Memphis
Memphis really blew me away from the get-go. Starting it off with Elwood’s Shack and Castle Restaurant will do the same to you too. The city itself has an amazing culture, great music, food, and bars. The food is of course what I will focus on, but I must make a special note of the National Civil Rights Museum. It is definitely my favorite museum, and it is extremely powerful. Walking through the hotel where Martin Luther King was brutally assassinated was such an outstanding experience that if you are in Memphis, you absolutely CANNOT miss it. Please enjoy all of Memphis, and as we all know, the food is the best way to a city’s heart.
BBQ/Fish Tacos
Rank: 9
Elwood’s Shack is a masterful hole-in-the-wall, it is next to a Lowe’s and practically nothing else if that shows you just how hole-in-the-wall it is. I went there the same day I had Pappy’s, my stomach already full of two full racks, and ordered a shack attack, a sampling of their BBQ. Oh, my, it was delectable. I was shaking in my boots with how tasty this feast was. They said a local legend would come and eat one for lunch every year in high school, and he was a 6.5ft basketball player. I finished it, but I had to take about ninety minutes.
While I was sitting there for ninety minutes with BBQ sauce all over my face, hands, and arms, I heard an overwhelming number of customers ordering the fish tacos. I asked the cashier there what is up with these fish tacos and he said they’re the most popular item. I was stunned, in my head I noted next time I have any free room in my stomach I am snagging these tacos.
The next day I had a little bit of room in me after I had two dinners, and I am like, shit Elwood’s is on the way home. I snag two fish tacos at like 8:30 after I have eaten 2 dinners, and I am telling you I almost ordered a third. Those tacos were INSANE! The BBQ was good, no doubt, but those tacos were definitely the best thing on the menu. The fish tacos are easily the best item on the menu, but I would venture to say the BBQ is the best in Memphis as well.
Mediterranean/Gyro
Rank: 19
Castle Restaurant was easily the most hole-in-the-wall restaurant on my entire list. I am not kidding you I was in there with one other lady, and she was appalled others did not know about this too. She was shown it the day before and was back for more. This place should be FAR busier, like people in Memphis don’t know about this place and that is a crime! Castle Restaurant is absolutely fabulous. I had one bite of this Gyro, was like shit: “yes can I have a second one?” This gyro was so delicious, it is an absolute must for Memphis locals, and anyone nearby on travel, it is right near Audubon Park, which is a nice place for a walk after feasting on two more meals later that night.
BBQ Shop/Ribs
Rank: 69
Do you want iconic Memphis Ribs? Everyone tell you to hit up Central? They were wrong, I mean Central is good, do not get me wrong. But BBQ shop glazed is better and do not have nearly as much of a line. Along with being an amazing meal, the atmosphere is pretty sweet in my opinion. The ribs with the BBQ glaze on them were revolutionary, it was absolutely outstanding, and while they talk plenty about the BBQ Spaghetti, the glazed ribs are what you come here for. The glazed ribs here are definitely the best ribs in the city.
Breakfast/Pancakes
Rank: 72
Well, if you listen to the Old Man and the 3 podcast like I do, and JJ Reddick told you the best pancakes are in New Orleans, he lied. The best pancakes I have ever had reside in what seems to be an ever-busy little family-run joint in Memphis. Their story is great, and their food, well it might be better. I am telling you those cinnamon roll pancakes could end your life. I was contemplating having two more or trying an omelet, but I had room to have Uncle Lou’s an hour later, so I am happy I didn’t. But if you can snag a place at the bar to hop the line, I highly recommend it, but if you have the time to spare and want an AMAZING breakfast, please look no further.
Brother Juniper’s really hits it outta the park with their cinnamon roll pancakes, and the deliciousness of the grub cannot be understated, I highly recommend it as it is the 2nd highest breakfast place on my list, which is saying something.
Fried Chicken/Hot Sauce
Rank: 109
Uncle Lou is an amazing man. He is so funny and loves having a good conversation with anyone as long as they are enjoying some of his liquid velvet. I was corrected when I referred to his hot sauce as liquid gold. The velvet hot sauce Uncle Lou makes is fabulous. Seriously this is the best hot sauce I have ever eaten, and the best sauce in general at that. The chicken is good as well, but I will be honest and say the hot sauce makes it top tier. I prefer the Sweet Spicy Love, a fabulous name, which is the hotter version of the hot sauce and provides the perfect kick to accompany some amazing chicken.
Speaking of the hot sauce, when I was there, I bought two of their biggest containers of hot sauce, and I highly recommend you snag one to bring with you on your food adventures, or your home. If you are unable to buy some there, you can ORDER it online! Like yes please! Whenever I run out of hot sauce I order a re-supply from this glorious spot in Memphis.
BBQ Shop
Rank: 153
This is the first, and still the only place I have ordered, and waiting in line for like I was in the DMV. Sitting there in folding chairs away from people holding a ticket, and the food was fabulous. Worth the wait, and the Rib tips were my favorite, however, I got tips, ends, ribs, pork, sausage, and they were all fabulous. Just a great all-around BBQ joint, nothing crazy to top any lists, just quality BBQ all around.
Yet another joint where many heads turn to look at you as you are covered in BBQ sauce devouring pound upon pounds of BBQ and many people think you are a monster. It was quite the meal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone going through Memphis. However, if you are not in Memphis long, I would not go out of your way, since Central BBQ is so closely ranked, and is right next to the legendary national civil rights museum in downtown Memphis.
BBQ Shop
Rank: 190
The Central BBQ location right next to the National Civil Rights Museum will come to you highly recommended. Stocking up on amazing grub before or after being emotionally destroyed by how we treat African Americans in this country is kind of the only way I survived it to be honest, and the ribs were still not enough. The ribs were outstanding, and so were the BBQ nachos, beans, mac & cheese, and pork. The brisket was alright, certainly, nothing to write home about, but to be honest none of this food was ridiculously amazing, but it was definitely all-around good and is honestly so close to such a historic landmark and museum, that is definitely worth the trip. The ribs were the clear highlight here, and definitely are worth enjoying.
International Deliciousness
Rank: 322
Global Café was started to give back to immigrants and refugees in the foodservice industry. And the food is spectacular, I had the Shawarma and highly recommend it. However, their menu is so diverse I would definitely recommend just trying something that suits your fancy that day or trying something new. The work they do at Global Café is something that should be highly commended, and I will do the same. It was an honor to try one of their cuisines from around the world, and I would love the chance to do it again. Their food spotlights the culture of various countries from all over the world, by people who call those countries home.
Fried Chicken
Rank: 332
Gus’s Fried Chicken is a Memphis original. It has become a chain recently and has a total of 31 locations. While the chicken did not blow me away, by any means. It is a Memphis staple, and if you are in the city going to the original Gus’s is worth a stop, but only if you already had time to have the other amazing spots Memphis has to offer. The chicken is very tasty, but it does hold the very last spot on my overall rankings for being a bit lackluster, especially in comparison to the high-quality grub Memphis offers elsewhere.
Places I haven’t tried but came up in research:
1. Home Bryant’s
2. Juicy Jim’s
3. Fino’s
4. Rendezvous
5. Rock N Dough Pizza
6. Dyers
7. Sam’s Deli
8. Pho Bihn
9. Tannoor Grill
10. Payne BBQ