Black History Month is a pivotal time in Memphis; not only because our city has been at the center of Black innovation and achievement for generations, but also because we still continue to see Memphis’ Black community influence worldwide culture today. However, part of the importance of this month shouldn’t be forgotten all of the other months throughout the year, so we’re here to share some black owned restaurants in Memphis you can support year-round. And with Memphis being such a foodie city, it’s no wonder we wanted to highlight these in particular!

Da Guilty Vegan Food Truck

Being a vegan in the city of barbecue may be rough at times, but Da Guilty Vegan is here to demonstrate that good food can still be animal-free! Whether you’re craving barbecue nachos, a burger, or even some delicious sandwiches, this place has a wide rotating selection of foods you’ll want to try again and again. You can usually spot this food truck down Houston Levee, but if you want to double-check where this truck will be stopping next, check out their social media for all of the updates.

Brain Food Memphis

Think fresh, natural, organic food can’t possibly be hearty? Think again. BrainFood in Memphis uses the best ingredients to create scrumptious, mouth-watering dishes that’ll make you come back for more. Though they don’t have a physical location, you can order curbside or delivery from anywhere to your home or office. They cater, too, so check out their social and website for all of the current servings, availability, and more.

Waffle Iron

When you have breakfast (or brunch) at Waffle Iron, you’ll understand why Food Network named them one of the 50 best waffles in America! You can even take home boxes of their sweet potato pancake and waffle mix if you just can’t get enough. Check out their website, social media, and Collierville location to snag some of their delicious goodies for yourself.

Jamaican Queen Food Truck

The search for Jamaican cooking won’t have you traveling too far with Jamaican Queen’s food truck. If you’ve got a hankering for jerk spices and scrumptious sides, this menu will have something for you! You can’t miss the truck painted with the Jamaican flag, but just in case you want to catch it near you, follow them on Facebook for updates.

Chicken Coop

If you’re on the search for some amazing wings, Chicken Coop is the place for you! So many tantalizing flavors and combinations, how could you possibly choose just one? They don’t just serve up wings, though, offering burgers, hot dogs, and many more things to delight your taste buds. Check out their site for more information, or follow their social media to see what’s new on the menu.

I Love Waffle Cream

We can’t deny we love chicken and waffles, but sometimes you just want waffles and ice cream instead, you know? This is where I Love Waffle Cream excels, offering some delicious waffle and ice cream combos. You may even brave the Memphis winter to get one of these cold treats! (They also have an Elvis-inspired flavor, because would the menu be complete without it?) Find the food truck on their website or social media to see where they’ll be stopping next!

Grillmaster Chew Food Truck

Since Memphis has its own food truck park, it’s no wonder so many amazing food trucks have made this list, including Grillmaster Chew. The taste of BBQ  never gets old in this city and this food truck offers some yummy takes on some classics, like ribs, sandwiches, and barbecue nachos. Find them on Facebook to keep up with their latest locations.

Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea

For your caffeine fix, Dr. Bean’s Coffee and Tea has you covered. Since they source their own beans, you know you’re in for some unique flavor profiles with genuine thought and care behind them. You can shop their coffees online or visit their location to enjoy a fresh cup for yourself. Follow them on social for specials and check their website to place an order.

Know some other local eats and treats that are Black-owned that we should know about? Tell us in the comments! We’d love to support some more local, small businesses!

You might also like: Soul Food Memphis: 5 Places to get Soul Food in Memphis TN

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From Thai to Mexican, and even unique specialties like smoked tuna, the streets of Memphis are lined with food trucks that are cooking up a storm and winning over hearts (and stomachs). As one of America’s culinary capitals, it should come as no surprise that Memphis is blessed with a seemingly endless array of delicious options. After much hand-wringing and debate, here are four of our favorite local food trucks in Memphis that you should check out ASAP.

Soi Number 9

Craving the complex and tantalizing flavors of Thai cuisine? Soi Number 9 has got your back (and your taste buds). This food truck takes you on a journey through Thailand’s street food scene, serving up dishes that burst with authentic flavors. From the iconic Pad Thai to the aromatic Massaman Curry, every bite is a passport to the bustling streets of Bangkok. Don’t miss their zesty Som Tum (green papaya salad) that’ll give your taste buds a wake-up call.

Chile Verde Food Truck

If you thought Memphis was all about barbecue, think again. Chile Verde Food Truck brings the flavors of Mexico to the streets, and they’re not holding back. From sizzling street tacos to loaded nachos topped with a rainbow of ingredients, this truck is a fiesta on wheels. The fusion of Mexican spices and Memphis flair creates a culinary experience that’ll have your taste buds doing the salsa.

Clay’s Smoked Tuna

For those who appreciate the finer things in life – like perfectly smoked seafood – Clay’s Smoked Tuna is a revelation. This food truck is a hidden gem that serves up smoked tuna like you’ve never tasted before. From melt-in-your-mouth smoked tuna sandwiches to refreshing tuna salads, Clay’s combines the heartiness of Southern comfort with the delicate flavors of the sea. It’s a true catch for seafood enthusiasts.

Say Cheese

Who doesn’t have a soft spot for a classic grilled cheese sandwich? Say Cheese takes this comfort food staple and turns it into a gourmet masterpiece. With an array of cheeses, breads, and creative toppings, this food truck is redefining what a grilled cheese can be. Whether you’re a fan of the classic cheddar and tomato combo or feeling adventurous with brie and fig jam, Say Cheese will melt your heart – one gooey bite at a time.

Uncover the hidden gems of Memphis BBQ restaurants

You might also be interested in Soul Food Feast in the East

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We get our soul from being the home of the blues and birthplace of rock-n-roll, with iconic Beale Street entertainment, star-studded Sun Studios artists, and the latest generation of musicians who continue to bring the heat live from the kitchen… Our sauce is none-other than what makes our Memphis-style barbecue world famous. And yes, you guessed it, for sports, we got the Grizzlies.

The 4th S: Memphis Street-Food

Today we’re delving into the 4th S: street food! Don’t be s—urprised. Mobile dining and street food have been part of American’s dining habits since the late 17th century. Nowadays mobile eateries feature unique offerings of every type— from freshly caught seafood and gourmet burgers to gluten-free and vegan sandwiches, sides, and desserts. And their popularity is growing. The food-truck scene is flourishing and many trucks have menus to rival the city’s best-loved restaurants. 

To create our ranking of this year’s Best Food Trucks in Memphis list, we scoured review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, UrbanSpoon, and the social media followings of the trucks themselves. So if you’re going to wait in line for a food truck, check out our picks first. Tell us if we got it right, and feel free to name a favorite spot we missed. Let’s work together to keep small, independent businesses with killer food flourishing. #ShopLocalMemphis

The Top 20

1. Cousin’s Main Lobster: Get ready to satisfy those lobster cravings with Cousin’s Main Lobster. Proudly serving only premium, wild-caught, sustainably harvested lobster from Maine, these lobster rolls just melt in your mouth.
2. El Mero Taco Truck: Fresh tacos and Mexican fare. The top-selling taco features fried chicken, queso, pickled jalapenos, and pickled onions. Don’t forget to stop by their restaurant too! 
3. Fresh Gulf Shrimp: They make ‘em every which way: fried, steamed, cajun spice, with shrimp boils and poboys. Plus fried oysters and fresh-cut fries. Usually parked at the Oak Court Mall.
4. The Fry Guy: Not to be confused with Fries Guys. The Fry Guy serves seasoned, straight cut, or sweet potato fries loaded with toppings.
5. Grisanti 9 Dough 1: Made to order in two minutes (yes, really), gourmet eight-inch personal pizzas featuring lobster, buffalo chicken, barbeque chicken, meat lovers, and lots of fresh veggies.
6. Memphis Mojo Cafe: One-of-a-kind burger creations using handcrafted patties made from ground Angus, sirloin steak, and brisket.
7. MEMPopS: The most delicious pops in town. Flavors vary depending on what’s fresh, with faves including roasted peaches, sweet cherry, lemongrass watermelon, fig and orange cream, fig and goat cheese, and avocado lime. Pops sell for $4 each.
8. New Wing Order: Offering traditional or boneless wings with signature sauces (Memphis Buffalo, Grind City Gold, Midtown Masala, Pineapple Habanero, Ring of Fire) and seasonings (lemon pepper, Nikki’s hot). Don’t miss out on the hot wing nachos and buffalo chicken tacos! For vegetarians, they have avocado tacos, several varieties of fries, salad, and chips.
9. Pupuseria Anita’s: Parked outside of a convenience store, Pupuseria Anita’s turned the convenience store into a dining room so that customers can sit and enjoy their food. Located at 658 Stratford Road, Pupuseria Anita’s serves a combination of Mexican and Central American food, and as its name suggests is best known for her pupusas—stuffed, thick flatbreads made of cornmeal, filled with your choice of cheese, pork, and beans.
10. Raw Girls: Initially launched with raw food home delivery which later expanded to two trucks permanently parked at Eclectic Eye (242 S. Cooper) in Midtown and Hollywood Feed (5502 Poplar) out east. Raw Girls serve farm-to-table gourmet raw foods and cold-pressed juice cleanses.
11. Say Cheese: The rotating sandwich menu includes Cluck Me (Buffalo chicken, blue cheese, and pepper jack ), the PCB (pimento cheese and bacon), the spinach artichoke dip on a baguette, and the “Pizza” with pepperoni, cheese, and marinara.
12. Soi Number 9: Find this truck serving Authentic Thai street food at various locations on evenings and weekends. Crowd pleasers include rice bowls, noodle bowls, spring rolls, potstickers, fried tofu, sticky rice, and iced Thai coffee.
13. StickEm: Chicken, tofu, shrimp, or beef kabobs served up with a side of perfectly seasoned, grilled vegetables make for a healthy, delicious meal. 
14. Tacos Los Jarochos: Permanently parked at 4900 Summer Avenue. Enjoy your tacos, tortas, and more.

Where to Find Them

Due to the fact that our winters are mild, and our summers are sunny, you can enjoy these top food trucks all year long. I guarantee it won’t take you long to figure out that there is much more to Memphis than just BBQ. Having a hard time choosing where to start? Don’t worry, we’re not done yet. If you’re new the idea of street-food and want to see what’s out there, we recommend checking out one of the following food truck parks. You’ll have a variety of creative dishes at your fingertips…

1. Memphis Food Park: Monday – Friday beginning at 1030am #MemphisFoodTruckPark
2. Food Truck Thursday: Every Thursday in Court Square Park #FoodTruckThursday

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