Your Guide To Memphis Black Restaurant Week 2023

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 2023 will be March 5-11, 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 2023 is happening March 5-11 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. 

Lineup of 40 restaurants scheduled for Memphis Black Restaurant Week


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

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

jerk shrimp on pasta
Cynthia Daniels
Jerk Shrimp Pasta from Evelyn & Olive

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. 

I also suggest you scroll through this list on the Memphis Black Restaurant Week page for more details on ordering and menus. 

Biscuits & Jams

This newer breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot in Bartlett has been getting A LOT of love. Memphis Black Restaurant Week is the perfect time to give it a try if you haven’t made it there yet. 

Ashtar Garden

This is another first-timer for MBRW and just new in general. Ashtar Garden is a Breakfast & Brunch Parlor in Cooper-Young.

Sun Of A Vegan

The vegan scene in Memphis is booming. Check out one of the newest vegans spots by hitting Sun Of A Vegan. Their 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

Soulsville’s newest restaurant and the food is *fire emojis*. We love the salmon sliders (both ways). 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. - Jalyn

Bones and Yams

Bones and Yams offers allll the soul food. The soul food egg rolls have peaked our interest for sure.

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.

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. See more on Instagram.

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 

Butteriffic Bakery & Cafe

Specializes in fresh and delicious baked goods. They’re known for their Butter Cookies.

Fabulous Flavors & Friends

Chef Precious Jones opened this sit-down spot on E. Brooks Rd. in May. She serves up hot breakfast, lunch,and dinner with standout dishes like the wings ’n’ waffles, burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas, fried seafood, and did we mention wings?

Quintessential Sweets

Sometimes you just have to treat yourself—enjoy frozen and fried desserts at the Quintessential Sweets shop in Bartlett.

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. See more on Instagram. 

Evelyn & Olive 

Jamaican dishes, Southern favorites, vegan options, and drinks. This cozy little restaurant in the Edge District has a unique and expansive menu. I love the black bean tofu tacos with kiwi salsa, because they’re different, but . Read more about Evelyn & Olive, and see more on Instagram. — Holly 

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 will offer different menu specials daily during Memphis Black Restaurant Week. See more on Instagram. 

BallHoggerz BBQ

BallHoggerz’ award-winning barbecue has definitely made an impact on Memphis. Their restaurant on airways serves all your favorite BBQ meats ’n’ sides. Plus, I think it’s the best banana pudding I’ve had in Memphis. See more on Instagram. —Holly 

Cxffeeblack

Love seeing cxffeeblack 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.

Pop’s Kernel Gourmet Popcorn

Who doesn’t love popcorn?! Pop’s keeps it poppin’ around the city with their gourmet popcorn. They don’t have a physical store but you can buy it online or at local retailers.

Kaye’s Pints & Scoops

You may have scene Kaye’s super cute pink tubs of ice cream around the city. They offer a variety of flavors from strawberry brownie sundae, crushed black walnut, and more.

350 Baked

Offers a bunch of baked treats plus many vegan options! Their menu includes cakes, brownies, cookies and more.

Arnold’s BBQ & Grill

Memphis ribs are a must for Black Restaurant Week, and you can get them sauced or dry rubbed from Arnold’s two locations, downtown and E. Shelby Drive. Read more about Arnold’s BBQ and see more on Instagram

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

Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe 

Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe is probably the best new restaurant to open in Memphis in the last, I dunno, five years? Ten? Seriously, eat there. Get the Hot Bird. Also, Chef Tam is, by all metrics, a celebrity chef, and she’s still just so humble. See more on Instagram. —Wesley

Which restaurants are you trying this year?

Go there:

Memphis Black Restaurant Week
March 5-11, 2023
Various Locations
MBRW Website and Facebook Page

About the Author

Wesley Morgan Paraham is a Memphis native who lives in Midtown with his partner and their two cats. You can find him on the internet posting his million-dollar musings about music, politics, and video games even though very few people ask.

Your favorite restaurants in Memphis:

Gotta be The Bar-B-Que Shop, Ono Poke, River Oaks, Crazy Noodle, and Pho Binh in no particular order.

Why do you love Memphis:

My favorite thing about Memphis is how small it feels despite its size. It’s easy to make connections with interesting people because everyone is always everywhere doing something cool.

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