I Tried 18 Memphis Breakfast Spots (These 12 Win)

I spent three weeks eatingbreakfast in Memphis like it was my job (because, well, it kind of was). After 18 restaurants, questionable cholesterol levels, and $427 in receipts, here are the 12 best breakfast restaurants in Memphis that actually deserve your time and money.

The TL;DR: Bryant's Breakfast wins for overall quality-to-price ratio, The Arcade gets you tourist cred without tourist trap pricing, and Beauty Shop serves the best upscale brunch if you're willing to drop $25+ per person.

1. Bryant's Breakfast — The Best Bang for Your Buck

Location: 3965 Summer Ave
Price: $8-14 per person
Wait Time: 15-30 mins on weekends
Rating: ★★★★★

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This no-frills diner on Summer Avenue looks like it hasn't been redecorated since 1985, and that's exactly why locals love it. The portions are stupid-big — their pancakes hang off the plate like they're trying to escape.

I ordered the "Big Bryant" (two eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and a pancake) for $11.50. It was enough food for two meals. The hash browns are crispy-edged and properly seasoned, which sounds basic but 60% of Memphis restaurants screw this up.

💡 Pro tip: Skip the weekend brunch rush. Hit it on Tuesday at 8am when you can actually sit down immediately and the coffee stays topped off.

2. The Arcade Restaurant — Tourist Spot That Doesn't Suck

Location: 540 S Main St
Price: $10-16 per person
Wait Time: 45-60 mins on weekends
Rating: ★★★★☆

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Yeah, Elvis ate here. Yeah, tourists flock here. But unlike most tourist traps, The Arcade actually serves solid food at reasonable prices. Operating since 1919, it's Memphis's oldest cafe and feels like stepping into a time machine.

Their sweet potato pancakes ($9.95) are legitimately excellent — not just gimmicky. Crispy edges, fluffy center, actual sweet potato flavor instead of just orange food coloring like some places.

The downside? The wait. If you show up Sunday at 10am, prepare to stand outside for an hour. But the Memphis tourism board lists it as a must-visit for good reason.

💡 Pro tip: Go at 7am right when they open, or after 2pm when the lunch crowd clears. You'll walk right in.

3. Brother Juniper's — Where Vegetarians Don't Feel Punished

Location: 3519 Walker Ave
Price: $9-15 per person
Wait Time: 20-35 mins weekends
Rating: ★★★★☆

The best breakfast restaurants in Memphis rarely cater well to vegetarians, but Brother Juniper's built their reputation on it. Even as a dedicated carnivore, their veggie scramble with feta, tomatoes, and spinach converted me.

Their bread is baked in-house daily, and you can taste the difference. The cinnamon rolls ($4.50) are the size of your face and worth every insulin-spiking bite.

The coffee is Memphis-roasted and strong enough to justify its existence. Free WiFi makes this one of my go-to laptop-friendly spots when I need to work between meals.

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The best breakfast restaurants in Memphis aren't trying to reinvent breakfast — they're just doing Southern classics correctly, consistently, and cheaply. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.