10 Memphis Dishes to Try Before Summer Ends
From hot dogs and burgers to frozen treats and more, here's our roundup of essential Memphis dishes to try this summer!
Summer days in Memphis are hot, and the nights are lively — but the season isn’t all barbecue and blues. Not that we’d complain if it was, but there are so many more delicious summer eats to be had here in Memphis. Here are 10 essential dishes to add to your “must-eat” list for this season — some savory, some sweet!
The Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: milb.com
Hot dogs and baseball have been a winning summer combo for over a century, and there’s no better hot dog than one from a stadium. A ballpark hot dog with an ice-cold beer on a warm night is what summertime dreams are made of. Catch a Thursday throwback game at AutoZone Park, where the Memphis Redbirds become The Chicks, and round out your evening with this iconic duo.
Sugar Ghost
Neighborhood: Broad Avenue + coming soon to Germantown
More info: sugarghostmemphis.com
Looking for the discontinued, ever-elusive Choco Taco? Well, look no further. Sugar Ghost has a version that is not only bigger but BETTER! This sweet little shop offers an array of unique, handmade ice cream with loads of flavor options, as well as handcrafted bubble teas, ice cream cakes, cookies, and milkshakes. The possibilities are nearly endless. Plus, the shop is highly Instagramable. It screams summer vibes!
Slider Inn
Neighborhood: Downtown + Midtown
More info: thesliderinn.com
If you had to choose only one place on this list to go to, Slider Inn would be the one. It’s your one-stop summer destination, thanks to the most amazing frozen drink in town, the Jameson Slushie. They also have a vast variety of sliders and some of the best fries you’ll ever have (get the bourbon mayo to dip them in!). If you’ve never tried the Jameson Slushie, it’s a blend of Jameson, fresh-squeezed lemonade, ginger beer, and bitters and is topped with a cherry. It’s the most refreshingly cold slushie you will ever have — undoubtedly, the drink of the summer.
Good Fortune Co.
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: goodfortuneco.com
While Good Fortune is known for its noodles and dumplings, the eatery also offers the most delicious ice cream dessert called tayaki. Tayaki is a waffle pancake shaped like a fish, filled with soft serve swirl. The flavors change monthly, and each new flavor seems better than the last. While you’re there for the tayaki, don’t forget to order the GFC chicken tendies — a true Memphis staple. They are dowsed in Sichuan honey butter and perfectly crispy!
Jerry’s Snow Cones & Burger Shack
Neighborhood: Berclair
More info: jerryssnowcones.com
Jerry’s Snow Cones is the perfect solution for a long day in the mid-summer heat. With so many flavors to choose from, you can grab a standard snow cone or order the “World Famous Snow Cone Supreme,” a snow cone of your choice topped with ice cream. Jerry’s also offers fun, “fair-like” items such as fried pickles, burgers, and funnel cakes.
Mempops
Neighborhood: Crosstown + East Memphis
More info: mempops.com
Mempops makes handcrafted popsicles using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients with a variety of fun flavor combinations. You can catch their pop-up mobile cart at the Memphis Farmers’ Markets on Saturdays, where you can even snag a popsicle combined with champagne for a “Mem-osa.”
Raw Girls Memphis
Neighborhood: Downtown, Hyatt Centric Market, and East Memphis
More info: raw-girls-memphis.myshopify.com
What’s more refreshing than an açai bowl with fresh fruit? It’s a delicious and healthy way to satisfy your craving for a light, refreshing treat. Raw Girls offers different variations of açai bowls and smoothies. My favorite is the Beale Street Berry Bliss with berries, bananas, and coconut water.
Wet Willie’s
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: wetwillies.com
Frozen cocktails are a must in the sticky summer heat, and Wet Willie’s certainly delivers, offering just about every cocktail you can imagine … in frozen form. With a vast variety of flavors, Wet Willie’s has strong, cold drinks to get you through even the hottest summer day.
Earnestine & Hazel’s
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: earnestineandhazel.com
In the city of Blues and Soul, Soul Burgers are a must! Walking into Earnestine & Hazel’sHazel’se walking into a time machine. With loads of original decor, this little bar is an experience. They have a no-frills burger, and it is famous for a reason. Simplicity is best when it comes to the soul burger. It’s cooked on a flat top behind the bar and consists of beef, onions, cheese, and mustard on a bun.
Dipsticle
Neighborhood: Cordova
More info: dipsticle.com
Dipsticle is an artisanal gelato cafe that specializes in Italian gelato and sorbets on a stick. But why stop there when you can dip these bad boys in chocolate and add toppings of your choice? Not only are these treats delicious, but they are also an Instagram influencer’s dream. This one-of-a-kind shop offers coffee, milkshakes, and wafflesticks on its ever-growing menu.
All photography courtesy of Jo Bateman of 901 Noms.
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Jo Bateman
Jo Bateman is the Memphis foodie behind @901_noms on Instagram. Follow along to stay in the know on the best bites around the 901.