Warm Up With The Best Soups In Memphis

Warm Up With The Best Soups In Memphis

When it's soup weather in Memphis, this list has you covered—whether you're craving creamy tomato, aromatic pho, or a spicy bowl of noodles.

Winter is coming! I'm pretty sure I've eaten some kind of soup for at least five of my past seven meals, give or take.

If you have similar broth-based needs, check out this short list of favorite local soups. Top photo is of Barware's tomato soup. I highly recommend a grilled cheese sandwich to go with it! Want more soup and hot drink ideas? Check out this post.

1. Pho from Phuong Long, Pho Saigon, or your favorite pho spot

Everyone in Memphis has their own pho opinion, and Phuong Long is a very popular one. I usually keep it simple with chicken or veggie pho, but you can pick your proteins, herbs, and sauces and add to your heart's content.

Don't let the simplicity fool you, though, pho has real healing and warming powers. A few other places to get delicious pho in Memphis: Pho Saigon in East Memphis, Pho Binh in midtown (takeout only), Memphis, Pho 64 in Bartlett, or Le Delights in Cordova.

Veggie pho from Phuong Long.

Chicken pho from Pho Saigon.

2. Tortilla Soup from Las Tortugas

This is one of y'all's absolute favorites, so I had to add it to this list of best soups in Memphis. Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana is known for their fresh, authentic DO NOT ASK FOR CHEESE DIP style of beloved (if pricey) Mexican food and if everyone's ravings over the chicken tortilla sopa are to be believed, this dish is no exception.

3. Hot N Sour Soup from Mosa Asian Bistro (850 S. White Station)

This is the one I crave when I start to feel under the weather. There's something about the combination of flavors that's so satisfying, it has curing and restorative properties.

Add in some crispy wontons as wanted for a soft crunch in your spoon, too. Mosa Asian Bistro in East Memphis has a menu of great Asian fusion foods, and is always at the top of y'all's Memphis best soups lists. Mosa is open for dine-in or takeout.

4. Spicy Tomato Soup from La Baguette

Some creamy tomato soups are too creamy in a way that compromises the tomato flavor, but not so with La Baguette's version. This bold-flavored soup comes with a spicy kick and a surprisingly generous swirl of irresistible melted cheese floating mid-cup.

Trust me, if it's your first time for tomato soup from this East Memphis cafe's location, you'll be delighted to discovery that cheese just floating peacefully, hidden in the spicy, tomato-y irresistible liquid. It's served with a stack of soft baguette slices, perfect for dipping.

5. Matzo Ball Soup from "Hazel’s" At the beauty shop 

Known on the menu officially as “Bobo’s Jewish Penicillin”, this chicken matzo ball soup lives up to its reputation as a cure-all for the winter blues, chills, or a celebration of cold weather (if you’re a cold weather person like me). Hazel's is now operating out of the Beauty Shop * so if you go to Beauty Shop for lunch or dinner, you can order this soup!

*call the Beauty Shop ahead for any Hazel's menu items, they might not have everything or it might need advanced notice to order

6. Ramen from your favorite spot

Robata Ramen and Yakitori Bar in Overton Square serves up about a dozen different varieties of ramen, along with a bunch of other tasty Japanese and Asian-fusion menu items.

There are couple other solid options for ramen in town including Good Fortune Co.'s downtown spot, Flame Ramen on Union, or Kami Ramen at Poplar/240. 

good fortune ramen

Good Fortune's Ramen is pretty no-frills, with a focus on high quality ingredients and house-made noodles.

7. Amerigo's Soup of the Day

Amerigo Italian restaurant in East Memphis serves their tasty shrimp bisque every day, as well as a soup of the day. The day I went, it was a hearty vegetable stew with whole wheat pasta—incredibly satisfying and perfect for the cold, rainy days of Memphis in January. They also offer a soup 'n' salad combo at lunch.

8. Tom Yum from Pho 64

I've already mentioned Pho 64 as a go-to restaurant in Bartlett for pho and other Vietnamese dishes, but they also have a classic Thai soup—Tom Yum. You can get it with different proteins, including chicken, but the Spicy Seafood edition is a velvety, spicy, and sour creamy Tom Yum is filled with shrimp, mussel, scallop, and calamari.


Hope you enjoyed this list of the best Memphis soups. A special shout-out to the folks who sent in their ideas for the best soups in Memphis on Twitter.

There are quite a few I haven't had a chance to try yet but they're on my list. You can also check out this post for some of Memphis' best soups, stews, and hot drinks to get you through the chilly days.

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OliviaLucille
French onion at Cafe 1912. Mmmmmmm.
December 8, 2010 1:33pm
Thomas @ Eat L…
Couple others that I like are the King Crab bisque at Half Shell and the lobster bisque at Belmont.
December 8, 2010 1:33pm
Bianca
Soup is the most perfect food ever.
December 8, 2010 1:49pm
Cristen
Tomato soup from La Baguette!
December 8, 2010 1:55pm
Caroline
Ditto the French onion soup at La Baguette.
December 8, 2010 2:04pm
Jim
The tomato soup at La Baguette is fairly awesome.
December 8, 2010 2:23pm
Mike
The Chili or Tortilla Soup at Houston's...
December 8, 2010 2:26pm
Hooper Troopers
mmm, soup! We made a Mexican corn chowder (from the Memphis Farmer's Market cookbook) that was absolutely delicious :) Would love to try the soup from Do.
December 8, 2010 3:15pm
Jesse
Some Yummy Additions: Greek Lemon Soup from Cafe Eclectic Spicy Tomato Soup from La Baguette
December 8, 2010 3:17pm
Don
#3 on your list is my favorite (with an avocado blt) - also love the African peanut soup at the Brushmark (Brooks Museum of Art)
December 8, 2010 4:53pm
UnderWraps
You may want to double-check, Do isn't serving lunch during the winter*. I'm not sure if they offer the soups at dinner though. *from personal experience!
December 9, 2010 1:34pm
Do Server
Unfortunately UnderWraps lunch is no longer served at Do. But the top five soups from the lunch menu are definately served at dinner. Gotta try the kobe beef curry noodles, devine:)
January 20, 2011 1:21pm
Kristin
Tortilla Soup at Las Delicias.
October 19, 2011 2:22pm
Amanda
The lemon soup at cafe eclectic is so good. But you never know when they're going to have it. It's perfect for if you're sick because it has lemon, chicken, egg and rice!
October 19, 2011 3:08pm
Kristin
Amanda--make Avgolemono at home! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Avgolemono-352269
October 19, 2011 3:19pm
Natalie
Saigon Le has the BEST hot and sour soup in the city. It's my go to soup if I have cold or sinus issues.
April 19, 2013 10:58am
Dfiser
You left out what is probably the best Chicken Tortilla Soup in the MEMPHIS area from Las Tortugas on Germantown Parkway. I know you think this is just another chicken tortilla soup but you would be wrong. Jonathan and his dad Pepe’ have added a twist that when combined with the freshness of the ingrediients make this soup one of the best soups that I have ever eaten.
January 21, 2018 7:23am
Holly Whitfield
Sounds delish!
January 22, 2018 10:18am
Robert
Sopa de mariscos at La Guadalupana! Dang I miss Saigon Le.
January 22, 2018 11:19am
Suzanne
I totally agree with #1! Pho Binh should be here too!
November 3, 2018 1:35pm