Best Burgers in Memphis: Beale Street and Soul

The best burgers in Memphis start downtown with two institutions: Dyer’s Burgers on Beale Street, which has served burgers since 1912, and Earnestine & Hazel’s, a South Main bar whose only food is its Soul Burger. Beyond downtown, look in Midtown around Overton Square and Cooper-Young, and along Broad Avenue.

Dyer’s built its legend on its cooking grease, which the restaurant says has been strained and kept going for decades. At Earnestine & Hazel’s, the Soul Burger is a seasoned patty with American cheese, sautéed onion, mustard, mayonnaise and pickle on a toasted bun, served with plain chips. Memphis is still a barbecue city first: pork ribs come dry-rubbed or wet with sauce, and the pulled pork sandwich arrives topped with coleslaw. The local burger grew up next to that pit tradition and the blues bars of Beale Street.

Burgers in Memphis: key facts

• Neighborhoods to explore: downtown and Beale Street, the South Main Arts District, Overton Square, Cooper-Young and Broad Avenue.
• Local institutions: Dyer’s Burgers (since 1912) and the Soul Burger at Earnestine & Hazel’s.
• Barbecue context: dry-rub or wet ribs and pulled pork sandwiches with slaw.
• Getting around: downtown is walkable from Beale Street to South Main; Midtown is a short drive east.
• Currency: US dollar (USD), Tennessee sales tax added at payment.
• What our guides check: a venue open on the publication date, its signature burger and a dated menu price.

Every guide we publish on Memphis is dated and lists only venues, addresses, prices and ratings we could verify. For other cities, browse all our burger restaurant guides.