This is my new favorite breakfast place It's very unassuming when you drive up but when you get inside and taste the food your taste buds will thank you. I always order their famous Shrimp and green cilantro and Serrano infused grits with bbq shrimp poached egg and fried okra on top and I enjoy it with a Bloody Mary or sometimes I will get an Espresso Martini. Anyone who hasn't eaten here must try it. I guarantee you'll thank me. Just do it read more

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What a cute breakfast spot! Ok you 100% have to get the chicken and waffles! I'm telling you it's SO YUM! I recommend sharing if you're not very hungry. The workers are so nice and sweet. 100% coming back here. Also, the Lab Anti-Mall is so fun to walk around once you finish your breakfast. This place did not disappoint. read more

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Great food and fun atmosphere -best gumbo in Orange County and chicken and shrimp and more

A small restaurant with some limited parking next to the anti-mall in Costa Mesa. The restaurant is small but clean and well kept. The service is about average. For a small place and a lot of staff they aren't in any hurry too check on you. The food pricing is actually very reasonable. The food itself was kind of middle of the road. Heavy on salt and the sandwiches were very dry. Didn't hate it but certainly didn't love it. No plans to return read more

Even on a weekday, this place is busy! I tried their fried chicken plate, and subbed the collard greens for extra mashed potatoes. The dish was incredible. It came out really hot, and the chicken was perfectly crispy - it was so good! The sauce that came with the dish was a white gravy, which was new to me; it was so good and completely elevated the mashed potatoes. Their parking lot is on the smaller side, and it can be tough to find a spot to park on the side streets because the restaurant is right behind the Anti-Mall. Restaurant visitors are not allowed to part in the Anti-Mall parking lot. They have a really nice outdoor area with seating both in the shade and in the sun. Great service as well! read more

Memphis Cafe - Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great food, curtious service, and nice presentation. Parking was a problem. But the cafe was well worth the effort. read more

This was our 2nd visit to this restaurant. The first visit was amazing food was sooo good. But last night dinner was horrible!!! I ordered a burger told my waitress I wanted it cooked with little to no pink. When I received it it was drowning in aioli sauce, sent it back. The next burger I received was practically raw the meat was soo pink and it was cold. Told our waitress she was soo rude. Needless to say she received a zero on her tip. Will never go back. read more

What a great restaurant. I'll definitely be back:-) yummy food, pleasant atmosphere and good service

I was completely deceived by the photos of this place, thinking it would be rundown and average at best. But I had so much fun vibing here to the music and beautiful outdoor patio. The food though - HEAVEN. Forget Bruxies or any other brunch place; this place knows chicken and waffles, and all things southern. Nothing dry or overcooked, very flavorful and perfectly seasoned. It's a perfect place to enjoy sunny California and good brunch with friends! read more

Memphis Cafe - Chicken and Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffles - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love coming here to eat, the food is always amazing, the drinks are equally good and the vibe and service is always great. Nancy and Johnny just make the whole dining experience so much enjoyable. This place is highly recommended if you're around the area, especially if you're looking for a place to just chill and relax. read more

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My friend and I were in the mood for some southern comfort food. The place was smaller than I expected but it was nice and cute inside. I ordered the devil eggs and it was okay. I also ordered buttermilk fried chicken and it was delicious. Crispy and moist. The collard greens were good too. My friend had the fried catfish. He said it was okay but he felt it was overcooked/fried same with the side order of fried okra. Service was good and the timing of our order was surprisingly fast. It was busy. Will come back next time for cocktails and tryout their other items. read more

Good food and nice service. Food comes out quick and it's a good place for a but heavy brunch. read more

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I've only been here for breakfast but it was so delicious! The service is quick and the workers are friendly. You can sit inside or outside but there is more seating outside. There's plenty of parking too since there's parking there for just the restaurant. There's also cute shops right next to it to explore before or after eating. read more

The service was great, the food was good! The Bloody Mary was excellent! Friday at 1:00 and we were seated right way. read more

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The Memphis Cafe was spot on! The service was outstanding, the food was hot, fresh and delicious! We had the Thursday evening special, roast-beef! Our hostess, and waitress were awesome. I recommend this cafe for a great date, if you like good food and service. Thank You Memphis cafe to the start of a great evening, before attending "Shen-Yun" at the Segerstrom Hall. I will be back! Mac read more

Just so happen to spot this place across the street from the store 2nd Street. It did not disappoint. Love the bluesy fill inside with music playing , such a vibe. Outside was open a covered spacious enough , but you still could hear your other guests but not overwhelming. Food was flavorful nice big portions, tastes great! Our server was pleasant and kind. read more

Great food choices and went for breakfast. Coffee was excellent. Server was very good and helped a ton with the menu. Had eggs with fruit and eggs were perfect and fruit very fresh. The 3 other people I was with very much enjoyed what they ordered. They are known for bbq and will have to go back and try. read more

Always a very fun brunch spot to go with our friends and Costa Mesa! Has a nice variety of Southern/mexican inspired brunch items. The gumbo and chilaquiles here are very solid. Always nice to go with a group of friends and enjoy--the staff are very friendly and nice too! read more

This place is so cool! Elvis would have loved the food and decor! Southern creative food. Some of the typical favorites like chicken and waffles, grits, okra, burgers, salads... something for everyone. 3 different areas to dine, the porch, backyard and inside the restaurant. Full bar! Good times, good food, good service! Take a walk on the wild side and come to Memphis! read more

Memphis Cafe - Green chili grits with an egg on top! - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I'm shocked I've never written a review here! I live down the street and it's a great option for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner or even late night (although I haven't attended for late night yet). Their breakfast menu is great and extensive and even the standard 2 eggs breakfast (my go-to) hit the spot. Their happy hour menu is decent and has some $6 drink options which is pretty darn good these days. I deducted a star because it doesn't have the best "vibe" if you're going for ambiance. It's small and dark and the patio is a little grungy. Decent local option but not top tier. read more

Had the biscuits and gravy and the eggs Benedict...fantastic! The service was quick and friendly. Will definitely be back! read more

Memphis Cafe - Biscuits and gravy...was too good to wait for a pic of the fresh dish! Lol! - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The food was very delicious. I ordered the fried chicken tacos and fried shrimp tacos. They were very filling and flavorfully delicious. I love the presentation of the colors. I love seeing colors in my food. Presentation was also excellent. I ordered a drink called the Memphis Manhattan. This drink was smooth, indulgent and very satisfying. So far, 10 out of 10 for my drinks and food. The only reason they are not getting five stars from me is because they made us wait for quite a long time just to come to our table for drinks and water. It was a bit of a long wait even for the food. However, when the drinks and the food arrived, my husband and I were very delighted. Cheers. read more

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Just like I was in Memphis Tennessee!!! But in our home town of Costa Mesa! Had the Hot Chicken, I've had hot chicken from the actual Tennessee (LOL) and it's a spitting image. Wait staff was great and very accommodating; server gave us plenty of original options and personal favorites. Can't wait to come back! read more

Food was excellent. But service was horrible. I had to beg multiple times for refills. Waitress was busy hanging with a friend at the bar sharing pictures on her phone. We mentioned to manager that service was not good and she said ok. This is a service announcement for the owner. Updating my experience after being asked to comeback and try again. This time the service was top notch. Food of course was excellent. Thanks for listening. Would go back again read more

Came for happy hour. Fun vibe, decent gumbo, yummy brussel sprouts, and strong drinks. Not super cheap HH beverages but if I lived here I'd definitely come back and try some more things! read more

Another yummy dinner at Memphis - servers were great all night, including when we had totally overstayed our welcome. I had the special Halibut on risotto - it was perfect. I also had an old-fashioned - Memphis's bar is always on point!! Delicious cocktails, so well-balanced. read more

Memphis Cafe - Halibut on risotto - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came by on a random weekday for brunch. Loved that they have an outdoor patio space (with ample seatings and heater) and its own parking lot on site. Service is great- very attentive and has very chill vibes. I got the breakfast burrito with bacon- it didn't wow me but it was still quite tasty and with great flavors. Apparently they also have happy hour here! Also they are known for their chicken and waffle. I'd come back to try other things for sure. Would recommend! read more

Memphis Cafe - Menu (March 2023) - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I went here for my first restaurant post partum. I ordered 2 drinks and decided to order a 3rd... My friend was also there with her baby and had 3 drinks. We were there for over 2 hours and had multiple waters, appetizers, and a full meal. We walked there and our babies were sleeping, not causing a fuss. A man who I believe was maybe the manager came and told us he was concerned about our drinking and he would not serve us more. The woman next to us had 3 drinks and no one muttered a word to her. I am absolutely embarrassed and disgusted. I didn't even drink my cocktail I paid for because I was on the verge of crying. I've never felt more judged in my life. We also had auto gratuity...even though there were 4 of us (and 2 infants under 6 months). I'm just so bummed because we used to come here all the time and really liked it. We asked multiple times if our server needed us to close out, because it seemed like there was a shift change. I still don't know if that was the real issue. I already have post partum anxiety and this exasperated it immediately, thanks so much for making 2 new mothers feel incredibly judged. Feel free to reply to this if you'd like to explain yourselves, because I loved this restaurant and am so disappointed. I'd like to add our server Kiara was amazing and I specifically commented how amazing she was. read more

I came here on the recommendation of a good friend. She likes all kinds of food and knows what I like. I'm glad I took her word, this is the place! As soon as I walked in the door, I could tell I was in for something new. This place has a great vibe. Really laid back and friendly. Although the inside isn't big, the outside closed in patio was perfect. The seats against the wall were padded and comfortable, and if needed, heat lamps were at the ready. I started looking at the menu and immediately wanted everything! I knew I would be back. For now what you need to know, you can order the whole menu all day with a few marked exceptions. Onto lunch! I ended up ordering the Bacon wrapped shrimp in BBQ sauce. It was listed as a starter. I was VERY surprised at the plate that arrived. I started "poking" around at the rice because it's true, I'm a picky eater. I started eating around the red and green things (peppers) and found, to my delight, andoulette sausage. It wasn't too hot, so my tummy liked it, and it had some zip, so my tongue liked it. The rice, what my sister in Arkansas calls "dirty rice," was perfect. It had all kinds of surprises that I think you should experience for yourself. As for the shrimp wrapped bacon, there was more than bacon in the wrap: I'm pretty sure it was prosciutto. What a yummy surprise. Make sure you drive slow when you're trying to find this restaurant, or you'll drive right by it. Like I did. It's definitely worth the u-turn to find it. read more

Memphis Cafe - Bacon wrapped shrimp w/BBQ sauce - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Excellent food and service! Breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks, you can't go wrong here. Let's keep it a secret

Food: My fiancé and I decided to stop by this place on our trip to OC. We are from SC and we're craving some southern soul food and this place definitely filled our craving. My fiancé had their famous meatloaf and I had their fried catfish platter. Everything was so flavorful and seasoned to perfection! Their crafted cocktails were reasonably priced and delicious! Service: Our server was delightful. She was attentive and walked us through their menu since it was our first time eating there. Ambiance: This restaurant does have a smaller seating area but it gives it a cozy vibe in the evenings. The music selection was great and the decor in the restaurant reminded me of a hole in the wall jazz bar or speakeasy. We will definitely be back! read more

Memphis Cafe - Hostess table - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Holy cannoli this place is bomb, I hadn't had the chance to try it until now but since landing a new job just 3 miles away I figure I should try their Happy Hour (Tues-Friday 3-6) since it's too far otherwise. Speaking as a perpetual deal finder and foodie this place did NOT disappoint. Gravy fries was $6, gumbo was $7 and the chicken and waffles was $8. The waffle heckin buttery and there was a nice crisp on the chicken. Gravy wasn't too greasy and the gumbo had nice flavor without being too spicy. The fries were a little bit lukewarm but with warm gravy on top and at 6 fricken bucks I hardly cared. This place is small (only about 10 tables and an L shaped bar) and parking is limited so avoid lunch/dinner rushes since parking will be a bear. HIGHLY recommend! read more

Memphis Cafe - Gravy fries, chicken and waffles and gumbo - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Enjoyable breakfast with a nod to the south. Staff was attentive. Food was very good. I would definitely return.

I love Memphis Cafe!! We have been many times. Always a fun experience! The food is so good! Love the Ambiance! My server Karina was so attentive. We will definitely keep coming back. read more

Memphis Cafe absolutely nailed it with their incredible comfort food--this place was soooo good! I had the shrimp and grits, and let me just say...it was "slap yo' mamma" good! The dish was perfection, with prawns, poached eggs, red eye gravy, and crispy fried okra. The prawns were cooked beautifully, and the crispy fried okra on top added the perfect texture. Every flavor in this dish was spot on, and I loved every bite. My husband had the brioche, grilled corned beef, crispy potato cakes, poached eggs, and chipotle hollandaise, but since we're pescatarian, he swapped the corned beef for fried catfish (for a small upcharge). The substitution worked perfectly, and he devoured the dish in what felt like 60 seconds - it was that good! We also ordered a buttermilk pancake for the table, and I'm so glad we did. I love a proper buttermilk pancake, and this one hit all the marks: light, fluffy, and with the perfect taste of buttermilk. We loved the staff, too! They were so hospitable and sweet. Memphis Cafe was so amazing that we're planning to add it to our rotation for trips home from Palm Springs to LA. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

We'd passed this place for years but it was never on my radar -- thought it was a dive bar. In search of a dinner venue in the area, my curiosity was piqued upon seeing the menu, pictures, and reviews (on Yelp, of course). So glad we popped in to this retro diner: fabulous, friendly service; strong-&-choice cocktails, and generous food portions! The Southern Fried Catfish offered a surprisingly generous, thick serving (& nice sides)! Another visit, deciding between 2 entrees, I was encouraged to order the Barbecued Shrimp & Green Chili Grits (thought it was OK); I enjoyed the Green Chili Chilaquiles more. GREAT DRINKS (5-star)!! Fun, casual place! read more

Memphis Cafe - Bloody Mary - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here on a Sunday at 2 PM. Got the catfish Poboy with sweet potato fries and the deviled eggs. I was really happy that they were able to put the bacon on the side as I do not eat bacon but the other person I ate with does. We were seated right away and the service was great! I will say parking is a struggle because the lot is small but if you want to park in the surrounding lots, you should be fine read more

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Memphis Cafe in Costa Mesa is one of my favorite spots--hands down. The service is always top-notch: friendly, attentive, and genuine. Everyone who works there brings great energy, from the chef in the back to the bartender up front. Special shoutout to the amazing waitstaff--Selah, Karina, and Honey always make us feel welcome and taken care of. The meatloaf is my go-to. It's absolutely delicious--tender, flavorful, and served with creamy mashed potatoes, perfectly cooked green beans, and that rich, amazing gravy. While everything on the menu is solid, the meatloaf keeps me coming back. And don't skip dessert--the bread pudding is honestly the best I've ever had. Every time I come in, the experience is consistently excellent. Never had a bad visit. Highly recommend! read more

Delicious !!!! Everything is good...love the old fashions too We had gumbo and the meatloaf read more

This restaurant is located right by the Anti-Mall or the LAB. It was definitely a smaller restaurant than I thought, but seemed like they had more outdoor seating than indoor seating. We didn't have to really wait at all to be seated, so it wasn't busy for a sunday brunch time! We ordered the Southern Eggs Benedict and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, as well as the Gumbo fries. It did take awhile for our food to arrive, so service may be a biiiit slow. As soon as I order came, we were ready to feast! I mainly had the southern eggs benedict and this was really good! I really enjoyed the chipotle aioli they served on top, so this made this very flavorful. The protein they had with this entree was a really thick slice! I liked how the biscuit on the protein was really crispy as well. This was definitely the one to go for me! My bf got the buttermilk fried chicken and that was also pretty good. Chicken was juicy and crispy, and the collard greens was pretty decent! He didn't enjoy the collard greens that much, but the mashed potatoes that came with his entree was pretty good. The gumbo fries, these were okay, and we both didn't like how it was toooo soggy. The flavor was alright, I felt like there could be more additions to enhanced the flavor, it was essentially almost like a chili cheese fries. So I actually took these back home and added hot sauce and it tasted a lot better haha. Overall, the meal was good! Service was decent, and I would say it's a solid southern brunch joint. Not too busy either for a brunch spot, so that is a plus. read more

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