Jennifer Chandler|Memphis Commercial Appeal
Black-owned restaurants and food businesses have shaped the culinary scene of Memphis.
They are a key ingredient in the recipe that has made Memphis one of the most innovative food scenes in the South, if not the country.
Restaurants like Cozy Corner, The Bar-B-Q Shop, Payne’s and Interstate Barbecue have helped put Memphis on the map as the barbecue capital of the world.
Soul food restaurants The Four Way, Alcenia’s and Orange Mound Grill are gathering spots that not only serve amazing food, but also provide a space of unity for all Memphians.
Innovative chefs are approaching soul food and Southern cooking with a new lens. Phillip Rix of Phillip Ashley Chocolates combines flavors like sweet potato into gourmet chocolates. Eli Townsend at Sage uses Southern classics like turnip greens and fried chicken in his signature “Soul Egg Rolls.”Tamra Patterson of Chef Tam’s Underground Café takes classic Southern dishes over the top with her original and fun spin.
Restaurants like Bala’s Bistro, Curry N Jerk and Stick Em are introducing Memphians to new cuisines from around around the world, serving authentic dishes from the owners' nativecountries.
Fried chicken and hot wings are two dishes that are now just as popular in Memphis as barbecue, thanks to places like Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken, The Wing Guru, Ching’s Hot Wings and Riko’s Kickin’ Chicken.
And don’t get us started on desserts. The Pie Folks, Makeda’s, Suga Mama Snoballs, Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. and Blues City Donuts are creating one-of-a-kind sweets we can’t resist.
Black chefs, restaurateurs and food artisans have touched every area of Memphis’ exploding culinary scene.
From restaurants to food trucks to online companies, here are more than150 Black-owned food businesses in Memphis to try.
NOTE: Make sure to check with each restaurant before you visit to see if its business operations have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOWNTOWN
Where: 317 N. Main St.
Eats: Soul food
Must-try: Fried Chicken
Where: 735 N. Parkway
Eats: Barbecue
Must-try: Cornish Game Hen
Where: 520 N. Third St.
Eats: Burgers, breakfast and plate lunches
Must-try: Burger
Where: 668 Union Ave.
Eats: Southern
Must-try: Peach Cobbler Nachos
Where: 126 Monroe Ave.
Eats: Caribbean
Where: 685 S. Danny Thomas Blvd.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 288 S. Fourth St.
Eats: Southern
Where: 2265 S. Third St.
Eats: Barbecue
Where: 594 N. Second St.
Eats: Breakfast fare and sandwiches
Where: 94 S. Main St.
Eats: Fusion Soul food
Must-try: Soul Egg Rolls
Where: 115 Union Ave.
Eats: co*cktails and upscale bar food
Where: 125 S. Main St.
Eats: Ice Cream
Where: 250 Peabody Place
Eats: co*cktails and bar snacks
Willie Moore’s Family Restaurant
Where: 109 N. Main St.
Eats: Southern
Where: 60 N. Main St.
Eats: Cajun
Where: 97 N. Main St.
Eats: Hot wings
Where: 341 Madison Ave.
Eats: Hot wings and fried catfish
Where: 648 Marshall Ave.
Eats: Quiches
Where: 300 S. Main St.
Eats: Cupcakes
Where: 95 S. Main St.
Eats: Southern
Down South Wings & Grill
Where: 936 Florida St.
Eats: Hot wings and sandwiches
Where: 99 N. Main St.
Eats: Wrap sandwiches
SOUTH MEMPHIS
Stein’s
Where: 2248 S. Lauderdale St.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 1631 S. Third St.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 1130 S. Third St.
Eats: Southern
Lot-A-Burger
Where: 2260 S. Third St.
Eats: Burgers
SOUTH MAIN ARTS DISTRICT
Where: 488 S. Second St. and 2370 Airways Blvd.
Eats: Cookies and other baked goods
Must-try: Butter Cookies and Lemon Icebox Pie
Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea Emporium
Where: 409 S. Main St.
Eats: Coffee
Where: 414 S. Main St.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 409 S. Main St.
Eats: Gelato
Fannie Lou’s Gourmet Chicken & Waffles
Where: 500 Tennessee St.
Eats: Chicken and Waffles
Where: 409 S. Main St.
Eats: Baked goods
The Cheesecake Corner
Where: 113 E. GE Patterson Ave.
Eats: Cheesecake
Where: 492 S. Second St.
Eats: Salads
SOULSVILLE
Where: 998 Mississippi Blvd.
Eats: Soul food
Must-try: Fried Chicken
Where: 1289 Willie Mitchell Blvd.
Eats: Delta-style tamales
Where: 841 Bullington Ave.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 1025 College St.
Eats: Tacos
CROSSTOWN
Where: 394 N. Watkins St.
Eats: Pizza
Where: 1329 Madison
Eats: Chicken wings
Where: 496 N. Watkins St.
Eats: Cajun
Must-try: Mardi Gras Pasta and Gumbo
Where: 1299 Madison Ave.
Eats: Pizza and Hot Wings
Where: 630 Madison Ave.
Eats: Jamaican
Where: 1354 Madison Ave.
Eats: Southern
Where: Crosstown Concourse
Eats: Gourmet popcorn
MIDTOWN
Where: 1782 Madison Ave.
Eats: Barbecue
Must-try: Barbecue Spaghetti
Where: 1788 Madison Ave.
Eats: Kabobs and Ethiopian fare
Where: 771 East Parkway
Eats: Seafood boils
1762 Lamar Ave.
Eats: Barbecue
Must-try: Chopped pork sandwich
Where: 1200 Madison Ave.
Eats: Handcrafted chocolates
Must-try: Taste of Memphis collection
Where: 326 S. Cleveland St.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 322 S. Cleveland St.
Eats: Burgers and Caribbean fare
Where: 1308 Union Ave.
Eats: Breakfast
Where:2078 Monroe Ave.
Eats: Private events venue
Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
Where: 2600 Poplar Ave.
Eats: Ethiopian
ORANGE MOUND
Pop’s Hot Tamales
Where: 2467 Park Ave.
Eats: Delta-style tamales
Where: 1404 Airways Blvd.
Eats: Barbecue
Where: 1525 Airways Blvd.
Eats: Southern
Must-try: Grilled Salmon Club
Where: 1238 Airways Blvd.
Eats: Southern
Where: 3045 Southern Ave.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 2280 Park Ave.
Eats: Hot wings
EAST MEMPHIS
Where: Dixon Gallery & Gardens, 4339 Park Ave.
Eats: Lunch fare
Where: 4969 Park Ave.
Eats: Breakfast
Must-try: Sweet Potato Pancakes
Where: 1264 Getwell Road
Eats: Hot wings
Where: 3092 Poplar Ave.
Eats: Upscale Southern
Where: 3920 Park Ave.; 671 S. Highland St.; 1671 S. Third St.; 336 N. Dunlap St.
Eats: Hot wings
Where: 3736 S. Mendenhall Rd.
Eats: Pizzas and sandwiches
Where: 1256 Getwell Road
Eats: Sandwiches
Where: 2032 Sycamore View, Suite 102
Eats: Italian Ice
CORDOVA
Where: 1028 N. Germantown Parkway
Eats: Pies
Must-try: Slap Yo’ Mama Chocolate Pie
Where: 8553 Macon Road
Eats: Lunch fare
Where: 1135 N. Germantown Parkwayand 6825 Winchester Road
Eats: Hot wings
Where: Wolfchase Mall, 2760 N. Germantown Parkway
Eats: Lemonade
Must-try: Strawberry Lemonade
Where: 1134 Germantown Parkway and 3711 Lamar Ave.
Eats: Hot wings, grilled chicken on a stick and barbecue
Where: 1740 N. Germantown Parkway
Eats: Soul food
Where: 6337 Summer Ave.
Eats: Seafood
Where: 8050 Dexter Road
Eats: Southern
Where: 1105 N. Houston Levee Road
Eats: Soul food
Where: 2200 N. Germantown Parkway
Eats: Smoothies
Where: 1204 N. Houston Levee Road
Eats: Hot wings
NORTH MEMPHIS
Ms. Girlee’s Soul Food Restaurant
Where: 629 Chelsea Ave.
Eats: Soul food
Where: 2661 N. Hollywood St.
Eats: Barbecue
Must-try: Smoked wings
Where: 1472 National St.
Eats: Burgers and snow cones
Where: 1420 Jackson Ave.
Eats: Burgers, wings, fried catfish
Where: 615 Chelsea Ave.
Eats: Seafood boils
Dindie’s Soul Food
Where: 4375 Stage Road
Eats: Soul food
WHITEHAVEN
Where: 3633 Millbranch Road
Eats: Fried chicken
Must-try: Sweet Spicy Love fried chicken and Honey butter biscuits
Where:4637 Boeingshire Drive
Eats: Southern
Where: 2160 E. Raines Road
Eats: African
Where: 4560 Elvis Presley Blvd.
Eats: Barbecue
Where: 1717 E. Holmes Road
Eats: Snoballs and lunch fare
Where: 3995 Elvis Presley Blvd.; 951 Getwell Road; 2390 Summer Ave.
Eats: Hot wings
Where: 4407 Elvis Presley Blvd.
Eats: Hot wings
Where: 1248 Marlin Road
Eats: Breakfast and lunch
Where: 4458 Elvis Presley Blvd.
Eats: Breakfast and lunch
Where: 2846 Airways Blvd.
Eats: Fried catfish
Where: 1139 Brownlee Road
Eats: Coffees
Where: 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd. and 724 S. Mendenhall Road
Eats: Juices and smoothies
Where: 1263 Winchester Road
Eats: Smoothies and healthy lunch fare
Where: 4101 Elvis Presley Blvd. and 2857 Kirby Road
Eats: Barbecue
Kountry Cookin’ Soul Food Restaurant
Where: 1128 Winchester Road
Eats: Soul food
Where: 4527 Millbranch Road
Eats: African
Runway Grill
Where:3183 Winchester Rd.
Eats: Wings and sandwiches
HICKORY HILL
Southern Hands Homestyle Cooking
Where: 6025 Winchester; 7119 Hacks Cross Road; 3624 Austin Peay; 930 Madison Ave.; 1811 Kirby Parkway; 5175 Millbranch Road
Eats: Southern
Must-try: Kam’s Smothered Pork Chops
Where: 5699 Mt. Moriah Road; 7199 Stage Road; 7090 Malco Blvd., Southaven
Eats: Chicken wings
Must-try: Triple J Wings
Where: 3721 Hickory Hill Roadand 1802 Elvis Presley Blvd.
Eats: Barbecue
Must-try: Rib tips
Where: 4780 Riverdale Road
Eats: Sandwiches
Must-try: Hickory-smoked chicken salad
Where: 6712 Winchester Road
Eats: Chicken and waffles
Where: 5950 Knight Arnold Road
Eats: Fried catfish
Where: 6721 E. Shelby Drive
Eats: Barbecue
Where: 6980 Winchester Road
Eats: Southern
Where: 4202 Hacks Cross Road
Eats: Hot Wings
Crump’s Fish & Wings
Where: 3110 S. Mendenhall Road
Eats: Fried catfish and wings
Where: 3705 Malco Way
Eats: Seafood boils
Where: 6745 Lenox Center Court
Eats: Southern
Where: 4780 Riverdale Road
Eats: Fried fish
Where: 3101 S. Mendenhall Road and 5144 Riverdale Road
Eats: Hot wings and fried catfish
Where: 3713 S. Hickory Ridge Mall
Eats: Salads
Where: 6385 Winchester Road
Eats: Soul food
Where: 6665 Winchester Road
Eats: Hot wings
Where: 5973 Knight Arnold Road
Eats: Hot wings
BARTLETT
Where: 5735 Raleigh LaGrange
Eats: Doughnuts
Must-try: Guji Mane cake doughnuts
Where: 7185 Stage Road
Eats: Soul food
Where: 7124 U.S. 64
Eats: Baked goods
Where: 2811 Bartlett Blvd.
Eats: Snow cones, ice cream, baked goods
Where: 6343 Summer Ave.
Eats: American
Where: 7140 Stage Road
Eats: Seafood boils
Must-try: Fried lobster tail
Big Momma's & Granny's Catering
Where:7546 U.S. 70
Eats: Southern
Where: 6110 Macon Road
Eats: Seafood
FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES & ONLINE COMPANIES
Feast & Graze
Online: feastandgraze.com
Eats: Charcuterie boards
Zayde’s NYC Deli
Online: zaydesnycdeli.com
Eats: Kosher NYC deli fare
Beneva Mayweather Foods
Online: mayweatherfoods.com
Eats: Yeast and cinnamon rolls
15MD Wellness
Online:15mdwellness.com
Eats: Healthy
Recover
Online: chefphillipdewayne.com
Eats: Healthy
The Pink Bakery
Online: thepinkbakery.com
Eats: Allergy-free baked goods
Goodness Gracious Luxe Cookies
Online: ggluxecookies.com
Eats: Cookies
Lil' Bit of Country
Online: chowchowmemphis.com
Eats: Chow chow and preserves
Pop’s Kernel
Online: popskernel.com
Eats: Gourmet popcorn
Cane & Herb
Online: caneandherb.com
Eats: Infused syrups
Gimme Sugar Bakery
Online:gimmesugarbakerymemphis.com
Eats: Baked goods
350 Baked
Online: 350baked.online
Eats: Baked goods
Roots Juice and Pops
Online: rootsjuiceandpops.com
Eats: Fresh juices
Replenish Kombucha
Online:replenish-kombucha.business.site
Eats: Kombucha
Moore Truffles
Online: mooretrufflesandmore.com
Eats: Chocolates
Two Vegan Sistas
Online: twovegansistas.com
Eats: Vegan
Balian Authentic African Spices
Online: facebook.com/balianspice
Eats:Spices
Beale Street Brewing Co.
Online: bealestbrewing.com
Eats: Beer
City Tasting Tours
Online: citytastingtours.com
Eats: Dining tours
FOOD TRUCKS
Smurfey’s Smokehouse
Where: facebook.com/Smurfeys-Smokehouse
Eats: Barbecue
Flying Sobie’s
Where: flyingsobies.com
Eats: Fried chicken
Must-try: Deep Fried Cornish Game Hen
The Fry Guy
Where: fryguymemphis.com
Eats: Loaded french fries
Fresh Gulf Shrimp
Where: facebook.com/remoulade901
Eats: Fried Seafood
Oink and Moo BBQ and More
Where:facebook.com/oinkandmoobbqmemphis
Eats: Barbecue
Wrapzody on Wheels
Where: wrapzodymemphis.com
Eats: Gourmet wraps
Fabulous Flavors & Friends
Where: facebook.com/fabulousfriends4ever
Eats: Southern
facebook.com/Grillmaster-chew-bbq-on-wheels
Eats: Barbecue
Eats: Southern
facebook.com/islandparadisetakeout
Eats: Jamaican
facebook.com/KL-Food-Truck-and-Fine-Catering
Eats: Southern
Lil’ Miracles is Better Than ____
Where: facebook.com/LilMiraclesFoodtruck
Eats: Southern
facebook.com/MrFraziersFishfry
Eats: Fried fish
Gourmade Food Truck
Where: facebook.com/gourmadefoodtruck
Eats: Southern
Zodiac Grill on Wheels
Where: facebook.com/zodiacgrillonwheels
Eats:Hot wings and sandwiches
If you have a Black-owned restaurant or food business you would like added to this list, please email Jennifer Chandler at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com.
Jennifer Chandler is theFood & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached atjennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
