Highest-rated restaurants in Memphis by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Memphis, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#18. Old Whitten Tavern
- Rating: 4.5/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2465 Whitten Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Porch and Parlor
- Rating: 4.5/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2125 Madison St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Plant Based Heat
- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 669 South Highland St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Pop's Hot Tamales
- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 2467 Park Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Bala's Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4571 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: African, New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Inspire Community Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 510 Tillman St. Ste 110 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Crab Island
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 1014 North Germantown Pkwy Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Cafe India
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 3810 Hacks Cross Road Ste 101 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Indian, Chinese, Pakistani
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Sam's Deli of Memphis
- Rating: 5.0/5 (145 reviews)
- Address: 643 South Highland St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches, Delis, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Andalusia
- Rating: 5.0/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5101 Sanderlin Ave. Ste 103 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Moroccan, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Hernando's Hide-A-Way
- Rating: 5.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 3210 Old Hernando Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: New American, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Petals of a Peony
- Rating: 5.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 1250 North Germantown Pkwy Ste 105 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Julles Posh Food Co
- Rating: 5.0/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6300 Poplar Ave. Ste 110 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Gluten-Free, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Square Meal Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6745 Lenox Center Court Ste 110 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: American, Soul Food, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Horn Of Africa
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 693 Avon Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Ethiopian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Curb Side Casseroles
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5130 Wheelis Drive Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Comfort Food, Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Orale Tacos • Bakery
- Rating: 5.0/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2204 Whitten Road Ste 3 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Bakeries, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Ms B's Sub Shop
- Rating: 5.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 1256 Getwell Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches, Soup, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.