East Memphis Restaurants: Where to Eat Right Now

East Memphis restaurants have changed more in the last few years than the neighborhood's reputation suggests. Kelly English moved Restaurant Iris and The Second Line out of Midtown and into one building on Poplar. Brookhaven Circle has two Ticer and Hudman rooms facing each other. A short stretch of Mendenhall Road now has a cheese shop, a wine bar, a diner, a steakhouse from 1977, and Gus's within a few blocks. If you think of East Memphis as office towers and Poplar traffic, the food will surprise you.

Every restaurant below sits inside Memphis city limits east of the Highland area, and we checked each one at its own website in October 2026, reading the street address and ZIP rather than trusting the name. Hours appear only where the restaurant prints them. Germantown starts where the ZIP turns 38138; those spots are in our Germantown, TN restaurants guide. Heading the other way? See our Midtown Memphis restaurants guide. — Josh

Date night and fine dining in East Memphis

East Memphis holds more of the city's special-occasion rooms than any other part of town. These are the ones to book for an anniversary or the parents' visit. The citywide list is our fine dining in Memphis guide.

• Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen712 W Brookhaven Cir

  Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman's first restaurant, opened in 2008, and still the handmade-pasta room their group grew from. Dinner Mon–Sat 4:30–10pm; reserve at 901-347-3569 or through its site.

• Restaurant Iris4550 Poplar Ave (Laurelwood)

  Kelly English's "Memphis take on classic creole dining," moved east after fifteen years in Midtown. It serves lunch and dinner and runs a wine locker program for regulars. Parties of six or more should call 901-590-2828.

• Folk's Folly551 S Mendenhall Rd

  Memphis' original prime steakhouse, since 1977, with the Cellar Lounge downstairs. Dinner Mon–Sat 5:30–10pm, Sun 5–9pm. Review the dress code before you book, and Humphrey's Prime Cut Shoppe next door ships the menu favorites.

• Acre690 S Perkins Rd

  Chefs Wally Joe and Andrew Adams cook in a renovated house at Perkins, with a patio, a 12-seat private dining room, and a long wine list. Reservations by phone at 901-818-2273.

• Erling Jensen, The Restaurant1044 S Yates Rd

  The Danish-born chef's French-grounded room, now 30 years old. Dinner nightly 5–10pm, with a $50 three-course menu every Sunday. Anniversary chef's tasting dinners run Nov 5–6 and 12–13 ($185 a person).

• River Oaks5871 Poplar Ave

  Master Chef José Gutierrez's French-American bistro at Poplar and I-240, with a heated patio and a business-casual dress code. Tue–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri to 10, Sat dinner 5–10pm; closed Mondays.

• Napa Café5101 Sanderlin, Suite 122

  A Wine Spectator Award of Excellence list in Sanderlin Centre since 1998, from owner Glenda Hastings. Dinner Wed–Sat 5–9pm only, so plan around it.

• Marciano780 E Brookhaven Cir

  Italian imports and a relaxed take on fine dining since 2007, from Chef Morteza Gerani. Open 4:30–10pm every night except Tuesday.

• Fuego Vivo5110 Poplar Ave

  Steaks, tapas, and global plates cooked over fire, a few doors from Clark Tower. Mon 4–9pm, Tue–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri–Sat 10am–10pm, Sun 10am–9pm. (More beef: our Memphis steakhouses guide.)

• Hen House679 S Mendenhall Rd

  Velvet seats, a gallery wall, and wine worth lingering over. Dinner Sun–Thu 4–10pm, Fri–Sat to midnight, with happy hour Mon–Fri 4–6pm and weekend brunch 11am–2pm.

Laurelwood, Brookhaven Circle, and Regalia

Three clusters a few minutes apart on Poplar, each with enough restaurants to park once and choose on foot.

• Hog & Hominy707 W Brookhaven Cir

  Italian cooking with Southern roots, across the circle from Andrew Michael. Lunch Tue–Fri 11am–2pm, brunch Sat–Sun 10:30am–2pm, happy hour Tue–Sun 4–6pm, and dinner Sun–Thu 4–10pm, Fri–Sat to 11.

• The Second Line4550 Poplar Ave (Laurelwood)

  Kelly English's po'boys and gumbo, now sharing an address with Restaurant Iris. Open every day 10:30am–10pm; walk-ins welcome, or book on Resy.

• Libroinside Novel bookstore, Laurelwood

  Lunch among the bookshelves, with house-made crab ravioli on the October specials. Mon–Sat 11am–8pm with the kitchen closed 2–4:30pm, and Sunday brunch only, 11am–2pm. Happy hour runs all day Monday.

• Owen Brennan's6150 Poplar Ave, Suite 150 (Regalia)

  A Sunday ritual for Memphis families: the jazz brunch at this 35-year-old Cajun and Creole room, Sun 9am–2:30pm final seating. Mon–Sat 11am–9pm, with private rooms for parties.

• Ronnie Grisanti's6150 Poplar Ave, #122 (Regalia)

  Tuscan cooking carried from Valdottavo, near Lucca, by a great-grandfather who arrived in 1909. Mon–Sat 11am–10pm; closed Sundays.

• Bog & Barley6150 Poplar Ave, #124 (Regalia)

  An Irish pub whose woodwork, bars, tables, and chairs all came from Ireland, with a deep whiskey list. Mon–Thu 11am–10pm, Fri–Sat to midnight, and Sunday brunch 11am–3pm.

• Brookhaven Pub & Grill695 W Brookhaven Cir

  East Memphis' late kitchen: open daily 11am–1am, and 21+ after 9pm. Live music is on its calendar, and to-go orders carry a 20% gratuity for the hourly staff.

• Fox Ridge Pizza711 W Brookhaven Cir

  Bill Vest's pizza, from a 1979 start on Knight Arnold Road to Brookhaven Circle, now with a full bar. Sun–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri–Sat to 10.

Poplar and Park Avenue classics

The East Memphis regulars: barbecue, catfish, burgers, and red sauce, the places people mean when they say "let's just go to."

• Corky's BBQ5259 Poplar Ave

  Ribs, pulled pork, and Delta catfish on Poplar, with an onion loaf and hot tamales on the starters list. Sun–Thu 10:45am–9:30pm, Fri–Sat to 10. Party packs go out through the drive-thru.

• Pete & Sam's3886 Park Ave

  Italian for seven decades, in a refreshed room that kept its Elvis room. Sun–Thu 4–9pm, Fri–Sat to 10; call 901-458-0694 for parties over six.

• Huey's Poplar4872 Poplar Ave

  Burgers, local drafts, and live music on the calendar, with one of the latest kitchens on Poplar: Sun–Thu 11am–midnight, Fri–Sat to 1am.

• Soul Fish Cafe4720 Poplar Ave

  Fried catfish, and po' boys on Gambino bread from New Orleans, with beer and wine. Open daily 11am–9pm.

• Patrick's4972 Park Ave

  A neighborhood bar and grill with a patio over Marquette Park, Elvis memorabilia, and a Memphis Tigers wall. Kitchen Mon–Sat 11am–9pm, Sun to 8:30.

• Memphis Pizza Cafe5061 Park Ave

  The thin-crust local favorite's East Memphis room. Tue–Thu and Sun 11am–10pm, Fri–Sat to 11; closed Mondays. (The citywide ranking: best pizza in Memphis.)

• Cocozza East919 S Yates Rd

  The Harbor Town red-sauce favorite's second room, just off Poplar in the Arlington Park neighborhood. Daily 4–9pm, aperitivo hour Mon–Fri 4–6pm. Cashless.

• Ciao Bella Italian Grill5101 Sanderlin, Suite 100

  Italian and Greek cooking, with a grotto room for date night and a patio. Lunch Mon–Fri 11am–2pm, brunch Sat–Sun 11am–3pm, and dinner daily (bar from 4, dining room from 5).

• Sekisui Pacific Rim4727 Poplar Ave

  The East Memphis Sekisui, for sushi and Pacific Rim plates. Dinner only: Sun–Thu 5–9:30pm, Fri–Sat to 10:30.

Casual lunch and family dinners

Counter service, lunch breaks from the office towers, and dinners that work with kids along.

• Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken730 S Mendenhall Rd

  Spicy fried chicken on the Mendenhall row, with fried okra, greens, and chess pie. Mon–Thu and Sun 11am–9pm, Fri–Sat to 10.

• Magnolia & May718 Mt Moriah Rd (Williamsburg Village)

  Chip Dunham's Southern twist on dishes from around the world, opened in 2020 after his years cooking in Charleston. Tue–Fri 11am–8:30pm, Sat 10am–8:30pm, Sun 10am–6:30pm; a kids menu is on the site.

• Swanky's Taco Shop4770 Poplar Ave

  "TN-Mex" tacos and fajitas, local since 2005. Mon–Sat 10:30am–9pm, Sun to 8.

• Mosa Asian Bistro850 White Station

  Fast-casual Asian at lunch and early dinner on weekdays, full service on weekend nights. Tue–Thu 11am–2:30pm and 4–8pm, Fri to 9, Sat 4–9pm, Sun 11am–2:30pm and 4–8pm; closed Mondays.

• GREYS Fine Cheeses709 S Mendenhall Rd

  A cheese and charcuterie shop with tables, plus raclette, fondue, and classes. Dine in Tue–Wed 11am–4pm and Thu–Sat 11am–8pm; closed Sundays and Mondays.

• Park & CherryDixon Gallery & Gardens, Park Ave

  The Dixon's café, where the fall menu runs to a short rib grilled cheese and butternut squash soup. Open Tue–Sat 10am–4:30pm with lunch 11am–3pm, and Sunday 1–4:30pm with no lunch served.

Breakfast, bakeries, and coffee in East Memphis

East Memphis wakes up early. For the citywide weekend list, see our brunch in Memphis guide.

• Sunrise Memphis5469 Poplar Ave

  The downtown breakfast counter's East Memphis room. Order at the counter, take a number, and sit anywhere. Daily 7am–2pm; they ask you to keep your stay to an hour.

• The Liquor Store669 S Mendenhall Rd

  The Broad Avenue diner's East Memphis home, with breakfast all day and brunch cocktails. Daily 7:30am–3pm.

• Staks Kitchen4615 Poplar Ave, Suite 102

  The pancake bar, on Poplar. Home-style breakfast and lunch, with online ordering for pickup or delivery.

• City Silo Table + Pantry580 S Mendenhall Rd

  "From gluten free, to vegan, to carnivore," in the café's words, from breakfast through dinner. Mon–Sat 7am–8pm, Sun 9am–3pm.

• Hive585 Erin Dr

  Honey bagels baked on site, plus breads, pastries, sandwiches, and coffee at the downtown bakery's East Memphis shop. Daily 7am–7pm.

• Gibson's Donuts760 Mt Moriah

  The Mount Moriah donut shop, open 5am to midnight according to its own Instagram. Glazed for breakfast, or a late-night box on the way home.

• Frost Bake Shop394 S Grove Park (Laurelwood)

  Scratch-made layer cakes, cupcakes, and the Memphis Cream Cake. Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 11am–4pm, and nine-inch cakes ship nationwide.

Closed, moved, or not what it seems

Two traps catch people searching for East Memphis restaurants. Sekisui East is not in East Memphis: its own site lists 6696 Poplar with ZIP 38138, which is Germantown. The East Memphis Sekisui is Pacific Rim at 4727 Poplar. And Kirby Parkway addresses can carry the Germantown ZIP too: One & Only BBQ lists 1779 Kirby Pkwy, 38138, so we left it to the suburbs.

We couldn't confirm a few longtime names at a source of their own this round, as of October 2026: The Half Shell on Mendenhall (its site says a new one is coming and still shows old specials), Belmont Grill (its web address now points elsewhere), Salsa at Regalia (its site didn't load), and Neil's Music Room on Quince (its site's newest post is from 2020). None of that means they're closed. Call before you go, and we'll add them once we can verify them. National chains on the corridor, like Ruth's Chris and The Capital Grille, are left off on purpose.