Memphis: Downtown Food Tour with BBQ & Local Tastings

The flavors that built Memphis, one block at a time

You walk through downtown Memphis with a local guide, stopping at family-owned restaurants and award-winning kitchens to taste BBQ nachos, southern tamales, and desserts. The guide weaves in history and culture between tastings, and you see the neighborhoods as you move. Food tastings and local taxes are included. Alcohol is available for purchase at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Memphis food tasting and cultural tour

• Meet guide for introduction
• Walk to local family-owned restaurants
• Taste Memphis BBQ nachos and southern tamales
• Sample desserts from award-winning chefs
• Learn about Memphis history and culture
• Explore architecture and entertainment spots

The experience

The tour starts moving before you've finished your coffee. Your guide meets you downtown and you're already walking toward the first stop. A family-owned spot where they've been doing something right for decades. You taste BBQ nachos that don't taste like anywhere else, and your guide is already talking about why Memphis barbecue matters, the history baked into the recipe, the people who made it what it is. The pace is steady but not rushed. You're eating, listening, and looking around at the buildings and the street itself.

What makes this different from just hitting restaurants on your own is the thread running through it. Between tastings, your guide pulls in pieces of Memphis culture: the music history, the architecture, why certain neighborhoods look the way they do. You'll taste southern tamales that have roots you didn't expect, then move to something sweet. The restaurants aren't the tourist-heavy ones. They're the places locals actually go, and the guide knows the owners or the stories behind them. It's a walking tour, so you're covering ground, seeing the downtown as you move, not just sitting in one room.

The whole thing is built around variety: different cuisines, different eras, different scales of operation. One stop might be a tiny counter, the next a chef-driven kitchen. You're not just eating. You're getting a cross-section of how Memphis feeds itself. Alcohol isn't included, but you can buy drinks at each venue if you want to. The guide will flag any allergies ahead of time, so they know what to avoid or what to highlight for you. It's a 2-person minimum, so you're in a small group, not a parade of thirty people.

What’s included

• Your day includes food tastings at multiple venues, a local Memphis guide, and local taxes.
• Alcohol is not included but is available for purchase at each stop.
• You'll taste BBQ nachos, southern tamales, desserts, and other local specialties at family-owned and award-winning restaurants throughout downtown.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 14:00, from US$ 85 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 14:00Another day? ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tastin Round Town

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to understand Memphis through its food without planning multiple restaurant stops themselves. Expect a walking tour at a steady pace. That's what lets you cover different neighborhoods and taste across the whole range of what the city eats.

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Top questions

What if I have food allergies?

Alert the operator ahead of time about any known allergies, and they will plan the tastings accordingly.

Is alcohol included?

No. Alcohol is available for purchase at each venue, and you'll need proper ID if you order.

What's the minimum group size?

2 people minimum per booking.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can I bring children?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation?

The tour is a walking tour through downtown. Public transportation options are available nearby if needed.

What should I wear?

The tour operates in all weather, so dress appropriately for the season and conditions.