10 street food places in Memphis we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Memphis | Street Food across every city.

Memphis street food is rooted in barbecue, hot tamales and walk-up counters rather than a formal vendor scene. Downtown, Maciel's Tortas and Tacos plates Mexican street fare, while the city's hot tamale tradition runs through South Memphis. Hand-held barbecue defines much of the rest, from the Central BBQ nachos in Midtown to the Cozy Corner Cornish hen in the Pinch District and Payne's chopped pork in South Memphis.

Maciel's Tortas and Tacos ★ 4.4

Street food · $

downtown · 45 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103

Maciel's Tortas and Tacos on South Main downtown Memphis runs handmade tortas with telera bread, tacos al pastor and house aguas frescas. At 45 S Main St.

Las Tortugas Poplar ★ 4.4

Street food · $

east-memphis · 6300 Poplar Ave Ste 115, Memphis, TN 38119

Las Tortugas Poplar in East Memphis runs Jose Magallanes's Germantown taqueria menu from a Poplar Avenue branch, with tortas and tacos al pastor at counter.

Central BBQ BBQ Nachos ★ 4.3

Street food · $

midtown · 2249 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38104

Central BBQ in midtown Memphis runs the city's standard BBQ nachos: tortilla chips with pulled pork, sauce, sour cream and jalapeños. Open daily 11:00-21:00.

The Rendezvous cheese and sausage plate ★ 4.2

Street food · $

downtown · 52 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103

The Rendezvous downtown Memphis serves a cheese and sausage starter that locals order before the dry-rub ribs. Open tue-sat 11:00-21:00. At 52 S 2nd St.

Memphis hot tamales ★ 4.4

Street food · $

south-memphis · South Memphis (various roadside stands)

Memphis hot tamales are a Delta street-food tradition: cornmeal-wrapped beef tied with twine, simmered in spicy broth. Located in South Memphis.

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken walkup ★ 4.4

Street food · $

downtown · 310 S Front St, Memphis, TN 38103

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken on South Front Street is the city's defining counter-service fried chicken, a Mason-born spice-crusted bird on butcher paper.

Earnestine and Hazel's Soul Burger ★ 4.5

Street food · $

south-main · 531 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103

The Soul Burger at Earnestine and Hazel's on South Main is a griddled patty with caramelised onions, pickles and the bar's mysterious Soul Sauce on a soft.

Payne's Bar-B-Que chopped pork ★ 4.7

Street food · $

south-memphis · 1762 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN 38114

Payne's chopped pork sandwich on Lamar Avenue South Memphis is wrapped in mustard slaw and a white-bread bun, the city's defining cheap BBQ sandwich.

Cozy Corner Cornish hen ★ 4.7

Street food · $

pinch-district · 735 N Pkwy, Memphis, TN 38105

The smoked Cornish hen at Cozy Corner on North Parkway Memphis is the city's most singular BBQ plate, hickory-smoked whole and mahogany-skinned in sauce.

Bar-B-Q Shop BBQ spaghetti ★ 4.5

Street food · $

midtown · 1782 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104

The Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison Avenue in Memphis invented BBQ spaghetti: pulled pork and BBQ sauce tossed over noodles. Open tue-sat 11:00-21:00.