Memphis Food Destinations for Travelers

A visit to Memphis brings several "don't miss" tourist site suggestions - Elvis Presley's Graceland, Sun Studios, Mud Island and Beale Street. Through media exposure, Memphis also has its share of destinations for food-loving tourists.

I first heard about Jim Neely's Interstate Barbecue on a television show and Dyer's Burgers were highlighted on the MemphisTravel.com website. Our first trip to Memphis brought us to Dyer's and we couldn't pass the opportunity to visit Neely's on a second trip.

Some restaurants that attract tourists are local favorites while others are in a touristy area, such as Memphis' Beale Street, and capitalize on the tourist dollars. I've visited a few Memphis restaurant destinations and would return to some but believe that others are "been there, done that".

Interstate Barbecue - 2265 South 3rd Street, Memphis 901-775-2304
Interstate Barbecue has been a Memphis institution since 1979 and the awards and television pimping are well-deserved. The sauce is a little on the sweet side but the tenderness of the meat is a good distraction if you don't care for sweet barbecue sauce.

We visited Neely's at the end of the lunch rush and ordered the Sampler Platter ($18.95) to share. This platter had everything! Beef brisket, pork shoulder, pork ribs, links and the most tender beef ribs I've ever had. We packed a leftover box and 7 hours later the beef ribs were still tender and delicious! In my wildest kitchen moments, I would never consider defiling my spaghetti with barbecue sauce, but it works at Neely's Interstate Barbecue. Huge glasses of sweet tea cheerfully became free go-cups when we left.

Interstate Barbecue is well worth a visit when in Memphis. Carryout and shipping is available. It's easy to find just off of I-55 at Exit 7 and for blues fans, Memphis' 3rd Street is also Highway 61.

Dyer's Burgers - 205 Beale Street, Memphis 901-527-3937
Another Memphis legend, Dyer's Burgers was founded in 1912 and purports to have never changed the grease in the large iron skillet they use to deep-fry their burgers.

Yes, Dyer's Burgers are deep-fried and the truly wicked can have the whole sandwich, including the bun dipped in the bubbling grease for an extra dose of fat and flavor. We are continually on a quest for the World's Greatest Burger and could not turn down the opportunity to eat a legend.

Our visit to Dyer's was mid-afternoon and the kitschy diner was empty although a few other customers came in while we were eating. I've read a few reviews that it gets very crowded at lunchtime and especially late at night. We ordered cheeseburgers, hand-cut fries and I couldn't resist the breaded onion rings. A cold beer always makes a burger go down easier but Dyer's also features hand-dipped shakes and root beer floats.

The fries were great, crispy and mushy with very visible skins and the onion rings were decent as far as rings go. But, the Dyer's Burger...let's just say I can now report I've eaten at Dyer's and "been there, done that". The outside of the burger was crispy from the deep-frying but the inside was juicy. The cheeseburger wasn't anything special, no outstanding flavor that set it apart from every other greasy burger I've eaten.

Memphis' food institutions can offer a traveler a great meal, a touch of history and local flavor. Tourists can visit Roadfood.com for suggestions and reviews about great off-the-beaten path eateries all over the United States.