Memphis is a city people often visit for the music, riverfront, and civil rights history, but plenty of visitors leave talking about the food first. From neon-soaked Beale Street to quiet neighborhood corners, the city’s signature dishes are a huge part of what makes a trip here feel like “real” Memphis.
This expanded guide focuses on five Memphis spots where the food is the main event and the setting feels distinctly local. Each highlight gives you a specific dish to hunt down, a sense of the neighborhood, and ideas for pairing the meal with nearby things to do. It works for first-time visitors, returning Memphis fans, and locals looking for an easy “food day” in their own city.
In this roundup, you’ll find:
- Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – crispy, spicy fried chicken with a cult following
- Central BBQ (Downtown) – ribs, pulled pork, and smoky plates near the Lorraine Motel
- Payne’s Bar-B-Que – a chopped pork sandwich that looks messy and tastes perfect
- The Arcade Restaurant – sweet potato pancakes in Memphis’s oldest café
- The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant – fried chicken, catfish, and sides served with history in Soulsville
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – Crispy, Spicy, and Pure Memphis
What it is:
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken has grown into a small chain, but the downtown Memphis location at 310 S Front Street still feels like the benchmark. The setup is simple: plastic cups, paper plates, and fried chicken that regulars line up for. The official site even highlights a guest raving that the chicken was “crispy, hot, fresh, juicy, and flavorful” with just enough kick to keep things interesting, and that the mac ’n cheese and beans were “also delicious.” (read the featured review)
On the review side, TripAdvisor lists the downtown branch as a Travelers’ Choice favorite, with diners calling the chicken “perfectly seasoned” and “worth the wait,” while Yelp reviewers describe the crust as thin and shattering, with heat that builds but doesn’t overwhelm.
What to order:
- Dark meat plate if you like richer flavor
- Mixed white-and-dark plate if you are sharing with friends or family
- Baked beans and mac and cheese as the classic side combo
- Pecan pie or chess pie if you still have room for dessert
If you prefer something a bit milder, reviewers on both TripAdvisor and Yelp mention that the chicken tenders are less spicy but still “excellent” and very juicy.
How to build it into your day:
Gus’s downtown is a few blocks from the Mississippi River and within easy walking distance of Beale Street. One simple plan is to have lunch at Gus’s, stroll the riverfront, then circle back toward Beale Street in the evening for live music and people-watching. The dining room usually feels busy and a little loud, with a mix of locals, tourists, and regulars who clearly know exactly what they’re ordering.
Central BBQ (Downtown) – Ribs and Pulled Pork Near the Lorraine Motel
What it is:
Central BBQ’s downtown location at 147 E Butler Avenue is one of the most convenient barbecue stops in Memphis, just a short walk from the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Central is known for slow-smoked Memphis-style barbecue, with a focus on pork ribs, pulled pork, turkey, and brisket.
The downtown page on their official site shows the full menu and notes daily hours from late morning through the evening, which makes it a flexible lunch or dinner choice. (see the Downtown Central BBQ info) On TripAdvisor, Central BBQ has thousands of reviews, with many visitors praising the ribs as “fall-off-the-bone tender” and the pulled pork as smoky without being too heavy. Yelp reviewers frequently highlight the rib plates, BBQ nachos, and sides like mac and cheese and greens.
Central’s reach extends beyond Memphis, too: national food platform Goldbelly ships their ribs and pulled pork nationwide, where customers leave 5-star comments about smoky meat and tangy sauce.
What to order:
- Half slab or full slab of ribs – try half dry rubbed and half sauced to taste both styles
- Pulled pork plate or sandwich with slaw
- BBQ nachos if you want something sharable at the table
- Banana pudding for a classic Southern dessert
How to build it into your day:
Because Central BBQ sits just steps away from the National Civil Rights Museum, it works perfectly as part of a half-day in the South Main Arts District. A simple loop might be:
- Spend a few hours at the National Civil Rights Museum
- Walk to Central BBQ for ribs, pulled pork, and a local beer
- Explore the murals, galleries, and small shops around South Main afterward
On busy weekends, expect a line; several reviewers mention that the wait is manageable and moves quickly, and that staff keeps the atmosphere relaxed even when it’s crowded.
Payne’s Bar-B-Que – The Legendary Chopped Pork Shoulder Sandwich
What it is:
Payne’s Bar-B-Que on 1762 Lamar Avenue is the opposite of polished. It’s a small, cinderblock building with a handwritten menu, minimal decor, and thick smoke drifting out of the pit room. What it does have is one of Memphis’s most famous barbecue sandwiches.
Local coverage in Memphis Magazine describes Payne’s as a family-run Lamar Avenue shop with more than 50 years of history and a fiercely loyal following. On TripAdvisor, reviewers regularly call it “absolutely incredible food” and “the best BBQ sandwich in the 901,” and Yelp reviewers rave about the smoky chopped pork and bright, mustardy slaw. Food and travel writers often single out the neon-green slaw as a signature detail that makes Payne’s instantly recognizable.
What to order:
- Chopped pork shoulder sandwich with slaw on top
- Rib plate if you want to sample a second meat
- Baked beans or fries on the side
Payne’s is typically a lunch-only spot with short hours. Recent posts on their Facebook page and details on Waze list hours around late morning to early afternoon on most days, so plan to go early and check current times before you head over.
How to build it into your day:
Payne’s sits in a part of town that works well if you are exploring Midtown or heading toward the Cooper-Young area. A simple loop could be:
- Early lunch at Payne’s (aim for opening time if you want the full selection)
- Head to Overton Park or the Memphis Zoo for a few hours
- Finish the day with coffee, beer, or dessert in Cooper-Young
The building and interior might look modest, but the sandwich you get here is the kind of thing people plan repeat trips around. If you love barbecue, this stop feels more like a pilgrimage than a casual meal.
The Arcade Restaurant – Sweet Potato Pancakes & Retro Film-Set Vibes
What it is:
The Arcade Restaurant holds the title of Memphis’s oldest café, founded in 1919 by Greek immigrant Speros Zepatos. The current Greek revival-style building at the corner of South Main Street and G.E. Patterson dates to the 1920s, and it still has the feel of a classic American diner. The booths, neon signs, and long counter have drawn movie crews for years, so you may recognize the space from film scenes and TV shows.
The Arcade is famous for two main things: its sweet potato pancakes and its connection to Elvis Presley, who reportedly favored certain booths and dishes. A feature in the local paper describes the sweet potato pancakes as “the bomb,” pointing out that some fans prefer them plain so the sweet potato flavor shines through. Travel and food platforms like TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Roadfood are filled with guests praising the pancakes, biscuits, and old-school diner feel.
What to order:
- Sweet potato pancakes with butter and syrup
- Traditional breakfast plates with eggs, hash browns, and biscuits
- The fried peanut butter and banana sandwich if you want to channel Elvis
- Strong diner coffee or a milkshake to go with your breakfast-for-lunch order
How to build it into your day:
The Arcade is in the South Main Arts District, which makes it a perfect anchor for a morning of exploring. One easy plan is:
- Breakfast or brunch at the Arcade
- Walk South Main to see murals, boutiques, and galleries
- Continue on foot to the National Civil Rights Museum or up toward Beale Street
Recent listings on TripAdvisor and Downtown Memphis show typical hours from early morning until mid-afternoon, so plan on breakfast, brunch, or lunch rather than dinner.
The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant – Fried Chicken, Catfish & History in Soulsville
What it is:
The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant at 998 Mississippi Boulevard is one of Memphis’s most important food landmarks. Open since the 1940s, it has served generations of locals and visitors in the Soulsville neighborhood, not far from the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The restaurant’s own site describes it as “built on legacy,” highlighting generational recipes, a new mural that honors family ownership, and long ties to the community.
Historically, The Four Way was a gathering spot during the civil rights era; articles in local media and national pieces note that leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., ate here while organizing in Memphis. A segment in Food Paradise and multiple travel writeups spotlight the restaurant’s role as both a soul food institution and a piece of living history.
Signature dishes & online talk:
The Four Way is known for fried chicken, fried catfish, turkey and dressing, greens, yams, and sweet potato pie. On the official site, one featured guest says, “The Four Way hits! The best soul food using generational recipes that are untouched,” and mentions loading up on turkey and dressing plus multiple sides and desserts. (read the highlighted guest comments)
Reviewers on Yelp and TripAdvisor praise the “true soul food that heals and comforts,” with special love for catfish plates, macaroni and cheese, and desserts like peach cobbler and sweet potato pie. A detailed summary on this restaurant profile notes that customers often rave about perfectly seasoned fried catfish, collard greens, and especially the macaroni and cheese.
What to order:
- Fried chicken or fried catfish with greens and yams
- Turkey and dressing on days when it’s offered as a special
- Macaroni and cheese as a must-try side
- Sweet potato pie or peach cobbler to finish the meal
How to build it into your day:
The Four Way is open from late morning to late afternoon a few days a week; current hours are listed clearly on their website and on ordering platforms like Toast. A simple Soulsville-focused outing might look like this:
- Lunch at The Four Way, focusing on fried chicken or catfish with several classic sides
- Walk or drive a short distance to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
- Explore the museum and the surrounding neighborhood’s murals and history
Between the food, the friendly staff highlighted in many Google and Yelp reviews, and the building’s role in the civil rights era, The Four Way delivers a uniquely Memphis mix of soul food and story.
Putting It All Together – Easy Food-Focused Itineraries
Option 1 – One-Day “Greatest Hits” Food Sprint
- Breakfast: Sweet potato pancakes at The Arcade Restaurant on South Main.
- Late Morning: Walk South Main and visit the National Civil Rights Museum.
- Lunch: Ribs and pulled pork at Central BBQ (Downtown).
- Afternoon: Stroll the riverfront or rest at your hotel.
- Dinner: Fried chicken at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, then end the night on Beale Street.
Option 2 – Two-Day “Slow and Full” Memphis Food Trip
- Day 1:
- Lunch at Payne’s Bar-B-Que for the chopped pork shoulder sandwich.
- Afternoon in Midtown or Cooper-Young (coffee shops, bars, and local shops).
- Optional casual dinner or drinks in Overton Square.
- Day 2:
- Brunch at The Arcade Restaurant.
- Midday visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.
- Late lunch or early dinner at Central BBQ or Gus’s.
- Another day for lunch at The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant combined with the Stax Museum.
Mix and match the stops based on your schedule, but if you hit even three or four of these places, you’ll come away with a strong sense of what Memphis tastes like: smoky, crispy, saucy, soulful, and very proud of its food traditions.