Winter is a relative term in Memphis, where we can deliver nearly year-round patio weather. However, during our occasional stretches of cooler temps, you'll enjoy plenty of tasty ways to warm your belly. Whether you're in town for one of Memphis' lively winter events or just exploring the city this winter, try these local-favorite restaurants, bars and menu items to start:
Craving steaming bowls of soup or noodles?
You can find plenty of Asian restaurants in Midtown if spicy, fragrant soups are what you have in mind: Think Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Chinese. The Crazy Noodle (2015 Madison) is a sweet little place tucked in just down the street from Overton Square. They have an amazing variety of ramen as well as Korean favorites like manduguk, which features Korean dumplings, flat rice cakes, cabbage, carrots, onions, shiitakes and zucchini. It’s stirred with an egg and topped with seaweed. For ramen and dumplings on a fine-dining level, Good Fortune Co. is your go-to. Locals are still giving thanks that this popular pop-up made a permanent home in Memphis' South Main Historic Arts District.
If you're looking for a more traditional soup to stick to your bones, then get a bowl of Huey’s hearty potato soup. Go ahead, get a burger too. If chili is your thing, Young Avenue Deli has a great meaty and vegetarians options. For the ultimate chicken soup fix, try Maciel’s sublime chicken chipotle soup (listed as Caldo Tlalpeno). Other bowls not to be missed: beef consommé from Taconganas food truck (order with tacos "nganas style" with melted cheese, then dip the tacos in the savory broth). Inside Crosstown Concourse, try the African peanut soup and more internationally inspired bowls at Global Cafe. Petals of Peony brings the heat with authentic Sichuan dishes in Midtown and Cordova.
Get your hearty proteins
When you're all souped up, or if you're souped out, you might be craving something meatier. Memphis has more than 100 barbecue spots to help you satisfy that craving, or try one of these other spins:
- The mussels at Café 1912, with bread for sopping up the white wine sauce you’d drink from the bowl if no one was looking
- Wolf River Brisket Co.'s Smokehouse Mac, creamy mac 'n' cheese topped with your choice of burnt ends, chopped brisket, sausage, or pulled smoked chicken.
- Any of the burgers at Kooky Canuck, with options ranging from build-your-own to the Poutine Burger to a series of challenges for the biggest appetites (four- to 12-pound patties as seen on Man Vs. Food)
- Gourmet veggie burger varieties from City Silo (choose from beet and walnut; portobella; and the Silo Burger, combining hearty beans with serrano peppers and cashew ranch)
- Go for boneless braised short ribs or the grilled New Zealand lamb chops from Southern fine dining favorite Itta Bena above B.B. King's Blues Club on Beale.
- For Irish fare, stop into Bog & Barley in East Memphis. Fill up on the beef shepherd's pie paired with your favorite whiskey or pint.
- What about Italian? Cocozza is cooking up Italian favorites in Harbortown. The crispy chicken parmesan covered in mozzarella, parmesan and marinara is sure to warm you up. East Memphis' Ciao Bella has an excellent beef brisket gnocchi with portobello mushrooms and a parmesan cream sauce. Downtown, go for tonnarelli with beef strocotto or lamb barese lasagna at Catherine and Mary's.
- Dig into authentic Indian cuisine at Bombay House in Cordova. The butter chicken and chicken vindaloo are popular plates on a protein-packed menu.
- Inside the historic Hotel Chisca building in Downtown Memphis, try inventive plates, like the teres major, coppa or dry-aged ribeye for two, at The Lobbyist.
- Grab a hearty breakfast in Harbor Town at Kinfolk with country kitchen favorites, like the chicken biscuit with hot honey and house breaky sauce.
Save room for dessert & drinks
Loflin Yard not only has firepits, they offer hot cocktails, including a hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps and the “Mizzus Swiss” with coffee, tequila, creme de cacao and chocolate.
Several of Memphis' restaurants offer seasonally inspired sweets, too, like the skillet chocolate chip cookie or peach cobbler from Kooky Canuck or a piping hot cinnamon roll from Sweet LaLa's in Germantown. If you’re a bread pudding connoisseur, JEM is a must. Their take on this classic dessert includes strawberry-vanilla compote, vanilla crème anglaise and citrusy yuzu curd. Head to Zio Matto Gelato inside Central Station Hotel for a cozy, sweet affogato: your favorite gelato flavor topped with espresso or hot chocolate.
A mix of old- and new-favorite coffee shops in town has your warm winter beverages covered: Try a Orchard latte with warm apple pie syrup from Crazy Gander downtown. For something stronger, we recommend cozying up at Memphis Made's taproom at The Ravine for a pint of Plaid Attack!, a malty, smooth Scottish ale available only during the calendar's colder months.
