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 room.
Must order: Cubana torta and tacos al pastor with aguas frescas.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The Midtown branch at 820 Cooper runs the same menu.
Address: 45 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
Young Avenue Deli in Cooper-Young Memphis runs deli sandwiches under $13, with the Deli Club on sourdough and a cold pint of Wiseacre Tiny Bomb as the regular order.
Try: Deli Club sandwich
Order: Deli Club on sourdough with a cold pint of Wiseacre Tiny Bomb.
Tip: Counter service for food, table for drinks. Patio is the spring seat.
Central BBQ in midtown Memphis runs the city's most reliable pulled pork sandwich under $13, plus BBQ nachos and a half slab combo that splits between two.
Try: Pulled pork sandwich
Order: Pulled pork sandwich with BBQ nachos to share.
Tip: Order online to skip the lunch line at the Midtown branch on Central Avenue or use the app.
Soul Fish Cafe in Cooper-Young Memphis on South Cooper runs catfish baskets, hush puppies and Mississippi-style po'boys under $15, the city's cheap-catfish standby.
Try: Catfish plate
Order: Catfish basket with hush puppies and turnip greens.
Tip: Counter service. The shrimp po'boy is the dark-horse order. Patio in spring is the seat.
The Four Way on Mississippi Boulevard in South Memphis runs a soul food lunch plate around $15 with two sides, the Black-owned Memphis room that fed MLK in 1946.
Try: Soul food lunch plate
Order: Smothered turkey wings, collards, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie.
Tip: Lunch only Wednesday to Saturday, 11:00 to 17:00. Cash and card both fine; sit at a counter.
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.
Try: Soul Burger
Order: Soul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
Tip: Cash works fastest. The kitchen runs late, food until 02:00.
Payne's chopped pork sandwich with mustard slaw on Lamar Avenue in South Memphis stays under $10, the Memphis cheap-BBQ defining order for over 50 years.
Try: Chopped pork sandwich
Order: Chopped pork sandwich, mustard slaw, fizzy red drink.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday lunch only, 11:00 to 17:30. Cash preferred. The line moves fast.
