48 Best Southern Restaurants in Memphis

“Delicious and beautiful! The atmosphere is unique, elegant, and fun. They have a terrace but everything is located INSIDE so rain or shine, you can enjoy the feel of being outside without depending on the weather. We ordered drinks and the Cardi B that I had… amazing! Probably one of the best combinations of flavors I’ve tasted. We had the appetizer of crab fingers and the flavor was really good. We order the fried lobster tail with crab Mac and cheese as well as the fried chicken with greens and a corn bread pancake-like side. The wait was a little long but the food came out fresh and was sooo good! Highly recommend for anyone wanting to eat great food in a beautiful setting. This has easily become one of my new favorite places for date night, brunch with the girls, or even a lunch break with co-workers!“

“Yummy brunch menu . Great service !“

“I came to Itta Bena for my birthday last year and it was so good, I didn’t even hesitate to come again this year. The food and service is always incredible. Everyone is so kind. The experience is welcoming and professional from the moment you approach the host/hostess to the moment you get the check. I love this restaurant and I will be happy to continue celebrating birthdays with them!! (Our server was Jonathan this time, super nice guy!!)“

“My partner and I had a great meal at McEwen's. The service was excellent and they were kind enough to gift my partner one of their "McEwens" embossed glasses as she shares the same name.
Would certainly recommend if you're looking for a quality restaurant Memphis!“

“Best breakfast spot in town.“

“Food and vibe are always on point at Alcencia’s! We are always welcomed with kind words and of course kisses! We will always make our way to visit! The sweet potatoes are the best ever! This visit I tried fried green tomatoes for the first time and I was not disappointed ❤️❤️“

“It was Monday, day one of State Jury Duty, and three of us head to Genre Restaurant for lunch. Its a quaint restaurant with a musical theme and Memphis vibe. The service was fast and efficient; menu was a QR Code at the table and Servers had handhelds to show your bill and take payment. We enjoyed Fish & Potatoes, Fish & Grits, and a Southwest Egg Roll. All were very good, but the fried catfish, cheese grits, and egg rolls were EXCEPTIONAL! Downtown Memphis has a lot of great food options, but Genre Restaurant offers such a unique experience I will definitely be back soon.“

“I was a first timer and I'm always excited about supporting a black owned business and I told the cashier that but she wasn't friendly or talkative at all, the food was expensive (but what's not these days) but IT WAS SOOO GOOD! I will try once more and hopefully the owner reads this and will speak with cashier about her unfriendly, unconcerned customer service.“

“So order some lamb chops from TrapFusion901 last night at the wine on the river and this is what they gave me for $30. They definitely holds up to their name. When I ordered they told me 25/30 minutes so I go back and start getting more wine while I wait. I went back in 25 minutes, I was about to ask this lady was my food ready but before I could, this older lady from the trap made a comment "why are all these people back her, it's just to much", so trap lady #2 asked me "what I needed" and I told her "I was trying to see if my food was ready". She said "not yet". In my mind I'm wondering how would she know and not know my name. She comes back 3 minutes later to ask me my name. I told her that she should have asked me thar before saying that my food wasn't ready and then I perceived to give her my name. After that she then tells me my food was sitting on the table upfront with trap lady #1. I responded to her that she had just told me it wasn't ready and that food had been sitting there prior to me walking up. So I go to trap lady #1 and got my food. When I opened it I was highly disappointed. The chops were cold and dry. They drowned them in bbq sauce, which I don't like. On top of that it was only 3 chops in there for $30. This is another BOB I don't recommend. If they needed $30 they should have just asked.“

“Message me if u have any problems in your marriage or in your relationship and your problems will be solved in the next 24 hour“

“Unfortunately we were too late and the food was gone. Nevertheless, we were treated very friendly and lovingly. Everyone was happy that guests came from Germany. They also offered to come the next day. Unfortunately we are leaving tomorrow morning. Too bad.“

“If I could give this place 12 stars I would. The chicken and waffles are AMAZING!!!! I’m straight bragging on the wings. The customer service was awesome as well. Kudos to Fannie Lou’s. I will definitely be back. Please go and try this little kept secret out!“

“Had a great time while in Mempis“

“One of my coworkers suggested this place he wanted to try out, Southern Hands, for lunch. It's southern-style cooking, and that's an option I don't see a ton of even here in the south. So we swung by to try it out, and the food was fantastic!

The restaurant was in a strip, so I didn't expect much ambience, but there were pictures hung on the wall that gave the place a more homey and friendly atmosphere.

Ordering was quick at the counter, checkout was a tappity tap with the old debit chip card. Dominique took our order with a friendly smile. The crew behind the counter were fast and efficient yet obviously enjoyed working there, as there was muted banter back and forth while they worked.

Food was delivered to the table promptly. It comes in a take-out box, with silverware and a napkin. When you open the top, the first thing you spy is the cornbread. I love cornbread, and the cornbread we got was not too sweet, not too salty, moist and delicious. Under the cornbread was a foil sheet to keep your cornbread separate from the meal underneath, and to keep the food warm in case you were taking the food back to the office or home.

I had the meatloaf, with a side of mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas. I started with the meatloaf, as it was the main reason I was there. Meatloaf can be awesome or awful based on how it's cooked. As you can see from the picture, the meatloaf was landed in juice, with bell peppers and fresh tomato chunks added. It was definitely wet, and did not have a ketchup tophat to disguise flavor issues belowdecks. I don't prefer my meatloaf dry, crisp or with a ketchup cap. So for me, this meatloaf was just right. The tomatoes tasted fresh. the meatloaf had just the right seasoning.

The sides I chose worked to balance the wet of the meatloaf. The mashed potatoes were a bit dry, but I'd opted not to have gravy, because I wanted to taste the potatoes themselves, and gravy can hide a lot of taste issues. When I return I'll likely go for gravy, to see how they flavor it. The mashed potatoes held their own without it, but needed more wet and gravy would supply that. I couldn't tell if the black-eyed peas were fresh or canned. They were good, and if they were canned, I didn't notice; small chunks of bacon were added.

My coworkers chose the Fried Chicken and the Porkchop lunch specials. Their feedback was attested to by the bones they left. There wasn't any meat left on the fowl or the porker. One coworker commented that GOOD chicken doesn't require batter to add flavor, but the flavor is found in the meat, and this was true of the fried chicken. So, guess what I'm going to order on my next visit?

On our way out, I noticed that they also have a van and do catering.“

“I just love Chicken Salad Chick with all the selections, friendly service, and great atmosphere. I introduced CSC to my husband and he was so impressed that he got an extra scoop to go. I got the Jalapeño Holly and grape salad. It was such a fantastic combo. Big portions and full of flavor.“

“This place is a must when visiting Memphis! SO GOOD!!!“

“Stopped at notes and provisions restaurant to eat breakfast every morning during my stay at the Crowne plaza hotel definitely I think the buffet style breakfast is an awesome idea there could be a few minor little things added to it for the price of $10 but if it continues like it is $7 is a very reasonable fee for people to totally eat up an awesome breakfast and the person that was helping to set things up and serve omelets and take care of people is got a really great personality and she's doing a great job and she totally could succeed with so much more with just a little help and it would be an awesome experience to have again thank you“

“The owner of the company just covered the few dollars I was short. I just started a new job and wasn't aware that I would be short the funds to simply buy a burger and fries. This is clear evidence of the type of people here and the amazing character you deal with here. I WILL be back, and will 100% double the tip!! THANK YOU!!“

“I haven't been to a CSC that was disappointing, and this location is no different. The facilities and parking lot are kept clean, the staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the food itself is fresh and delicious and CONSISTENT! I could order from three different locations at once in Memphis and not notice a difference in quality between them.Thank you for making a pregnant woman's life less stressful, CSC!

Kid-friendliness: Kid's menu isn't huge, but they have one“

“The food, atmosphere and hospitality were phenomenal. Everyone enjoyed their soul food. If I ever make it back to Memphis, I will definitely eat here again. The food was absolutely amazing.“

“Delicious, great customer service“

“Great food. It came really quick and was piping hot.“

“The food is expensive, but absolutely incredible. A single order can easily feed two people, and it's some of the best steak I've ever had. Definitely a great place for a significant celebration, like an anniversary or a birthday.“

“Great food highly recommend“

“Excellent service. Delicious food!!!“

“Excellent service. Delicious food!!!“

“Food amazing, great blues playing in background, staff friendly, lovely atmosphere“

“I wish there was a 4.5! This was exactly what we wanted on a long car trip. A quick Togo meal (from a drive thru) that wasn’t burgers or the usual fast food fare. It was tasty, quick, surprisingly hot, and relatively inexpensive ($70 for 5 people). We had the fried fish, the meat loaf, the chicken tenders, chicken n dumplings, and a 4 veggie/sides plate. The spicy fried broccoli was different (in a good way). The drive thru clerk was super courteous and sweet. We were a little nervous b/c there weren’t many cars in the parking lot, but we were not disappointed. In fact, having said all that, I’m changing my review to a 5-star, b/c overall, Abbay’s should def be higher than 4.0. I wouldn’t say the food was AWESOME, but it was very solidly good. We’ll definitely be back if we’re passing through. Maybe someday we’ll see one in TX!“

“Message me if u have any problems in your marriage or in your relationship and your problems will be solved in the next 24 hour“

“2nd time in Memphis. The Green Beetle is our Memphis hometown bar! Great food, reasonable prices, and the clientele is a great mix of out of towners and locals! The staff is awesome! Randy the bartender is great!“

“Food came out prompt and as ordered. Frys were hot. Cashier was nice and friendly. One of my favorites to eat at. My family and I eat hear a few time a month.“

“The absolute best fried rice in Memphis. No other restaurant makes anything like this rice. We always order two of the combination fried rice. The smoked meats are so good and tender, there’s a bit of sweetness in the rice that, to me, is what makes this so different and better than any other fried rices, and the amount given will last you a couple of days. Put this on your list of “must try foods in Memphis” then go get some, you won’t be disappointed.

Kid-friendliness: Very laid back, open, and comfortable atmosphere. Everyone spoke when we walked in and it was clean.“

“The place is beautiful it’s so much bigger on the inside than the outside. The staff was very welcoming and kind. My family and I enjoy their food so much I definitely recommend to those how haven’t tried it.“

“Absolutely love the ribs at this place. Everything I tasted was fantastic. I enjoyed the slaw and the potato salad. So far I haven’t had anything I disliked. The staff is great. I like the seating areas for inside and outside seating. The mural of Memphis is fun and showcases cool spots. I can’t recommend this place more. It’s a must go. Also if you are not into BBQ only try out Aldos Pizza “The Memphis” it has Central’s pulled pork on top. It’s across the street from the Civil Rights Museum.“

“This is a sad thing when you have a person wait 6 minutes for cornbread and they come out burnt and half wrapped in foil. There were literally 6 or more people at work and I was the only person in that mane until the door Dasher came in and he had to wait also. These folks are really bad representations for the business and the culture let me make my own cornbread. Y'all black businesses shutting down because you got people working for you with nothing to lose. Find people who know if the business fails they fail also. I'm done with southern hands on Austin Pray and that's on Mary had a little lamb!“

“The Rockin Chair is a grown folks only atmosphere. Security is enforced, the food is outstanding, the service is spectacular and the entertainment is phenomenal. I highly recommend you come hang out once you have you’ll never stop coming. Sundays they grace you with some of the best soul food in the south.“

“Great experience at Woman’s Exchange of Memphis! Wonderful food in the Tea room and a nice gift shop combine to make this an excellent nonprofit that is here to empower women!Rev. Bailey is quite the chef, serving up flavorful and balanced southern cuisine in a relaxed and calm environment. Would recommend supporting this establishment!“

“Very very nice staff. The spaghetti was a little sweet for me and the mashed potatoes weren't great, but the Mac and cheese was delicious. The corn bread was also on the sweeter side. My friends loved it, so it could just be me that's the issue. It was very busy, so be prepared to wait“

“I give Joann 5 stars because the service is great as well as the food.“

“There was a line when I got there which is a good sign. The food was so good! Nice portion size, especially the cornbread. Nicely seasoned. Good customer service! Just a nice establishment.“

“Big Myrts Wings & Things offer delicious meals while providing superb service.“

“I had the pleasure of dining at Willie Mae's in Memphis Tn, On August 31 2022, I was thoroughly impressed with the food . The chittlins reminded me of my mommas in Rosedale Mississippi. The cornbread was firm yet moist, the Collard greens were on the money ,just enough sweetness and pepper to create an awesome flavorprofile. The Macaroni and cheese was baked to perfection, just cheesy goodness. I don't do shout outs, but if I did Willie Mae's gets my vote!“

“We were invited to a dinner and it was catered by DemiChris! I had roast beef/carrots, greens, Mac & cheese, candied yams and cornbread! When I say everything was excellent! It was seasoned to perfection and flavorful!! I would definitely use them for an event! Score 10 ?“

“This is our third time dining at Delta’s kitchen. The food is incredible and the portions are awesome as is the service. Our new “go to” restaurant for all of our special occasions. It definitely is Memphis’ Best Kept Secret! Please don’t change a thing!“

“We have been travelling from Washington to Houston and stumbled upon a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers that are promoting local music. I am an advocate of this type of promotion of local talent that seems to have been lost in recent times. I urge all to encourage upcoming performers in your local area.“

“2nd year we’ve been here. Very satisfied!“

“This place is a MUST VISIT if you have never been there!! The food is DELICIOUS and comfy food! The eggplant casserole has been on the menu forever, don't let the "eggplant " go you, it's too for! I had it with my meal and ordered some to go.. it's amazing!

Parking: The parking lot is right outside the front door

Kid-friendliness: They have a full kids menu“

“I ordered off doordash...... BABBBBYYYY KISS ? ? GRANDMA THATS IN THIS KITCHEN..... OMG ? I KNOW THESE RECIPES ARE OLD SCHOOL..... SUCKING ON THE BONE AFTER YOU DONE TYPE MEAL.... IT IS PERFECTION ON A PLATE.... N BABY ITS HARD TO IMPRESS ME ..... I WILL BE ORDERING MUCH MUCH MORE...... MY SON PICKY N DONT EAT EVERYONE COOKING HE ATE HIS PLATE N EASE OVER TO MINE.... ?... COLLARD GREENS ?.... thank you and dont change a thing ?“