Food · Memphis · United States
What to eat in Memphis
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Memphis, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Dry-rub ribs, Pulled pork sandwich and Barbecue spaghetti. Try dry-rub ribs at one spot, a pulled pork sandwich at another and barbecue spaghetti at a third; many joints are a short drive apart in Midtown and downtown. Order ribs 'dry' to taste the classic Memphis rub, or 'wet' if you prefer sauce; many places offer half and half.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Dry-rub ribs
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 1
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at…
- Food experiences
- 3
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Dry-rub ribs
Pork ribs charcoal-grilled and coated in a dry rub of paprika, garlic and spices rather than sauce, the style that made Memphis barbecue famous. Ribs ordered 'wet' come basted in sauce instead.
Where: Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, in an alley across from the Peabody, has served them since 1948; barbecue joints across the city offer both dry and wet.
Dish
2.Pulled pork sandwich
Slow-smoked pork shoulder, chopped or pulled, piled on a soft bun and topped with tangy coleslaw, usually with a sweet, tomato-based sauce on the side.
Where: Barbecue restaurants and roadside joints throughout the city.
Dish
3.Barbecue spaghetti
A Memphis original: spaghetti tossed in barbecue sauce with smoked pork, served as a side or a main.
Where: Many traditional barbecue joints offer it as a side; ask if it is not on the board.
Snack
4.Barbecue nachos
Tortilla chips piled with pulled pork, cheese sauce, barbecue sauce and jalapeños, a local favourite at ballgames and barbecue joints.
Where: Barbecue restaurants and at Grizzlies games at the FedExForum.
Dish
5.Spicy fried chicken
Crisp fried chicken with a peppery, cayenne-spiked batter, usually served with beans, slaw and white bread.
Where: Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, which began in nearby Mason, Tennessee, has a busy downtown branch on South Front Street.
Street food
6.Delta hot tamales
Simmered rather than steamed, Delta tamales are smaller than Mexican ones, made with cornmeal and spiced meat and cooked in a chilli broth, a tradition in the Mississippi Delta since the early 20th century.
Where: Some Memphis barbecue joints and small tamale shops, and throughout the Delta around Clarksdale and Greenville.
Dish
7.Fried catfish
Cornmeal-crusted, fried catfish fillets served with hush puppies, coleslaw and pickles, a Southern river classic.
Where: Catfish restaurants, soul food spots and barbecue joints across the city.
Dish
8.Soul food plate
A meat with two or three sides: fried chicken or pork chops with collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams, black-eyed peas and cornbread.
Where: Soul food restaurants in Soulsville, South Memphis and around downtown, many open for lunch.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Banana pudding
Layers of vanilla custard, sliced bananas and wafer cookies, often topped with meringue or whipped cream, a standard dessert at barbecue and soul food restaurants.
Where: Barbecue joints and soul food restaurants throughout the city.
Food experiences
Barbecue crawl
Try dry-rub ribs at one spot, a pulled pork sandwich at another and barbecue spaghetti at a third; many joints are a short drive apart in Midtown and downtown.
Memphis in May barbecue contest
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, usually in mid-May, brings hundreds of competition teams to the city, with food and music for visitors.
Soul food lunch near Stax
Combine the Stax Museum with a traditional soul food lunch in Soulsville or South Memphis.
Quick bites and street food
- Barbecue nachos — Barbecue restaurants and at Grizzlies games at the FedExForum.
- Delta hot tamales — Some Memphis barbecue joints and small tamale shops, and throughout the Delta around Clarksdale and Greenville.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 1 are usually vegetarian: Banana pudding. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Order ribs 'dry' to taste the classic Memphis rub, or 'wet' if you prefer sauce; many places offer half and half.
- Barbecue joints often sell out of popular items by mid-afternoon; go early for the best choice.
- Many traditional restaurants are casual counter-service places; do not expect reservations.
- Some barbecue and soul food spots close on Sundays or Mondays, so check before driving across town.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, cash for bands and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Memphis famous for?
Dry-rub ribs, Pulled pork sandwich, Barbecue spaghetti and Barbecue nachos. Pork ribs charcoal-grilled and coated in a dry rub of paprika, garlic and spices rather than sauce, the style that made Memphis barbecue famous.
+Is Memphis good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Banana pudding.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Memphis?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, cash for bands and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.