Ohh Memphis Cafe I have had a couple of "turnt" nights when it turns into a bar/club on the later side of the night, but never actually ate here until today! Well, sheesh I was missing out on some SERIOUS delicious comfort food! Memphis is located in Costa Mesa right across the street from the camp. Parking is limited so be prepared to valet for $3, park in residential or their own parking lot of about 8 spaces. Venue: Memphis definitely gives you a "hole in the wall" feel. Small and southern charming vibes all the way. Not classy by any means but definitely OC pricing. Food: bummed everyone got complimentary corn bread but us, so I'm dinging a star. However, food falls right at 5 stars. Mac n cheese is creamy and not over the top gluttonous. It's a perfect appetizer! We added bacon and that cost us $11.50. Oh man definitely the best place to come for fried buttermilk chicken. The gravy, mashed potatoes and collard beans complimented each other so well within this dish. Definitely 5/5 and worth the $17.50 by all means! The fried catfish was also delicious for $18.50. Came with hush puppies and gumbo rice on the side, yum! We also did the cobbler. It was warm and tasted flavorful for a dessert. We enjoyed it for $7. Service was decent. Not impressive, but not terrible either. Just straight to the point of getting the order and completing the bill. No complaints though. Overall, food was impressive and will definitely be back for brunch!! read more

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The food is absolutely amazing!!! And the drinks did not disappoint. I had the eggs benedict, and I was in love...it was so delicious. I will be returning. read more

Best southern food! Go for the crab cakes and fried chicken. Delicious! Cool vibe and excellent family style service.

Excellent service, multiple areas for seating. I had the Southern Eggs Benedict which was good. My friend had chilaquiles which she rated 8/10. We each thought our food needed salt and pepper. Otherwise, it was all very good and we would come back. read more

Great Chow And Great Service ALWAYS! Been Going There for Over 23 Years! STELLAR! ManyThanx Henry & Cindy read more

I always feel so conflicted when it comes to Memphis, because I love the food, but the bartender(the guy with the black hat) that's always there leaves something to be desired. He's pretty awful to be frank, he doesn't acknowledge you when you sit down, and is very off putting. I've dined in a couple of times at the bar top, and it's always the same experience. I think if I attempt to go again, I might just try sitting in the restaurant, and not the bar top.... read more

Good place for brunch. Easy to make reservations, but man oh man, parking during brunch is rough. Had a table outside for a party of 7 on the covered patio with plenty of fans. I would say definitely not the fanciest place with regards to esthetics (concrete-y, minimal decor) but easy for groups. What attracted me to this place was that they have all the brunch classics with a southern twist: Breakfast burrito Shrimp po' boy with salad (hooray NOLA!) Chilaquiles Stuffed French toast (definitely recommend!) Build your own omelet (for those that enjoy a little wiggle room) Everyone was happy with their order. Love that they serve nitro coffee. Overall a good place to have a casual get-together with friends. read more

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My husband was adamant: we needed a hearty breakfast before driving the remaining 45 miles to give my motorcycle to a friend. We had no idea what was nearby, of course, so we did our usual Yelp search while lounging in our hotel bed. I knew before I even shared Memphis Cafe's menu that he'd want to stop here, so stop here we did. It was a Saturday morning, and your two parking options are: the $3 valet service dominating the cafe's parking lot; or trying your luck at finding open street parking. The hubs was lucky in that the Harley could fit in most spaces on the street; he found a spot towards the end of the block while I drove back to the lot to pay for the valet. There was a short wait for a table, which wasn't terrible. It was very loud and dark inside - I think it went with the whole theme of the space, but it would've been nice to have had a bit more light while sitting down to eat. We were given a table for two under one of the windows (yay, a bit more lighting!) We ordered coffee and took our time with the menu. I can't ever say no to a Benedict, so I went with the Southern Eggs Benedict (served with a corned beef base). My husband ordered the fried catfish Po'Boy with a side salad, and we decided to share an order of the Gumbo Cheese Fries (we hadn't eaten dinner the night before, and we were starving, okay? Plus, I mean...how could you NOT be curious about Gumbo Cheese Fries?!) Our food came out faster than I'd expected, given the number of customers. Everything was piping hot, fresh and really delicious. For my meal, the eggs on the Benedict were perfectly poached, and the red pepper hollandaise was divine. My only gripes with the plate were that the corned beef was too tough to cut into, which meant that the precariously perched poached eggs toppled after the first cut. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it was definitely a challenge to get the corned beef into bite-sized pieces while maintaining the integrity of the Benedict itself. The other thing was that the flavor of the corned beef - while delicious - overpowered the eggs and hollandaise sauce. I actually left quite a bit of beef on my plate, preferring to consume the brioche and eggs, instead. The gumbo fries were good, but I was hoping for a lot more melty cheese. Their gumbo was rich and meaty, though, so I'd definitely go back and order a cup or bowl for a meal for sure. My husband was devouring his Po'Boy while I tackled my Benedict; he said the flavor on the fish was really good, that the batter didn't interfere with the flakiness of the fish. His dish was just as messy as mine but in a different way. Between the juicy fish, the mayo and the veggies, his plate was splattered with drippings. He did say that the salad was one of the best he's had, though I think it was mainly due to the homemade croutons. Our waitress was friendly, but not around a whole lot. She was busy with a bunch of other tables - including one large group - and we were pretty self-sufficient that day, so it was fine. She came by with the bill and processed our check quickly, which is all we really needed at that time. I can see why there's so much love for this spot. We'd come back the next time we're in the area. read more

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My niece and I were looking on yelp for a good place for lunch today. Memphis Cafe came up- the menu looked great. My niece checked google maps and it said they were closed. We called the number posted on yelp- and were happy to learn they were open for takeaway. As we drove there- we discussed where we might go to eat it. We were pleasantly surprised when we placed our order that we could sit in the outside patio table areas. This worked out perfectly. We found a picnic table with a large umbrella. My niece ordered the soul burger with sweet potato fries and the peach berry cobbler. She said her burger was cooked exactly how she ordered it. The fries were great- definitely worth getting again. I ordered the Memphis house salad and the Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were good- personally, I would have like them cut in quarters instead of 1/2. My salad was nice- I don't think I would order it again. I ordered it because I was looking for a healthy option- but it was a bit bland. The avocado was 2 think slivers. I would have liked more avocado and pecans. It was covered in tomato. They have a nice happy hour menu with several items not available on the regular menu. We plan to come back soon. Plenty of parking and nice environment. read more

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My STAR Ratings: S = Service, T = Taste, A = Ambiance, R = Rates (or Price) S: 5* The service at Memphis Cafe never very disappoints. We sat outside in the casual section as we brought our two small dogs. The waitress was very attentive, fired up the outdoor heater, brought our dogs a water bowl and was terrific with our orders. They even have a dog menu, we ordered the Snoop Doggy Hog side of bacon for our dogs. Was just a great experience. T: 5* We recently returned from a short trip to Oxford, Mississippi which has amazing southern food. Memphis Cafe was just as good, everything was fresh, perfect temperature and the Po Boy fried shrimp sandwich was great. Also you can never go wrong with breakfast served all day and the waffle and chicken dish was incredible. Have always enjoyed my meals at Memphis Cafe. A: 4* We like the layout of the restaurant with three different section and the vide does feel like a cool joint in Memphis which we have been to several times. R: 4* The prices are reasonable and you do get great portions of food. You must hit this place up and tonight (Tuesday) they were generally crowded but we didn't have to wait at all for a table. Enjoy! read more

This place is okay. It's changed so much over the years. So much so that I really left disappointed last time we were there. The menu options are limited. They even changed the drink menu this time. They serve breakfast all day now, I do think the breakfast is good but I felt like it made the place feel a little too relaxed and not as a special date night restaurant like is used to be . The food was meh...service was fine but overall very underwhelming. Sad because I loved this place and enjoyed double date nights of a fun gathering with friends. read more

Brunch with the wife. Such a great place. Staff attentive and food great. The staff recommended items and we weren't disappointed. Green chili grits are just so full of flavor and we even took some home. read more

I've been here for drinks before but not for breakfast. It was really good! I ordered the crawfish omelet and the flavor was very unique. The mimosa was excellent! This place is packed! Might be best to make reservations before coming, especially on the weekends. Customer service was great as well. Parking in tough but they have valet in the front so it's not a big deal. The music is loud, you will have to speak up and use your outdoor voices. It feels like a bar scene but you're eating breakfast. read more

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Some eat or drink. Good and fun. Catfish , and best hamburger or chicken burgers and salads . Happy hour Nashville chicken. I eat here at least 3x a week Yes it is good read more

Bittersweet that my last time sitting in a restaurant before COVID struck was at Memphis Cafe. It was our first time there and the food was incredible! We were hoping to come back soon because the aura was so unique inside too! We loved the happy hour menu and devoured some awesome apps, fried okra, gumbo cheese fries, fried chicken and waffles were to die for! Shoot we even ordered a chicken and waffle to go! I'm hoping that we get back to a normal life soon because Memphis Cafe is a place that I'd want to go back and be comforted with strong drinks, flavorful food, and a super chill vibe..the exact thing that we all need right now. read more

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This place didn't disappoint! Delicious chicken and waffles and they had Louisiana hot sauce to boot so you know they are legit! It was my first time having fried okra and I'm now a fan. My friend got the cat fish Po'boy sandwich and let me take a bite as I've never had catfish and it was delicious as well. I'll definitely be back! read more

Memphis Cafe - Chicken n waffles - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This review is definitely overdue, but as we all know life dictates our path. My daughter treated me to dinner for my birthday this past September, and surprised me by choosing one of her favorite restaurants...Memphis Café. Aside from the excellent food, one of the reasons it receives high ratings from me is because of the staff, especially Concho who's the manager. Sadly, too often good customer service seems to be a thing of the past. This is certainly not the case at Memphis Café. We received excellent service in the traditional southern style. If you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing this delightful restaurant do yourself a favor and treat yourself, family and friends as you won't be disappointed. read more

I work in Newport Beach/Irvine and didn't want to deal with the lunch hour rush typically found at Michelson, Fashion Island, or many of the other spots around JWA. I came in around 11:30 and ordered the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. The meal hit the spot just right and was exactly what I was looking for in terms of timing and avoiding a mid-week lunch crowd. Food quality and service were excellent. I definitely recommend Memphis Cafe. read more

Came here on a recommendation given to my partner in crime. Delightful place, it was just a tad warm to sit outside in the shaded patio area. Nonetheless, mocha was good and so was my Memphis two-egg breakfast. I ordered my eggs over-medium and am happy to report it came back just as I ordered! The hash that came with it probably needed salt, which I ended up not finishing. I ordered the French toast option with my meal and am thankful I did as it was all gobbled up! Applewood bacon was eaten up, too! I'll come back on a cooler day to try other breakfast/brunch things on the menu! read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Our server Heather was so nice and accommodating, she provided such good service! Thank you! read more

This place is pretty interesting. Not quite what I expected from the name and from the outside of the spot but nonetheless was good. Dimly lit spot with a variety of items are their menu. They played great music and the service was attentive. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collared greens and was able to try the barbecue pork and grits. So good. Also for appetizers, definitely go with the Mac and cheese and fried okra. Deliciousness. read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The best deviled eggs I've ever had and the meatloaf was amazing. Our sever was pretty awesome as well! I'll come back for sure read more

Memphis Cafe - The best deviled eggs and the meatloaf was amazing!!!! - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here for brunch and had a wonderful time! Food was great and service was good. They make a great Michelada!

Service was great on a Tuesday at 6 pm. Pork tacos I would give an 8! My husband had meatloaf. It lacked flavor and spices. Healthy portions. We also had Brussels sprouts but they were slightly dry. read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern tacos - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Absolutely scrumptious. Came during Covid so it was patio seating only. I can't wait to come back and experience this place fully open. Hands down the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. Amazing brussel sprouts. The burger is delicious with plenty of flavor and the fruit cobbler is superb. read more

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Stopped by today for lunch, nice weather but chose to dine indoors. Completely forgot to snap a pic before I devoured the bbq shrimp and grits. DEE LISH OUS. Beautiful presentation (have to take my word for it sorry). Perfect serving, didn't feel overwhelmed or thought about a to go container. Nice welcoming staff from the moment we stepped in to the moment we left. On to the food: green chili grits (I know! I was skeptical too) marinating in the most delicious bbq sauce surrounded by nice sized prawns that were also blessed by that bar be que sauce! Sitting on top of that!!! Fried okra (insert me slapping the table). OMG! I could've taken a dive into that but chose to use my fork instead. The first forkful...melted in my mouth! I'm not a fan of eggs so no egg please, husband had scrambled eggs instead of poached. I could go on and on but what good would that do? I'd want more, but I'll save some for you. Hurry on down! I doubt you could go wrong with anything off the menu. read more

Best breakfast I've had in a while - eggs and bacon extra crispy with chorizo burrito. Delicious green sauce. Nice vibe. Will be back to try happy hour 3 to 6. read more

Memphis Cafe - Eggs, bacon chorizo burrito - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been here numerous times. They are located around the corner of the Anti Mall. When you walk in, it seems like you're entering a bar. Yes there is a bar, but they have dining tables inside and a patio also outside. I really like their fried chicken on a bed of mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans. The gravy smothered on the mash is so good. This is comfort food. They also have a great meat loaf and a BLT sandwich. read more

I'm all about comfort food and this place won me over! Try sitting out in the patio if possible. The inside reminds me of the 70s, even though I wasn't alive then. We took advantage of the HH and were totally fat and happy afterward for a reasonable cost. We tried the mac and cheese, soul burger, gumbo fries, pork sliders and crispy shrimp tacos. They were all great and it was plenty of food to split between two people! read more

Memphis Cafe - 5 dishes from the HH menu - all for $40 including tax and tip! - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This divey bar cafe in Costa Mesa is widely known for its distinctive gourmet interpretation of Southern home-style cooking with signature dishes like gumbo, pulled pork sliders, buttermilk fried chicken and jambalaya prepared with naturally raised meats and poultry. Buttermilk fried chicken (6oz breast) with mashed potatoes, collard greens, country gravy, $14.50. Perfectly cooked fried chicken delicately seasoned, layered on top of creamy mashed potatoes and covered with andouille sausage country gravy and lightly salted collard greens. Flawless execution and hearty enough to warrant the price. Looks as great as it tastes too. Southern angus meatloaf topped with aged cheddar, barbecue, mashed potatoes, red wine gravy, green beans, $13.50. Their savory, well-seasoned meatloaf comes topped with melted aged cheddar cheese and accompanied with mash potatoes and red wine gravy and blanched green beans. The barbecue glaze is a mixture of sweet, smoky and tart. The loaf was baked just right: moist and easily cut through with a fork alone. Another delicious, recommended dish. Down home gumbo includes smoked chicken, chicken andouille sausage, gulf prawn and steamed rice, $5.75 (cup)/$8.25 (bowl). The zesty gumbo, whether you get it in a cup or a larger soup bowl, is considered a small plate dish and comes with Memphis Cafe's famous corn bread. The spicy level could be tempered to suit your palates and tolerance. A great option if you want something fast and not too heavy. The Memphis Cafe has a number of delicious small plates, large plates, soups, salads and a great breakfast menu. An excellent choice for brunch, lunch and dinner. Look for their daily specials and happy hour choices. I only tried a small handful of their popular dishes but the buttermilk fried chicken alone is worthy of giving them five stars and the others are nearly as flawless in depth of execution and taste. Recommended. read more

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Yes , if anything go to this cafe and get the Buttermilk chicken with gravy with the mashed potatoes. I not a big fan of collard greens so i ask for the extra mash. But this is the winner , i cannot find anything in NorCal or on the western part of the U.S that comes close to this recipe. It is #1 at Memphis Cafe Costa Mesa . read more

Memphis Cafe - Buttermilk Fried Chicken , mashed potatoes with country gravy . - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Really great food! Came here for a company lunch and loved it :) great drinks, lots of options for alcohol, friendly staff, and great location! Eager to bring my friends back here. read more

Been coming here for the past 15 years. It is my GO TO for great drinks and amazing food. Staff is fun, hip and friendly. If Gabe is bartending, make sure to get the berry margarita! read more

The Gumbo is the best I have had on the West Coast hands down. The vibe of the soot is great, kinda shabby sheik. Our server was super friendly and attentive. I don't know how I hadn't discovered this spot before. I will be back. read more

I used to come here a lot and the breakfast was great. Not this time. The service was stellar, but I was really disappointed with my breakfast. Two eggs over easy, bacon and potatoes. The eggs were good, but the bacon was not chewable. Rubber. IDK if the bacon was leftover from the day before or microwaved or both. The potatoes were described as potato pancake style with peppers by the server, but came out looking (and tasting) like someone took a fork and hacked away at a tasteless clump of very dry leftover baked potato. No peppers to be found, but two tiny little pieces of scallion. Also... no fruit or toast included. Have to pay extra. I was going to say something, but It seemed as if it were their breakfast norm these days There were only three other tables, including the patio, while were were there. It appears from the reviews that cocktails and dinners are more their jam. read more

Got the fried chicken & y'all hands down best meal I've had in my life! & that's not exaggeration in the slightest. Also the French fries in my top 3 of all time restaurant looks great staff is amazing! Our server Nancy has THE best customer service & personality & smile 10/10 (go check them out!) read more

Memphis Cafe - Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffles, Matchstick Fries, Collard Greens, Mashed Potatoes, & Double Chocolate Cake - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I ordered for first time as pick up order. Service was excellent. The restaurant called to let me know the biscuits and gravy were not available and refunded me and asked if I needed anything else. The ambiance is cool. It has the local area vibe and speaks to the rock a belly and hipster like culture of Costa Mesa. The food was just okay. Don't get me wrong it's clean food meaning no sloppy greasy food here! And I can tell they use quality ingredients. I just didn't taste any flavor. The sauces for my chicken fingers were runny and I didn't find them to taste fresh. I had a ranch and an aioli sauce. The fries were a similar cut to In and Out. Nothing to say I love their fries! Nope. The chicken fingers were pieces of breaded chicken cut up into small pieces. No flavor. But the food didn't have grease on it and it was better quality chicken. Not frozen crappy chicken from a bag. So I will give them a thumbs up for this. I would rather eat bland food minus the grease and salt. The blue corn chicken salad was nothing special. I probably won't order it again. I will go back and try the chicken and waffles. Maybe they will have biscuits and gravy at some point too. Parking is good here! They have a nice big lot and there is street parking. And a really nice bar and big patio to sit outside. read more

Place is so cool. Good tunes (a Sunday Brunch DJ!), good eats, good atmosphere. Inside is dark and cramped. Weather permitting, the patio is best for brunch. Had a hard time deciding, but I LOVED my Crawfish Etouffee Omelette with Hoppin' John on the side. Wife liked her Gumbo and 1/2 Shrimp Po' Boy combo. Fair prices. $5 Bloody Marys were tasty and stiff enough. What more could you want? I really need to find a way to eat Cajun food more often. I contend it's the best type of American cuisine! read more

Memphis Cafe - Wonderful Crawfish Etouffee Omelette with Hoppin John on the side. - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I was in the mood for some brunch and decided to check this place out. On our arrival, it was completely empty but some people were sitting outside in the patio area. Plus the fact it was super dark and thee was like no light inside. It was nice day so we decided to sit out there as well. Bad choice as there were flies and nothing keeping them away and it smelled like urine. BIG THUMBS DOWN. It took us awhile to be able to order but we ended up getting the chicken and waffles ($14.95) and southern egg benefit ($14.50). The portions were a decent size and the quality of the food was good, but not amazing. Service was okay, I can't say it was bad but it wasn't great either. I think the biggest downfall was the smell of the patio and it just didn't feel super clean. Seating, air, utensils, flies flying around. Kinda really made us want to quickly eat our food and head out as soon as possible. Overall - May want to try this place again but it won't be on the top of my list. They seem to have daily specials I may wanna check out. read more

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Delish food. Excellent service. Not tooo $$. Been going for years and always pleased w tastes and textures.