The barbecue at Central BBQ is probably the best Memphis style pork you will have in your life. Everything they serve, be it their brisket, potato chips, sandwiches or starters will be beyond your expectations, great quality with spicy flavors and delightfully low prices. Naturally, the place is crowded at all hours of the day and one almost always has to wait for a while for a table. Luckily, they also take online orders.
Lunchbox Eats offers appetizing and creative sandwiches with a Southern twist. A crowd favorite here is the Homeroom Chicken and Grids; fried chicken is sandwiched between two waffle halves. Add a side of mac and cheese for a dash of decadence. Their homemade lemonade changes often, incorporating a variety of other fruits, like green apples, peaches, or blueberries.
The menu at Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken offers tasty sides, such as fried green tomatoes and fried dill pickle spears along with crispy, juicy fried chicken. Travelers who desire a hearty, home-cooked type meal can grab a snack pack or family meal to go. The snack packs include eight to 20 pieces of the fried chicken and white bread. The meals include baked beans, slaw and bread. You can choose spicy or mild fried chicken or even fried catfish. Homemade biscuits, country-style sides, such as onion rings and fried okra, and a variety of desserts ensure that you won't leave hungry from this family-friendly restaurant.
An Eastern Orthodox Priest runs this unassuming restaurant. It is often difficult to find a table, but worth the wait. Try the huge, fluffy homemade rolls, both wheat and white. The omelets can be ordered with a variety of toppings including spinach, mushrooms and feta cheese. On the side, try the sauteed potatoes, which can be topped with black beans, Swiss cheese, green onions or salsa. The decor is simple with red and white checkered tablecloths and few pictures. There are two dining rooms or you may eat at the bar. Classical music makes this a pleasant place to start the day.
Do not let the unlikely location put you off - the specialties here are worth it. This place is a Memphis tradition, and you may have to fight the regulars for a table or a seat at the counter. The barbecued Cornish game hens are the specialty here, perfectly cooked and succulent. Other choices include ribs and pork sandwiches. Cozy Corner is indeed cozy, but also casual. Everything is served on paper plates—the plastic cutlery can make eating a bit of a struggle, but fingers are allowed.
Come here for a taste of real pit barbecue, made from the same recipe for more than 50 years. This is a classic, down-home restaurant with a cozy dining room. In addition to the pork or beef plates, which come with ample helpings, you might want to try an appetizer cheese plate with peppers and barbecued bologna to whet your appetite. If you like the original Dancing Pigs barbecue sauce served here, take home a bottle in either the mild or hot variety. You can also pick up the famous sauce at Kroger or Piggly Wiggly grocery stores.
Aldo’s Pizza Pies offers a dizzying array of New York-style specialty pizzas. The Trippy Truffle made in mushroom alfredo sauce with 4 kinds of mushrooms, The Other Side made with poblano cream and grilled chicken are particularly delightful. You also have the option to build your own pizza with a choice of more than 30 toppings. If you are not in the mood for one of their scrumptious pizzas, they also serve an array of sandwiches that will certainly delight your taste buds. You can opt for Florentine or Uncle Carmen among other delicacies. Complement the meal with a sumptuous dessert if you still have any room left or go for one of their delicious brews. With so much goodness on offer at affordable prices, you simply have no excuse to skip Aldo’s Pizza Pies.
The atmosphere at this diner-style café is so authentic that the place was used virtually unchanged in "The Firm", the Tom Cruise movie about a Memphis law firm. Bill Clinton is also fond of the Blues City Cafe. The décor is intentionally weathered, with corrugated iron and glass blocks. Diner-style seating offers a great view of the crowds on Beale. The best bet on the menu is that Memphis staple—barbeque. You can watch big slabs of ribs being turned on the grill while you drink a cold beer. The prices are slightly elevated because of the restaurant's historic location, but you can still eat for a reasonable price.
This club features vintage rock on the weekends, often with Memphis favorite Kevin Paige as the star, On weeknights, catch up-and-coming musicians at Alfred's. The menu features ribs and barbecue pork along with steaks and chicken dishes. The lunch plate special offers the day's meat choice and three vegetables. There is also a full bar, with wine and beer. A large double-decker outdoor patio gives you a great view of the strollers on Beale Street while you dine or have a drink.
Dyer's Burgers may not be the most glamorous place to dine in Memphis, but it's survived since it's opening in 1912 because the burgers are out of this world. The burgers come in singles, doubles, and a stack of three patties and three slices of cheese. The secret to making such mouthwatering burgers? They've been using the same grease for the entirety of the restaurant's 100 year history. Add some fries or onion rings and a drink to your order, and you're in for a satisfying lunch.
If the goats, kept outside in an empty lot next door, don't get you, then the "Diver" will. The Diver is a gallon-sized drink specialty served here at Silky O'Sullivan's. Not a place to go for dinner, this place packs in the hardcore party crowd. If you're feeling brave, ask the bartender for a Fuzzy Leprechaun. This bar hosts a raucous annual St. Patrick's Day celebration each March. By the way, the goats, which are mascots for the establishment, won a permanent place in the bar only after city authorities concluded they posed no threat to public health and safety.
Serving made-to-order dishes prepared from scratch, you are bound to love the food at Cordelia’s. Located in Miss Cordelia’s Grocery Store, diners can feast on paninis, burritos, salads and signature sandwiches like Greek to Me and Crack-n-Jack. They also have plenty of choices for the vegetarians in the house along with gluten-free options and smaller portions for kids. Don't forget to call for a steaming cup of coffee or desserts like strawberry or caramel cake. Set in a home-style space, don’t be surprised if you are floored by the familiarity and warmth of this place.