Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Two Plates — $16–20 ⭐ GQ Top 10 Worldwide
The most famous fried chicken on earth — GQ Top 10 restaurants in the world worth flying for, Man v. Food, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. The hearse out front says "chicken worth dying for" and it's not wrong. Golden-brown, spiced-just-right crust, impossibly juicy inside, fried in peanut oil. The 2-piece dark plate with two sides — beans and mac and cheese — is the move. Two plates with drinks comes in around $18–20.
Cozy Corner BBQ
BBQ for Two — $12–18
The most unique BBQ menu in Memphis — and possibly the South. While every other pit is serving pulled pork and brisket, Cozy Corner is smoking Cornish game hens whole and selling BBQ bologna sandwiches for $3.75. Open since 1977 on N Parkway, this is the place locals tell you about when they find out you're in town. Rib tips, sliced pork, wings — two people eat for $12–18 depending on what they grab. Bring cash.
Central BBQ
BBQ Sandwiches & Nachos for Two — $16–19
Voted #1 BBQ in Memphis by locals — multiple locations across the city, average dish under $11. The regular pulled pork sandwich is $8.50, the half BBQ nachos (pulled pork, nacho cheese, jalapeños on house chips) are $9.50. Two sandwiches or a sandwich and nachos each comes in right around $18–19. The smoked wings and house-made potato chips are worth adding. Classic Memphis BBQ experience, widely accessible.
The Arcade Restaurant
Breakfast for Two — $14–18 📽️ Since 1919
Memphis' oldest café, open since 1919 — Elvis Presley had a regular booth here, and it's still there. Featured in Walk the Line, The Firm, The Client. Sweet potato pancakes are the signature, alongside country fried steak, deep-fried French toast, biscuits and gravy, and daily meat-and-three lunch specials. South Main Arts District location with 50s retro diner interior. Breakfast all day, under $15/person, no reservations needed for the counter.
Bryant's Breakfast
Two Biscuit Plates — $8–14
The cheapest great breakfast in Memphis — a no-frills Southern biscuit institution on Summer Avenue since 1968. Sausage biscuit for $2.25. Chicken biscuit for $4. Breakfast plates with country fried chicken ($10.50) or country sausage ($9.50) come with eggs, biscuits or toast, grits and gravy. Two people eat a real Southern breakfast for $8–14. The kind of place locals go every weekend without thinking twice. Open Wed–Sun from 5am.
Maciel's Tortas & Tacos
Tacos for Two — $9–16
Authentic Mexican street tacos in Downtown and Midtown — $3.50 each for asada, al pastor, or carnitas, and the three taco lunch deal with rice and beans is $9. The tortas (Mexican sandwiches) are a filling meal for $6.50. Two people doing three tacos each with a shared side lands well under $20 and hits harder than any Mexican chain. The best bang-for-buck meal in Memphis, full stop.
Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken
Two Combo Plates — $14–18 🎤 Guy Fieri Approved
Whitehaven's cult fried chicken institution with the legendary "Corruption Sauce" — a sweet-spicy glaze that Guy Fieri called out by name. The four-piece dark combo with biscuits, coleslaw, and potato salad runs under $10. A distinctly different fried chicken experience from Gus's — sweeter, glossier, a Whitehaven neighborhood staple that out-of-towners rarely find but locals swear by. Two combos for around $14–18.
Flying Fish
Southern Catfish for Two — $16–20
Southern-fried catfish in a no-frills location right in the downtown entertainment district — convenient to Beale Street and the FedExForum. Fried catfish, hush puppies, coleslaw, and fried okra at prices that feel completely detached from how good the food is. The cornmeal-crusted catfish platter is a classic Southern experience that's genuinely hard to find done this well outside of Mississippi and Tennessee. Two plates for around $16–20.
Dyer's Burgers
Two Deep-Fried Burgers — $14–18
The only burger joint in Memphis — possibly in America — where the burgers are deep-fried in grease that has been passed down and maintained since 1912. On Beale Street. When they moved locations, they transported the grease in a procession. That's not a gimmick, that's Memphis food history. Deep-fried burger, hand-dipped milkshakes, and a genuine piece of the city's story — two burgers and fries well under $20.
Earnestine & Hazel's
Soul Burgers, Late Night — $12–16 🌙 Late Night
South Main's legendary juke joint — a former drugstore turned bar and soul food counter with a Memphis music history going back to Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. The soul burger is the thing: a simple, perfectly sauced burger that people make special trips for. Affordable, atmospheric, and dripping with authentic Memphis character. Two burgers with drinks land around $12–16. Best experienced late on a weekend when the music is going.
Tops BBQ
Two BBQ Sandwich Plates — $12–16
Memphis' original local BBQ drive-in, beloved by locals for decades — the unpretentious everyman's choice in a city with a lot of BBQ opinions. A BBQ sandwich and fries is the classic move, and it's everything you want it to be: smoky, saucy, served without ceremony. Multiple locations across the city. Two plates with drinks comfortably under $16. The kind of place Memphians eat at once a week without fanfare.
Dim Sum King
Dim Sum Lunch Special for Two — $9.95/person
Memphis' go-to dim sum spot with a $9.95 lunch special — two people eat a full spread of dumplings, buns, and rice dishes for under $20. One of the most unique and underrated cheap eat finds in the city.
El Ranchito Taqueria
Authentic Mexican for Two — $12–18
A true Memphis neighborhood taqueria on Macon Rd that tourists never find — authentic Mexican with homemade tortillas, smoked whole and half chicken, chilaquiles, caldos (beef, chicken, menudo), and tacos with fillings like tripa and pollo. Large portions at prices that make two people eating a full spread for under $18 completely doable. Freezing cold sodas. The kind of spot locals fiercely protect. Open daily 10am–10pm (Sat–Sun from 9am).
Memphis Pizza Cafe
$10 Deals Menu for Two — $18–20
A Memphis institution since 1993 with a dedicated $10 deals menu covering sandwiches, calzones, pizzas, and combos — two people each grab a $10 item and you're right at $20. The Italian sub on sourdough with Italian dressing, lettuce and tomato is the standout, but the calzones and personal pizzas hit just as hard. Multiple locations including the Madison Ave flagship in Midtown. 4.5 stars and 1,800+ reviews. The kind of neighborhood pizza cafe Memphis has been loyal to for 30 years.
Young Avenue Deli
Two Deli Sandwiches — $16–20
Cooper-Young's beloved neighborhood deli and music venue on Young Ave — chicken salad sandwich $9.25, Deli Club $10.50, Super Veggie $8.50, Hot Roast Beef $9.75, basket of fresh fries $6.25. Two sandwiches and shared fries lands right at $20. Open daily 11am–1am with live music most nights — one of the best late-night food spots in Memphis.
The Four Way
Soul Food Plates for Two — $16–20
A Memphis soul food institution since 1946 in the Soulsville neighborhood — fried catfish, fried chicken, country fried steak, turkey and dressing, cornbread muffins with every plate, and sides like collard greens, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, and fried green tomatoes. MLK, Al Green, and Isaac Hayes were regulars. Priced under $10 per dish. Two plates with sides lands well under $20. One of the most historically significant restaurants in Memphis.
Payne's Bar-B-Q
Two BBQ Sandwiches — $10–14 💵 Cash Preferred
The most underrated BBQ sandwich in Memphis — family-run since 1972 in a converted garage on Lamar Ave. Chopped pork sandwich $5.25, jumbo $6.50, smoked bologna $3.75, smoked sausage $3.75. The signature mustard-based slaw goes on everything. Two people eat legendary Memphis BBQ for under $14. Lunch only Tue–Sat, 11am–2:30pm. Order at the window, they call your name. Cash preferred with a small fee for card.
Castle Restaurant
Gyros & Falafel for Two — $8–12
The best gyro and falafel in Memphis and one of the cheapest meals in the city — gyro sandwich $4.69–$5.99, falafel sandwich $3.69–$4.99, Philly steak $4.69, shish kabab sandwich $4.69. Two people eating full sandwiches with a salad runs $10–14 total. Counter service near the University of Memphis on Park Ave, immaculately clean, huge portions, made fresh to order. The kind of spot locals fiercely protect and visitors almost never find.
The Bar-B-Q Shop
BBQ Sandwiches for Two — $14–18
Home of the Dancing Pig and some of the best BBQ in Midtown Memphis — smoked turkey, pulled pork, chopped beef, BBQ bologna, and Polish sausage all served on buttered Texas toast. Also does excellent ribs, beef brisket, and the uniquely Memphis BBQ spaghetti. Average dish under $10. Two sandwiches with a side is a proper Memphis BBQ meal well under $20.
Sunrise Memphis
Two Biscuit Sammies & a Plate — $14–18
The most beloved breakfast spot in Memphis and consistently the longest line in the city — house-made buttermilk biscuit sandwiches from $5.50–$6.50 (The Rooster with fried chicken and Tabasco honey is the move), plates like the 3 Hermana tacos $9, Kitchen Sink $12, and 3 Amigos chorizo tacos $12. Two people each get a biscuit sammie and share a plate for $14–18 total. Fast casual, order at the counter, food delivered to your table. Open daily 7am–2pm. Two locations — Downtown on Jefferson Ave and East Memphis on Poplar Ave.
The Liquor Store
Breakfast for Two — $14–18
Don't let the name fool you — this is one of the best breakfast spots in Memphis with two locations on Broad Ave and East Memphis. Scratch-made biscuit with egg, cheddar, and choice of breakfast meat for $8. The move: order Cuban pork as your meat. Biscuits and shiitake mushroom cream gravy plate $14. Sweet potato hash with sofrito and sunny-side egg is the other standout. Two biscuit plates with Cuban pork runs $16–18. All-day breakfast, beautifully made, house-baked bread throughout.
Elwood's Shack
BBQ Sandwiches & Breakfast for Two — $12–16
The only Memphis BBQ spot in a Lowe's parking lot that made Yelp's national Top 100 BBQ list — brisket sandwiches $7.50, breakfast biscuits $3.50, steelhead trout tacos, pastrami Reuben, BBQ pizza, and Cuban sandwiches all on the same menu. Half-pound BBQ plate with beans and potato salad around $15. Open for breakfast daily from 7am. Two brisket sandwiches with sides lands under $16. A genuine hidden gem with a 4.5 star rating and 1,100+ reviews. Two locations — Summer Ave and Park Ave.
Brother Juniper's
Two Breakfast Plates — $14–18
The best-kept breakfast secret near the University of Memphis — a nationally acclaimed neighborhood diner tucked away on Walker Ave with garden seating and fresh-baked bread, biscuits, and pastries made from scratch every day. Cinnamon roll pancakes, loaded biscuits and gravy, open face omelettes, veggie sausage scramble. 4.7 stars, two of the highest-rated breakfast dishes in all of Memphis. No reservations, expect a wait on weekends — join the waitlist before you arrive.
Aldo's Pizza Pies
Two Slices & Drinks — $12–16
NY-style pizza with hand-made dough in Downtown and Midtown Memphis — the Downtown location on South Main runs a $6 slice + drink lunch special, making two people eating for $12 one of the best deals in the city. The 12-inch pie is big enough to share between two. Known for the vodka sauce, garlic knots, and the Memphis pizza. Rooftop patio at the Midtown Cooper St location. Two locations — Downtown on S Main St (on the trolley line) and Midtown on S Cooper St.
Asian Palace
Two Plates — $10–14
No-frills authentic Chinese on Summer Ave with an average dish price of $6.30 — one of the lowest price points of any sit-down restaurant in Memphis. Locals have been coming here for years for the reliable, unpretentious Chinese food that doesn't disappoint. Two people eat a full meal for well under $15.
Bayou Bar & Grill
Two Cajun Plates — $14–18
Midtown's only true sports bar serves authentic New Orleans-style Cajun food on Madison Ave — gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys, Zydeco wings, alligator nachos, chargrilled oysters, and blackened chicken and shrimp pasta. Average dish $9.40 with daily lunch specials. Two people eating a full Cajun meal lands comfortably under $20. Open daily 11am.
Belmont Grill
Two Burgers & Apps — $14–18
A historic East Memphis dive bar on Poplar Ave with hand-pattied chargrilled burgers that locals call some of the best in the city. Burgers and sandwiches $7.50–10, toasted ravioli $5.50, onion rings $3.25. Two burgers with a shared appetizer lands $15–18. Known for the sausage sandwich, shrimp po-boy, and key lime pie. Popular for business lunches by day, lively bar by night.
Bhan Thai
Two Lunch Dishes — $16–20
A beloved Midtown Thai institution on Peabody Ave since 2002 — 10 lunch deals under $10 available Tuesday through Friday. Chang Mai noodles, Salmon Panang, pot stickers, satay, and Tom Yum soup are the standouts. Tropical backyard patio with exotic string lights makes it one of the best outdoor dining spots in Midtown. Two lunch dishes clocks in right at $18–20.
Bogie's Delicatessen
Two Sandwiches & Sides — $14–18
Memphis's best deli with a 4.7-star rating and three locations — East Memphis on Brookhaven Circle, Midtown, and Downtown on Monroe Ave. Boar's Head meats, famous housemade pasta salad, Reuben, muffuletta, chicken salad, lox breakfast bagel, and homemade soups daily. Southwest chicken salad $8.99. Two sandwiches with sides lands well under $18. Downtown location open Mon–Fri with early bird buy-one-get-one-half-off before 11am.
Huey's
Two Burgers & Fries — $14–18
Memphis's most beloved burger institution since 1970 — the World Famous Huey Burger (Certified Angus Beef, secret seasoning blend) has been voted best burger in the city every year since 1984. The Downtown location does a burger combo with fries and a drink for $11.25. Graffiti walls, live music on Sundays, and a hometown bar feel at every location. Seven locations across Memphis — Downtown on S 2nd St, Midtown on Madison Ave, East Memphis on Poplar Ave, and more.
Flying Fish
Two Catfish Baskets — $16–20
No-frills Southern catfish counter downtown on S 2nd St near the Peabody — fried baskets starting at $8, 1 catfish fillet $8.25, 2 fillets $11.50, catfish po-boy on the menu alongside shrimp, oysters, and crawfish. Order at the counter, grab your buzzer, and wait for the freshest fried catfish in downtown Memphis. Lakefront bait-shack atmosphere, consistently fresh and well-seasoned. Open daily 11am.
Corky's BBQ
Two BBQ Sandwiches & Sides — $14–18
A Memphis BBQ institution since 1984 — hickory and charcoal-smoked meats in open and closed pits, slow-cooked low and slow. BBQ pork sandwich $6.29–$7.29, pulled pork dinner $8.99, beef brisket dinner $9.49, hot tamales $5.99. Two sandwiches with sides lands $14–16. Barn wood walls, neon signs, and aged brick — the classic Memphis BBQ atmosphere. Two Memphis locations on Poplar Ave.
Soul Fish Cafe
Catfish Plate for Two — $16–20
Cooper-Young's go-to catfish cafe — fried catfish done right alongside fried green tomatoes, smoked catfish dip, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, and a salmon burger for the non-catfish crowd. Priced at $, 4.4 stars, fast service, and a welcoming patio in the heart of the Cooper-Young neighborhood. Two catfish baskets or plates land comfortably under $20. Two locations — Cooper St in Midtown and Poplar Ave in East Memphis.
Molly's La Casita
Tex-Mex for Two — $14–18
A Midtown Memphis institution on Madison Ave for over 30 years — Tex-Mex comfort food with nachos $6.55, queso $2.75, black bean soup $2.95, cheeseburger $7.95, chile rellenos, chimichangas, and bacon-wrapped stuffed shrimp. Happy hour daily. New ownership since 2021 has added vegan-friendly options while keeping the old favorites intact. Two people eating a full Tex-Mex spread lands $14–18.
Tops Bar-B-Q
Two BBQ Sandwiches — $10–14
Memphis's most accessible BBQ chain and a local institution — pork shoulder sandwich $4.99, jumbo $5.99, beef brisket sandwich $7.49, BBQ bologna $5.49, smoked pulled chicken $5.49. Breakfast sandwiches from $2.99 including a brisket egg and cheese for $5.99 and a BBQ pork and egg for $4.99. Multiple locations across Memphis open daily. Two people eating a full BBQ lunch for under $15 — the best pure value on this list.
Tom's Barbecue
Rib Tips & Brisket for Two — $14–18
Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and Guy Fieri's Best Thing I Ever Ate — pork rib tips, brisket sandwiches, smoked wings, and banana pudding at 4087 New Getwell Rd. Generous portions, staff that treats every guest like family, and a deli-style setup where the smoke tells you you're in the right place. Mon–Sat 10:30am–6:30pm, closed Sunday.
Imagine Vegan Cafe
Vegan Comfort Food for Two — $14–18
Cooper-Young's beloved fully vegan restaurant — plant-based takes on Southern comfort classics including BBQ sandwiches, gumbo, fried chicken and waffles, spinach dip, and buffalo wings, all made with 100% plant-based ingredients. Featured in Forbes and National Geographic. Priced at $, 4.5 stars, around $14 per person. A 15% service fee is included in every order. Open daily 11am–7pm (9pm weekends) on Young Ave.
One & Only BBQ
Ribs & Sandwiches for Two — $14–18 💡 Weekdays Only
One of the highest-rated BBQ spots in the Memphis metro — dry rub ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, smoked wings, fried pickles, and twice-baked potato salad that people rave about. 4.4–4.5 stars across thousands of reviews. Portions are famously generous — one combo plate reportedly "could really serve two." Two locations: Kirby Pkwy and Perkins Extended. Open Mon–Fri 9am–6pm only, closed weekends.
Bryant's Breakfast
Two Biscuit Plates — $14–18
A legendary no-frills counter-serve breakfast joint on Summer Ave — massive homemade biscuits stuffed with bacon, sausage, or country ham from $3.50–$5.75, breakfast plates with eggs, biscuit or toast, and grits and gravy from $9.50–$10.50. The country fried chicken breakfast plate at $10.50 is the power move. Cash-forward, counter service, and a wait that's worth every minute. Open Wed–Sun 5am–2pm, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Brookhaven Pub & Grill
Burgers & Apps for Two — $14–18
A lively East Memphis neighborhood pub on Brookhaven Circle with one of the best patios in Memphis — hand-crafted burgers, tacos, mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts, and a full bar with live music on the heated back deck. $ priced with a friendly local crowd and sports on every screen. A reliable go-to for after-dinner drinks or a casual full meal. Open daily.
💡 Pro tip: Gus's downtown location draws long lines on weekends — arrive before noon or after 2pm to beat the crowds. Bryant's Breakfast is cash-preferred and opens at 5am Wed–Sun, which is genuinely useful after a late night on Beale. Cozy Corner tends to sell out of Cornish hens by mid-afternoon, so go early if that's your target. Earnestine & Hazel's is best experienced late on a Friday or Saturday when the music is live. If a deal has changed, flag it on our main directory.
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Applebee's
2 Entrees + Appetizer
One shareable appetizer + two full-size entrées. Fiesta Lime Chicken, Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Boneless Wings & more. Available dine-in, takeout & delivery.
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