Good Soup in Memphis: Where to Find 8 Tasty Bowls
There is nothing better to warm you up on a cold day than a steaming bowl of soup. Here are eight great soups in Memphis! Image: The Liquor Store
There is nothing better to warm you up on a cold winterβs day than a steaming hot bowl of soup. Itβs comfort food at its best: delicious, nourishing, warming and often creamy. We have compiled a list of eight of our favorite soups in town. While each is unique, every one is guaranteed to warm your body and your soul.
8 of Memphisβ Best Soups: From Spicy to Savory to Soul-Nourishing
Chicken Tortilla Soup at Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana
1215 South Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138 β’ (901) 751-1200
6300 Poplar Ave., #115, Memphis, TN 38119 β’ (901) 623-3882
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Closed Sundays
Most Memphians know that if you are looking for Mexican food just like you would find in Mexico, Las Tortugas is the place to go, and their chicken tortilla soup is as authentic as it gets. βOur broth is homemade every day,β says owner Jonathan Magallanes of their popular soup. Rich and full of flavor from the tomatoes and chiles, you can taste the care that goes into preparing this complex soup. And the best part is all the toppings! Crunchy tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro, cojita cheese and fresh lime make this soup a satisfying meal.
Homemade Potato Soup at Hueyβs
Nine locations throughout Memphis; store hours vary at each location.
Hueyβs may be most well-known for their world-famous burgers, but insiders know that they also have one of the best soups in town. Their secret-recipe homemade potato soup topped with grated cheddar cheese, bacon and scallions has been a customer favorite for decades. βOur homemade potato soup has a buttery taste to it, and the texture is very thick and creamy and doesnβt have big chunks of potato in it,β explains Ashley Griffin, Hueyβs marketing and events coordinator. βOur customers love it. It is definitely one of those beloved Southern comfort foods.β
Tan Tan Ramen at Lucky Cat Ramen
247 Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104 β’ (901) 633-0300
Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
If you love ramen, then Lucky Cat is the place to go for the real deal! Owners Zach Nicholson and Sarah Pardee offer several ramen bowls nightly, as well as vegetarian and pork buns at this space that used to be the bar of CafΓ© 1912. We love all their offerings, but their tan tan ramen is our go-to order. βThe tan tan has an interesting mix of complex depth and heat that people really enjoy. The fish sauce, curry and toasted sesame seeds make the broth savory, nutty, a little funky and spicy all at once. Roasted peanuts add a nice texture change, and cilantro brightens it up to finish,β says Sarah.
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French Onion Soup at CafΓ© Keough
12 S. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103 β’ (901) 509-2469
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CafΓ© Keough serves a French onion soup that will have you thinking you are in France, not downtown Memphis. Made the classic way, with caramelized onions, red wine, a splash of sherry and a generous topping of nutty GruyΓ¨re cheese, this soup is hearty and satisfying. The inspiration to put it on the menu came from owner Kevin Keoughβs nostalgic memories of his dad. βMy father was stationed in Orleans, France, in the early β50s and spent about every weekend in Paris. He enjoyed telling me about his experiences in the Latin Quarter and surviving on an enlisted manβs pay. One of his stories was about a cafΓ© where he could buy a massive bowl of onion soup for a dollar! He and his pals frequented it most every chance they got,β Kevin says of the popular menu item.
Memphis Chowder at Paradise CafΓ©
6150 Poplar Ave., #120, Memphis, TN 38119 β’ (901) 821-9600
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Closed Sundays
Bob Sternburgh, owner of Paradise CafΓ© in East Memphis, serves up some of the most delicious and interesting soups we have ever had. βI take old classic recipes, like beef stroganoff, chicken tetrazzini, chicken Kiev and lasagna, and Iβll turn them into a soup,β he explains. Bob has even come up with a signature soup for our hometown: Memphis chowder. Made with white beans, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, smoked sausage, carrots, celery and onions, topped with cornbread, it includes all the great vegetables and flavors of Southern cooking. Itβs a bowl of Southern soul food!
Tomato Soup at The Liquor Store
2655 Broad Ave., Memphis, TN 38112 β’ (901) 405-5477
Hours: Monday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The tomato soup at The Liquor Store is a classic done right. βOur tomato soup uses simple ingredients and preparation. We wanted to keep it classic and on the healthier side,β explains owner Lisa Toro. βWe use Roma tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper β nothing more.β And an added bonus: Itβs also vegan! We recommend ordering it with their grilled cheese sandwich β a blend of white cheddar, Swiss and American cheese on your choice of white or wheat bread. Itβs one of the best grilled cheeses in town and pairs perfectly with their tomato soup.
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Hot and Sour Soup at Mosa Asian Bistro
850 S. White Station Road, Memphis, TN 38117 β’ (901) 683-8889
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Closed Mondays
Mosa Asian Bistroβs hot and sour soup is a recipe that was developed more than 40 years ago. βOur dad acquired the original recipe from his future mother-in-law, our grandmother, in Taipei, Taiwan,β explain owners Michelle Pao Levine and Alex Pao. βThe proper Chinese meal always started with soup, no matter the temperature outside. Dad spent a lot of time with her in the kitchen learning to cook and took particular note of the traditions and techniques of authentic Asian dining.β This vegetarian soup offers just the right amount of hot, sour and sweet in every spoonful.
Black Bean Soup at Tsunami
928 South Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104 β’ (901) 274-2556
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Closed Sundays
The black bean soup has been on the menu at Tsunami since day one, and the customer favorite is so beloved that it has earned a permanent spot on the soup list. βUnlike most black bean soups, ours is a smooth puree,β explains owner and Chef Ben Smith. βIt still packs a lot of spicy punch, though, thanks to what we refer to as the βfour Csβ β cumin, cayenne pepper, ground coriander and chili powder.β And if it wasnβt already deliciously full of flavor, Ben garnishes each bowl with a drizzle of chipotle-laced sour cream for a little extra wallop to the palate.
Now head out in this chilly weather for a warming and soul-nourishing bowl of one of Memphisβ best soups!
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