We would consider ourselves frequent guests of Babalu East and continue to come back because the…read morefood is generally very good. East Memphis doesn't have many restaurants that occupy the space between fast casual and fine dining, which makes Babalu an important part of the local dining scene. Because we enjoy the restaurant and want it to succeed, I wanted to share some constructive feedback. One recurring challenge is the arrival and seating experience. Even when the restaurant is largely empty, there is often a noticeable wait to be seated. The hosts typically take our name and then spend several minutes determining where to seat us, even when many tables appear available. While we understand there are operational considerations that guests may not see, the process often feels unnecessarily slow and creates a frustrating first impression. The host stand can also feel somewhat disconnected from the guest experience. There seems to be frequent turnover, and team members often appear focused on seating rotations rather than ensuring guests are being welcomed efficiently and seated at clean, prepared tables. A more polished and confident front-of-house experience would go a long way. The menu has improved recently, and we're glad to see some favorite items return. Unfortunately, food execution continues to be inconsistent. Long waits for food are common, and communication during those delays is often limited. We don't mind waiting when the kitchen is backed up, but a simple explanation or update would make a significant difference. Too often we're told food is coming shortly, only to continue waiting without additional information. When the food finally arrives, there are sometimes errors with the order, and after a lengthy wait it's difficult to feel motivated to send items back. We recognize that restaurant operations are challenging, particularly in today's labor environment, and we appreciate the effort of the staff and managers. However, these issues have been consistent over multiple visits rather than isolated experiences. There is a lot of potential here, and we genuinely hope Babalu can elevate the overall guest experience to match the quality of its food. We will continue rooting for them because East Memphis needs places like this to thrive.

Babalu is one of my fav spots in the city. I always recommend it to visitors. The patio is a…read morefavorite of mine. They run seasonal cocktail and menu items so there is always a new dish to test. They have added soo many new items and you will want to eat everything. The servers are always great and love to give you their feedback and fav dishes. We had Hannah tonight at thr East location and she was the sweetest. New dishws include several Birrie options, power bowls, new salads and sides and more. New items I tried: Patatas Bravas: diced potatoes, Brava sauce, garlic Aioli and green onions. 8/10 Seafood paella: crawfish, calamari, shrimp, chorizo, red onions, red bell peppers and saffron rice. 10/10 Blueberry lemon drop Sangria. 8/10

AMAZING KOREAN FOOD!! I can tell they are really dedicated to this place and their service within…read moretheir servers. I have been here twice with my friend and I will say we immediately loved their tteokbokki and beef bulgogi to share together ! I will say the first time we had it it was on the sweeter side & the next time we came it was a lot spicier and the manager was sooooo nice and understanding to that my friend is very sensitive to spice and she had the cook make her a non spicier version to their best ability and they NAILED it. she was so nice and understanding to do that for my friend I appreciate their dedication to their food and serving with the upmost kindness especially with how they approached the situation. Also love the Korean beer with bulgogi! It pairs perfectly with any meat but especially the bulgogi !

Celebrated my birthday Thursday at dinner time. Great decor as we entered. Very clean and…read moreorganized. There are many tables and chairs available. Service was good. Many young ladies checked on us through out the night. Started off with bonchon of fish cakes, kimchee, pickled daikon, and mashed potatoes with carrots. All very flavorful. I especially enjoyed the daikon. We ordered the seafood pancake for the appetizer. For dinner we had the bibambop. It was pretty good but needed more sear on the bottom for that good crunch. The Galbi was very delicious. Prices are a tad high but good quality. May come back to try other dishes.

901 BBQ has been my favorite first-generation all-you-can-eat spot for a reason. Even with so many…read morenew all-you-can-eat places popping up now, I still think their BBQ is the BEST in town! The interior design is super cool, with a modern, tech-inspired theme. The QR code ordering system is very convenient, and I really love the cat robot that delivers the food. Very cute and fun experience! Most of the side dishes at the side dish bar are consistently tasty. Their hot pot is also nice, and the tomato broth is definitely my favorite. It's flavorful without being too heavy. (Personally, I prefer the Cordova location over the East Memphis one.) Small tip: any sauces or dishes with "901" in the name are definitely worth trying!

Ăn tạm được cũng ngon. Cho rau thì quá ít, những thành phần khác thì cũng được. Giá cả thì vừa phải…read moreổn định

Good food and good prices. I recommend trying the Tennessee…read moreroll or the cowboy roll.

My fiance and I love Umiya, we come here once or twice a month and it's delightful everytime. Quick…read moreservice, speedy rolls and ordering without sacrificing quality while also not breaking the bank!

Great attitude, Great service, Great food Wonderful experience... my family enjoy the poppy seed…read morechicken

I really have given this business numerous chances because of some of their outside vendor items…read morethat we like but I prefer to give my money to people who are a little bit friendlier & act like they appreciate your business. I have never been in that anyone was friendly, smiled or didn't act like they were miserable. And Lord forbid to ask a question about one of THEIR products. They don't know & act like they don't care to know. Lord forbid to try & engage them in conversation! Too many other options in town to choose from, where they truly appreciate your business and actually speak to you. I wish them luck but I won't be going

Delicious food and great service. Our favorite is the Philly cheese steak. Great flavor.read more

Good customer This visit spirit night boys got meals to eat in and to go both small orders of kids…read moresize sandwiches turkey with choice of chips or cookies and drink

I initially found JZ Swsfood while doing Uber Eats. The customers food made my car smell soooo…read moregood, I knew that I'd be returning. I ordered the $25.99 seafood combo. 1/2 snow crab, 1/2 shrimp, sausage, 2 eggs, 2 potatoes, 1 corn ( I believe) and I added an extra corn. First of all my food was ready when I got there and still piping hot. Now that's what I call service volume 1!!!! The bag was also HEAVY with food. A great bang for your buck!!! I got the boil home, and really didn't want to share with anyone but my friends kids looked up at me with pleading and I gave in. So I didn't technically taste the boil as it came. Because I buss it down with three packs of ramen and some Alfredo sauce. Instant seafood boil Alfredo ramen!!! Yes please. But all the seafood ingredients plus all that ATL seasoning made it do wat it do baby!!!! It was bussin! I'll definitely be back, and though it really did stretch, next time I wanna eat it as it comes so I can savor the original flavors.

Their food is pretty good, I eat here often. The staff is friendly it's a little wait but it's ok…read more The update to the restaurant looks nice. The lemonade is the best you can add different flavors to it, I love the blackberry.

Amazing food and the sweetest staff! I come here for all my Vietnamese street food fixes! I love…read morethe nui xao bo (Vietnamese stir fried with beef). It's my go to comfort food and reminds me of a childhood meal that my parents used to always make.

Cute enough place, but the food tasted old. My husband's wings were freezer burned. The bahn mi…read morebread is not up to par, and the kitchen forgot to make my husband's sandwich until he went to the counter and asked for it. The fruit tea was so sweet that I couldn't drink it. I hate to slam a small business, but it looks like this place won't last much longer.