Your Guide To Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2024

Fried Chicken with dressing from Four Way
Alex Shansky
Catfish from the Four Way

Your Guide To Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2023

Save The Date! Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2024 will be March 17-23, featuring specials and deals from local, Black-owned restaurants.

Food is the purest and most sincere method of communication between humans. Entire cultures can be distilled into flavor combinations and cooked into stories, myths, history. And there is no better way to engage with our culture than eating at Memphis’ black-owned restaurants.

The annual Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2024 is happening March 17-23 and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best week of the whole year.

Visit your favorite spots, or expand your culinary horizons, for less! As we get closer to the week, we'll have a list of restaurants and all the details on deals. 

Memphis Black Restaurant Week featured restaurants lineup


Follow MBRW’s website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates.

This event, organized by Cynthia Daniels, has brought in over 2.5 million dollars in business for Black-owned businesses since it started in 2016.

plate of fried catfish, sweet potatoes and Mac n cheese
Promise Restaurant in South Main

What Restaurants Should You Go To For Memphis Black Restaurant Week? 

Click the restaurant for hours, location, and menu information. We’ve also include links to their IG pages so you can get a feel for the food. Note that MBRW runs all week but not all restaurants are open all seven days.

I also suggest you scroll through this list on the Memphis Black Restaurant Week page for more details on ordering and menus including specials the restaurants will run throughout the week.

Smurfey's Smokehouse BBQ & Breakfast

From a long-time respected food truck to now a storefront in Downtown. Smurfey's loads it up and loads it well. Check out our reel from shortly after their opening.

Arnold's Smokehouse

This smokehouse that opened in 2023 has two kitchens to serve both traditional bbq and vegan. We loved it so much we featured them here or take a look at our Instagram reel.

Dos Hermanos

Nestled inside Cossitt Library in Downtown, Chef Eli's newest spot is a hidden gem for elevated Southern fare. Check them out in this Instagram reel we did.

Biscuits & Jams

This newer breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot in Bartlett has been getting A LOT of love. So much they're expanding to Downtown. Check them out via our Instagram reel.

Ashtar Garden

For the second year, Ashatar Gaden joins the MBRW lineup. Ashtar Garden is a breakfast & brunch spot in Cooper-Young. Check them out via our Instagram reel.

Sun Of A Vegan

The vegan scene in Memphis is booming. Sun Of A Vegan's signature item is their lasagna which has been named the city’s best vegan lasagna. Their menu also features nachos, quesadillas, burgers, and even some sweet vegan shakes.

Art House Cafe

Still one of Soulsville’s newest restaurants. Located across the street from The Four Way, Art House Cafe is run by Memphis Artists for Change is an artist-powered community and economic development organization. Here's our Instagram reel from our visit.

Davinchi's Oyster House

This is the newest restaurant on the list. So new in fact that their first day open will be at the start of MBRW. Located in the former Pearl's Oyster House in downtown. We can't wait to check them out!

Cache 42

Brought to you by one of our most famous Memphians, Moneybagg Yo, Cache 42 is described as an urban upscale restaurant.

Jackie Mae's Place

Located in Millington, Jackie Mae's Place is worth the drive for their southern cooking. The menu features sweet peas, collard greens, fried catfish, baked spaghetti, and more.

Eggxactly Breakfast & Deli

Classic breakfast and Southern food in Whitehaven. See more on Instagram.

Bala’s Bistro

For something different, head to Bala’s in Whitehaven. It’s a fusion of Southern, American, and African dishes. They have vegan options, too. See more on Instagram.

Mande Dibi

A brand-new restaurant brought to you by the owners of Bala's Bistro. This spot focuses on a fusion of West African food with Memphis BBQ. The menu offers up dishes like Maafe, Thief, Dibi, and more.

Sugashack

You can’t go wrong with soul food on Beale Street. Get a plate to-go, with or without a cocktail. See more on Instagram. 

Slim & Husky’s Pizza

Create-your-own pizzas with five sauces and tons of toppings, then have a big cinnamon roll (also available in different flavors) for the finale. Read more. 

The Genre

Casual favorites in a fun bar setting including wings, catfish, and sliders. Here's our Instagram reel from our visit last year. They've already expanded big-time since then so be sure to check out all the upgrades.

Sage 

Southern fusion cuisine and cool cocktails in a snazzy atmosphere on Main Street. See more on Instagram. 

The Four Way 

When I was a kid, my grandmother lived on Mississippi Blvd walking distance from The Four Way, and just the other day I went there for the salmon croquettes, so it’s been in my life for basically forever. This Southern home-cooking restaurant is not only an historic place where civil rights leaders, celebrities, and locals have gathered for decades, but the food is amazing. Read more about the Four Way here and here, and check out their Instagram here. —Wesley 

Xquisite Dining 

A focus on seafood, Southern dishes, and pasta make up the menu at this “no hype, just good food spot” that offers dine-in, catering, and takeout. See more on Instagram.

Shroomlicious Meal

Vegans, rejoice–there’s another plant-based option for you during Memphis Black Restaurant Week. True to its name, Shroomlicious Meals offers mushroom meat substitutes for meal prep and takeout orders. This is one of our favorite vegan spots. They now have a permanent home near Crosstown Concourse. Check out our Instagram reel from our recent visit. 

Mahogany Memphis

This upscale restaurant in East Memphis—inside the Chickasaw Oaks shopping center—offers Creole and Southern dishes. See more on Instagram

Meals For You Catering 

This catering company is available for pickup or delivery orders. They have all the soul food fixings you need from pork chops, fried chicken, and catfish. The menu changes daily!  See more on Instagram. 

Cxffeeblack

Love seeing cxffeeblack again on this year’s lineup. Cxffeeblack is a force in the coffee scene both in taste and advocacy. Enjoy their coffee at their spot AntiGentrificationCxffeeClub. Check them out via our Instagram reel.

Pop’s Kernel Gourmet Popcorn

Who doesn’t love popcorn?! Pop’s keeps it poppin’ around the city with their gourmet popcorn. They've been sold online and in local retailers for some time but now they also have a physical space of their own to visit.

Bluff City Crab

Where crab boils are the speciality! Getchaself a bag which can come with crab clusters, shrimp, potatoes, corn, and more,

Curry N Jerk 

I’m a simple man. I see arroz con pollo, I order it. Curry N Jerk is a Jamaican/Panamanian fusion restaurant, so arroz con pollo with jerk pollo was like...wow. See more on Instagram. —Wesley

Promise Restaurant

A new soul food spot located in South Main. The menu changes daily with specialties like chitterlings, fried catfish, lasagna, and more.

One11 Madison

Upscale and chic vibes is what One11 is all about. If you love fun cocktails, you'll love this spot which offers brunch and dinner.

Which restaurants are you trying this year?

Go there:

Memphis Black Restaurant Week
March 17-23, 2024
Various Locations
MBRW Website and Facebook Page

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About the Author

Hello! I'm Jalyn Souchek, the Director of Content for I Love Memphis Blog! I love calling the 901 home. When I'm not running the blog you can find me cheering on the Grizzlies, at a concert, exploring a new restaurant or kicking back at one of our breweries. I hope you'll love experiencing Memphis with me.

Build your perfect Memphis meal:

I love to eat so if I were to have only one meal left.. I’m going all out. I’d start with an app of Gumbo Fries from Blue City Cafe or Bayou Fries from Chef Tam, wings from Good Fortune or Central’s (honey gold and Jamaican Jerk), potato salad from Fat Larry’s, side of bbq spaghetti from Bar-B-Q Shop, and fried okra from Soul Fish. All paired with a Beale Street Brewing Space Age Sippin’.

Your most memorable Memphis moment:

College GameDay on Beale Street. That was an electric and perfect morning. I was still working in news then and was able to take it in up close and on the stage at some points. The fun and joy of everyone down there that morning is unbeatable.

Comments Make Us Happy

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Joslyn
This was a great article!
February 19, 2020 9:04am
Holly Whitfield
Thanks Joslyn! I agree! Wesley did a great job.
February 19, 2020 9:43am
Janice Penny

I am elated about this event/ vision, it warms my heart ❤️ and spirit to see black business moving forward with great expectations and wonderful advertising! Looking forward to the experiences this week and all year! Keep up the good work and pride for what you do and bring to your beloved city- Memphis! That’s Love In Action!❤️❤️❤️ 
Thank you

March 7, 2021 9:52am
Drkarjck

Being somewhat new for Memphis, this article really got me excited to visit Trapfusion.  Thanks for doing this 

March 9, 2021 4:26am
Wendy Rodgers

Love the post also love the ideas 

March 4, 2022 3:46pm
Roxy Jefferson

Awesome article. You should check out EDNAS DINER on Chelsea Ave. Black Owned Restaurant. Owned by the 2 daughters of the late Edna Winston.  

March 5, 2022 4:34am
Angela O Woods

Coming to town for New Edition’s concert and this was right on time. Wish I was getting in before Saturday, but I’ll be back!

March 5, 2022 4:44pm