'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives': 10 restaurants Memphians think Guy Fieri needs to visit

Which Memphis restaurants should Guy Fieri visit for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"? Memphians have a lot of recommendations.

Until this month, it had been 11 years since a Memphis restaurant has been featured on Fieri's Food Network show.

Trap Fusion was the first to be featured from a group of restaurants Fieri visited in mid-September. The segment featuring this Whitehaven soul food restaurant with Caribbean and Cajun influences aired Dec. 15.

Fieri reportedly filmed at seven Memphis restaurants on his recent visit. The list of restaurants visited has been kept secret, and air dates from the remaining six restaurants have yet to be announced.

We asked Memphians which restaurants they would like to see on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Dozens of people responded to The Commercial Appeal's social media post and when we asked in person. We narrowed the list to the 10 restaurants most mentioned. hey want Fieri to visit.

(We wonder if Fieri stopped by any of them when he was in town this fall. We're guessing the odds are pretty good, if he ked locals for recommendations.)

Alex’s Tavern

1445 Jackson Ave.

On any given night you will find Rocky Kasaftes bouncing between the bar and the kitchen of his beloved Midtown watering hole. For more than six decades, his family has been the proprietors of Alex’s Tavern. This Memphis institution is the oldest, single-family-owned tavern in town. The unpretentious bar is a favorite gathering spot for Memphians — and is known for its tasty Greek burger.

Bryant's Breakfast

3965 Summer Ave.; bryantsbreakfast.com

Since 1968, Bryant’s has served Memphians home-cooked Southern breakfast favorites and homemade plate lunches. Each morning there is a line out the door as customers wait for their famous biscuits, fluffy pancakes and oversized omelets. This isn’t a fancy place, but, boy, is the food good. Customers of all ages and backgrounds gather at this Memphis institution.

Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe

668 Union Ave.; (901) 207-2598; thecheftam.com

Since opening Chef Tam's Underground Cafe in March 2017, Chef Tam (whose real name is Tamra Patterson) has made a name for herself for her creative Southern soul food dishes. Dishes like Patterson's Deep Fried Ribs and Peach Cobbler are often over the top, but delicious. Dishes like these have garnered national attention on shows like Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games” (which she won in 2018) and A&E’s “Deliciously Twisted Classics.”

Elwood’s Shack

Two locations: 4523 Summer Ave. and 4040 Park Ave.; elwoodsshack.com

A trailer in a Lowe’s parking lot may not be where you would expect to find some of the best food in town, but if you have been to Elwood’s Shack, you know to never judge a book by its cover. Owner Tim Bednarski has created an eclectic menu featuring everything from smokehouse favorites like pork shoulder and brisket to pizzas to tacos. The restaurant is small and super casual. On nice nights, most customers dine outside on picnic tables. Bednarski opened a second location of Elwood’s Shack at 4040 Park Ave. in September.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Five locations: 310 S. Front St.; 730 S. Mendenhall; 2943 N. Germantown Parkway, Bartlett; 3100 Forest Hill Irene Road, Germantown; 787 Goodman Road East, Southaven; gusfriedchicken.com

Gus’s world famous hot and spicy fried chicken is a Memphis tradition. Memphians and tourists alike line up daily to enjoy this one-of-a-kind fried chicken. The fried chicken gets its spice from a secret recipe batter that the chicken is marinated in. It’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The perfect accompaniment is a slice of Wonder white bread, but sides like slaw, beans and fries are also available.

Momma’s

855 Kentucky St.; (901) 207-5111; mommasbar.com

Depending which direction you are driving on what Memphians call “the Old Memphis Bridge,” Momma’s is the last bar in Memphis … or the first bar. Stop in this trucker-themed bar and restaurant for an ice-cold beer and a burger, a plate lunch or even breakfast. The burgers are not to be missed. And if a fried chicken sandwich is your go-to, make sure to try “The Firebird.” A crispy fried chicken breast is topped with bacon, pickles, fried onions, two cheeses (Swiss and cheddar) and their spicy “Memphis Mojo” sauce.

Payne’s Bar-B-Q

1762 Lamar Ave.; (901) 272-1523

Payne's Bar-B-Q is a family operation that has been in business since 1972. This place is the real-deal, and one of the few truly old-school barbecue joints in town. The menu is as bare bones as the dining room, focusing only on the barbecue essentials. Pork shoulders are cooked low and slow over coals in a pit that is adjacent to the service counter. The house-made barbecue sauce, perfectly balanced with sweetness and a vinegary tang, simmers on a vintage stovetop. The proprietor, Flora Payne, chops the shoulder for each sandwich — something she has been doing for almost 50 years. The sound of her cleaver on the cutting board is one of the ways you know you are at Payne’s.

Memphis restaurants 'Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives': What restaurants has Guy Fieri visited in Memphis?

StickEm

1788 Madison Ave.; stickemfoodtruck.com

Ermyias Shiberou grew up halfway across the world in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. You may not know his name, but if you have ever had a kabob from the StickEm restaurant or food truck, you know his delicious food and friendly smile. Marinated chicken kabobs, steak kabobs, shrimp kabobs and tofu kabobs are the heart of the menu. The skewers are well seasoned using an interesting blend of spices that have their roots in Ethiopian cuisine. Ethiopian specialties like braised lamb shank and whole fried red snapper are also on the menu.

Trap Fusion on TV: Memphis restaurant Trap Fusion wows Guy Fieri on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'

Sunrise Memphis

Two locations: 670 Jefferson Ave. and 5469 Poplar Ave.; sunrise901.com

Customers stand in line to enjoy Sunrise Memphis’ biscuit sandwiches, breakfast bowls and boozy brunch cocktails. Signature dishes include items like the Dirty South (an egg and bacon biscuit topped with pimento cheese, fried green tomato and Sunrise sauce) and 3 Amigos Tacos (chorizo, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo and salsa verde). The breakfast menu also includes standards such as pancakes, breakfast tacos and omelets.

The Bar-B-Q Shop

1782 Madison Ave.; (901) 272-1277; thebar-b-qshop.com

The Bar-B-Q Shop has been a Midtown neighborhood favorite for more than 30 years. Back in 1987, Frank Vernon bought a restaurant called Brady and Lil’s and turned it into The Bar-B-Q Shop. Today, his son Eric Vernon runs the day-to-day operations of this bustling restaurant. We love everything — from the ribs to the pulled pork to the world-famous barbecue spaghetti (which was invented here). Most Memphians frequent a barbecue joint because one dish stands out more than others — but here we have a hard time deciding what to order.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer. 

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Memphis restaurants Guy Fieri should try