Memphis, Tennessee, is located in Southwestern Tennessee and is most famous for being the birthplace of blues and rock and roll. Visitors to the city most often make a beeline for musical landmarks such as the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Blues Hall of Fame, and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. One of the most popular, must-see tourist attractions in Memphis is Graceland, Elvis Presley’s stately mansion. Perhaps in a nod to comfort foods like The King’s love for peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwiches, there are many dining establishments in Memphis that cater to tastebuds more used to simple foods of childhood. This makes Memphis a great place for families with young children to eat out at. Follow this list of top kid-friendly restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee, now!
1. High Point Pizza
The star dish of High Point Pizza is naturally, their pizzas! Young diners have an option of over 10 different pizzas to choose from and nearly 30 extra toppings to add on to the pie. High Point Pizza does a plain cheese pizza for kids who prefer a pie or want to pick their toppings to create their dream pizza. The young ones (and probably the not so young ones) will also love the desserts at High Point Pizza. The zeppoles are fluffy doughnut balls of fluffy goodness fried to perfection and sprinkled generously with cinnamon, sugar, and honey!
High Point Pizza
Address: 477 High Point Terrace, Memphis, TN 38122, United States
Website: High Point Pizza
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm (closed on Sun)
2. The Cupboard Restaurant
The Cupboard Restaurant is a beloved establishment in Memphis, Tennessee, and has been in business since 1943. It is a country-cooking home kitchen that serves good ‘ol Southern classics such as country fried steak, grilled catfish, and old-fashioned desserts like coconut meringue pie and French silk pie. Kids will love feeling grown-up by ordering from the kids’ menu, which features like a fresh egg platter with an egg cooked any style, bacon or a sausage patty, and a Southern biscuit or toast. Take away one of The Cupboard Restaurant’s famously crumbly and buttery cornbread muffin for an afternoon snack as well!
The Cupboard Restaurant
Address: 1400 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104, United States
Website: The Cupboard Restaurant
Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)
3. Central BBQ
Central BBQ is an award-winning barbecue restaurant that has developed a delicious combination of expertly-cooked meats and top-secret rubs. While the grown-ups chow down on meaty racks of pork ribs and spicy hot wings, the kids can tuck into junior-sized plates of boneless barbecued meats and hot dogs with sides of mac and cheese. The boisterous atmosphere of a top-tier barbecue house will make the whole family feel at home as cheerful waitstaff make recommendations of the day. Do not forget to leave space for Central BBQ’s home-made desserts that include deliciously oozy banana pudding and a decadent hot fudge brownie that is topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Central BBQ
Address: 147 E Butler Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Website: Central BBQ
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm
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4. Swanky's Taco Shop
Swanky’s Taco Shop is a fusion Mexican casual restaurant that serves fresh and delicious food with a full bar for the parents! From its name alone, it is a given that the tacos are a must-order. Kids can choose the taco set meal that comes with a drink, a side of black beans and rice or chips and apple sauce from a kids’ menu of other Mexican selections. The loaded nachos are also a good sharing dish for the whole family as the components are kid-friendly and not too spicy as well!
Swanky's Taco Shop
Address: 4770 Poplar Ave #102, Memphis, TN 38117, United States
Website: Swanky’s Taco Shop
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11pm - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm
5. Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous is a barbecue restaurant that is located in a kitschy basement unit that is decorated with 50s-era posters and photographs. The smoked ribs with a secret blend of dry spices and house-made sausages are the main draw of this restaurant and kids will enjoy tasting a bit of everything from the sharing platters that are available on the menu. Parents will have an equally rocking time with the large selection of craft beers on tap as well!
Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
Address: 52 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Website: Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 4:30pm - 10:30pm; Fri: 11am - 11pm; Sat: 11:30am - 11pm (closed Sun & Mon)
6. Mosa Asian Bistro
Mosa Asian Bistro is another well-known name in the Memphis dining scene, having won the award for best Chinese food 19 years in a row from the Memphis Magazine. This restaurant offers a fresh take on traditional Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine. The fun and colourful plates of appetisers and snack platters (look out for the lettuce wraps!) will be a great treat for the kids as they can try a variety of dishes at once. In addition, Mosa Asian Bistro also lets kids order mains from a kids’ menu that is specially curated to cater to their tastebuds and serving portions. Familiar Chinese dishes such as lo mein and teriyaki chicken with rice make for filing and nutritious meals.
Mosa Asian Bistro
Address: 850 S White Station Rd, Memphis, TN 38117, United States
Website: Mosa Asian Bistro
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11am - 8:30pm; Fri: 11am - 9:30pm; Sat: 12pm - 9:30pm; Sun: 11am - 8:30pm (closed on Mon)
7. Arcade Restaurant
Arcade Restaurant, which opened its doors in 1919, is the oldest restaurant in Memphis and one of Elvis’ favourite joints! This alone makes the fifties-style Arcade Restaurant a must-visit when you are in Memphis with the family. Get there early to request for the Elvis booth, the section that he sat in as a regular at the Arcade Restaurant. Kids and parents alike will get a kick out of ordering the sandwich that was catapulted to fame by The King himself. The fried peanut butter and banana sandwich at the Arcade Restaurant is one of the best renditions of this comfort dish to date.
Arcade Restaurant
Address: 540 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Website: Arcade Restaurant
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 7am - 3pm; Thu - Sat: 7am - 10pm
8. Huey's
Huey’s is a bustling and lovely restaurant that has a couple of branches in Memphis. The downtown branch is one of the most popular outlets for its accessibility and also has live music on Saturdays. Kids can let their creative juices flow as diners are welcomed (and even encouraged!) to write messages on the graffiti walls in Huey’s. As Huey’s is famous for its burgers, kids 12 years old and below have the option of ordering a mini Huey’s Famous Burger from the kids’ menu and make it a satisfying meal with the choice of fries, fruit, or apple sauce.
Huey's
Address: 77 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Website: Huey’s
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 2am; Fri - Sat: 11am - 3am
9. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken is a well-loved fried chicken joint in Memphis that uses a top-secret recipe! A plate of fried chicken at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken is distinctive for its piping-hot, spicy chicken that remains juicy yet non-oily, a Southern side of sweet beans and slaw, and a slice of white bread. Kids will love the fried chicken at this restaurant because not much at all can go wrong with golden-brown, crispy fried wings. The great thing about Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken is that diners can have their pick of chicken parts, so no worries if the kids in your family all have different preferences for dark and white meat.
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Address: 310 S Front St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Website: Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm
10. Flying Fish
Flying Fish is a casual seafood restaurant serving Southern favourites like fried catfish, grilled shrimp, fresh oysters, and delicious po’ boy sandwiches with a cajun twist. The kids’ menu is a great option for taste-testing! Kids can choose from fried fish, shrimp, burgers, chicken tenders or sandwiches. Once they are more used to seafood, they can dive right into the main menu. Flying Fish has a huge selection of seafood that is cooked in almost any way you can think of. A great order for the whole family is the seafood platter that has either snow crab legs, shrimp or crawfish. The kids will love getting right in and eating with their hands!
Flying Fish
Address: 105 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Website: Flying Fish
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm
Feast like young royals on comfort foods in Memphis, Tennessee
Parents with picky eaters, fret not as Memphis, Tennessee, is a fantastic city for dining out as a family. The restaurants included in this list are fun to eat at while serving up delicious and healthy meals as well so the whole family gets to eat well. Try one of these top kid-friendly restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee, and have a hassle-free stay!
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