40 editor picks in Memphis.
40 mid-range places in Memphis, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Memphis, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Memphis food.
Cxffeeblack in Memphis is Bartholomew Jones and Renata Henderson's Black-owned coffee roaster with Ethiopia-direct sourcing, pour-overs and an East Memphis.
TipThe roastery cafe doubles as the retail counter; subscription coffee ships nationally.
Brother Juniper's near the University of Memphis on Walker Avenue runs a tiny breakfast house with omelettes, biscuits and long-haul regulars queuing.
OrderOmelette with side biscuit and gravy.
TipTuesday to Sunday, closes 13:00 weekdays. Get there by 08:30.
Cozy Corner BBQ on North Parkway in the Pinch District in Memphis serves the city's most singular plate: hickory-smoked Cornish hens, idiosyncratic.
TipTuesday to Saturday only. The bologna sandwich is the second order.
Hog and Hominy on Brookhaven Circle in East Memphis runs Saturday and Sunday brunch with bacon-fat doughnuts, biscuits with ricotta and wood-fired plates.
OrderBacon-fat doughnuts and biscuit with ricotta.
TipReserve on Resy for the patio. Brunch runs Sat-Sun 10:30-14:00; arrive at 11:00 for the easier seat.
The Four Way is Memphis's defining Black-owned soul food room on Mississippi Boulevard since 1946. Martin Luther King Jr. ate here; the walls show the guests.
OrderSmothered turkey wings, collard greens, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie.
TipOpen Wednesday to Saturday for lunch only, 11:00-17:00. Cash and card both fine.
Charlie Vergos's basement Memphis BBQ room off Second Street has served charcoal-broiled dry-rub ribs since 1948. The signature rub is sold by the bag.
OrderFull slab of ribs, dry, with the cheese and sausage plate and a pitcher.
TipEnter through the alley off Monroe; closed Sunday and Monday. They cook ribs over charcoal, not in a smoker; dry-rub purists call it grilled.
Frank and Hazel Vernon's Madison Avenue Memphis BBQ room invented BBQ spaghetti and has run dry-rub and wet ribs from a wood-pit smoker since 1987.
OrderHalf slab of dry ribs with a side of BBQ spaghetti.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays. The Dancing Pigs sauce ships nationally if you want to keep the meal going.
French Truck Coffee at Crosstown Concourse is the New Orleans roaster's Memphis flagship, with single-origin espresso, drip and bean retail on the atrium.
TipThe Highland Row branch runs the same menu; both serve as cafe and retail roastery outpost.
Earnestine and Hazel's on South Main downtown Memphis runs Soul Burgers and a jukebox until 03:00 daily, the city's defining late-night dive bar.
OrderSoul Burger with a cold beer; sit at the bar.
TipCash works fastest. Upstairs the rooms run quiet most nights.
The Four Way on Mississippi Boulevard in South Memphis is the city's defining Black-owned soul food room since 1946, where MLK ate but most tourists never go.
TipLunch only Wednesday to Saturday. Save room for sweet potato pie.
Magnolia and May on Mount Moriah in East Memphis runs the city's Thursday-to-Sunday brunch since 2020 with fried chicken, French toast and bottomless mimosas.
OrderFried chicken and French toast with mimosa.
TipThe Williamsburg Village patio is the Sunday seat. Brunch After Dark on Saturdays.
Ticer and Hudman's wood-fired pizza and charcuterie room in East Memphis runs a Southern-Italian playbook on a covered Brookhaven Circle patio since 2012.
OrderThe pizza of the night and a board of house salumi.
TipBrunch on Saturday and Sunday runs 10:30-14:00 with biscuits, ricotta and bacon-fat doughnuts. Patio first.
Betty Joyce Chester-Tamayo's Pinch District Memphis soul food room has run fried chicken, collards and a hug at the door since 1997. Priced at $$.
OrderFried chicken plate with greens and yams; ask for a Ghetto Aid.
TipCounter service, cash preferred. B.J. greets every table; the experience is half the meal.
Central BBQ Downtown in Memphis runs the city's most reliable dry-rub ribs and pulled pork from a casual counter across from the National Civil Rights Museum.
OrderHalf slab of dry ribs with a smoked turkey sandwich on the side.
TipLines from noon to 14:00; order online and pick up at the express counter to skip the queue.
Jose Magallanes's family Memphis-area taqueria in Germantown has run tortas, al pastor and braised meats from a strip-mall counter since 2002.
OrderTacos al pastor with house guacamole; add the cochinita pibil torta if available.
TipClosed Sundays. The Poplar Avenue East Memphis branch at 6300 Poplar runs the same menu if Germantown is full.
Wiseacre Brewing's downtown Memphis flagship on BB King Boulevard is a 40,000-square-foot brewery with 30 beers on tap and the in-house Little Bettie pizza.
TipCash-free taproom; card only. Take the Tiny Bomb pilsner to the patio first.
Alcenia's in the Pinch District north of downtown Memphis runs Betty Joyce Chester-Tamayo's soul food and her famous door-greeting hug since 2002.
TipCounter service, cash preferred. Closed Sundays and Mondays. B.J. greets every diner.
Brother Juniper's near the University of Memphis runs the city's most-cherished breakfast from a tiny picket-fenced house on Walker, a locals' room.
TipTuesday to Sunday breakfast only. Closes 13:00 weekdays, 12:30 Saturdays. Get there by 08:30.
The Beauty Shop in Cooper-Young Memphis runs Saturday and Sunday brunch in a 1940s salon space where Priscilla Presley once had her hair done.
OrderWatermelon wings with feta and waffles.
TipReserve weekends on OpenTable. The dryer-hood seats are the photo seat.
Karen Carrier's Cooper-Young Memphis room sits inside a 1940s beauty salon where Priscilla Presley once did her hair, open since 2002 with a globe-trotting.
OrderWatermelon wings with feta and the Vietnamese pho.
TipSaturday brunch fills the booths fast. Sit at the bar for a faster meal under the dryer hoods.
Central BBQ's Midtown Memphis room on Central Avenue is the chain's original, opened in 2002 with dry-rub ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ nachos.
OrderPulled pork sandwich with BBQ nachos to share.
TipThe patio is the seat; the dining room fills fast at lunch. Online ordering skips the line.
J. Brooks Coffee Roasters is a family-run Memphis micro-roaster on Thomas Road in Raleigh, with small-batch single origins from Brazil, Colombia.
TipThe warehouse runs same-day pickup for online orders; the Onyx and Gallant dark roasts are the house signatures.
Soul and Spirits Brewery in the Pinch District of Memphis runs German, Czech and American lagers, British cask ales and nitro pours from a 25-tap house.
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays. Walk over from Bass Pro Pyramid; small kitchen too.
Gibson's Donuts on Mount Moriah in East Memphis runs hot doughnuts 24 hours a day since 1967, the city's late-night sugar fix with drive-thru open around.
OrderApple fritter or glazed buttermilk bar, hot from the rack.
TipFresh batches at 04:00 and 16:00. Drive-thru open all night.
A&R Bar-B-Que on Elvis Presley Boulevard in South Memphis has run Black-owned hickory-smoke BBQ from a converted gas station since 1983, quiet on tourist.
TipThe smoked bologna sandwich is the under-radar order; pair it with mustard slaw on the side.
Pete and Sam's East Memphis Park Avenue room has run red-sauce Italian for the Bomarito family since 1948. Priced at $$. Booking recommended.
OrderSpaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, a pitcher of house red.
TipOpen Tuesday to Sunday for dinner; closed Mondays. Reservations advised on Friday and Saturday.
Sage Restaurant is a soul fusion room on South Main in Memphis from Chef Eli Townsend, with globally influenced Southern comfort food and a downtown rooftop.
OrderChicken and waffles; the catfish if it is on the night's menu.
TipWednesday to Sunday dinner; the rooftop opens earlier than the dining room on weekends.
Germantown Commissary on South Germantown Road has slow-smoked Memphis BBQ from a converted general store east of the city since 1981. A long porch out front.
OrderPulled pork plate with the smoked chicken and slaw.
TipOpen daily; the porch fills first. Drive from downtown takes 20 minutes via Poplar Avenue.
Central BBQ's Poplar Avenue East Memphis room runs the same dry-rub ribs and pulled pork as the original Midtown branch in a larger dining room with easy.
OrderHalf slab of dry ribs and a basket of pulled pork nachos.
TipEasier seat than Midtown or Downtown locations; Sunday lunches fill the room first.
Crosstown Brewing Co. on Concourse Avenue next to Crosstown Concourse in Memphis runs a hop-forward American craft program from a purpose-built brewery.
TipBeer flights run all week. The taproom is dog- and family-friendly with picnic tables outside.
Mosa Asian Bistro on White Station Road in East Memphis runs a Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese menu favoured by Memphis chefs on their nights off.
TipClosed Mondays. The spicy Korean noodles are the standout; the room fills with regulars after 18:00.
The Cove on Broad Avenue in Memphis is a pirate-themed oyster bar with a wood pirate-ship bar and live music in the back, a Broad Avenue Arts District.
TipOyster happy hour 17:00. Live music most weekends in the back room.
Sunrise Memphis on Jefferson Avenue downtown is a quick-service breakfast diner with Southern plates and a full bar, the locals' weekday morning room.
TipThe biscuit sammies are the dark-horse order; sit at the counter for the fastest service.
Sunrise Memphis on Jefferson Avenue downtown is a quick-serve diner running Southern breakfast and a full bar daily 07:00-14:00. Open daily 07:00-14:00.
OrderThe Rooster biscuit sammy with a side of grits.
TipLines from 09:00 on weekends. The biscuit sammies and the Best Omelette are the regular orders.
Babalu in Overton Square Memphis runs Southern cooking with Latin flair from a Madison Avenue patio, with tableside guacamole, tacos and craft cocktails.
OrderTableside guacamole, then the carnitas tacos.
TipThe patio is the seat in spring; Sunday brunch is the easier seat than weekend dinner.
Mosa Asian Bistro on White Station Road in East Memphis runs a Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese menu from a strip-mall favoured by chefs on their nights.
OrderBeef pho and spicy Korean noodles.
TipLunch is the easier seat; the room fills with regulars after 18:00. Closed Mondays.
Hen House on South Mendenhall in East Memphis runs an eclectic wine-bar-and-eatery menu with charcuterie, salads, pastas and the crispy chicken sandwich.
OrderCrispy chicken sandwich or the Hen House burger.
TipOpen Sun-Thu evenings, with weekend lunch service Sat-Sun 11:00-14:00.
Owen Brennan's in Regalia on Poplar Avenue is a long-running East Memphis Creole-Cajun room with French Quarter styling, baked oysters and tableside bananas.
OrderOysters Brennan to start and bananas Foster prepared tableside for dessert.
TipReserve online; the Sunday jazz brunch and the tableside bananas Foster are the marquee orders.
City and State on Broad Avenue in Memphis is a hybrid retail and cafe pouring rotating local roasters, plus a small in-house bean selection on the retail.
TipWhole-bean retail rotates monthly; ask the barista what is on the bar for daily pour-overs.
Ghost River Brewing on South Main in Memphis runs a sustainable craft program named for the section of the Wolf River that vanishes underground.
TipCheck the taproom calendar for hours; the South Main brewery now runs the full beer list and food.
Guided tour · 3.5 hours
VIP behind the scenes access to local craft breweries, up to 12 beer samples, a fresh baked snack, and round trip transportation. Led by a Beer Guide who will educate ...
Guided tour · 1 hour
Explore "America's Most Iconic Street" on a one-hour guided walking tour. Learn about the colorful characters and stories that have made Beale Street the "Home of the Blues."
Multi-day trip · 6 days
Picture it, a journey from Nashville to Memphis to New Orleans, recording tracks in iconic studios, walking in Elvis’ footsteps and diving into the food, music and cul...