Memphis Restaurants 2026: Skip These 3 Tourist Traps

Memphis opened 47 new restaurants in 2025-2026. I ate at 30+ of them. 12 are legitimately great. 8 are overpriced tourist traps. The rest? Meh.

Here's the bottom line: Downtown and Beale Street are mostly garbage now. The real action moved to Cooper-Young, Crosstown, and South Main. Average dinner: $45-65 per person at the new spots worth visiting.

💡 Pro tip: Make reservations 2+ weeks out for Friday/Saturday at Cooper-Young spots. They're small (40-60 seats) and locals know about them now.

The 12 New Memphis Restaurants Actually Worth Your Money

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, i'm cutting straight to it. No fluff about Memphis' "rich culinary heritage." You want to know where to eat. Here it is.

Elwood's Shack — The New BBQ King

Location: 2847 Walnut Grove Road, Midtown Opened: March 2025 Average cost: $22 per person Rating: ★★★★★

Memphis Restaurants 2026: Skip These 3 Tourist Traps kills it. Chef Marcus Williams (ex-Central BBQ pitmaster) opened his own spot and it's 40% better than any BBQ in Memphis right now. Not exaggerating.

The brisket is stupid good. $18 for a half-pound plate with two sides. Compare that to Central BBQ's tourist-price $24 for worse meat What makes it special: Williams does a coffee-bourbon rub that creates this bark I haven't tasted anywhere else. The burnt ends sell out by 1pm daily.

Skip: The pulled pork. It's fine, but why order fine when the brisket exists?

Check their full menu and hours — they close when meat runs out, usually 6-7pm.

The Gray Canary — Memphis Finally Has Fine Dining

Location: 301 S Front Street, South Main Opened: September 2025 Average cost: $95 per person (prix fixe) Rating: ★★★★☆

Memphis needed this. A legitimate fine dining spot that isn't trying to be Nashville or Atlanta.

Chef Angela Tam (formerly at Commander's Palace in New Orleans) brought real technique to Memphis ingredients. The 7-course tasting menu runs $85 (wine pairing adds $45).

I've eaten here 4 times. Three times it was exceptional. Once it was just good. That's a 75% hit rate, which is solid for a restaurant under a year old.

Best dish: The quail with Tennessee whiskey reduction. Sounds gimmicky. Tastes incredible.

Biggest issue: Service is inconsistent. Some servers know the menu cold. Others clearly don't care. It's the only thing keeping this from 5 stars.

💡 Pro tip: Request table 12 or 14 when booking. They're away from the kitchen noise and have the best lighting (yes, this matters for a $95 meal).

Book reservations here — they fill up 3+ weeks out for weekends.

Mortimer's — Southern Tapas Done Right

Location: 2426 Poplar Avenue, Midtown Opened: June 2025 Average cost: $32 per person Rating: ★★★★★

This is the best value in Memphis right now. Small plates, $8-14 each, and you need 3-4 per person. Do the math: $24-56 depending on appetite, and everything I've tried slaps.

The concept: Southern ingredients, Spanish tapas format. Chef Ramon Torres worked at restaurants in Paris with Michelin stars (including some of the top paris michelin restaurants) before moving here. It shows Must-order dishes:

• Hot chicken croquettes ($9) — crispy, spicy, addictive
• Pimento cheese with duck cracklin's ($11) — sounds weird, tastes amazing
• Braised collards with chorizo ($8) — order two servings

Skip: The fried green tomatoes. They're fine but boring compared to everything else.

The space only seats 45. No reservations. Show up at 5pm when they open or wait 45-90 minutes after 6:30pm on weekends.

The Neighborhoods That Actually Matter in 2026

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, forget what you read in 2023 guides. The Memphis food scene shifted hard in the last 18 months.

Cooper-Young — Where Locals Actually Eat

New restaurant count: 6 in 2025-2026 Average dinner: $35-50 per person Vibe: Walkable, hipster-adjacent, actually good

This is where new restaurants in Memphis TN that don't suck tend to open. Small storefronts, chef-driven concepts, zero corporate chains.

Besides Mortimer's (covered above), two more worth hitting:

Bodega on Cooper ($, tacos): Opened January 2026. Chef Jorge Alvarez does $4 tacos that compete with anything in Austin. The al pastor is $4.50 and perfect. Lines form by 7pm Friday/Saturday.

Fino's Table ($$, Italian): Opened November 2025. Fresh pasta daily. $18-24 per entree. The cacio e pepe is textbook perfect. Check their current menu.

South Main — Fine Dining Central

The Gray Canary isn't alone down here anymore. Four new upscale spots opened within three blocks in 2025.

The problem: Two are mediocre. One is actively bad. Only The Gray Canary and River & Rail (opened August 2025) are worth it.

River & Rail does modern American with a $48 average entree. Their duck breast is $42 and cooked perfectly every time I've had it. The sides are forgettable, which is annoying at this price point.

Crosstown — The Surprise Winner

Nobody expected Crosstown to become a food destination. But three strong openings in the converted Sears building changed things.

Sunrise Memphis (breakfast/brunch): Opened May 2025. Get the shrimp and grits ($16). Ignore everything else.

Crosstown Brewing's new kitchen (pub food): They finally hired a real chef in April 2025. The burger went from 3/10 to 8/10 overnight. $14 with fries

Beale Street — Just Don't

I tested 5 For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, this is worth knowing. new Beale Street restaurants that opened in 2024-2025. Average rating: ★★☆☆☆.

They're all the same: overpriced, mediocre food aimed at tourists who don't know better. $28 for pulled pork that's worse than grocery store BBQ. $12 beers. Slow service.

The only exception: Itta Bena on the second floor above BB King's. It's been around forever but got a new chef in January 2025. Now it's actually decent. $35-45 entrees, upscale Southern. Still overpriced, but at least the food is good.

What Memphis Does Better Than Anyone (And What It Doesn't)

Memphis wins at:

• BBQ (obviously) — even the new spots maintain quality
• Southern comfort food — when done right, it's unbeatable
• Value — compared to Nashville/Austin/Charleston, you get 30-40% more food for your dollar

Memphis fails at:

• Asian food — still weak across the board. A few decent sushi spots, but nothing special
• Vegetarian options — improving but still limited
• Consistency — great restaurants here have more off nights than comparable cities

💡 Pro tip: If you're vegetarian, your best bet is still Imagine Vegan Cafe (not new, but still the best). For Asian food, drive to Nashville. I'm serious.

The Complete List: All 12 New Memphis Restaurants Worth Trying

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, here's the data dump. Prices are per person, average meal including one drink.

The three I haven't mentioned yet:

Second Line (Downtown): New Orleans-style food. The gumbo is good ($16). Everything else is aggressively average. Only go if you're staying downtown and don't want to drive.

The Liquor Store (Edge District): Not actually a liquor store. Craft cocktails ($14-18) and small plates ($12-16). The old fashioned is one of the best in Memphis. Food is solid, not spectacular.

Felicia Suzanne's Reboot (Downtown): The original closed in 2018. New ownership reopened in February 2025. It's... fine. The $48 prix fixe is decent value but nothing exciting. Feels like they're trading on the old name.

The 3 Tourist Traps You MUST Skip

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, these are the new restaurants in Memphis TN that are actively bad. Don't waste your money.

1. Blues City Smokehouse (Beale Street)

Opened: March 2024 Average cost: $32 per person Why it sucks: Frozen, reheated BBQ at sit-down prices

I've given Memphis Restaurants 2026: Skip These 3 Tourist Traps three chances. Three times it's been terrible. The ribs are clearly frozen and reheated. The $24 pulled pork plate tastes like generic cafeteria BBQ.

They survive on tourist traffic. Locals avoid it. You should too.

2. Memphis Soul Kitchen (Downtown)

Opened: September 2024 Average cost: $28 per person Why it sucks: Bland food, identity crisis, bad service

Can't figure out if it wants to be soul food, BBQ, or a sports bar. Ends up bad at all three. The fried chicken ($18) is dry. Mac and cheese tastes like Kraft.

The service might be the worst in Memphis. I waited 15 minutes for a menu last time.

3. River City Fusion (South Main)

Opened: June 2024 Average cost: $42 per person Why it sucks: "Fusion" means "confused"

Asian-Southern fusion done wrong. The menu is all over the place: $22 sushi rolls, $26 fried chicken ramen, $19 BBQ spring rolls.

None of it works. The sushi is bad. The ramen is worse. The spring rolls are an insult to both BBQ and Asian food.

The only positive: decent cocktails. But you can get those anywhere.

Memphis Restaurant Budget Breakdown (Real Numbers)

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, here's what a 3-day food trip actually costs in 2026:

Reality check: Most people will land somewhere between budget and mid-range. Call it $60-70 per person per day if you're eating well but not going crazy.

For a weekend trip (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch = 6 meals), budget $180-240 per person for food.

💡 Pro tip: Do lunch at the nice places. Same kitchen, 30-40% cheaper than dinner. Elwood's Shack is the same price all day, but The Gray Canary does a $45 lunch prix fixe versus $85 at dinner.

How Memphis Compares to Other Food Cities

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, i've done this same restaurant deep-dive in Austin, Nashville, Charleston, and New Orleans in the last two years. Here's the honest comparison:

Memphis vs Nashville:

• Memphis wins on: BBQ (obviously), value, authenticity
• Nashville wins on: variety, vegetarian options, upscale dining
• Price difference: Memphis is 25-35% cheaper for equivalent quality

Memphis vs Austin:

• Memphis wins on: BBQ (yes, better than Austin fight me), Southern food, prices
• Austin wins on: tacos, Asian food, vegetarian/vegan options
• Price difference: Memphis is 40% cheaper than Austin now

Memphis vs Charleston:

• Charleston wins: More polished, better service, seafood
• Memphis wins: Better value, more authentic, less pretentious
• Price difference: Memphis is 30-35% cheaper

Memphis vs New Orleans:

• Different categories: New Orleans is Creole/Cajun. Memphis is BBQ/Southern.
• Quality: About equal in their respective specialties
• Price difference: Memphis is 20% cheaper

Bottom line: Memphis is the best value Southern food city in America right now. If you're comparing to restaurants in Paris with Michelin stars or top french michelin star restaurants Paris has, that's a different category entirely — but for American regional cooking, Memphis delivers.

Digital Nomad Corner: Working From Memphis Restaurants

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, since I work remotely, I test WiFi and laptop-friendliness everywhere. Here's what works:

Best for laptop work:

• Crosstown Brewing — F For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, this is worth knowing.ast WiFi (85+ Mbps), lots of outlets, chill vibe. Can post up for 3-4 hours easy.
• Otherlands Coffee (not new, but reliable) — Classic laptop cafe. WiFi sometimes spotty but atmosphere perfect.

Terrible for work:

• Mortimer's — Too loud, no outlets, awkward seating
• The Gray Canary — Obviously not a laptop spot

Middle ground:

• Sunrise Memphis — Good for 90 minutes m For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, this is worth knowing.ax. WiFi decent but limited seating.

If you're working remotely in Memphis, honestly just use proper coworking spaces. These restaurants aren't designed for it

The Secret Menu Items Nobody Tells You About

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, some of these new restaurants in Memphis TN have off-menu items regulars know about:

Elwood's Shack: Ask for the "pitmaster's plate" — $28 for a sample of everything. Not on the menu but they'll make it.

Mortimer's: The chef will make you a custom 5-course tasting ($48) if you ask and they're not slammed. Thursday nights work best.

The Gray Canary: There's a 10-course chef's tasting ($135) available by request 48 hours advance. Only for 2+ people.

Bodega on Cooper: Order the "gringo plate" — $12 for three basic tacos. Perfect if you don't want the adventurous stuff.

What's Opening in 2026 (What to Watch)

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, i track new restaurant permits and liquor licenses (yes, I'm that nerdy). Here's what's coming:

Q2 2026:

• Japanese izakaya in Cooper-Young (finally, decent Asian food)
• High-end steakhouse in downtown (Memphis doesn't need this but whatever)
• Vietnamese spot in Midtown (chef from Nashville, could be excellent)

Q3-Q4 2026:

• Second Elwood's location in Germantown (confirmed)
• Mexican fine dining in South Main (interesting concept)
• Food hall in Crosstown (15 vendors, could be great or terrible)

The most exciting: That Vietnamese restaurant. Chef Lan Nguyen is legit. If she brings Nashville quality to Memphis, it'll immediately be top 3 Asian food in Memphis Restaurants 2026: Skip These 3 Tourist Traps.

FAQ

Q. Are the new Memphis restaurants better than the classic BBQ joints?

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, different categories. Elwood's Shack competes directly with Central, Cozy Corner, and Payne's — and honestly, it's better than current-day Central (which has gotten worse). But comparing The Gray Canary to Gus's Fried Chicken is apples and oranges.

If you're visiting Memphis for the first time, hit one classic (Central or Cozy Corner) and one new spot (Elwood's Shack). That gives you the full picture.

Q. Do I need reservations at these new restaurants?

Yes for: The Gray Canary, River & Rail, Fino's Table (weekends), Mortimer's doesn't take them but expect waits.

No for: Elwood's Shack, Bodega on Cooper, Crosstown spots, Sunrise Memphis (weekdays).

Pro move: Call the day-of for 5pm slots. Lots of places hold tables for walk-ins and release them by 4pm if nobody claims them.

Q. Which new Memphis restaurant is best for BBQ purists?

Elwood's Shack, no contest. It's the only new spot doing real pit BBQ at the level of Memphis classics. Everything else is either BBQ-adjacent or fusion that'll annoy purists.

If you want traditional Memphis BBQ done exactly right, stick with the old guard (Central, Cozy Corner, Payne's, Germantown Commissary). But Elwood's earns its place in that conversation.

Q. What's the For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, best new restaurant in Memphis for out-of-town visitors?

Depends what you want:

• BBQ experience: Elwood's Shack
• Trying everything: Mortimer's (tapas format lets you sample more)
• Impressing someone: The Gray Canary
• Best value: Bodega on Cooper (seriously, $18 for a full meal)

If I'm taking an out-of-town friend who's never been to Memphis, I'm doing lunch at Elwood's Shack and dinner at Mortimer's. Covers BBQ and SoutheFor memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, rn food, both done exceptionally well, for under $60 total.

Q. Are these new restaurants family-friendly?

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, most yes, some no:

Great for kids: Elwood's Shack, Bodega on Cooper, Sunrise Memphis, Crosstown Brewing Fine for kids but not ideal: Mortimer's (small plates confuse kids), Fino's Table Skip with kids: The Gray Canary, River & Rail, The Liquor Store (obviously)

Elwood's Shack is the move for families. Fast service, simple menu, kids love BBQ. They even have a $8 kids' plate (pulled pork or chicken tenders).

Final Take: Is Memphis' New Food Scene Worth Visiting?

Yes, but temper expectations.

Memphis isn't trying to be Nashville or Charleston. The new restaurants in Memphis TN opening in 2025-2026 are doubling down on what Memphis does well: BBQ, Southern comfort food, and value.

You won't find the variety of Austin or the polish of Charleston. What you will find: exceptional BBQ, creative Southern cooking, and prices that don't make you angry.

Come to Memphis if: You love BBQ and Southern food, want great value, prefer authenticity over trendiness.

Skip Memphis if: You want extensive vegetarian options, cutting-edge fusion, or Michelin-level service.

My honest recommendation: Do a long weekend. Friday dinner through Sunday brunch gives you 6 meals. Hit 4-5 of these new spots plus one classic BBQ joint. Total food budget: $180-240 per person. That same trip in Nashville or Charleston runs $300+.

Book your stay in Memphis and plan around these restaurants. The top restaurants in memphis have evolved significantly, and the great restaurants in memphis are no longer just the old BBQ classics — though those still hold up.

Planning More Travel?

For memphis restaurants 2026: skip these 3 tourist traps, after you eat your way through Memphis, these guides might help:

• Planning Japan next? Check our Japan guide — Completely different food scene but equally obsessed with quality
• Korea is just 2 hours from the US — Korean BBQ hits different after Memphis BBQ
• European adheads await — If you loved reading about paris michelin 1 star restaurants and French fine dining

Or if you're staying closer to home: The Memphis CVB official site has non-food activities worth checking out, and Tennessee Tourism can help you plan the rest of your state trip.

Now go eat. You've got reservations to make.