Memphis is the home of the blues and Beale Street, of rock 'n' roll and soul. It's got Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, and Shelby Farms, which is five times the size of New York City's Central Park, thankyouverymuch. But in addition to the brick-and-mortar monuments and sites of yore, Memphis has something else worth traveling for: its food. Here's where to dive in—and drink up—the next time you're in the Bluff City.
Gus's Fried Chicken
Best for: Your fried-chicken fix
Many are quick to point out that hot chicken is a Nashville thing, but that hasn't stopped devotees of the Memphis iteration from flocking to Gus's 17—count 'em—locations, two of which are in Memphis. Started by Napoleon “Na” Vanderbilt more than 60 years ago in the town of Mason, Tennessee, Gus's remains family-run, and uses the same recipe Vanderbilt did when he and his wife began selling chicken between slices of white bread out of the back door of a local tavern. Go for the hot chicken, fresh from the fryer, but don't leave without a slice of chocolate chess pie.
Gibson's Donuts
Best for: Dough enthusiasts
Places that are open 24 hours are often greeted with a bit of skepticism on the part of the diner—twenty-four hours a day? Always open? But doesn't the quality suffer? In the case of Gibson's, no. First opened in 1967, Gibson's has been making doughnuts almost as fast as they can sell them. (If you're looking especially sleepy, proprietor Don DeWeese might actually toss you a doughnut from behind the counter.) Here, seasonal and specialty doughnuts like Oreo, red velvet, and maple bacon sit alongside classics like glazed, old-fashioned, and jelly-filled, making it difficult to walk away with just one...or two...or three.
Central BBQ
Best for: Dry-rubbed ribs
Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Memphis one of the best cities for barbecue in the U.S., and long-favorited establishments like Central are a big reason for this reputation. And just because the rub is dry doesn't mean you won't find meat that's juicy: Here, ribs, pork, chicken, turkey, beef brisket, sausage, and bologna are all rubbed with a secret combination of dry spices, marinated for 24 hours, then smoked low and slow in the pit over a combination of hickory and pecan woods. Bonus? Central has three locations across the city—Midtown, Downtown, and East Memphis—which means you'll never have to go too far without a barbecue fix.
Maciel's Tortas & Tacos
Best for: Homemade huaraches
Maciel's is a lesson in not judging a book by its cover: a small space on the northern end of South Main Street, you'd most likely walk by if you didn't know what you were looking for. Inside the small space, seemingly ever-present owner Manuel Martinez oversees a small staff preparing everything from made-to-order guacamole to homemade huaraches and tortas bursting with chorizo, chicken cutlet, and a fried egg. Note: The menu is relatively small, and there is no alcohol served.
Chez Philippe
Best for: Suit-and-tie dining
If it's opulence you're after, you can hardly do better in Memphis than Chez Philippe, an elegant restaurant inside the storied Peabody Hotel—yes, the one with the duck parade each morning. Here, executive chef Andreas Kisler serves four- and seven-course, French-inspired tasting menus for dinner. (Notable details: Elvis once attended prom at the hotel, there is tableside Caesar salad service, and jackets are "preferred.") Added bonus? Chez Philippe is the only place in Memphis that serves an Afternoon Tea.
Muddy's Bake Shop
Best for: A different kind of Southern comfort
Muddy's most popular dessert is called Prozac Cake—made from two layers of devil’s food cake and covered with creamy, smooth chocolate buttercream, it's easy to see why they named it after an antidepressant. Aside from the spirit-lifting cake, Muddy's draws crowds for its decadent cupcakes, pies, and toffee bars; helped by the fact that each dessert comes with a side of feel-goodness: the East Memphis bakery uses locally sourced ingredients, and has a reputable community outreach program.
Hog & Hominy
Best for: A new class of Southern cooking
Southern-influenced Italian food doesn't initially sound so appealing, but boy, does it taste good from the hands of chefs Michael Hudman and Andy Ticer, who have been turning out dishes like grits al forno and biscuit gnocchi in a converted East Memphis ranch house since 2011. After opening their first restaurant, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in 2008 (see below), the duo have since nabbed James Beard semi-finalist and finalist awards, and are expanding their empire: Forthcoming sister restaurant Catherine & Mary's will debut in downtown Memphis, and Hudman and Ticer will be the "culinary partners" at Josephine Estelle, the restaurant in the soon-to-open Ace Hotel in New Orleans.
The Bar-B-Q Shop
Best for: Wet ribs—and a Memphis original
If you like dry and wet ribs, then skip the more heavily trod Charles Vergos's Rendezvous in favor of Midtown's Payne's or the Bar-B-Q Shop, which is also best known for inventing another Memphis favorite—barbecue spaghetti. Regardless of what you order—pork ribs, beef brisket, barbecue bologna, pulled pork—the secret to the Bar-B-Q Shop's success is largely in the thick, vinegar-based secret sauce. Looking for a little barbecue to take home with you? Dancing Pigs Bar-B-Que Sauce is so popular that it can be found in local grocery stores.
Huey's
Best for: That burger you've been craving
Burger places are a dime a dozen, and Memphis has no shortage. But if it's quality you're after, head to Huey's, where the meat is custom-ground by Charlie's Meat Market, and the blend is secret. While you're waiting on your burger—all of the 13 choices come in at nearly an inch thick—indulge your inner kid and write on the walls: not only is it allowed, but encouraged. Huey's original location on Madison Avenue turned 45 in 2015, and seven other locations have opened since the burger mecca's inception in 1970.
Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen
Best for: A modern take on traditional favorites
The original offering from chefs Michael Hudman and Andy Ticer, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen is like many of the red wines it carries—getting better with age. The menu may have changed many times since it opened in 2008, but the lines are still just as long, and the flavors still there: go for the short rib potato gnocchi, linger awhile longer for the rotating, homemade gelato (previous flavors have included popcorn and honey-orange).
Don't forget about...
Wiseacre Brewing
Best for: Washing down all of your Memphis eats
One of the most popular spots on burgeoning Broad Avenue to grab a drink, Wiseacre was the city's first taproom when it opened in 2013. Other taprooms soon followed—High Cotton Brewing Co., Memphis Made Brewing among them—but Wiseacre remains a favorite for its sleek interiors, expansive patio, and, well, beer: hits are Gotta Get Up to Get Down, a coffee milk stout; the double-dry hopped Adjective Animal IPA; and Tiny Bomb, their American Pilsner.
