Bucket List Eats of Memphis

Sure, we’re the barbecue capital of the world, but there’s so much more than BBQ offered here in the Bluff City.

Oh yeah, you know what we’re talking about: the most delectable eats in Memphis that you may not know about. We’re gonna dish it out to you. These items have been hand-picked by us from experience and legend, and they are in no particular order. Print this list out, and hit the town!

1. Ching’s Honey Gold Wings*
2. Elvis Dippers at Memphis Mojo Cafe
3. Bryant’s Ham Biscuit
4. Farm Burger Fries and Sweet Potato Hush Puppies from Farm Burger
5. Gus’ Fried Chicken IN the SAME bag as Gibson’s Donuts
6. Slider Inn’s Chick-N-Fill-Ay sliders and a Jameson Slushie
7. Jerry’s Supreme Sno Cone
8. Bi Bim Bop from Kwik Check
9. “Good Burger” from Roxie’s 
10. Hog & Hominy’s “The Red Eye” Pizza*
11. Stuffed Turkey Burger from Mot & Ed’s*
12. Chicken Korma with Garlic Naan from Golden India
13. Area51 Ice Cream Saigon Cinnamon Snickerdoodle
14. Huey’s Fried Pickles and Bluff City Burger
15. Cornish hen from Cozy Corner
16. Greek Salad and BBQ Chicken Pizza at Memphis Pizza Cafe
17. Saigon Le’s Szechuan Pork
18. Earnestine & Hazel’s Soul Burger*
19. Avocado Paleta from La Michoacana
20. Sweet Potato Pancakes from The Arcade Restaurant
21. Che’f Special from Pizzeria Trasimeno
22. Sushi from Ryu
23. Prozac Cupcake from Muddy’s
24. Kookamonga Burger at Kooky Canuck
25. Bologna Sandwich from Payne’s
26. Brisket Tacos from Elwood’s Shack
27. Corky’s Tamales
28. Bacon waffle from Cafe Eclectic
29. Blackened Chicken Tacos from Local Gastropub 
30. Chicken & Waffles from Alcenia’s 
31. Ribs and housemade chips with ranch from Central BBQ
32. Quesadilla Los Jarochos from a random taco truck on Summer Avenue
33. The Memphis Mix popcorn from Sweet Noshings
34. Chocolate Malt from A Schwab’s on Beale
35. Bison Burger on a Waffle from Belly Acres
36. Elvis French Toast at Lafayette’s
37. Lobster and Bacon Pizza at Spindini
38. BBQ Salad in a Mason Jar at Capriccio Grill
39. Elvis Italiano Grilled Cheese sandwich from Say Cheese Food Truck
40. Lunch Special at The Little Tea Shop*
41. Baby Blues Salad from Lisa’s Lunchbox
42. Dyer’s Burger (fried in 100 year old grease) with a chocolate shake
43. Cheese Empanada and Amarillos (plantains) from Havana’s Pilon
44. Croughnut from Donut Hutt
45. Leadership Mac and Pork Club from Lunchbox Eats
46. A sub on soft bread from the Chinese Sub Shop
47. Caramel cake, warmed, with vanilla ice cream at Frost Bake Shop
48. Pancakes and bacon from Brother Juniper’s
49. Breakfast Burrito from Fuel Food Truck
50. Blackened Tilapia with Mac & Cheese from Soul Fish Cafe
51. House Salad from Cheffie’s
52. Birthday Pancakes from Staks
53. The Verno at Second Line
54. Cheeseburger pizza at Newby’s
55. Cornbread stuffed quail with andouille sausage at Bounty on Broad
56. Banana pudding and butter cookies from Makeda’s
57. Chicken Pontalba at Char
58. Ramacche and Scarpinocc at Catherine & Mary’s
59. Porkchops from Ms. Girlee’s 
60. A 7 piece at Lou’s Fried Chicken
61. A sushiritto from Sushi Jimmy
62. Beef sliders with pimento cheese at Alchemy
63. Vodka pie from Aldo’s Pizza
64. Fried chicken tacos, guacamole salsa, and horchata from Maciel’s Tortas & Tacos
65. Garlic sriracha wings at The Wing Guru (formerly Don Don Jr’s Hotwings)
66. Honey gold and lemon pepper wings from Crumpy’s
67. “Gotta Get Up to Get Down” Waffle at Railgarten
68. Gourmade Burger from the Gourmade Food Truck
69. Peach Cobbler Nachos from Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe
70. Combination Vermicelli from Phuong Long
71. Chicken Shawarma and Baklava from Global Cafe
72. Foxy BBQ Sandwich and a Smoothie Bowl from City Silo
73. Cuban sandwich with plantain chips from The Liquor Store

See something we should check out? Let us know!

Restaurants with an * are  temporarily closed but, rest assured we will let you know when they re-open!

Looking for other things to do in Memphis? Check out these cool volunteer opportunities. Need to work off some of that fine fare? Check out our Local Guide to the Great Outdoors!