10 Soul-Soothing Soups to Try in Memphis
Sometimes the best way to shake off the lingering chill of late-winter is a steaming bowl of soup. These are some of the best orders around Memphis to warm you up from the inside out!
If you’re embracing the lingering chill and relying on cozy, comforting meals to see you through the remaining days of winter, you’re on the right track. Today, we’re focusing on 10 of the most soul-soothing options in town. Let’s slurp our way through some of the best soup in Memphis!
French Onion Soup at Bishop
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: bishopmemphis.com
Bishop, a cute little French brasserie, is located inside the Central Station Hotel on the corner of South Main and GE Patterson. The space offers elegant but relaxed vibes with an array of insanely delicious French dishes — so it’s no surprise their soup is next level. The French onion soup is layered with gooey Gruyère cheese and topped with a hearty piece of sourdough that soaks up all of the rich, flavorful veal broth. This soup is so comforting, hearty, and full of flavor.
Chicken Tortilla Soup at Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana
Neighborhoods: East Memphis & Germantown
More info: delimexicana.com
Now, this is love in a bowl! One of my favorite soups has to be the Las Tortugas Chicken Tortilla Soup Dos Quesos. It is packed with flavor and has a soothing broth, citrusy lime, chunks of chicken, and the most amazing pulls of cheese that get heated up and gooey from the hot soup. There’s also a little crunch factor from the crispy tortilla topper. This is hands down the best chicken tortilla soup I’ve ever had!
Noodle Soup at Good Fortune
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: goodfortuneco.com
Good Fortune, located on South Main in Downtown Memphis, is known for its scratch-made noodles and dumplings. And man, do they have some delectable noodle soups! They offer a depth of flavor that screams “big city noodle shop.” The eatery is beautifully decorated, with cool artwork and ’90s jams pumping through the speakers.
Every detail about this place makes it so special, including the perfectly curated menu. On the menu — in the “Noods” category — you’ll find a noodle soup that you won’t soon forget. Pictured below is the Big City with chicken broth, chicken thigh, ajitama, corn, and menma. Give them a try if you haven’t already!
Lobster Bisque at Slider Inn
Neighborhood: Downtown & Midtown
More info: thesliderinn.com
Slider Inn is known for its delicious sliders, but did you know the eatery also serves up some pretty great soup? The lobster bisque is creamy, delicious, and loaded with fresh lobster meat. Every bite you take is deliciously rich — it will leave you wanting more.
Pho at Pho Saigon
Neighborhood: East Memphis
More info: yelp.com
Simple, brothy, and comforting. Pho will always warm the soul, and Pho Saigon is one of my favorites. I like the Pho Tom, which consists of shrimp, rice noodles, white onion, fried shallots, scallions, and cilantro. Of course, they have other pho options such as chicken, pork, seafood, mixed veggies, and fried tofu.
Seafood Gumbo at Ben Yay’s
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: tandemrp.team
A “Best Soup” list wouldn’t be complete without an ultra-flavorful seafood gumbo, and this one from Ben Yay’s transports you straight to New Orleans. This gumbo is LOADED with seafood, peppers, and okra. The rich roux is slightly spicy and wonderfully warming. If you’re looking for a great Creole spot, this is your place.
Broth at Rawgirls
Neighborhoods: Downtown & East Memphis
More info: raw-girls-memphis.myshopify.com
Rawgirls has a hot broth bar with medicinal broth. They offer a variety of add-ons, such as Tom Yum (which I highly recommend). It consists of chili paste, coconut milk, Thai curry spice, and lime. Not only is this broth good for you (it offers tons of health benefits!), but it’s also insanely delicious. The broth is made with chaga and lion’s mane, so you can feel good from the inside out. This is seriously soul-warming!
Ramen at Flame Ramen
Neighborhoods: Midtown & Downtown
More info: facebook.com
Looking for a cute, clean, fast-casual ramen restaurant? Search no further than Flame Ramen. Flame recently opened a second location downtown, its original location in midtown. There is a comprehensive menu variety to suit your needs, along with vegan and vegetarian options. You can also opt to build your own bowl and choose your level of spiciness.
African Peanut Soup at Global Cafe
Neighborhood: Crosstown
More info: globalcafememphis.com
Global Café is known for its eclectic mix of dishes cooked by immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs. This is a really great place to experience delicious foods from a variety of different countries. Give the African peanut soup a try! It is made with peanut butter, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, and more. It is earthy and packed with flavor. They serve it alongside their fresh baked bread, which is delicious when dipped.
Green Curry at The Nine Thai Sushi
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: facebook.com
Nestled in the heart of Downtown, The Nine Thai is serving up some really great Thai food. With a friendly staff and consistently delicious dishes, these guys will keep you returning for more. The green curry is a favorite. It’s vibrant, full of flavor, and oh-so comforting. It consists of coconut milk, green chili paste, eggplant, bamboo shoots, bell pepper, green beans, and basil. You really can’t go wrong when ordering here.
Editor’s Note: The restaurant is temporarily closed but is expected to re-open its doors in March. So, stay tuned and work up an appetite in the meantime!
Dig in, Memphis!
All photography by Jo Bateman of 901 Noms unless otherwise noted.
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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.