29 cuisines represented in our Memphis guide. Click through to the entry to see editor picks, what to order and how to book. Want a wider lens? All cuisines in this country or global cuisines index.
29 cuisines, most places first
American BBQ17 restaurantsMemphis barbecue is its own school, defined by hickory smoke, dry-rub ribs and chopped pork sandwiches with slaw.
Cocktail bar13 restaurantsMemphis drinking runs from blues-club bars on Beale Street to neighborhood taverns and distillery rooms.
Cafe12 restaurantsMemphis coffee culture clusters in Cooper-Young, Crosstown and the eastern neighborhoods, mixing roasters, all-day cafes and arts-space coffee bars.
Bakery10 restaurantsMemphis baking spans candy counters, doughnut shops and small-batch pastry rooms scattered across the city.
Brunch10 restaurantsBrunch in Memphis ranges from downtown breakfast halls to chef-driven midday menus in East Memphis.
Soul food10 restaurantsSoul food is foundational to how Memphis eats, plating fried chicken, greens, cornbread and daily meat-and-three specials.
Street food10 restaurantsMemphis street food is rooted in barbecue, hot tamales and walk-up counters rather than a formal vendor scene.
Italian8 restaurantsItalian dining in Memphis splits between old-family red-sauce rooms and a modern wave of pasta-forward kitchens.
Wine bar7 restaurantsThe Memphis wine-bar scene clusters in East Memphis, often as an extension of the city's stronger restaurant kitchens.
New American6 restaurantsNew American cooking is where Memphis chefs work most freely, plating seasonal, market-driven menus that borrow from the South and beyond.
Brewery4 restaurants
Cajun & Creole3 restaurantsCajun and Creole cooking reaches Memphis from down the Mississippi, plating gumbo, etouffee and blackened fish for a Tennessee crowd.
Seafood3 restaurantsSeafood in landlocked Memphis arrives by way of the Gulf and the catfish ponds of the Mid-South.
Steakhouse3 restaurantsThe Memphis steakhouse is a special-occasion fixture, built on prime cuts, dim lighting and a deep wine list.
American2 restaurantsMemphis comfort cooking runs from neighborhood grills to riverside patios, plating burgers, plate lunches and Southern staples without ceremony.
American diner2 restaurantsThe Memphis diner tradition lives in long counters, vinyl booths and all-day breakfast plates.
Burgers2 restaurantsThe Memphis burger story is inseparable from Earnestine and Hazel's, the South Main bar whose Soul Burger has become a late-night institution.
Fried chicken2 restaurantsFried chicken in Memphis is a serious local matter, with battered, peppery birds drawing lines across the city.
Pizzeria2 restaurantsMemphis pizza runs to thin-crust, cut-in-squares pies and fire-fresh build-your-own counters.
Asian fusion1 restaurantAsian fusion in Memphis blends pan-regional menus for an American dining room, mixing stir-fries, noodles and shared plates.
French fine dining1 restaurantFrench fine dining is a narrow field in Memphis, reserved for a handful of special-occasion rooms.
Hot chicken1 restaurantHot chicken arrived in Memphis from Nashville's cayenne-paste tradition and has found a home in the city's casual rooms.
Jewish deli1 restaurantThe Jewish deli format is a small presence in Memphis, surfacing mainly in casual sandwich rooms.
Latin American1 restaurantLatin American cooking in Memphis spans the wider region's flavors beyond the dominant Mexican thread.
Mexican1 restaurantMexican food in Memphis leans on deli counters and taquerias serving regional Mexican plates rather than Tex-Mex shorthand.
Sicilian1 restaurantSicilian cooking is a focused niche in Memphis, drawing on the island's seafood and pasta traditions.
Taqueria1 restaurantThe taqueria format in Memphis is still a small but growing presence, serving tacos and tortas made to order.
Tasting menu1 restaurantTasting menus are rare in Memphis, kept to a handful of chef-led rooms willing to set the pace for the table.
Vietnamese1 restaurantVietnamese cooking in Memphis is a modest field, often folded into broader Asian menus rather than standing alone.
