Earnestine and Hazel's Soul Burger on South Main downtown Memphis is the city's $8 late-night bar burger, griddled with onions, pickles and Soul Sauce.
Editorially verified May 21, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Soul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
Tip: Cash works fastest. The kitchen runs late, food until 02:00.
Address: 531 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
Arcade Restaurant on South Main downtown Memphis runs the city's oldest diner since 1919 with sweet potato pancakes and the fried peanut butter and banana.
Try: Sweet potato pancakes
Order: Fried peanut butter and banana sandwich; sit at Elvis's marked booth.
Tip: Counter service from 07:00-15:00 daily; cash and card fine Cash is faster than card.
Payne's chopped pork sandwich with mustard slaw on Lamar Avenue in South Memphis stays under $10, the Memphis cheap-BBQ defining order since the family.
Try: Chopped pork sandwich
Order: Chopped pork sandwich, mustard slaw, fizzy red drink.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday lunch only, 11:00-17:30. Cash preferred. The line moves fast.
Arcade Restaurant on South Main downtown Memphis runs the city's oldest diner since 1919 with sweet potato pancakes and the fried peanut butter and banana.
Try: Sweet potato pancakes
Order: Fried peanut butter and banana sandwich; sit at Elvis's marked booth.
Tip: Counter service from 07:00-15:00 daily; cash and card fine Cash is faster than card.
Tops Bar-B-Q on Summer Avenue is the Memphis BBQ chain since 1952 with chopped pork, onion rings and a complete BBQ plate for under $10 at a drive-thru.
Try: Chopped pork sandwich and onion rings
Order: Chopped pork sandwich, onion rings, sweet tea.
Tip: Drive-thru only at some locations; no dining room. Ten city outposts.
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken on South Front Street downtown Memphis runs the city's cheap fried chicken plate, three-piece dark with sides under $15.
Try: Three-piece dark meat plate
Order: Three-piece dark meat plate with fried pickles and slaw.
Tip: Lunch line moves fast; dinner can run an hour. No reservations.
Alcenia's in the Pinch District of Memphis runs Betty Joyce Chester-Tamayo's soul food plates under $15: fried chicken, collards and a hug at the door.
Try: Fried chicken plate
Order: Fried chicken plate with greens and yams; ask for a Ghetto Aid.
Tip: Counter service, cash preferred. B.J. greets every table; the experience is half the meal.
Maciel's Tortas and Tacos on South Main downtown Memphis runs handmade tortas with telera bread and tacos al pastor under $13 from a quick counter-service.
Try: Tacos and tortas
Order: Cubana torta and tacos al pastor with aguas frescas.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The Midtown branch at 820 Cooper runs the same menu.
