If someone wants to go down to Beale Street to "see" it, I get it......but it's the
last place in town to go for barbecue. And the "world-famous" Rendezvous, a few blocks away, is (IMO) among
the most overrated joints in the entire universe. Hell, I'd go to the Corky's chain everyday and twice on Sunday before going either of those places.
Cheat, head to the
Germantown Commissary (so long as you're prepared for difficult on-street parking, and getting a table)......or the
Central BBQ chain (they've got a brand new location on Poplar Street on the east side of town).......and you'll be good to go. Unfortunately, none of them are especially accessible to I-40.
A little out of your way (but comparatively easy to find) would be
Leonard's Pit BBQ off I-240 on the SE corner of town off the Mt. Moriah Road exit on Fox Plaza Drive. It's in a kind of dumpy section of town; but they serve up a full luncheon-only BBQ buffet (not open for dinner) which can hold you
all day.