This Tennessee Soul Food Restaurant Is So Famous, Locals Still Call It Their Own
Tucked into South Memphis, Tennessee, The Four Way has been serving soul food since 1946, making it one of the city’s oldest restaurants still going strong.
Locals line up like clockwork, and once you sit down, you get why they keep coming back. The fried chicken has a perfect crunch, the greens taste like they’ve been simmered forever, and every plate carries a bit of the city’s history.
Even as more visitors find out about it, regulars treat it like their own secret.
Right Next To Stax Museum
Located in the Soulsville neighborhood of South Memphis, this restaurant sits just a few minutes from the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. That makes it incredibly easy to plan a day around music history and a proper meal.
You can walk through exhibits celebrating legends like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, then sit down for cornbread and greens without driving across town.
The pairing feels natural because both spots tell the same story about community, creativity, and resilience. It’s a combo that out-of-towners love, but locals have been doing it for years.
What The Regulars Order
If you want to eat like someone who’s been coming here for decades, stick to the classics. Fried or baked catfish is a safe bet, along with turkey and dressing that tastes like Sunday dinner at your grandmother’s house.
Don’t skip the fried green tomatoes, candied yams, or collard greens. The mac and cheese is creamy without being too heavy, and the cornbread comes out warm every time.
These dishes aren’t fancy, but they’re made right. That’s why people keep coming back, sometimes for their entire lives.
A Restaurant That Opened In 1946
The Four Way has been around since 1946, which makes it one of the longest-running soul food restaurants in Memphis. That’s nearly 80 years of serving the same neighborhood, through every kind of change you can imagine.
It’s outlasted segregation, urban renewal, economic shifts, and the rise of chain restaurants. Still, it stays rooted in what it’s always done best. The menu hasn’t changed much because it doesn’t need to.
When something works this long, you don’t mess with it. People trust that consistency, and that trust keeps the doors open.
Civil Rights Leaders And Musicians Ate Here
Walk inside and you’ll see photos on the walls that tell you exactly who’s passed through over the decades. Civil rights leaders stopped in during the movement, and music legends from Stax and beyond made this a regular spot.
It wasn’t just about the food, though that helped. The Four Way was a safe place to gather, talk, and plan. That history isn’t hidden or overhyped.
It’s just there, quiet and powerful, in the framed pictures and the stories people still share. You’re eating in a place that mattered then and still matters now.
The Bates Family Brought It Back
The Four Way had a rough stretch in the early 2000s, but the Bates family stepped in to revive it. They didn’t just reopen the doors; they made sure the soul of the place stayed intact.
Today, Patrice Bates Thompson carries that legacy forward, running the restaurant with the same care her family showed from the start. She knows the regulars by name and keeps the recipes honest.
It’s not about chasing trends or expanding into franchises. It’s about preserving something important and making sure it survives for the next generation.
Meat And Three Setup Done Right
The Four Way follows the classic meat-and-three format, which means you pick your main dish and then choose two sides plus cornbread. It’s a simple system that lets you try a little bit of everything without overthinking it.
You’re not stuck with one flavor profile. You can mix sweet yams with savory greens, or pair fried fish with creamy mac and cheese. The portions are generous, but not wasteful.
This setup has been popular in the South for generations because it works. It gives you variety, value, and a full stomach every single time.
Pair It With A Stax Visit
First-timers should absolutely plan to hit the Stax Museum and The Four Way on the same trip. You’ll get the full story of the neighborhood, from the music that put Memphis on the map to the food that kept people fed and connected.
Start at Stax in the morning, spend a couple hours soaking in the exhibits, then walk over for lunch. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of why this part of Memphis matters so much.
It’s not just tourism. It’s about experiencing a place through its culture, its sound, and its taste all at once.
Look For The Mural And Photos Inside
Before you walk in, check out the exterior mural that celebrates the restaurant’s roots and the neighborhood it calls home. It’s colorful, bold, and impossible to miss.
Once you’re inside, take a minute to look at the historic photos lining the walls. They’re not just decoration. They’re a timeline of who’s been here, what they stood for, and why this place has always been more than just a restaurant.
Both the mural and the photos make great backdrops if you want a picture that actually means something. They remind you that every meal here comes with a side of history.