Memphis is known for food. In fact, there is even an entire style of barbecue named for the variety that Memphis made famous! But, there’s more than delicious BBQ to be found here…there are unique and tasty eateries throughout the city. Here are our Top 10 Interesting Eats for Memphis. Each one offers delicious food and an interesting and unique atmosphere as well.
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Top 10 Interesting Eats in Memphis, TN
1. The Rendezvous
Established in 1948, The Rendezvous has been cooking up delicious Memphis style pork barbecue and ribs for over 70 years. Located downtown in an alley close to the Peabody Hotel, the restaurant can be a little tricky to find…but it’s worth the hunt. Enter the front door and head downstairs into the basement. The atmosphere is as memorable as the meat! Some say this where Memphis bbq was born, and it’s the first BBQ Weston had ever tried. Our favorite things to order here are the sausage & cheese plate, bbq nachos, and their famous dry ribs.
2. Aldo’s Pizza Pies
This pizzeria is in the heart of downtown on Main Street, and boasts the award for “Best Pizza In Memphis” with their Memphis Barbecue pizza. It’s covered in pulled pork from Central BBQ just down the road, and is drizzled with just the right amount of tangy yet sweet BBQ sauce…delicious! Aldo’s has a ton of other pizza flavors on the menu and it’s definitely worth trying.
3. Corky’s BBQ
Corky’s original restaurant is located in east Memphis on Poplar Avenue, and has been there since the 80s (although there are a few more scattered around the city). We actually had the rehearsal dinner for our wedding at Corky’s Germantown location way back in 2004! We wanted all of friends and family outside of the area to experience real Memphis barbecue, and it was a huge success. Our favorite things to order there are their slab of wet ribs, bbq beans, onion loaf, and a slice of fudge pie.
4. The Arcade Restaurant
The Arcade is a classic Memphis establishment. It’s the oldest cafe in the city, and has been visited by countless celebrities over the years. In fact, Elvis had a private booth here and the restaurant still serves the King’s favorite dish…a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich! Personally, I can’t agree with Elvis on this one….most of our favorites here are on their breakfast menu, especially their french toast and pancakes!
5. Gus’s Fried Chicken
Gus’s Fried Chicken actually started in a small Tennessee town not far from Memphis when a food-loving couple began selling their hot and spicy chicken out of the back door of a tavern. Word spread and the business grew into a nationwide phenomenon, but the original Gus’s Fried chicken restaurant still operates in downtown Memphis, just like it has since 2001. The menu is simple and the chicken is spicy and delicious.
6. Central Barbecue
Central BBQ has several locations and they’ve been around since the early 2000s. Our favorite is the downtown restaurant, near the Loraine hotel. This location boasts an outdoor seating area that’s dog friendly…perfect for Sandi. The barbecue is quite tasty, and they have a variety of sauces to try as well. Our favorites dishes here are the pork rinds, bbq sandwich, and banana pudding.
7. Itta Bena
This “hidden gem” is located on Beale Street above BB King’s Blues Club. Wait, a restaurant above a blues club? You bet! Itta Bena is fine dining in a unique location (reservations are highly recommended). Take the fire escape (to the left of the club’s front door) to the hidden upstairs restaurant. Tables with views of Beale Street are available, and the food is delicious. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it for a unique and tasty dinner celebration.
8. Interstate Barbecue
Seriously…another BBQ joint? Absolutely! BBQ is one of Memphis’s claims to fame, and Neely’s Interstate Barbecue lives up to that hype. Neely’s is a family run business that has produced barbecue and won local and national awards for decades. Their original location on 3rd Street in Memphis is the one that made them famous. Of course, the pulled pork and pork ribs here are legendary, but a unique and tasty side is their spicy slaw…try it, you won’t be disapponted!
9. Belly Acres
Belly Acres is a family friendly burger restaurant in the Mid-Town / Overton Square district in Memphis. Their farm fresh menu really appeals to our family, as does the decor and atmosphere inside and out. Where else can you enjoy a burger made from grass fed beef, next to a tractor and an airplane sticking out of the wall? Notice the sign you receive when you place your order…they are all Memphis street names.
10. The Beauty Shop
The Beauty Shop is located in midtown Memphis, and was originally the place where Priscilla Presley went to get her hair done. It has since been converted into a restaurant, but the original chair-mounted hairdryers are still on display. Indoor and outdoor seating are available, although we prefer sitting outside in either the greenhouses in front or the igloos in back. The food is good, but the experience is even better!
Bonus…Flight Restaurant
Flight is a fine dining establishment in downtown Memphis that offers a unique take on ordering. While you can order a single menu item as an entree, what make flight unique is their offerings of multiple menu items paired together. For example, a seafood flight entree might include Grouper, Sea Bass, and Redfish. While a steak flight might contain beef filet, elk tenderloin and bison ribeye. “”Flight” style offerings are available for salads, deserts, beer and wine also. It is a bit pricey, but worth the splurge if your interested in trying multiple menu items in one meal.