10 Best Memphis Restaurants

The best food in Memphis is rooted in Southern tradition. The most famous food in Memphis is its barbecue, specifically slow-smoked, dry-rubbed ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. The city is a top destination for barbecue enthusiasts. Another well-known dish is hot and spicy fried chicken, which is made famous by establishments like Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. Soul food is central to the city's identity, with staples like fried catfish, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese found at historic restaurants.

The cost of a meal in Memphis varies by the restaurant and time of day. For breakfast, a meal at a casual spot costs between $10 and $18. Lunch prices for a budget-friendly meal, like a barbecue sandwich, are in the $12 to $20 range. A sit-down lunch at a mid-range restaurant costs between $20 and $35 per person. For dinner, a meal at a casual restaurant costs from $18 to $30. A mid-range dinner experience is between $35 and $60 per person. Fine-dining establishments have prices starting at $65 per person.

The most popular fast-food restaurants in Memphis include local favorites and national chains. These restaurants are listed below:

• Tops Bar-B-Q: A long-standing Memphis chain known for its pit-smoked barbecue pork sandwiches and classic burgers.
• Jack Pirtle's Chicken: A local family-owned chain operating since 1957, famous for its fried chicken, gravy, and steak sandwiches.
• Krystal: A Southern fast-food icon known for its small, square steam-grilled burgers, often called "Krystals."
• Cook Out: A popular chain in the South, offering a large menu of char-grilled burgers, hot dogs, barbecue plates, and more than 40 flavors of milkshakes.

The new restaurants in Memphis introduce fresh concepts to the city's dining scene, as listed below:

• Amelia Gene’s: A fine dining restaurant downtown offering a menu focused on wine and seasonal ingredients. Located at 255 S Front St, Memphis, TN 38103.
• Momma’s: A casual spot in the Crosstown neighborhood serving burgers, patty melts, and boozy milkshakes. Located at 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 157, Memphis, TN 38104.
• The Lobbyist: Located in The Chisca apartment building, this restaurant serves contemporary American food with a focus on seasonal small plates. Located at 272 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103.
• Cameo: A restaurant in the Cooper-Young area offering seasonal American food with a focus on open-fire cooking. Located at 938 S Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104.

Yes, there are several new restaurants downtown Memphis that have opened to positive reviews like the Lobbyist and Amelia Gene’s. These downtown Memphis restaurants contribute new energy to the area's food scene. The Lobbyist, located inside the historic Chisca building, has earned praise for its sophisticated atmosphere and inventive menu of New American small plates. Diners compliment the creative cocktails and seasonal dishes. Amelia Gene's is another of the new restaurants Memphis has welcomed downtown, offering an upscale fine-dining experience with a focus on wine pairings and elegant decor, receiving high marks for its service and refined food.

Memphis has many restaurants with a special or fun vibe, making them some of the coolest places to eat in Memphis. These fun places to eat stand out for their unique decor, themes, or entertainment.

• The Beauty Shop Restaurant: This restaurant is set in a former 1950s beauty salon where Priscilla Presley used to get her hair done. The decor includes refurbished hooded hair dryers that serve as dining seats, creating a quirky and stylish retro atmosphere.
• Huey’s: A beloved local institution, Huey's is famous for its award-winning burgers and the tradition of patrons shooting frilled toothpicks into the ceiling. The lively, casual bar setting and live music on Sundays make it a consistently fun spot.
• Railgarten: This unique destination is a large entertainment complex that includes a diner, a tiki bar, a ping-pong bar, and an ice cream shop, all connected by a huge outdoor yard with games, fire pits, and live music. Its size and variety of options make it a cool place to spend an entire evening.

Yes, Memphis has several rooftop restaurants offering views of the city and river. These rooftop restaurants Memphis TN provide a memorable dining experience. Hu Roof at the Hu Hotel offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the Hernando de Soto Bridge from its downtown location. It has a chic, modern atmosphere perfect for cocktails at sunset. Beck & Call, the rooftop whiskey bar at the Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis, also provides stunning river views in a sophisticated setting. For a more casual vibe, Tiger and Peacock at The Memphian hotel in Overton Square features a colorful, eclectic design and views of the surrounding neighborhood.

Memphis has a growing number of restaurants with dedicated vegan menus or significant vegan options. Imagine Vegan Cafe is a fully vegan restaurant serving a large menu of plant-based comfort food, including vegan versions of Memphis barbecue, Philly cheesesteaks, and Southern-style plate lunches. Raw Girls is another key spot, offering plant-based, raw, and healthy grab-and-go meals, juices, and smoothies from multiple locations. City Silo Table + Pantry focuses on clean eating and provides many vegan options, such as the "Sunshine" bowl with tofu scramble and the "Foxy" wrap with buffalo-style tempeh.

Many restaurants in Memphis offer gluten-free options and are knowledgeable about accommodating diners. For example, Cheffie’s Cafe, a build-your-own salad and sandwich shop, offers gluten-free bread and clearly marks all gluten-free ingredients for its salads. Global Cafe in the Crosstown Concourse features food stalls from different countries, with many naturally gluten-free dishes like Venezuelan arepas and Sudanese stews. For upscale dining, Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar can modify many of its dishes to be gluten-free, providing an elegant dining experience for those with dietary restrictions.

Memphis is famous for indulgent foods like barbecue and fried chicken, but the city also offers many healthy dining options. A growing number of restaurants focus on fresh, locally sourced, and plant-based ingredients. Establishments like City Silo Table + Pantry and Raw Girls are dedicated to clean eating, offering salads, grain bowls, smoothies, and juices. Many other restaurants provide lighter fare, grilled protein options, and extensive salads, allowing for healthy choices alongside more traditional Southern food.

The most popular types of food in Memphis are deeply connected to its Southern heritage. The city's food identity is defined by these key styles.

• Barbecue: This is the most famous food in Memphis. The city is world-renowned for its specific style, which focuses on pork, slow-smoking, and a signature dry rub. Ribs and pulled pork are the most iconic dishes.
• Soul Food: Representing the heart of Southern home cooking, soul food is a cornerstone of the Memphis food scene. Historic restaurants serve classic dishes like fried catfish, fried chicken, collard greens, yams, and macaroni and cheese.
• Southern: This broader category includes many Memphis staples. It encompasses everything from biscuits and gravy to shrimp and grits, reflecting the traditional food of the American South.
• American (Burgers): Memphis has a strong burger culture, with many local pubs and diners famous for their classic, no-frills burgers. Places like Huey's have won "best burger" awards for decades.