Skip the deviled eggs.. too much vinegar (and who uses that in deviled eggs?) the patio is a cool spot. Chicken and waffles were great. Wait staff is friendly and attentive. Loved the vibe and will be back! read more

We went for breakfast on Easter morning and thought it might be difficult to seat 8 but they made room for us right away on the back patio. Service was excellent, very attentive and enthusiastic throughout. Started with mochas and hot chocolates, which were both very nice and rich. Mocha was better with an extra shot of espresso; though all could have been served hotter in our opinion. Appetizer was potato cakes which everyone really enjoyed. For breakfast, our group had blt, gumbo, chicken and waffles, burritos, and stuffed French toast. The chicken was excellent as expected, waffles were nicely done and crunchy, stuffed French toast (with apples) was really good & the vanilla cream cheese was amazing. Burritos weren't so great as fillings weren't mixed well (big section of potatoes, than section of meat, etc.). Gumbo was okay but nothing to get excited about. Overall, everyone was really happy with the food and drinks and the service was outstanding. read more

This was my first time here... the food was pretty good. I had the memphis house salad which is candied pecans, avocado, jicama, scallions, basil & tomato, sherry vinaigrette, southern crab cakes, sea bass, fried catfish, and also their bread pudding dessert. Of course I had better salads, but everything else was delicious. And I love the complimentary cornbread that they give before the meal! :) read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Story: Came here for SOBECA's monthly art walk, we got a bit hungry so we went here to eat. Food: Buttermilk Fried Chicken- served with mashed potatoes, collard greens, andouille country gravy this was very memorable. The fried chicken was crispy and flavored with spices, a bit smaller than I expected but it was packed with flavor. The mashed potatoes, collard greens, and gravy complimented the chicken well. Balanced with favorable gravy and mashed potatoes and a authentic collard greens makes me feel like this is authentic southern food. Ambiance: You have the option of sitting outside or inside. Outside provides more lighting and more space. Inside provides a more inside, dim, cozy, intimate setting, and provides a television. Not really for a large group, maybe 6 at most. Customer Service The workers were assertive with follow ups, knowledgable on the menu, and quick with the food. Service like that are reasons why I would come back. Overall: I give this restaurant 4.5 stars. My only dock would be the price. Delicious food but pretty pricey. I would look into their happy hours and daily deals next time I come here. read more

This place is right by my gym, and so after a workout, my friends and I come here to make up for all the calories we just lost :D. We usually go during Happy Hour, and they have a good selection of specials. The drinks are so-so for what they cost. The food items are rather tasty, and some items, like the Duck Quesadilla, are just plain good :). The drawback though? The portions are kind of small... so if you're really hungry you might be ordering multiple dishes. read more

Memphis Cafe - Duck Quesadilla - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Wow!!!!! I loved the gumbo and the chilequeiae it was soooo delicious this is a must try I'm so glad I founded this place after work. Eric at the Bar told me how good the gumbo was and wow he was so right. read more

Memphis Cafe - This Gumbo is So good - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Staff is great and fried chicken sandwich is delicious. The specials are a great deal. Outdoor seating is great with heaters. Inside is retro and has cool vibes. read more

Food was great! We loved it! Definitely going back! The menu was very unique, and we were very impressed with what we ordered and the service! read more

This is actually my second time here! I would put in a reservation (easily done through the yelp app) and they'll send you a notification that you can confirm. Second impression?¿: There's an inside and outside area. The inside area is small and cramped, which is why I recommend that when you put in a reservation, you request to be seated outside. Outside, it's really light and airy, so try to get a seat outside if you can! Menu: Their menu is driven by southern influences. It has a wide variety, forgot to get a pic :( Food // Drinks: - Southern Eggs Benedict: Bf ordered this! It's the second time he's had this, and trying some, it's delicious! On top of the potato hash, the grilled brioche has a thicccc slice of corned beef on top of it with two poached eggs generously drizzled with some red pepper hollandaise sauce. Everything complimented each other quite nicely. - Green Chili Chilaquiles: I really enjoyed the flavor of the smoked chicken with the queso fresco, but what I didn't like about this dish was that the blue/white corn tortilla chips were soggy. The flavor was still there, but after about 5 minutes the chips were just mush. - Hibiscus: Bf ordered, but I didn't try it. He said it was just okay, and mainly tasted like cranberry juice and not hibiscus. - Greyhound: The taste of the grapefruit was really subtle, but I enjoyed the amount of alcohol (of course) that was in it for such a small drink. Stir before you drink!! Service: It was alright, our server was attentive when needed, but nothing stood out. Overall: This is a solid brunch place to go to! You can really taste the flavor of the food here. Make a reservation on the app, request outside seating, enjoy! read more

Memphis Cafe - Top: Southern Eggs Benedict ($14.50) with Hibiscus ($5) Bottom: Green Chili Chilaquiles ($14.25) with Greyhound ($6) - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here for Saturday brunch with my wife and baby. Parking was easy and they let us in without a reservation. Nice outdoor, covered patio. We all enjoyed our food, including the shrimp and grits and southern eggs benedict. The place doesn't look very clean but the atmosphere is nice and casual. read more

The food was deliciously tasty and portions were perfect. Enjoyed the outdoor dining experience and was thankful that they had outdoor heaters. Staff was friendly and helpful. Can't wait to visit to try some different meals from the menu!! read more

From the inside and out, the restaurant owner feels like the art director of peewee's playhouse. The red velvet on the inside and the weird, odd-angled windows gave me that vibe. Either way, its like I time traveled back to 1992 here. I ordered chicken and waffles, with a bowl of fruit, and I added a piece of bacon, sausage, and avocados a la carte. What stand out to me is the flavor and crispness of the batter. The waffle had some. Rips to it, which is the way I like it. I should have asked for the mushroom gravy in the side, but it was still good on top. The gravy was creamy and had a low robust flavor. It's not fair to review the fruit in California, cause all of the locally grown fruit is amazing. The piece of bacon was crispy and had nice fatty, porky taste. The sausage had a nice print taste as well. This is a great local spot for some good, southern breakfast. When I'm back in the area, this is a place I would go back to. read more

I literally love this place. Just a classic joint. Great food, good beer, fun times. read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Small inside area but has great seating outside. Food was always been on point. My wife and I will continue to have brunch and dinner here.

Memphis Café is a Jewel of Costa Mesa. Great food great ambience, great spot chefs are great bartenders. Awesome. The owner treat you like a friend. read more

Been here 4 times now and I think it's getting worse and worse. The peach cobbler smelled and tasted like body odor. Took one bite and had to thRow it away. Asked for well done burgers and got very pink Meat. I was excited for the free cornbread but it was so dry it was hard to swallow and just crumbled everywhere. This place is a hit or miss and tonight was definitely a miss :( read more

Memphis Cafe - Asked for well done and got this. - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Have you ever walked into a dive bar and thought wow, it's so homey in here. That's exactly what it feels like coming to Memphis Cafe. I've lived across the OC Fairgrounds for awhile now and always drive past this on my way to Mitsuwa, but I have never noticed this place. So glad I had the opportunity to swing by. I made a reservation on Yelp and walked in without any wait or issues. Got seated and the waitress came to take our drink orders. Came back to drop off the drinks and then took the rest of the order. The food took awhile to get to us, at least 30 minutes, but when it came to grub, everything was pretty damn good. We didn't see our waitress again until we asked for the check, but that's how this place works I guess, as efficient as possible. Tried the chicken waffles which was good, but chicken was on the drier sad. Shrimp frittata which was like a crustless quiche/baked omelet, very nice. Best thing we had was probably the caramelized apple french toast with vanilla cream cheese. I'd go back just for that. Parking was hectic since it's a public street or you can sneek in at the lab's lot right next to the cafe. read more

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Good service; great food. Husband had eggs Benedict with corned beef; my gumbo and green chile grits were delicious. We'll be back!

Super friendly and efficient service. Went here for dinner on the way home to san diego. Was craving some southern food and this place did not disappoint! Fried okra was the Best I ever had, deviled eggs were good, meatloat was seasoned and cooked to perfection and how can you beat the Sunday BBQ special??? Kid friendly Patio seating A little dark in the main dining area but that may just be me. I like super well lit restaurants. Patio seating was better lit. Will definately be coming back when in the area again read more

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This review is a little late but a lot of things happened between our visit and now. Still, better late than never because, this place deserves the 5 stars. I wanted some comfort food for my birthday so this came up as a recommendation. We got the fried okra which was okay, but I'll skip the next time. The buttermilk fried chicken and waffles though, was outstanding. It was boneless so I was skeptical about it, but it was so so good. The country gravy that accompanied it, oh my, I was a fan. There's so many more items on the menu I want to try so so look forward to coming back many times. Here's wishing them all the success ! read more

I drive m her from LA for the chicken and waffles . Before COVID the e would dine indoor and have a great brunch . They have made a huge change in the way they do business but the food is still the bomb . I do not mind the drive and having to sit out side in a picking area . read more

I loved going to Brunch at Memphis when it was in DTSA, so I was bummed when that location closed. We came for Brunch and we didn't have to wait at all for a table. I was surprised because this is a small location. I had the crawfish etoufee omelette and I really liked it. It was flavored well and wasn't too spicy. Definitely a dish I'd order again. The service was good, but it took a long time for our food to come out. I hope there was just a delay in the kitchen and that's not how long it normally takes for food to come out of the kitchen. All in all, I'd go back. Plus, there are really cool shops and bars nearby. Ya know, to walk it off after. read more

Food is superb. Servers are friendly. There's a special each weeknight for a good price.

I am not too familiar with OC, so I happened to have stumbled upon this place after searching for a brunch place in OC. Let me tell you that I enjoyed this place! My main dish was the Southern Benedict, but I opted to go with the pulled pork instead of corned beef. I have quite the bennadiction as I tend to order different variations of Eggs Benedict as often as I can. The eggs for the benny were perfectly poached. Instead of serving the eggs on a muffin, Memphis Café serves them on top of hash brown cakes which was a great concept within itself. The pulled pork was very tender and had that good sweet bbq flavor to it. Overall the dish itself was pretty outstanding. The one thing I did not enjoy though, was that part of the hash brown cakes was not cooked like I enjoyed it. I took a bite into one part and the texture of the potato was in between the raw and half boiled consistency in texture, which was a big ehhh to me. Friend and I decided to split the chicken and waffles. The chicken and waffles consisted of tender chicken tenders smothered in country gravy served with two waffle pieces. I wish the served whole waffles instead though. I also tried the friend's Chilaquiles which were smothered in green salsa and served with queso fresca and some shredded chicken and beans. Flavor was amazing! I based the majority of this review based off of my main dish. It came out beautiful and had the right combination of flavors! Will I go here again? Yes! read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Staff is friendly. Our entrees were delicious. Only disappointment was that biscuits and gravy were not on special.

Memphis Cafe. Wow. Truly thank you for showing me what I had lacked before. I came back to Memphis Cafe with the same coworkers and this time, we were all sat inside fairly quickly. The server who approached us, ( I really can't recall her name, but she was a petite, Hispanic, super adorable, glasses wearing girl.) We were able to order drinks right away & they came out super fast. We were all also so pleasantly surprised to find out our straws were made from recycled plastic. Hooray! She even brought out a slice of cornbread for us as a complimentary appetizer. I was super shocked. Maybe this is a newly implemented rule, but I sure did not receive this kind of friendly service the first time I came here. My coworkers ordered .... 1. Bowl of Gumbo & the Poboy sandwich. 2. Bowl of Gumbo & toast 3. The Southern Angus Meatloaf 4. The Bacon Cheddar Burger with a side salad & I? I know I said I would try other things, but I'm such a terrible creature of habit. I ordered the salad soup lunch combo with a house salad ( dressing on side ) & the gumbo ( I wanted to try it again just in case the prior time I had come, the cook had just had an off day? ) I also ordered a side of the fried okra. My coworkers munched on their meals with such voracity, such fervor, I knew they loved what they had ordered. This time around, I loved the taste of the gumbo. I did add end up adding a whole ton of pepper as well as the hot sauce. The side salad again, pleasantly thrown spring mix, with candied walnuts, avocado, & cranberries. My coworkers and I had such a pleasant time, I'm sure we were the loudest bunch in the restaurant! ( I'm so sorry Memphis Cafe & anyone else's lunch we caused a damper on!! ) This time around, I can say, Memphis Cafe & the server who was so amazing to us, thank you so much for the experience. My coworkers and I all agreed we must put this one in our lunch rotations! read more

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Great food and service. My entire family enjoyed themselves. Will absolutely be back. Don't skip the gumbo.

I normally don't post a disappointment in a restaurant, being retired from that industry after 15 years. I know when a restaurant is merely having a bad day, and I can forgive that. That being said, I am now going to share my experience. I made reservations for 2 at 12:30 on a Saturday. I expected it to be busy and left home early. Just the same, they have extremely limited parking, and it took me 10 minutes to find a parking spot down the street at another business with a big and mostly empty parking lot.I met my friend outside and we requested indoor dining due to it being cool outside. I dislike cold food. We were sat at a 2 top close to the entrance. We were greeted by our server, who was pleasant. We ordered drinks, and when they were served we ordered our meals. A few minutes later my friend asked where the restroom was located. She was told that the restrooms were out of order and that she would have to go next door. It was no short walk. She had to negotiate around the buildings to find it. It was at the very end of the spillover parking lot, which as I said was full. Meanwhile, as I was waiting for my friend's return, our food was served. But, and it is a great BIG BUT, there was no place settings at the table. I had to ask for them. The server came back to the table, MINUTES later, with our cutlery and proceeded to tell us that it had just come out of the dishwasher. They had run out of cutlery, and still served our food. I was not happy. By this time my friend had returned. We discussed leaving, but we were on time constraints, and decided to stay. While we were eating, an employee was mopping up water that had been leaking from a toilet. The very last thing I wish to say is how under seasoned my Chileqilles were. Absolutely zero flavor of chilles in the sauce. Needed at least salt and pepper. Reached for the shakers, and they were sticky.The pepper shaker was empty. So, that's what happened. Going there never again. read more

Amazing, fluffy pancakes. I stayed in Hilton nearby. But the Hilton had breakfast only till 10:30am (Saturday) This place has Brunch till 3pm ! read more

Memphis Cafe - Buttermilk Pancakes with side of berries and side of Greek yogurt - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

All my ex's live in Texas that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee. I don't know where I was going with that intro but when I heard chicken and waffles at Memphis Cafe the answer is Yes I want to try it. I was excited to try this place based on a recommendation I got from a southern cooking expert. My first impression was this is a perfect little Sunday brunch place. The parking lot is tricky but it works because I think all the guest found parking. I went on a Thursday afternoon my group found the last parking space. The chicken and waffles did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the gravy on top of the buttermilk fried chicken. I am sold! The waffles we're just okay, but I want to come back for the Nashville style spicy chicken next time. My friend ordered the meatloaf which looked bomb. The desserts looked homemade also. I enjoyed my experience but didn't want to go back to work after the food coma. I will be back when I can take my time and not have to rush back to the office. FYI my lunch ended up being about an hour and half including a short drive. So it may not work for most lunch periods. read more

Sunday night ribs special, $10 including the ribs, mashed potatoes and veggie hits the spot. We went in for their fabulous meatloaf, which is the special on Monday nights and fabulous, and ended up catching another great special with their tasty ribs. Jackie our server was great, quick, made a few requested changes and we felt like family there. Great food and a really fun funky down south style atmosphere. read more

Memphis Cafe never disappoints. My wife and I have been dining here for about five years. When we have people visit from out of town, Memphis is the place we take them. The southern fried chicken is the best you'll ever eat, not only in Southern California but anywhere in the South. Being from Dixie I ought to know. The catfish, hush puppies, greens, and grits will make you think you're in Dixie without having to travel there. Don't be fooled by the non-pretentious building, baby it's Memphis. read more

I love coming here for breakfast. Amazing service, great portions and smoooooth coffee! Highly recommend !

First meal of 2020! I had a brunch date here a few days ago and was a little skeptical. I've driven past this place for years but never new it was a restaurant. From the exterior, I assumed it was just a bar. I came to Memphis a few day's ago on a brunch date and I was pleasantly surprised and pleased. And yes, the date was nice too. So let me tell you what I really like about this cafe. First off, I love this place cause it really is unexpected. There is a certain hum or vibe from both the patrons and the staff. It's small inside but has ample seating on the patio. I love that it's not real bright inside which give a very intimate feeling. You can see the patrons cozied up to each other at their tables inside engaging in smiles and conversations. There is a different vibe on the enclosed patio which is. Right and airy. Now the food is well worth the visit alone. Just look at my pic and you'll see why. Prices are perfect for both the food and the ambiance and anyone who thinks differently may just be out of their minds. Lol... I highly recommend this place. They offer valet parking cause they can get busy... that says something about this little gem. Memphis and Staff... you have made me a fan! read more

Memphis Cafe - 2 egg breakfast with a side of French toast. Lots if food here! Sausage is to die for. Yum! - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Very friendly staff. The food was very good and the portions are very generous., even the kids menu portions are pretty big. This is a doggy friendly place. read more

Memphis Cafe - Memphis Manhattan Classic - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Amazing staff and great food. First trip but won't be the last. Have been avoiding going out to eat during COVID-19 but feel very safe here and will be back read more

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Yelp is usually accurate 8 out of 10 times. Memphis is one of my all time favorite Yelp recommendations. Went for breakfast with my wife and I really wanted to try the fried chicken and waffles. I was worried it would be too much food. I took the risk and I'm glad I did. A perfect piece of buttermilk fried chicken with a light gravy. Two eggs and a half a disk of waffles with warm syrup. I have not had a better breakfast in months. Five stars for food and for service - super friendly and attentive. Please don't let the unassuming outside keep you away. Very comfortable and quaint on the inside. We live in Chicago, but will go to Memphis for breakfast if we visit again. read more

I don't live in the area, but visit the OC when I meet up halfway with a couple of other friends to meet up with a friend who lives further North. A friend who frequents the area suggested this place, and I'm so glad she did! I didn't look at the menu before going, so I was surprised that it was Southern cuisine (I know it should've been obvious from the name of the place). The place itself too, diner-ish feeling, didn't really give me the sense it was going to be Southern comfort food with a twist. I had so much food here, and it was all equally delicious. The highlights were definitely the green chili grits, and anything that includes their fried chicken. Their adult beverages were also really tasty! The staff is super friendly, and the overall vibe is great! Will definitely come back here again. read more

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They've got great outdoor seating (plenty of shade and tables), and the place is quite clean. They do really good renditions of southern favorites and the portions are decent. We came in because we were craving shrimp and grits, boy were we satisfied. Will be coming here again to try other dishes! read more

Memphis Cafe - Barbecued Shrimp & Green Chili Grits - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Was trying to find a good place for Sunday brunch that didn't have an outrageous wait and didn't break the bank. Memphis fit the bill perfectly for that. We went just before 1 pm and were, luckily, seated immediately. We chose to eat outside - inside was too dark and too loud. Outside was nice. I ordered the chicken and waffles with two over easy eggs - delicious! The chicken was really damned good. It was soft and melted perfectly amongst the drippy egg. I did find the waffle a bit hollow and crunchy (I prefer thick, cakey Belgium style), which is the only thing that kept this meal from being a 5 star. Okay, and the price was a bit much, but for the overall quality of the meal, I can't really complain too much in that regard. Partner got the stuffed french toast with cinnamon apples (held back on the hazelnuts due to allergies), and while we both agreed it was pretty good, we both thought it could use a good bit more filling. I think the bread could have stood to be a tad thicker too, but that ultimately just comes down to personal preference, so. While this place wasn't "off the charts" good, we both left full and pleased. We would not be opposed to coming again in the future. read more

Memphis Cafe - Chicken smothered in sausage and country gravy along with a side of waffles and two eggs of your choice (I got over easy). - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California