The Memphis dining scene will welcome quite a few tasty new additions over the final three months of 2026.
Some promise to bring something entirely new to the table, like Afro-Caribbean cuisine and a wildly popular hot chicken franchise from Pasadena, California; others are putting fresh takes on the kinds of places diners already love, including Mexican food, locally sourced coffee and elevated spins on breakfast and fast food.
Here's a look at 12 new Memphis-area restaurants worth keeping an eye on as the year's final months unfold.
Big Bad Breakfast
2149 Young Ave.
James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-recommended Chef John Currence will open his newest Big Bad Breakfast location in Cooper-Young on Sept. 29. Customers can expect the same 100% from-scratch, savory
meals they get at the East Memphis restaurant.
House-made biscuits and jams are made fresh every day. All the ingredients, including the eggs, fruits and veggies, are thoughtfully sourced. And at Big Bad Breakfast, they don’t just smoke the meat, they own the whole journey. From the pigs they bring in to the bacon and sausage hitting your plate, every step happens under their watch.
Ethnos Coffee Roasters
114 Harbor Town Square
Located next door to Cordelia's Market on Mud Island, the new 800-square-foot brick-and-mortar Ethnos Coffee Roasters is expected to open in October. It appears to be a polished yet accessible neighborhood coffee shop, bringing Memphis specialty coffee into a walkable, residential pocket of the city.
Owner Tina Tatum describes the business as "100% female-owned, operated, roasted, and produced. Our company exists to empower women through coffee, collaboration, and community while creating opportunities that extend far beyond a cup of coffee."
Breadie's Cafe
120 N. East Yates
If you live in East Memphis, I hope you haven't given up bread this fall. Because opening on Oct. 16 is Breadie's Cafe — a full-service bakery-cafe full of homemade croissants, baguettes, bagels, scones, biscuits and cinnamon rolls. But if you're in the mood for salads, soups, pizza, gumbo or a weekend brunch, you're also in luck. The location is next to One City Church with a motto that will make anyone smile: "Bake Me Happy."
Gussied Up
655 Marshall Ave.
From the owners of Hard Times Deli comes this neighborhood bar that will be located behind it, even sharing its kitchen. Gussied Up is described as a sister restaurant to the Edge District deli, featuring elevated takes on fast-food classics including the owners' much-loved Secret Smash Society burger, plus chicken tendies, pickled eggs and corn dogs. A full bar will also be serving frozen drinks, specialty cocktails, beer and wine. The nostalgia-fueled atmosphere is equally cheeky: lots of red neon and retro beer signs and Pizza Hut-inspired chandeliers.
The Commercial Appeal is particularly excited about this new concept. Hard Times Deli recently landed at the top of our "6 sandwiches we can't stop thinking about" story, so expectations are high. If Gussied Up can capture even some of that magic, Memphis diners are in for a treat.
Connie's Chicken
8220 Goodman Road, Olive Branch
With locations in Oxford, Tupelo and Starkville, this is the first Connie's Chicken to open in the Memphis area. When discussing the impending October opening with The Commercial Appeal, co-owner Chad Blalack called its new Olive Branch location "a growing market." With a menu that includes chicken tenders, chicken biscuits, homestyle sides and blueberry doughnuts, Connie's Chicken is the kind of restaurant built for easy weeknight dinners, hearty plates and classic Southern cravings.
M and M Kitchen
16 S. Second St.
The former food truck at 530 N. Hollywood St. is now a new brick-and-mortar restaurant in Downtown Memphis, with its grand opening scheduled for Oct. 1. The cuisine is authentic Afro-Caribbean and Nigerian dishes like jollof rice, oxtails, stewed fish and many jerk options.
A Black-owned and women-owned business, full-service dine-in and takeout options are available in the 2,120-square-foot space.
Patsy Ruth's Piano Bar & Cabaret
2855 Poplar Ave.
Dentist-turned-hospitality entrepreneur Stuart Williams is converting the former Lost Pizza Co./Ronnie Grisanti space at 2855 Poplar Ave. into something we don't see every day in Memphis. It's an upscale piano bar, cabaret and restaurant that will feature the best of local Memphis talent, as well as talent from Broadway, the West End and the national cabaret scene.
Curated small plates, luxurious desserts and and a full-service bar can also be expected at Patsy Ruth's Piano Bar & Cabaret, which is expected to launch by the end of 2026.
Dave's Hot Chicken
3484 Poplar Ave.
This fast-casual hot chicken chain based out of California brings much-needed heat, crispy sliders and a variety of sauces to the high-traffic Poplar Plaza site. With Grammy winner Drake among the significant investors, Dave's Hot Chicken is known for offering multiple spice levels to its chicken, from "Not Hot" to Reaper level.
The first pop-up opened in East Hollywood, California, in 2017 and it has since grown exponentially, to hundreds of locations nationwide, including one in Chattanooga. With an opening targeted by the end of 2026, and construction underway, the 2,485-square-foot Poplar/Highland space will seat 48 people in the interior and eight on a patio. The colorful, high-energy franchise has a particularly heavy presence on social media, with more than 2.5 million Instagram followers.
Top of the Morning
6075 Winchester Road
A popular Memphis breakfast and brunch food truck is making the jump to its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Hickory Ridge Mall. The mobile Top of the Morning concept focused heavily on rotating weekend pop-ups (frequently stationed at spots like the Big Daddy's Pawn Shop lot) generating lots of fans and more than 3,000 Facebook followers.
The storefront eatery was originally set to open on Oct. 3, but the launch date has been pushed per owner Valencia Smith. Once the 803-square-foot space is up and running, expect such hearty, satisfying Southern comfort options as chicken & waffles, a French toast sandwich, smoked sausage sandwich, omelets, hash browns and more.
Casa Lopez
2936 Kirby Whitten Road, Bartlett
A new full-service, family-oriented Mexican restaurant with a bar is coming to the 5,500-square-foot space that was formerly the Noodles Asian Bistro near Kroger in Bartlett. That’s just off Stage Road, adjacent to the Kroger shopping area. Noodles Asian Bistro operated there for years before closing permanently in 2025.
The owners are the same family behind Lopez Grillat 5653 Stage Road in Bartlett. So customers should expect the same kind of broad menu focused on familiar Mexican/Tex-Mex dishes, including such items as fajitas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, queso, chimichangas and seafood dishes.
Ramblin' Joe's Coffee
1227 S. Germantown Road, Germantown
The Memphis-born coffee company officially opens its doors to Germantown on Oct. 10. Located in the Landmark Center Strip Commercial Center, this Ramblin' Joe's will have 3,000 square feet of space in the spot formerly occupied by Simmons Bank.
Residents can expect the same quality brand of Ramblin’ Joe’s specialty coffee, sandwiches, sides and hospitality customers get at other locations in East Memphis, the Arts District and the Memphis airport.
“We’re excited to become part of the Germantown community,” founder David Lambert said. “We’ve been a Memphis company since the beginning, and every new location gives us another opportunity to meet new people, build relationships, and serve great coffee. We can’t wait to welcome Germantown through our doors.”
The new location will feature Ramblin’ Joe’s full café experience, with a larger seated area for working and studying than the other locations have in Memphis.
3 Guys Pizza Pies
5070 Goodman Road, Olive Branch
Olive Branch is getting a new spot for pizza lovers! 3 Guys Pizza Pies is making its way to Wedgewood Commons, taking over the former Hollywood Feed space.
Known for loaded pizzas, calzones, stromboli, pasta, wings, sandwiches and more, 3 Guys Pizza Pies is bringing plenty of options for a casual family dinner, lunch with friends or a quick pizza night close to home.
Construction on the space started in July, and the restaurant is expected to open in the coming months. This marks the second DeSoto County location for 3 Guys, which also has a restaurant in Southaven.
Brian Strickland is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at brian.strickland@commercialappeal.com.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 12 new Memphis restaurants about to shake up the dining scene
