Although it’s known for its barbecue, this Tennessee town’s food scene is as diverse as its people. We found the 24 best restaurants in Memphis based on creativity, taste, atmosphere, and ingredients.
Whether you’re spending the day cruising town with the kids, fueling your working lunch, or celebrating something special, there’s a spot on this list that’s right for you. Dig in to all that Memphis has to offer!
The Beauty Shop
$$ | (901) 272-7111 | WEBSITE
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Once a bustling beauty salon, this hip hot spot has real style. The building retains its atomic-era charm with refurbished hair dryer chairs and frosted glass brick walls, but what makes it a real thing of beauty is Karen Carrier’s eclectic New American fare.
From the Pork and Pears Benedict at brunch to the Sugar and Spice Crispy Duck at dinner, The Beauty Shop is a cut above.
Four Way Soul Food
$ | (901) 507-1519 | WEBSITE
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For more than 75 years, this legendary restaurant has been a place where people from all walks of life can feel at home. From Civil Rights leaders to visiting dignitaries and music industry icons, everyone agrees that dining at Four Way Soul Food is a special experience.
Get your fill of southern staples like fried green tomatoes, smothered pork chops, and mac and cheese, but save room for dessert!
The Liquor Store
$$ | (901) 405-5477 | WEBSITE
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Need a late-morning refuel after a night of enjoying the Memphis music scene? This fun and funky diner serves breakfast all day, including house-made pop tarts, biscuit beignets, and their acclaimed vegan biscuits and gravy.
As the name suggests, their drink offerings are as enticing as their food. Try pairing a classic mojito with Cuban street tacos, or a “Stuck on Island Thyme” with the Miami Cowboy sandwich.
Hen House
$$ | (901) 499-5436 | WEBSITE
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Hen House is elevated southern cuisine with a side of laid-back sophistication. With its soaring exposed beam ceilings, velvet sofas, and artfully styled dishes, it’s a great spot to celebrate a special occasion.
The brunch menu features white cheddar and smoked gouda grits, and chicken and waffles with rosemary hot honey. For dinner, don’t miss the truffle fries or the bourbon coffee teriyaki glazed fish.
Magnolia and May
$$ | (901) 676-8100 | WEBSITE
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Billed as a “country brasserie,” Magnolia and May is for foodies who want to enjoy all the flavor of a fancy French restaurant in a more relaxed setting.
Crowd favorites include grilled oysters topped with collard greens, the Low Country Shrimp and Grits, or the Double Cheese Burger with their signature cheese skirt – a delicious ring of crispy griddled cheddar.
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous
$$ | (901) 523-2746 | WEBSITE
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In 1948, deli owner Charlie Vergos cleaned out his shop’s basement and made a discovery that would make him a legend. Where others might have just seen an old coal chute, Charlie saw possibility.
That chute could provide ventilation for a grill, and allow him to expand his menu from simple sandwiches to the dry rub ribs that would make him an icon. Nearly 75 years later, people still make the trek down the alley and the basement stairs to taste what many consider the best barbecue in Memphis.
Cozy Corner Barbeque
$ | (901) 527-9158 | WEBSITE
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Family-owned and operated, this no-nonsense barbecue joint is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. Cozy Corner is known for its barbequed cornish game hens, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their offerings.
From brisket sandwiches and wings to house-made fries and their signature caramel cake, this classic hometown eatery does every bite right.
Dory
$$$ | (901) 310-4290 | WEBSITE
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Dining at Dory is truly a decadent experience. Chef Krog works closely with local farmers to create spectacular seasonal tasting menus from only the freshest ingredients.
Each course is a work of art, just as appealing to the eyes as it is to the tastebuds. Add the wine pairing for a unique flavor journey. Dory is a small, intimate affair with limited availability, so make reservations ahead of time.
Bryant’s Breakfast
$ | (901) 324-7494 | WEBSITE
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Bryant’s Breakfast has been serving up the fluffiest biscuits in town since 1968. The fare is simple, good old-fashioned southern breakfast staples like country ham, sausage gravy, and piping hot pancakes, but here simple is something extraordinary. Though the atmosphere is bustling, and there’s often a line, the staff at Bryant’s is fast and friendly.
The Majestic Grille
$$ | (901) 522-8555 | WEBSITE
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No1 Majestic Theater opened in downtown Memphis in 1913. Today, it’s home to a one-of-a-kind dining experience where you can enjoy a meal while a silent film plays on the silver screen.
The theater has all the art deco flair of old Hollywood, and the gracious service will have you feeling like you’ve been transported back in time. Dine on flatbreads and burgers for lunch, or enjoy a steak before catching a play at the Orpheum.
Paulette’s
$$$ | (901) 260-3300 | WEBSITE
With its outdoor seating and river views, Paulette’s is a great place to watch the sun go down. For nearly half a century, this restaurant has been a Memphis institution. Enjoy their Lump Crabmeat Omelette at brunch and return for their Grilled Lamb Chops with Bacon Apple Brussels for dinner.
Acre
$$$ | (901) 818-2273 | WEBSITE
Dining at this rustic, yet elegant, restaurant feels like visiting a magical garden cottage. Acre chefs are known for putting their unique spin on locally sourced ingredients with their New American cuisine rooted in southern tradition, French technique, and old-world flavor.
The Cupboard Restaurant
$ | (901) 276-8015 | WEBSITE
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The Cupboard has been the standard for down-home cooking in Memphis for more than 80 years. Although they serve traditional entrees like chicken fried chicken, fried catfish, and smothered pork chops, they are known for their vegetables. So much so that many diners skip the entrée altogether and just order four sides.
Catherine and Mary’s
$$$$ | (901) 254-8600 | WEBSITE
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Catherine and Mary’s is where industrial chic meets old Sicily. Chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman have blended southern ingredients with Italian grandmother know-how to create a menu that never ceases to impress – think crab tortellini, or rigatoni with maw maw’s gravy. Find the perfect pairing for your handmade pasta on their impressive wine and spirit menu.
The Railgarten
$$ | (901) 504-4342 | WEBSITE
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If you’re looking for a great place to hang out with friends, family, even your furry companion, this is it. Housed in an old railyard, The Railgarten has a lot going on- volleyball courts, ping pong tables, live music, and an outdoor movie screen. Better still, they have a phenomenal menu of tasty treats to keep the party going.
Restaurant Iris
$$$ | (901) 590-2828 | WEBSITE
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Restaurant Iris, a longtime Memphian favorite, has recently relocated to a beautifully remodeled bungalow in East Memphis.
There, Chef Kelly English continues to offer his distinctive take on Creole classics like crawfish etouffee and smoked duck gumbo. With its lavishly appointed interior and decadent menu, any evening at Restaurant Iris is a special occasion.
Arcade
$ | (901) 526-5757 | WEBSITE
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Put on your blue suede shoes and enjoy this fun 50s-style diner in the historic South Main Arts District. Operating since 1919, Arcade is Memphis’s oldest cafe. They serve breakfast all day, including their sumptuous sweet potato pancakes. For lunch, treat yourself to a frosty peanut butter and banana shake alongside your bacon burger.
Hog & Hominy
$$ | (901) 779-6096 | WEBSITE
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Owned by the same chefs that man the helm at Catherine and Mary’s, Hog and Hominy also serves Italian cuisine with southern flair, but in a more relaxed, rustic setting. This spot has been featured in GQ, Southern Living, and Bon Appetite for good reason. It’s a tasty blend of chef-inspired creativity and neighborhood charm.
Flight
$$$ | (901) 521-8005 | WEBSITE
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Can’t ever decide which entree to go with? Flight is for you. Here, you can order a dinner “flight” of three small plates and three perfectly paired wine choices. You might choose the grouper, veal, and elk tenderloin for your flight, or you could go with the chicken and waffles, bison ribeye, and shrimp and grits. Save room though, dessert comes as a trio too!
Char
$$$ | (901) 249-3533 | WEBSITE
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Char is a quintessential steakhouse with a southern flair. You’ll find choice-cut prime steaks, and shellfish grilled to perfection. Bourbon lovers will appreciate the extensive collection. Expect a classy atmosphere, attentive service, and unexpected flavor surprises.
SOB Downtown
$$ | (901) 370-2144 | WEBSITE
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Just a short walk from the National Civil Rights Museum, adventurous foodies will enjoy SOB’s creative flavor combinations, like duck fried rice, or Korean fried chicken over kimchi collard greens. The atmosphere is upscale casual and there are loads of gluten-free and vegan choices on the menu.
Huey’s
$$ | (901) 726-4372 | WEBSITE
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TThere are several Huey’s locations around town, but don’t let that fool you. This is not a franchise chain, but a locally-owned favorite that’s been bringing beer, burgers, and blues to Memphis for more than 50 years.
They offer 12 different burger options, but it’s the World Famous Huey Burger that has been topping local lists for decades. Sundays at Huey’s are for live music, so expect the joint to be jumping!
Central Barbecue
$$ | (901) 672-7760 | WEBSITE
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Central Barbecue is the epitome of Tennessee-style dry rub barbecue, slow-smoked over hardwood. The owners got their start on the barbecue competition circuit in the 80s, and have earned their way to the top of the Memphis Barbecue scene.
Loflin Yard
$$ | (901) 290-1140 | WEBSITE
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With over an acre of outdoor space, Loflin Yard is a breath of fresh air in the middle of downtown. Grab a cocktail, pick up an order of street tacos or a brisket po’boy from the window, then take a load off under the trees. There are outdoor games to play with friends, and they often have live music.
Summary
Known as the Birthplace of Rock-and-Roll, and the Home of the Blues, Memphis is a place that simultaneously holds dear to its southern roots and embraces innovation.
The best restaurants in Memphis feature cuisine that ranges from down-home favorites like soul food and barbecued ribs to upscale delicacies from world-renowned chefs, ensuring that there’s something to please every palette.
Hayden has been a digital director for years. He has five years of experience editing and writing about food, restaurant, and recipe review content. At Birch Restaurant, he’s in charge of scouting, showing up unannounced in different restaurants, and writing a thorough food guide!
