Ode to the Best Side Dish Ever: The Memphis Mac 'n' Cheese Guide

Ode to the Best Side Dish Ever: The Memphis Mac 'n' Cheese Guide

If Memphis had an official side dish, it would be macaroni and cheese. It makes the veggie plate options roster at every meat-and-three in town, and when I asked who had the best, you guys had very strong opinions.

You can't go wrong with any of these 10 local restaurants' variations on the dish:

1. South of Beale (361 S. Main St.)

South of Beale, Memphis, Tenn.

No matter what you order at South of Beale, you should add a side of their gouda mac'n'cheese ($5). It's a bigger-than-you'd-expect bowl of spiral noodles in creamy, sharp gouda cheese sauce sprinkled with a dusting of breadcrumbs that's so fine and light it reminds me of the streets after a typical Memphis snowstorm.

2. Patrick's (4972 Park Avenue)

Mac'n'cheese, Patrick's, Memphis, Tenn.

The mac'n'cheese from Patrick's may look look like bit of a mess, but, just like mama said, apperances shouldn't matter. Their mac'n'cheese is so ridiculously thick that the shells seem to fall apart under the weight of the delicious cheese sauce (which definitely has some sour cream in it).

3. East Tapas (6069 Park Avenue)    closed

East Tapas

I want to eat the baked mac'n'cheese from East whenever I'm having a bad day. It's based on a recipe that manager Lisa Ansley used to make in college with cheddar, cottage cheese and sour cream. It's the food equivalent of a hug.

4. Soul Fish (862 South Cooper Street)

Soul Fish, Memphis, Tenn.

Here's why Soul Fish's mac'n'cheese deserves a spot on your veggie plate (because this is Memphis and mac'n'cheese is a vegetable here): it's a little tangy, a little spicy, and so gooey that you'll have to put in some effort to detach the noodles on your fork from the rest of their baked brethren.

5. Elegant Farmer (262 South Highlandclosed

Elegant Farmer, Memphis, Tenn.

The Elegant Farmer's version of mac'n'cheese is made with penne noodles tossed in a creamy (but not super thick) cheese sauce and topped with green onions, which add a little more flavor than the traditional breadcrumbs.

6. Center for Southern Folklore (119 S Main St #106)

Center for Southern Folklore, Memphis, Tenn.

The Southern Folklore Store (attached to the Center for Southern Folklore) has a full food menu, and like any good soul food diner, they've got mac'n'cheese. Theirs is a fairly straightforward take on the classic - peppery, cheesy, sour-creamy and delicious when eaten hot or cold.

7. Interim (5040 Sanderlin Ave.)

mac'n'cheese, Interim, Memphis, Tenn.

Eating Interim's mac'n'cheese is sort of like digging for burried treasure. Once you make it through the thick layer of breadcrumbs atop your cute little casserole dish, you're rewarded with a filling pile of baked noodles in sharp, white cheddar sauce.

8. Bleu (221 South 3rd St.)

Bleu, Memphis, Tenn.

There's no actual bacon in Bleu's mac'n'cheese, but the sauce has a definite smoky, bacony flavor. It's the kind of mac'n'cheese that - if you were so inclined - you could eat for breakfast. The portion is huge enough to use as a full meal.

9. Mollie Fontaine Lounge (679 Adams Ave.)

mollie-fontaine-memphis-mac-n-cheese

I couldn't get a good picture of the bowl of mac'n'cheese that I ate at Mollie Fontaine's last night (it was kind of dark) but I can tell you that the little baking dish came to me with a piece of bacon sticking out of it like a flag. The noodles lived up to the hype - they were baked perfectly (they had the exact right crispiness-to-noodley-goodness ratio) and the sauce had a little spice to it.

10. Lunchbox Eats (288 South 4th St.)

Lunchbox Eats, Memphis, Tenn.

I ate a lot of mac'n'cheese for this story, and I can now say with confidnece that if there is a Lord God King of Memphis mac'n'cheese, it's Lunchbox Eats'. Kaia Brewer's mac'n'cheese is made with four kinds of cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan and cottage), seasoned (with Worcestershire sauce and baked until the top is brown and just a little crunchy. It's straight up cheesy magic.

 

Comments Make Us Happy

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Sophie
I need to get back to Memphis and check out Lunchbox Eats... pronto!
September 27, 2012 4:21pm
Leefordlyle
While I applaud your restriction to non-chain restaurants, and I normally completely agree with this decision wholeheartedly, Jim and Nicks has absolutely amazing mac and cheese.
September 27, 2012 4:29pm
Kate
I'm so jealous of the research you had to do to publish this article!! I want to try all 10!
September 27, 2012 4:33pm
Westpointborn
Well that mollie fontaine was on your list makes you credible. It its my fav. The bacon makes it!
September 27, 2012 4:34pm
Terry Davis
I am not a big Mac and cheese person but those dishes are making me hungry.
September 27, 2012 4:53pm
Shantih
Alchemy in Cooper Young has a great Rock Shrimp with Chorizo Mac & Cheese
September 27, 2012 10:04pm
Cheryl
You missed three of the best! Rizzo's has an incredibly creamy mac and cheese, Flight has unbelievable truffle mac, and, as Shantih said, the chorizo mac at Alchemy! Mmm. Cheryl The Stylist Quo
September 27, 2012 10:06pm
Natalie
The Mac and Cheese at bleu is so good that I literally had to shut my eyes to savor the first bite!
September 28, 2012 10:18am
E
Mollie's Mac n' Cheese smells funkay
September 28, 2012 11:06am
Gary
I third Alchemy. If you haven't had it, it should be on your tasting agenda.
October 1, 2012 12:16pm
Andrew
I have to try these. Great post!
October 1, 2012 4:56pm
Rebecca
The mac and cheese at Celtic Crossing is a MUST TRY for all of you, as well.  Can't wait to try some of these "new to me" dishes you've posted.  Thanks for doing the homework for us!
October 2, 2012 10:54am
Joel
If the subject of macaroni and cheese is still open, try lobster mac and cheese at Erling Jensen's. You may change your mind about all others!!!
February 16, 2016 9:14pm
Meg
The lobster mac-n-cheese at Local is to die for too!
July 13, 2016 9:00am
gina jones
Newks has good Mac and Cheese!
July 23, 2016 8:17am
Dave
Jim 'N Nick's BBQ has the best mac and cheese.
August 17, 2018 3:22pm