The Bluff City A-List: A Guide to Memphis’s Best Restaurants
The air in Memphis hangs heavy, thick with the humidity of the Mississippi Delta and the sweet, unmistakable scent of hickory smoke. To understand the food of Memphis is to understand the city itself—a historic crossroads where every flavor tells a story. But to think Memphis is just barbecue is to miss the whole picture. The city’s culinary scene is a direct reflection of its complex soul, a tapestry woven from gritty resilience, Southern tradition, and surprising innovation.
This isn’t just a list; this is the Memphis Pantheon. We’ve synthesized critical reviews, local blogs, and community buzz to bring you a definitive guide to the best restaurants in Memphis. From world-famous ribs and legendary dives to some of the coolest restaurants Memphis has to offer, this is your ultimate guide to the essential Memphis eats.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Cuisine | Price Guide | Vibe / Perfect For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous | Downtown | Memphis BBQ | $$ | The Iconic, Historic Basement Ribs |
| Payne’s Bar-B-Q | Midtown | Memphis BBQ | $ | The Soul of the Chopped Pork Sandwich |
| Central BBQ | Multiple | Memphis BBQ | $$ | The Modern Standard for Craft Barbecue |
| Cozy Corner Restaurant | Downtown | Memphis BBQ | $ | A Family Legacy of Smoke & Cornish Hens |
| Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken | Downtown | Fried Chicken | $ | The Gospel of Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken |
| The Arcade Restaurant | Downtown | Southern Diner | $ | A Taste of Living History in Elvis’s Booth |
| Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar | Downtown | Fine Dining / American | $$$$ | A Culinary Flight for a Perfect Date Night |
| Erling Jensen, The Restaurant | East Memphis | Classic European Fine Dining | $$$$ | A Master Chef’s Classic European Touch |
| Hog & Hominy | East Memphis | Italian / Southern | $$$ | Where the Italian Countryside Meets the Delta |
| The Beauty Shop Restaurant | Cooper-Young | Creative American | $$$ | Kitsch, Cool, and Creative Cuisine |
1. Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
📹 Video Source: Health-Beauty-Life
- 🍴Cuisine:Memphis BBQ
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Downtown
- 💰Price:$$
- ✨Vibe:The Iconic, Historic Basement Ribs
- 📍Location:52 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103
To dine at the Rendezvous is to make a pilgrimage. You descend a steep set of stairs into a bustling basement off a downtown alley, where the air is thick with charcoal and decades of history. This is the elder statesman of Memphis barbecue, a true cultural institution and one of the best restaurants in Memphis downtown. In 1948, Charlie Vergos invented “Memphis-style” dry rub ribs here, broiling them over high heat with a secret, paprika-heavy seasoning.
Foodie Quote: “The experience is completed with a vinegar wash to keep the meat moist and a side of mustard-based slaw. The iconic sausage and cheese plate is another essential order.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s a living museum whose place in the Pantheon is non-negotiable. Without the Rendezvous and its invention of the dry rub rib, the story of Memphis barbecue is incomplete, making it one of the most famous restaurants in Memphis, TN.
2. Payne's Bar-B-Q
📹 Video Source: The Culinary Institute of America
- 🍴Cuisine:Memphis BBQ
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Midtown
- 💰Price:$
- ✨Vibe:The Soul of the Chopped Pork Sandwich
- 📍Location:1762 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN 38114
If the Rendezvous is a museum, Payne’s is a manifesto. Housed in a modest, unadorned former service station, this is one of the best Midtown Memphis restaurants and a contender for the finest barbecue sandwich on Earth. Family-operated since 1972, Payne’s has a cult-like status built entirely on the sublime quality of its chopped pork sandwich—a perfectly balanced explosion of tender and crispy pork, fiery sauce, and a legendary, neon-bright mustard slaw.
Foodie Quote: “The slaw is so distinctive it has become the stuff of legend—a neon-bright, mustard-based creation described by devotees as ‘magical’.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s the pinnacle of a non-replicable experience. Payne’s proves that for certain types of culinary greatness, authenticity is more valuable than conventional ambiance, making it a must-visit for authentic Memphis eats.
3. Central BBQ
📹 Video Source: vafunseekers
- 🍴Cuisine:Memphis BBQ
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Multiple Locations
- 💰Price:$$
- ✨Vibe:The Modern Standard for Craft Barbecue
- 📍Location:437 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103 (Downtown)
In the complex ecosystem of Memphis barbecue, Central BBQ has emerged as the definitive modern standard-bearer and the city’s great consensus choice. It’s the most consistently recommended barbecue joint, beloved by locals and tourists alike. Founded in 2002 by veterans of the competitive BBQ circuit, Central’s process is a science of meticulous craftsmanship, slow-smoking meats over hickory and pecan wood. The pulled pork nachos and smoked hot wings are local obsessions.
Foodie Quote: “The ribs, available ‘wet’ (sauced), ‘dry’ (rubbed), or half-and-half, are famously tender and fall-off-the-bone perfect.”Why is it our top choice?
Central BBQ democratized high-level craft. It has managed to scale its operation across multiple locations without sacrificing its soul, making it one of the best family restaurants in Memphis for world-class barbecue.
4. Cozy Corner Restaurant
📹 Video Source: ABC24 Memphis
- 🍴Cuisine:Memphis BBQ
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Downtown
- 💰Price:$
- ✨Vibe:A Family Legacy of Smoke & Cornish Hens
- 📍Location:735 N Parkway, Memphis, TN 38105
Cozy Corner is a story of legacy, resilience, and a unique culinary identity. For decades, it has stood as a revered institution, co-founded by Desiree Robinson, a pioneering woman in the male-dominated world of Memphis barbecue. While serving exceptional versions of Memphis staples, its enduring fame rests on its distinctive, signature offerings. This is one of the best restaurants in Memphis for trying something beyond the expected.
Foodie Quote: “The undisputed star is the smoked Cornish game hen, a whole bird smoked to a deep mahogany, yielding incredibly juicy, flavorful meat that has become a point of pilgrimage.”Why is it our top choice?
By choosing to dominate a less-contested niche with its iconic Cornish hen and BBQ bologna, Cozy Corner established a one-of-a-kind identity, making it a truly unique Memphis restaurant.
5. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
📹 Video Source: The Try Guys
- 🍴Cuisine:Fried Chicken
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Downtown
- 💰Price:$
- ✨Vibe:The Gospel of Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken
- 📍Location:310 S Front St, Memphis, TN 38103
The Gus’s experience is elemental. Served on checkered tablecloths, the chicken arrives piping hot and impossibly crispy, glowing with a deep, reddish-brown hue. With origins tracing back over 60 years, the secret family recipe achieves a perfect balance: a formidable, creeping spice level with a subtle, underlying sweetness. The chicken is always fresh, never frozen, with a shatteringly crisp skin and supremely juicy meat.
Foodie Quote: “The heat is a key component—a pleasant ‘kick’ that builds with each bite but never overwhelms the complex flavor of the seasoning.”Why is it our top choice?
It is a testament to the power of single-product perfection. By obsessively executing one thing flawlessly, Gus’s has transformed a humble local specialty into a world-famous icon and one of the most famous restaurants in Memphis, TN.
6. The Arcade Restaurant
📹 Video Source: J & B In The Hills
- 🍴Cuisine:Southern Diner
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Downtown
- 💰Price:$
- ✨Vibe:A Taste of Living History in Elvis’s Booth
- 📍Location:540 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
The Arcade Restaurant is a perfectly preserved time capsule of mid-century Americana. As Memphis’s oldest restaurant, founded in 1919 by a Greek immigrant, it is a silent witness to a century of city history. Its biggest claim to fame is its deep connection to Elvis Presley; his preferred booth in the back remains a site of pilgrimage for fans. The menu still features his go-to order: a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Foodie Quote: “While the history is the main draw, the food is classic, well-executed Southern diner fare, with standouts like the Sweet Potato Pancakes and traditional breakfast plates.”Why is it our top choice?
It has transcended its function as a mere restaurant to become a cultural institution. Its primary product is not just food, but the experience of tangible history, making it one of the coolest restaurants in Memphis.
7. Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar
📹 Video Source: Flights Restaurants
- 🍴Cuisine:Fine Dining / American
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Downtown
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:A Culinary Flight for a Perfect Date Night
- 📍Location:39 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
Located in the heart of downtown, Flight offers an atmosphere of polished, romantic elegance and is consistently ranked as the top fine dining destination in the city. Its core innovation is the “flight” concept. Instead of one entrée, diners select a trio of smaller, themed plates—like a flight of seafood or steak—allowing for a broad exploration of the Flight restaurant menu.
Foodie Quote: “The ‘flight’ concept extends to the wine list, encouraging guests to experiment with pairings and discover new favorites.”Why is it our top choice?
Flight’s success is a testament to the “experience economy.” By reimagining what a fine dining meal can be, it has secured its place as one of the best date night restaurants in Memphis.
8. Erling Jensen, The Restaurant
📹 Video Source: Places Untold
- 🍴Cuisine:Classic European Fine Dining
- 🏙️Neighborhood:East Memphis
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:A Master Chef’s Classic European Touch
- 📍Location:1044 S Yates Rd, Memphis, TN 38119
For decades, Erling Jensen has been the undisputed bastion of classic, European-style fine dining in Memphis. It is the domain of a master craftsman, a serene and elegant space where impeccable technique and luxurious ingredients reign supreme. Chef Erling Jensen, a local culinary legend, has been showered with accolades for his cuisine, which is described as “globally inspired, and classically executed,” with a strong foundation in French tradition.
Foodie Quote: “The menu changes with the seasons, but reviews consistently praise the exquisite tasting menu, delicate preparations of seafood like sea bass, and masterful handling of game meats such as elk and pheasant.”Why is it our top choice?
The establishment is a direct reflection of its master chef’s personal brand and commitment to excellence, making it the pinnacle of classic fine dining in Memphis for a special occasion.
9. Hog & Hominy
📹 Video Source: Phil Rosenthal World
- 🍴Cuisine:Italian / Southern
- 🏙️Neighborhood:East Memphis
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:Where the Italian Countryside Meets the Delta
- 📍Location:707 W Brookhaven Cir, Memphis, TN 38117
Hog & Hominy is a groundbreaking restaurant that fundamentally altered the trajectory of modern dining in Memphis. The brainchild of celebrated chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, its philosophy is “Italian Cooking. Southern Roots.” This is not a superficial fusion, but a deep and intelligent conversation between two culinary traditions. In their hands, a wood-fired pizza might be topped with regional country ham, creating something at once familiar and thrillingly new.
Foodie Quote: “It is a constant recommendation on forums for diners seeking innovative, high-quality meals that speak to the city’s evolving identity.”Why is it our top choice?
It helped put Memphis on the national culinary map for something other than barbecue. By masterfully weaving Italian techniques with Southern ingredients, it became one of the best new restaurants Memphis has produced in the modern era.
10. The Beauty Shop Restaurant
- 🍴Cuisine:Creative American
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Cooper-Young
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:Kitsch, Cool, and Creative Cuisine
- 📍Location:966 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104
Nestled in the vibrant Cooper-Young neighborhood, The Beauty Shop is a whimsical and utterly unique dining experience, making it one of the coolest restaurants in Memphis. It’s housed in what was formerly the beauty salon of Priscilla Presley, and the decor embraces this history, allowing patrons to dine in booths beneath authentic vintage hair dryers. The cuisine is as creative and eclectic as the decor, with a “fusion food” menu of “big Southern and international flavors”.
Foodie Quote: “The menu features playful and inventive creations like Watermelon & Wings and Voodoo Stew, showcasing a fearless approach to flavor combinations.”Why is it our top choice?
It is the quintessential Memphis experience—eclectic, artistic, and impossible to imagine anywhere else. The Beauty Shop perfectly captures the soul of its own vibrant corner of the city, making it one of the best Midtown Memphis restaurants.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Memphis is the capital of barbecue. For the most iconic experience, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous is a must-visit for its historic basement and invention of dry rub ribs. For what many call the best chopped pork sandwich in the world, the no-frills Payne’s Bar-B-Q is a pilgrimage. For a modern, consistently excellent choice with great ribs and nachos, Central BBQ is the city’s consensus favorite.
The Arcade Restaurant, founded in 1919, is Memphis’s oldest restaurant. This perfectly preserved mid-century diner was a favorite of Elvis Presley, and you can still sit in his preferred booth.
Downtown Memphis is packed with legendary spots. For iconic barbecue, you have Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous and Cozy Corner. For world-famous hot fried chicken, head to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. For a taste of history, visit The Arcade Restaurant. And for an upscale, fine dining experience, Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar is a top choice.
You have two premier options. Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar in downtown offers a unique and interactive “flight” concept in a polished, romantic setting. In East Memphis, Erling Jensen, The Restaurant is the bastion of classic, European-style fine dining from a master chef, perfect for a luxurious meal.
The Midtown area is home to some legendary eats. Payne’s Bar-B-Q is a must-visit for its world-class chopped pork sandwich. In the adjacent Cooper-Young neighborhood, The Beauty Shop Restaurant offers one of the coolest and most unique dining experiences in the city.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken is the definitive answer. Its origins trace back over 60 years to a secret family recipe from Mason, TN, that achieves a perfect balance of a formidable, creeping spice and a shatteringly crispy crust.
The “flight menu” is an innovative concept where instead of ordering one large entrée, you choose a trio of smaller, themed plates. For example, you can order a flight of seafood, steak, or salads, allowing you to sample a much wider variety of the chef’s creations in a single meal.
Hog & Hominy is a groundbreaking and nationally acclaimed restaurant that masterfully blends Italian cooking techniques with Southern roots. It’s not traditional red-sauce Italian, but a modern and delicious interpretation that helped redefine Memphis eats.
Yes, the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid contains The Lookout at the Pyramid, a restaurant and bar at the very top offering stunning panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the Memphis skyline, making it one of the most unique restaurants in Memphis.
Absolutely. The Beauty Shop Restaurant, located in Priscilla Presley’s old hair salon where you can sit under vintage hair dryers, is one of the coolest restaurants in Memphis. The experience of descending into the basement of Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous is another uniquely Memphis tradition.
