More: facebook.com/HelensBarBQ.

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

7238 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, Tennessee 37135

Pat Martin’s celebrated restaurant in suburban Nashville impressed the heck out of me! At Martin’s BBQ is whole hog, hickory smoked and accompanied by as enticing a menu as any I’ve encountered. I loved – and can highly recommend – the Redneck Taco (BBQ on top of a cornbread hoe-cake topped with slaw and sauce with a choice of pork, brisket, sausage, chicken, turkey or catfish – I chose pork).

I visited the Nolensville location just south of Nashville. But there are two other outlets in the greater Nashville area and an outpost in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Visit the restaurant online at martinsbbqjoint.com.

More

For loads of help planning your trip to anywhere in the States, go to VisitTheUSA.com. And please be sure to keep an eye out for more BBQ Bound posts to come!