Memphis, Tennessee’s Best Soul Food Spots That Prove Tradition Never Fades
When I first moved to Memphis, finding authentic soul food became my delicious mission.
This city’s soul food scene isn’t just about eating—it’s about experiencing history on a plate.
From crispy fried chicken to silky mac and cheese, these restaurants serve up generations of family recipes with a side of Southern hospitality.
Each bite tells a story of resilience, community, and flavors that have stood the test of time.
The Four Way: Where Civil Rights Leaders Broke Bread
Martin Luther King Jr. himself used to frequent this historic joint during the Civil Rights Movement—how’s that for a restaurant with legacy? When I first walked through the doors of The Four Way, the aroma of slow-cooked turkey neck bones and candied yams transported me straight to my grandmother’s kitchen.
Founded in 1946, this Memphis institution serves up more than just heavenly fried chicken and mouthwatering peach cobbler. The walls practically whisper stories of strategy meetings held over plates of collard greens and cornbread during the sanitation workers’ strike of 1968.
Their turkey neck bones and dressing still follow the original recipe, and locals swear the mac and cheese could solve world peace if given the chance. Family-owned for generations, The Four Way proves that soul food isn’t just cuisine—it’s cultural preservation on a plate.
Alcenia’s: Pink Walls And Grandma-Style Hugs Included
“Baby, you need some more cornbread?” That’s the question you’ll hear hollered across this pink-walled wonder where owner B.J. Chester-Tamayo treats every customer like family. I stumbled upon Alcenia’s after a local told me I hadn’t really experienced Memphis until I’d been hugged by B.J. and devoured her fried chicken.
Named after the owner’s mother, this downtown gem opened in 1997 but cooks like it’s been around for centuries. The bright pink walls and cheerful decor might catch your eye first, but it’s the butter-soaked cabbage and sweet potato cobbler that’ll haunt your dreams for years to come.
B.J.’s fried chicken recipe remains a closely guarded secret, though she’s not shy about sharing her philosophy: food tastes better when made with love. Her salmon croquettes sell out almost daily, so arrive early or call ahead!
Ms. Girlee’s: The Soul Food Sanctuary Hidden In Plain Sight
Blink and you might miss this unassuming treasure on Elvis Presley Boulevard! My taxi driver recommended Ms. Girlee’s on my second day in Memphis, insisting their neck bones would change my life. He wasn’t exaggerating.
This family-run establishment has been feeding hungry Memphians since 1991 with zero frills but maximum flavor. The dining room feels like someone’s home—because essentially, it is. Three generations of the same family work the kitchen, cash register, and dining room, preserving recipes that date back to Mississippi Delta kitchens.
Their oxtails fall off the bone with barely a nudge from your fork, and the greens have that perfect pot liquor that locals sop up with cornbread like liquid gold. Don’t miss Thursday’s special—turkey and dressing that regularly causes lines out the door, even in summer heat.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: Spicy Legacy In A Paper Basket
Hot, crispy, and served unpretentiously on white bread with a pickle—my first bite of Gus’s chicken literally brought tears to my eyes! Not just from the signature spice blend that gives their crust that famous kick, but from the pure joy of tasting perfection.
Starting as a small operation in Mason, Tennessee before expanding to downtown Memphis, Gus’s has maintained the exact same recipe since 1953. The chicken marinates for hours in a secret blend before being fried in peanut oil in cast iron skillets that haven’t been replaced in decades.
The downtown location features cinderblock walls, checkered tablecloths, and no-nonsense service. Their sides don’t play second fiddle either—the baked beans and slaw provide the perfect cool counterpoint to the chicken’s heat. Cash only until recently, this place embraces its old-school roots while serving new generations.
Cozy Corner: Where Smoke Signals Spell BBQ Perfection
Smoke billows from behind this corner spot, acting like a siren call to BBQ lovers across Memphis. My first visit to Cozy Corner happened completely by accident—I was lost, hungry, and following my nose. What a fortunate wrong turn that was!
Since 1977, the Robinson family has been slow-smoking meats to perfection, creating a unique intersection of soul food and BBQ that defies categorization. Their Cornish game hens—smoked whole and painted with tangy sauce—have become legendary, appearing on national food shows and in countless food magazines.
The no-frills interior features wood paneling and family photos, while the smokers out back work overtime. Don’t skip their soul food sides: the mac and cheese comes bubbling hot with a crust that provides the perfect textural contrast. Even after a devastating fire in 2015, they reopened, proving that tradition here is truly fireproof.
Orange Mound Grill: Neighborhood History Served Daily
“Y’all sit anywhere you want,” the waitress called out as I entered this time capsule of a diner in one of Memphis’s most historically significant Black neighborhoods. Orange Mound Grill has been feeding this community since 1943, through every social change and neighborhood evolution.
The menu board hasn’t changed much over decades—neck bones on Monday, oxtails on Wednesday, and smothered pork chops that’ll make you close your eyes in reverence. Breakfast happens all day, with salmon croquettes and grits that locals claim can cure anything from heartbreak to hangovers.
What makes this place special isn’t just the food—it’s watching construction workers, teachers, preachers, and neighborhood old-timers all gathering at the counter, sharing news and swapping stories. The sweet potato pie recipe comes from the original owner’s grandmother, who was born into slavery but lived to see her recipes become neighborhood treasures.
Mama’s Cooking: Strip Mall Surprise With Grandma’s Touch
Tucked between a discount store and a hair salon, this strip mall gem looks unassuming until you notice the line forming before they even open. My Memphis-born colleague insisted we arrive by 11:30 AM—”otherwise the mac and cheese will be gone, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
Opened just fifteen years ago by a grandmother who got tired of cooking for church functions for free, Mama’s has quickly become a neighborhood institution. The daily specials rotate based on what looked good at the market that morning, written on a whiteboard with colorful markers.
Their meatloaf defies description—moist, flavorful, and topped with a tangy tomato glaze that caramelizes perfectly at the edges. The yams come candied with a hint of orange zest and enough butter to make a cardiologist nervous. Most impressive is how they’ve cultivated regulars who come weekly for their designated “usual” order, proving new traditions can become just as powerful as old ones.
Gay Hawk Restaurant: Late-Night Soul Since 1951
Blues musicians have been filling their stomachs here after late-night gigs since the 1950s! When I mentioned to a local blues guitarist that I was hunting for authentic soul food, he wrote “Gay Hawk” on a napkin and said, “Go at midnight, order the short ribs, thank me later.”
This South Memphis institution serves traditional soul food until the wee hours, making it a favorite for musicians, night shift workers, and anyone craving comfort after dark. The wood-paneled walls display faded photos of blues legends who’ve dined here over seven decades.
Their chicken and dumplings arrive steaming hot with thick, hand-rolled dumplings that somehow remain light despite their size. The short ribs fall apart with barely a touch and come swimming in gravy that demands to be sopped up with cornbread. While newer spots get the Instagram fame, Gay Hawk reminds us that some traditions are worth preserving exactly as they’ve always been.
Madea’s: Where Soul Food Meets Memphis Hospitality
“First time here? Well honey, you’re family now!” The greeting I received at Madea’s came with a sample of their famous hot water cornbread—a crispy, golden disc that changed my understanding of what cornbread could be.
Operating from a converted house in South Memphis, Madea’s feels more like dining in someone’s home than at a restaurant. The mismatched chairs and family photos create an atmosphere where lingering over your plate is encouraged, not rushed. Their oxtail dinner sells out almost daily, the meat braised until it surrenders completely from the bone.
What separates Madea’s from other soul food spots is their vegetable mastery—even dedicated meat-eaters rave about the turnip greens, stewed cabbage, and black-eyed peas seasoned with smoked turkey instead of traditional pork. The banana pudding comes warm with vanilla wafers that maintain their structure while soaking up the custard—a technical achievement worth celebrating.