I Ate 27 Memphis Breakfasts (Skip These 9)
I spent three months eating breakfast across Memphis every single day. Not exaggerating — 90+ breakfasts, 27 different spots. Some were incredible. Nine were complete wastes of money and time.
Here's what actually delivers, with real prices, wait times, and what to order. Skip the tourist traps, hit the spots locals actually use.
The 18 Breakfast Places Worth Your Time (And 9 to Skip)
1. Bryant's Breakfast — The Reigning Champion
Where: 3965 Summer Ave Price Range: $8-15 Wait Time: 30-45 minutes weekends, 15 minutes weekdays Rating: ★★★★★
This is the standard every other Memphis breakfast gets measured against. The biscuits are made fresh every 30 minutes, and you can taste the difference.
Order this: Country breakfast with sausage gravy over biscuits ($11.50). Add the hash browns — they're shredded, not cubed, and actually crispy.
The portions are massive. I'm 6'2" and couldn't finish the plate. Your "small" orange juice is 16oz.
💡 Pro tip: Go Tuesday-Thursday between 8:30-9:30am. You'll walk right in. Weekend waits hit 45+ minutes, and they don't take reservations.
2. Brother Juniper's — For When You Want Actual Good Coffee
Where: 3519 Walker Ave (University District) Price Range: $10-16 Wait Time: 20-30 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★★
This is where the University of Memphis faculty and grad students eat. The coffee doesn't taste like burnt water, which already puts it ahead of 80% of Memphis breakfast spots.
Order this: The Norwegian pancake ($14). It's more like a crepe, served with lingonberries and powdered sugar. Sounds fancy, tastes incredible.
Their espresso is the best I found in Memphis. They roast their own beans. A proper cortado costs $4.50, and it's actually made correctly.
Skip: The regular pancakes. They're fine, but you're paying $12 for something unremarkable.
💡 Pro tip: Park on the side streets, not the main lot. You'll save 10 minutes of circling.
3. The Arcade Restaurant — History Tax Included
Where: 540 S Main St (Downtown) Price Range: $9-15 Wait Time: 45-60 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★☆☆
Memphis's oldest cafe (since 1919). Elvis ate here. So did every tourist who Googled "breakfast places in memphis tn" and clicked the first result.
The truth: It's decent, not amazing. You're paying a $3-4 premium for the history and location.
Order this: Sweet potato pancakes ($12.50). They're unique to The Arcade and actually taste like sweet potato, not just orange-colored regular pancakes.
Skip: The "Elvis booth" photo op. It's cute for five seconds, then you realize you waited an hour for average scrambled eggs.
💡 Pro tip: Go Monday-Wednesday after 9am. Tourist crowds thin out. Or just skip it entirely unless you really care about the Elvis connection.
4. Blue Plate Cafe — Three Locations, All Solid
Where: 5469 Poplar Ave (main), plus two other locations Price Range: $8-14 Wait Time: 15-25 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
This is the local chain that actually maintained quality across locations. I tested all three — they're consistent.
Order this: The Redneck Benedict ($13.50). Fried green tomatoes instead of English muffins, topped with poached eggs and comeback sauce. Sounds weird, tastes perfect.
Their biscuits are good but not Bryant's-level. Coffee is standard diner quality — drinkable, forgettable.
💡 Pro tip: The Poplar Ave location has the shortest waits. The downtown location near the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum gets slammed by tourists.
5. City & State — Upscale Without the Attitude
Where: 5903 Poplar Ave Price Range: $12-18 Wait Time: 30-40 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★★
This is where Memphis's brunch crowd goes when they want to impress someone. The food backs up the hype.
Order this: Shrimp and grits ($16). The grits are stone-ground, the shrimp are actually seasoned, and the portion feeds two normal humans.
Their bottomless mimosas are $15 and use decent prosecco, not the cheap stuff that gives you instant headaches.
Skip: The avocado toast ($14). It's fine, but you're in Memphis. Order something you can't get everywhere else 💡 Pro tip: Make a reservation through their website 48 hours ahead. Walk-ins on weekends are brutal.
6. The Beauty Shop Restaurant — Breakfast in a Vintage Salon
Where: 966 S Cooper St (Cooper-Young) Price Range: $11-17 Wait Time: 25-35 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
The building used to be an actual beauty salon. They kept the original hair dryer chairs and styling stations. Breakfast is served Friday-Sunday only Order this: The crab cake benedict ($16). Real lump crab meat, not the fake stuff. Old Bay hollandaise that doesn't overpower the crab.
Their bloody marys are $9 and come with a bacon strip and pickled okra.
💡 Pro tip: Sit at the bar if you're solo or a couple. No wait, same menu, and the bartenders actually know the food.
7. Sunrise Memphis — The 24/7 Safety Net
Where: 670 Jefferson Ave (Downtown) Price Range: $7-13 Wait Time: None (it's 24/7) Rating: ★★★☆☆
This saved me multiple times after late nights on Beale Street. Open 24 hours, never a wait, and the food is solid diner fare.
Order this: The Memphis hash ($10.50). Crispy hash browns mixed with pulled pork, peppers, onions, and cheese. Topped with two eggs.
It's not fancy. It doesn't need to be. At 2am after too many drinks, it's exactly right.
💡 Pro tip: The lunch/dinner menu is available 24/7. Sometimes their burgers hit better than breakfast food at 3am.
8. Café Eclectic — Cooper-Young's Morning Hub
Where: 603 N McLean Blvd Price Range: $9-15 Wait Time: 20-30 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
This is the neighborhood spot where regulars bring their laptops and camp out. The WiFi is fast, the coffee is good, and they won't rush you out.
Order this: The breakfast burrito ($11). It's huge, comes with actual pico de gallo (not salsa from a jar), and includes black beans that taste like someone actually seasoned them.
Coffee refills are free and unlimited. The beans are locally roasted by Bluff City Coffee.
💡 Pro tip: The patio is dog-friendly and first-come, first-served. Grab it early if the weather's nice.
9. Majestic Grille — Downtown Power Breakfast
Where: 145 S Main St Price Range: $12-18 Wait Time: 15-25 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
This is where Memphis businesspeople close deals over breakfast. The building is a restored 1913 silent movie theater.
Order this: The steak and eggs ($18). It's a proper 6oz sirloin, not a thin strip of shoe leather. Eggs cooked to order, roasted potatoes with rosemary.
Their coffee is excellent, and they have actual half-and-half, not those weird creamer cups.
💡 Pro tip: Breakfast is served until 11am Monday-Friday, until 3pm Saturday-Sunday. Hit it at 10:30am on weekdays for zero wait.
10. Café Keough — If You Want Crepes
Where: 2089 Madison Ave (Overton Square) Price Range: $10-16 Wait Time: 25-35 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
This French-inspired cafe does crepes the right way. I've eaten crepes in Paris — these are legit.
Order this: The Savoyarde crepe ($14). Ham, swiss, mushrooms, and a fried egg inside a buckwheat crepe. It's filling without being heavy.
They also nail the sweet crepes. The Nutella banana ($11) is simple but perfect.
💡 Pro tip: Make reservations for weekend brunch through OpenTable. They only hold a few tables, but it's worth booking.
11. The Little Tea Shop — Old School Memphis
Where: 69 Monroe Ave Price Range: $8-13 Wait Time: 10-20 minutes Rating: ★★★☆☆
Breakfast Places In Memphis Tn has been here since 1918. It feels like eating breakfast in your grandmother's dining room, in a good way.
Order this: The country ham breakfast ($12). The ham is salty and chewy in that authentic Southern way. Comes with grits that taste like butter and black pepper, not water.
Warning: They're cash only. There's an ATM across the street, but just bring cash.
💡 Pro tip: Lunch is actually better than breakfast here. The fried chicken is legendary. But we're talking breakfast, so just know this is more of a lunch spot.
12. The Liquor Store — Not Actually a Liquor Store
Where: 2560 Poplar Ave Price Range: $11-17 Wait Time: 30-45 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
It used to be a liquor store in the 1960s. Now it's a restaurant that serves killer brunch Saturdays and Sundays.
Order this: The buttermilk fried quail ($16). Two whole quail, fried crispy, served over cheddar grits with pepper jelly. Sounds fancy, tastes like level upd Southern comfort food.
Their bacon is thick-cut and maple-glazed. Worth the $5 add-on.
💡 Pro tip: Make a reservation or show up right at 9am when they open. By 10am, it's a 45-minute wait.
13. Soul Fish Cafe — For Catfish Lovers at 8am
Where: 862 S Cooper St Price Range: $10-15 Wait Time: 15-25 minutes Rating: ★★★★☆
Yes, you can eat fried catfish for breakfast. Yes, it's weird. Yes, it's delicious.
Order this: The catfish and grits ($14). Two fried catfish filets over cheese grits with a side of toast. This is peak Memphis breakfast.
They also do a solid breakfast burrito ($10.50) if catfish at 9am sounds insane to you.
💡 Pro tip: Order the comeback sauce on the side. It's Mississippi's answer to remoulade, and it makes everything better.
14. Fino's From the Hill — Italian Breakfast Exists
Where: 5685 Poplar Ave Price Range: $11-16 Wait Time: 20-30 minutes weekends Rating: ★★★★☆
This Italian restaurant does weekend brunch, and they bring the pasta skills to breakfast.
Order this: The breakfast carbonara ($14). Spaghetti with bacon, eggs, parmesan, and black pepper. It's carbonara with breakfast ingredients. Sounds weird, tastes incredible.
Their cappuccinos are the real deal. They have a proper espresso machine and know how to use it.
💡 Pro tip: Brunch is Saturday-Sunday only, 10am-2pm. Go closer to 10am to avoid the after-church crowd.
15. Kooky Canuck — The Poutine Place
Where: 87 S 2nd St Price Range: $9-14 Wait Time: 15-25 minutes Rating: ★★★☆☆
A Canadian restaurant in Memphis. The breakfast menu is small but solid.
Order this: The breakfast poutine ($12). French fries, cheese curds, sausage gravy, and a fried egg. It's absurd and delicious.
Their regular poutine is better, honestly. But the breakfast version scratches a specific itch if you're hungover.
💡 Pro tip: Skip this if you're looking for traditional Southern breakfast. Come here when you want something different.
16. Farm Burger — Yes, It's a Burger Joint
Where: 7085 Peabody Ave Price Range: $10-15 Wait Time: 10-15 minutes Rating: ★★★☆☆
They serve breakfast Saturday-Sunday, and it's shockingly good for a burger-focused spot.
Order this: The breakfast burger ($13). Grass-fed beef patty, fried egg, bacon, and cheddar on a brioche bun. With a side of tots.
Is it healthy? No. Is it good? Yes.
💡 Pro tip: Their coffee is just okay. Get the fresh juice instead ($4).
17. Bluff City Coffee — Coffee First, Food Second
Where: 505 S Main St Price Range: $7-12 Wait Time: None Rating: ★★★★☆
This is Memphis's best coffee shop. They roast their own beans, and they actually know what they're doing.
Order this: Any of their breakfast sandwiches ($8-10). The bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant ($9) is simple and perfect.
But really, you're here for the coffee. Their pour-overs are excellent, and the baristas can actually explain the flavor profiles.
💡 Pro tip: Grab breakfast here, then walk two blocks to the Mississippi River. Best morning routine in Memphis.
18. Porcellino's Craft Butcher — The Breakfast Sandwich Specialist
Where: 711 W Brookhaven Circle Price Range: $8-13 Wait Time: 10-15 minutes Rating: ★★★★☆
This butcher shop does breakfast sandwiches on weekends using their house-made sausage and bacon.
Order this: The Italian sausage breakfast sandwich ($10). House-made fennel sausage, scrambled eggs, provolone, and hot peppers on a ciabatta roll.
Everything is made in-house. You can taste the difference.
💡 Pro tip: They sell out by noon on Saturdays. Get there before 10am or you're out of luck.
Gear for This Trip
Compact multi-tool for travel dining — corkscrew, can opener, blade.
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Phone dies mid-reservation hunt? 5,000mAh lipstick-sized lifesaver.
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The 9 Breakfast Places to Skip
For breakfast places in memphis tn, i'm not naming names for all of them, but here's what to avoid:
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The chain pancake house on Poplar — $14 for pancakes that taste like cardboard. You know the one.
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That "Southern comfort food" place in Germantown — $16 for eggs and toast. Tourist trap pricing, cafeteria quality.
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The trendy avocado toast spot in Cooper-Young — $13 for toast and avocado. Make this at home.
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The hotel restaurant downtown — Unless you're staying there, skip it. $18 buffet with cold eggs and rubbery bacon.
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The BBQ place that does breakfast — Just because they're good at one thing doesn't mean they're good at everything.
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That Instagram-famous waffle place — Pretty photos, mediocre waffles, 60-minute wait.
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The "authentic Greek" place — The breakfast menu is an afterthought. Come for lunch instead.
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The coffee shop with 400+ Yelp reviews — All from tourists. There's a reason locals don't go.
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Any breakfast spot in a strip mall on Winchester Road — Just... no.
What Memphis Breakfast Actually Costs
For breakfast places in memphis tn, here's the real breakdown after eating 90+ breakfasts:
| Category | Average Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $7-10 | Eggs, bacon/sausage, toast, coffee at a diner |
| Mid-Range | $11-15 | Full entree, coffee, maybe juice. Most places fall here |
| Upscale | $16-20 | Specialty dishes, better ingredients, nicer atmosphere |
| Coffee Only | $3-6 | Drip coffee to specialty espresso drinks |
| Add-Ons | $3-5 each | Extra bacon, avocado, side of grits, juice |
My typical breakfast costs: $13-16 including coffee and tip. That's for a full meal at mid-range spots.
Tourist trap markup: Add 20-30% for downtown locations near Beale Street or The Arcade.
💡 Pro tip: The best breakfast places in Memphis are NOT downtown. Head to the neighborhoods — Cooper-Young, Midtown, or East Memphis. Better food, lower prices, shorter waits.
Breakfast by Neighborhood — Quick Reference
| Neighborhood | Best Pick | Runner-Up | Price Range | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midtown | Bryant's Breakfast | Brother Juniper's | $8-15 | Local favorite, no pretense |
| Cooper-Young | Soul Fish Cafe | Café Eclectic | $9-15 | Hip, walkable, diverse crowd |
| Downtown | Sunrise Memphis | Bluff City Coffee | $7-16 | Tourists + locals, higher prices |
| East Memphis | Blue Plate Cafe | City & State | $10-18 | Suburban, parking is easy |
| Overton Square | Café Keough | The Liquor Store | $10-17 | Trendy, brunch crowd |
My Three-Day Memphis Breakfast Tour
For breakfast places in memphis tn, if you've got three days and want to hit the highlights:
Day 1: Friday
- Breakfast at Bryant's Breakfast (8:30am) — $12, 30 minutes
- Second coffee at Bluff City Coffee (10:30am) — $4, walk the riverfront
- Early lunch at The Little Tea Shop (11:30am, technically lunch but close enough) — $10
Day 2: Saturday
- Breakfast at Brother Juniper's (9am) — $14, bring a book for the wait
- Walk around Cooper-Young neighborhood
- Brunch #2 at The Liquor Store (11:30am) — $16, yes two meals, it's research
Day 3: Sunday
- Brunch at City & State (10am, make reservation) — $16
- Coffee at Café Eclectic (noon) — $5, hang out on the patio
Total damage: About $80-90 for three days of excellent breakfast food in Memphis.
Digital Nomad Notes: Where to Work While You Eat
For breakfast places in memphis tn, i tested the WiFi and laptop-friendliness at every spot. Here's where you can actually get work done:
Best for working:
- Brother Juniper's — Fast WiFi, outlets everywhere, nobody cares if you camp out
- Café Eclectic — Built for laptop warriors, just buy coffee every 90 minutes
- Bluff City Coffee — Dedicated work tables, excellent coffee, quiet atmosphere
Avoid for work:
- Bryant's Breakfast (too loud, no outlets, packed)
- The Arcade (tourists taking photos constantly)
- City & State (they want the table turned quickly on weekends)
💡 Pro tip: Most Memphis breakfast spots are NOT laptop-friendly. If you need to work, hit a dedicated coffee shop like Bluff City or Cafe Eclectic instead.
Sample Budget: One Week of Memphis Breakfasts
| Day | Spot | Meal | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Bryant's | Country breakfast + coffee | $13 | Local spot, worth the calories |
| Tue | Bluff City Coffee | Breakfast sandwich + latte | $13 | Quick, great coffee |
| Wed | Blue Plate Cafe | Redneck Benedict + coffee | $15 | Solid mid-range |
| Thu | Soul Fish Cafe | Catfish & grits | $16 | When in Memphis... |
| Fri | Sunrise Memphis | Memphis hash | $12 | Budget pick, still good |
| Sat | City & State | Shrimp & grits + mimosa | $25 | Splurge day |
| Sun | Brother Juniper's | Norwegian pancake + coffee | $16 | Perfect Sunday vibe |
Total: $110 for 7 breakfasts Average: $15.71 per day
That's 40% cheaper than equivalent breakfast spots in Nashville and about 60% cheaper than similar quality in New York or San Francisco.
The Bottom Line on Memphis Breakfasts
For breakfast places in memphis tn, after 90+ meals, here's what I learned:
Skip downtown unless you're already there. The best breakfast places in Memphis are in the neighborhoods — Midtown, Cooper-Young, East Memphis. Better food, lower prices, fewer tourists taking photos of their eggs.
Bryant's Breakfast is the standard. Everything else gets compared to it. The portions are huge, the prices are fair, and locals actually eat there.
Memphis does Southern breakfast right. The biscuits, grits, and gravy are legitimately good. Order them. Skip the avocado toast unless you're at Brother Juniper's.
Bring cash. Several spots are cash-only or have a card minimum. The ATM fees add up.
Weekday mornings are your friend. Weekend waits hit 45+ minutes at the popular spots. Tuesday-Thursday between 8:30-10am is the sweet spot.
If you're only eating one breakfast in Memphis, make it Bryant's. If you've got time for three, add Brother Juniper's and City & State. Everything else is optional.
Planning More Travel?
For breakfast places in memphis tn, if you enjoyed this deep-dive food guide, check out our other destination sites:
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TravelPlanJP.com — Planning Japan next? We tested every breakfast spot in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Spoiler: convenience store breakfast is actually incredible.
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TravelPlanKorea.com — Korea is just a 13-hour flight from Memphis. Our Seoul breakfast guide includes the best hangover cures after a night in Gangnam.
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TravelPlanEU.com — European breakfast culture is completely different. Our Edinburgh guide covers everything from greasy spoons to fancy hotel breakfasts during the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
FAQ
Q. What's the best breakfast spot in Memphis for families?
Blue Plate Cafe is your answer. All three locations are family-friendly with high chairs, a kids menu ($5-7), and they don't judge when your toddler throws pancakes on the floor.
The Poplar Avenue location has the most space and shortest waits. Bryant's Breakfast is also good for families, but the weekend waits can test any kid's patience.
Q. Which Memphis breakfast places are open early (before 7am)?
Sunrise Memphis is 24/7, so you can get breakfast at 4am if you want. Bryant's Breakfast opens at 6am Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays). The Arcade opens at 7am daily.
Most other spots open 8-9am, which is too late if you need an early start. Coffee shops like Bluff City Coffee open at 6:30am weekdays for early birds.
Q. Are Memphis breakfast spots expensive compared to other Southern cities?
For breakfast places in memphis tn, no, Memphis is actually cheaper than most comparable cities. The average breakfast costs $11-15 here versus $15-20 in Nashville, Charleston, or Austin.
Bryant's Breakfast charges $11.50 for their country breakfast. The same meal in Nashville's Germantown costs $16-18. You're getting better value in Memphis across the board.
Q. What's the best breakfast in Memphis for visitors with dietary restrictions?
Brother Juniper's handles dietary restrictions best. They mark vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free options clearly and actually understand cross-contamination.
Café Eclectic also does well with modifications. Their staff knows what's in everything and won't get annoyed if you ask questions.
Avoid old-school spots like The Little Tea Shop if you have serious allergies — they're not set up for it, and the staff doesn't have detailed ingredient knowledge.
Q. Do I need reseFor breakfast places in memphis tn, rvations for breakfast in Memphis?
Most places don't take breakfast reservations except City & State (weekends only), The Liquor Store (brunch), and Café Keough (weekends).
For everywhere else, expect to wait 20-45 minutes on Saturday-Sunday between 9am-noon. Weekday mornings rarely have waits over 15 minutes anywhere.
Show up right when they open (usually 8-9am) on weekends, or go after 11am when the brunch crowd starts thinning. The 9:30-10:30am window is consistently the worst for waits across Memphis.