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Babalu

4.1 (899 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order Babalu Takeout or Delivery

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Business Info

BABALU ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Trendy
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Babalu

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Reviews With Photos

Lamb Sliders and Brussel Sprouts
Sonya C.

I stopped in to grab a quick bite at the bar and thank goodness it wasn't too busy. The bartender took my order and answered my questions. When I lived in Jackson this was The after work spot for a while, boy we had a time back then at BABALU!! I loved the short rib that they used to have. I ordered the lamb sliders and brussel sprouts. The lamb was cooked well not too dry. The brussel sprouts were tasty but a tad too greasy. This is still a fun place and I really need to get out more. I haven't been in here in years. I would recommend this place for good food and a good time.

Brunch Date
Mellinda L.

This is are go to Best place in Midtown Memphis for Brunch & Tacos. It's always busy, the staff is always amazing, the food is always delicious no matter what we order and the restaurant is always super clean. We enjoy sitting at the bar during game time and having a few with friends and making new friends.

Margarita
Morgan C.

The bar is the perfect spot to sit and watch some football, have a drink, appetizer, and good conversation. The bartenders are experienced and helpful. The drinks are refreshing and cold!

Hype Man and Old Fashioned cocktails
Emily S.

We attended a tasting of new menu items, and we absolutely loved the experience! We are most excited about the new power bowls and the Hype Man and Old Fashioned cocktails! The food, drinks, and service were exceptional.

Dining room

The perfect place to eat in Overton Square!! I had been to the one in Midtown and liked it, but I was wowed all over again having it a couple years later. We started off with the table side guacamole, FANTASTIC! Probably the best guacamole I've had. My boyfriend doesn't even like guacamole normally, but he said it was very good. Then, I had the shrimp and al pastor taco (very impressive) and my boyfriend had the chicken and steak (he loved it)! The tacos aren't just simple little tacos, they are complexly flavorful. I also had the cucumber mocktail and it was great too! I love that they had 3 different mocktail options. Shoutout to our server, Grace!

BabRita
Jacqueline W.

Fresh food Friendly service Busy cool ambiance Everything on the menu looked good Very filling Yum yummy Summer salad Strawberries and veggies

Ivan N.

Recommended by a few friends and we were pleased with our dinner. Great restaurant atmosphere as well as wonderful service from our waitress. Different options to choose from and I will say the food isn't very heavy. Left feeling great after a great meal! Our food was delightful and came out hot.

Blackened fish taco, tuna taco
K S.

Love this place. Staff is always super friendly and welcoming. Tacos are so good. Also the lamb sliders are amazing. Drinks are fresh and not made with cheap mixes. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a casual fun experience

Babu Rita
Kimberly T.

It was a busy night. I sat at the bar to dine since it was the quickest way to be seated. I was immediately greeted and given a menu. I order a drink and braised pork meal which was delicious. The order to deliver med to me within 10 minutes. I took half home to enjoy the next day. The service was good throughout. I was happy with the service and the food and the price was not bad either. It was crowded and a little loud, but not bad. A lively atmosphere is good. I will definitely go back.

Tacos
Elayna D.

Babalu has been around a while and each visit has been pretty consistent. Food and drinks are always good, friendly staff, and good tacos, can't forget the guacamole. The guac is prepared table side and I don't know what kind of mojo they use, but the guac is amazing. I prefer it with veggies and chips, dont forget to add bacon to the guac. It is LIFE CHANGING! I order 3-4 tacos and depending on my mood I will order the following tacos: pork belly, chicken, carnitas, steak and shrimp. I have enjoyed the tamales when they were on the menu, Baba burger, fries, street corn (off the cob). This is my favorite location and the original Babalu. I will travel for food and this is one place I like to keep on the roster. They also have great cocktails! If you are in the area, stop by and visit! Parking situation: Parking garage and street parking when you can find it. The parking garage is the ONLY reason I will continue to visit. I hate having to drive around countless times looking for a parking space..I will drive right on back home!

Kids chicken fingers w yellow rice, side of veggies, two sides of fresh fruit
Lauren B.

Overall a good lunch experience at 12:45 PM on a Saturday with kids. Seated immediately/no wait. Loved the bright eyeshadow of many of the staff. After a blip of not realizing we were in her section, our waitress was very attentive and helpful including helping us figure out how much to get our kids. We got the tableside guacamole which was pretty good, lots of sun dried tomato flavor (but strong recommendation to management to get the person who makes it at the very least a spatula to scrape it off and also probably a pestle to pound with (he made the whole thing with a big spoon)). Our kids loved the chips. They were fresh and crispy. It would have been nice for the rest of the food to come out quickly especially the fruit for the kids, but it seemed like they were giving us time to enjoy our appetizer (for sure not needed when dining with kids!!) Husband had: pork belly, seared tuna, and grilled shrimp taco and a Bloody Mary / he was happy with all of them Kids got: chicken fingers w/yellow rice as the side, fruit cups - waitress recommended they split one kids meal between them, and she was not wrong I got: crab cake appetizer (I had meant to get the brunch Benedict but when I said the "brunch crab cake item" she must have just heard crab cakes. It was very tasty and flavorful and ended up being more than enough food for me with the guacamole.

Inside seating

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3 months ago

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Otie H.

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13 days ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

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10 months ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

Terrible service, food was cold and flavorless. Hostess was nice and that is all the positive I have to say.

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Christy S.

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9 months ago

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4 months ago

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10 months ago

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5 months ago

Had such a pleasant time with olivia! She is such a sweetheart! Made us feel so welcomed and special. Will be back just to see her!

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

We had the best time!!! amazing service, food, and of course the margs!!! ask for Brooke -- she's the best!!!!

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

Excellent experience all around! Food, service, atmosphere! Highly recommend ! And you can't go wrong with their sangrias!

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1 year ago

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7 months ago

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Babalu Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Babalu

What kind of oil do you use to cook with? Is it soybean/vegetable?

Hello! Our use soy oil in our fryers, then we cook with a 80/20 blend. We also use canola for dressings.

Are mimosas bottomless at Sunday brunch?

You can order bottomless mimosas on the Saturday and Sunday brunch menu!

Are dogs allowed?

Hi, Leah! Yes, dogs are allowed on our front patio. However, we suggest that you call us before you come, to ensure there is room on our patio for you and your pup! Our number is 901.274.0100. We look forward to seeing you!

Do they take reservations?

The policy has changed and they now accept reservations.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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I've been to BarWare three times now, and each visit has been its own little adventure…read more Visit #1: Absolute perfection. The female bartender was on it--friendly, fast, and she introduced me to my new signature drink, the Hold On To Your Britches. If you like a sweet cocktail, prepare to fall in love. I only needed a small bite, so I tried the grilled cheese... and honestly, it was silly good. The kind of good that ruins all future grilled cheeses. Trust me: get it. Visit #2: Stopped in just for drinks. Still good, but service was slooooow. I would've ordered another round, but eventually tapped out. Visit #3: Visited for Downtown Dining Week. The Caesar salad was basically lettuce in a monologue--no cheese, no croutons, just lonely leaves in dressing. Entrées tasted good but were tiny. My pasta was so spicy I couldn't finish it, but the short ribs with mashed potatoes were legitimately delicious. When I go back for visit #4 (and I will), I'm sticking with what BarWare does best: that fruity cocktail and the holy-grail grilled cheese. The ambiance and seating options are too good to stay away, even if the service and a couple dishes miss the mark now and then.

If you are looking for a night out on the town this is the place to be. I went for drinks and…read moreordered 2 different cocktails and they were delightful. Cocktails 1. Hold on to your britches 2. Emergency Helicopter I love the twinkle lights draping the ceiling it reminded me of stars. The restroom was nice and clean and the wait wasn't too bad. Even-though it was a constant flow of people in the facility, the waiter still continued to check in on my guest and I and made sure our needs were met.

Babalu - tapasmallplates - Updated May 2026

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