We would consider ourselves frequent guests of Babalu East and continue to come back because the food 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. read more

Babalu is one of my fav spots in the city. I always recommend it to visitors. The patio is a favorite 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 read more

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Awesome service ... sat at the bar and it was great friendly conversation and service... the food was amazing loved the tacos and the street corn was the way to go ... cold beer and friendly faces and a great atmosphere read more

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First time back to Babalu in years and first time at this location. It is very nice and open and service was great. Our server Brittany was wonderful and kept everything moving. We were a large party, 10 plus on a Saturday afternoon, the food arrived fresh and hot. Some dishes lacked direction/flavor like chicken sandwich. I don't understand ingredients and toppings that offer no flavor. The spicy chicken was bland and then cheese, letuce, tomato, pickles and chips and drizzle of hot honey and there was only the taste of warm honey and the warm toasted buttered bun. I had a side of mexican street corn and this dish was luke warm but that's my fault but flavor was good just the corn tastec old, not pop when you bite kernal fresh even when cooked that pop is there. Now the spicy shrimp was hands down worth the trip. They were so good but just a little too breaded. The sauce is immediately poured on and brought out and the heated fresh breaded shrimp was too good and just the right texture to soften the breading. The spiciness is perfect too. The baba-rita is good but the younguns at my table said it was cute however I thought it was quiet tasty. There were other dishes shown as well but I did not taste them all. The steak eggrolls were also good however I was not a fan of the guac as it lacked flavor. Overall there is enough on the menu that I like so J will definitely be back. read more

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I have gone back several times since my last review and tried several menu items. The salmon and grits are delicious! The salmon is cooked well. It's tender, juicy, and flavorful. It's on a bed of cheese grits that I love as well. It also comes with brussel sprouts. I have also added the quac to a regular item that I order. My colleague convinced me to try it and I have been hooked since. It is made table side and it is made with sundried tomato, red & green onion, kosher salt, cilantro, lime juice served with house chips... oh and if you want to make it even better add bacon or jalapeños! The service is always great and the chill vibes! read more

Babalu Memphis East - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Oh Babalu, How I love you! This was our first visit and it did not disappoint! We were greeted at the door and seated quickly. Our server was very attentive and happily offered recommendations. The restaurant is bright and open. The noise level is a little high because of the openness but it didn't affect our experience. The food... the guacamole was good. Very good. I think it would have benefited from a little more lime juice and salt but maybe that's just my personal preference. I did really like the addition of sun dried tomatoes. The house chips were very good. The Birria Bowl was just amazing! It was hearty and flavorful. It was placed beautifully over luscious, creamy grits. I am definitely a grits snob and this was some of the best that I have eaten! I want to return over and over and try everything on the menu. read more

Babalu Memphis East - Barria Bowl - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Had another great lunch at Babalu. It's been quite a while since we've been here... the menu has changed a bit but it's still a great menu with a lot of great options. Service still top notch and great bar. Will def be back again soon read more

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They have the best guac and now new healthy bowls! Love the covered outdoor seating and special attention from servers. My womens group meets here because we ALL love it! read more

Went to celebrate a friend's birthday last week. We had a wonderful time chatting and catching up. Service was good. Our server was very busy so she did not check on us as frequently. My two tacos were just the ight amount of food. I was happily full but not stuffed. My friends ordered burgers and the redfish which they enjoyed. We chose this place because the food is consistently delicious and seasoned well. The restaurant was clean and very inviting. There are regular tables and chairs and high top tables and chairs. The restaurant was steady busy with patrons the few hours we were there. I know we will return soon. read more

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Another great visit at babulu. This time just dined at the bar! This short rib grilled cheese was sooooooo good! I'm thinking of it now! The table side guac is always a hit and my husband's plate after finishing the burrito could've been sent back to the like how cleaned he got it! Drinks are always a hit and our bartender was so nice! read more

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First of all, ordered to go for my hubbie. We got him the salmon (pretty good), corn was spicy and obviously frozen and not fresh corn (spoiled by bar taco ) and Brussels were blah. I did look at the bill and they added in a 20% tip. Really? For a to go order. Ate in and ordered the margs. Lots of different choices for margs that all looked good. I asked for light ice, and the glass was overflowing with ice. We noticed this with all our margs-- mostly ice. Disappointing. The birria bowl was very good. The chips were good. Cheese dip was about 1/4 inch dip. And the guacamole was good, but again a very small portion. Not worth a revisit. Don't go. Find another place. Service was excellent though. read more

Salmon with Brussels. Service was great and a good atmosphere for after work dinner and drinks! read more

Babalu Memphis East - Babarita - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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I can't believe that I have never done a review of Babalu. This is one of my favorite places (East and Midtown)! The ambiance is lively; the service is always good and the drinks are tip top. At midtown, Brooks (who is always working) serves great drinks and is so personable. I think I have had just about everything on the menu and everything is good. read more

Went for a late lunch on Sunday (around 4). We were immediately seated. Our server came over quickly. We ordered a lemon berry sour and a margarita and beef short rib rolls. The short rib rolls were very good. My husband enjoyed his margarita. My lemon berry sour was a bit tart. I asked my server to add a bit of simple syrup or agave. Once added the drink was great. We both ordered tacos (tuna, chicken, grilled shrimp, blackened fish). All 4 had way too much happening with sauce and toppings. They all were falling apart and the shells were flimsy. The taste was ok but eating them was a challenge. The experience was just ok as I would have preferred not to fight with my food. read more

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I love babalus!!! It's a delicious spot no matter what location you choose to pop into. We stopped in on abusy day, but the wait was short and well worth it. We had to get the legendary table-made guacamole and it lived up to the hype. We are it all! For our meals we got a veggie and chicken taco, a black bean burger, and a side of crispy brussel sprouts. The burger was a little dry, but that comes with a homemade black bean patty. The tacos were fantastic! The real star of the show was the crispy brussel sprouts, they were so delicious my mouth is watering as I write this. They have the perfect kick and the flavor is incredible. I will be going back just for those bad boys! read more

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What happened to you Babalu? Visiting from Texas this has always been one of our first stops! The Poplar location's flat grill was not working. Therefore no quesadillas, no burgers, etc. Guac and beer were good but service extremely slow! Left to Madison location and food is not as good as it used to be. Should have known based on the limited number of people eating here. Even though many many tables available inside, several people waiting outside to be seated. Babalus, you can do better! read more

New menu items coming! Love the vibe, love the atmosphere. Feels like home. Foot was excellent. Favorites are avocado ice cream, beets citrus sunset salad, Caribbean chicken salad, and spicy margaritas! coming back again soon . read more

Great burger. Fries need a lot of work but its a mexican spot so what can you say. But truly. Try the baba burger. The Ponch burger from jack browns feels heavily inspired by the baba burger read more

Hello Sunshine! This was my last meal in Memphis this trip and oh what it was! The restaurant is medium sized. It was a beautiful day to dine outside but this day, the area was closed to the public for an event so we sat near the window. It's light, bright and refreshing! Sunshine was our server and she had a cute disposition. She didn't have any top teeth but smiled a lot, all the same. She was pretty good with anticipating your next move or question but could be misinterpreted. So many interesting menu items, I wished I had more time. I didn't take a picture of the Cucumber spritzer, yes! Icing on the cake. We were all happy. Enjoyed the food to the fullest and we will come again. read more

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Today I had lunch at Babalu and when I walked in the door, I got the biggest smiles and the best customer service. Starting with Lindsay behind the bar I think she was helping the liquor company but she was so nice. She's always so nice every time I come there. Then Jules, Kaleb, and Nova were waiting on tables, and they all greeted me so warmly with such great customer service. I appreciate that so much from y'all.East location rocks great vibes food always fresh and hot.. read more

Babalu has become such a staple in our house. It's rare to find somewhere we eat so often that we just don't get tired of. The quality of the food and drinks are top notch and the service is always great and consistent. Their new menu items are to die for. Every item is so good but they nailed it with the new power bowls! The tuna poke bowl is fantastic and has easily become my new favorite thing on the menu. The ingredients are fresh, every bite is delicious and whatever they put in the soy glaze makes me want to lick the bowl! Pair it with a Baba-Rita and thank me later! read more

Babalu never disappoints, they offer brunch on the weekends and an assortment of delicious items during the week. I visited the East Memphis location with their newly renovated patio and sat outside and enjoyed the view. The wait was less than 5 mins and our waitress was happy to serve my friends and I. She was knowledgeable about the menu and answered any questions we had. For appetizers, my friends and I indulged in the Memphis Hot Honey Shrimp with spicy ranch. Those didn't stand a chance, they were gone in less than two minutes. We all ordered different items from the menu, my go-to order was the Short Rib Rolls with Sweet potato fries. Eating ribs inside an egg roll is the only way I want to eat them. Everything was delicious and fresh. The waitress continued to check in on us to make sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. Babalu is kid-friendly, family-friendly, or if want a quick bite to eat on your lunch break. Parking is not a problem, it's very spacious and they also have security driving around the parking lot for safety reasons. read more

Babalu Memphis East - Memphis Honey Hot Shrimp - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Our waitress, Rayna, was wonderful! She's cute, personable, and very efficient. She got every detail right, and the four of us had a lot of specifics (not too spicy, appetizers at the same time as main course, and a change to dessert to have the strawberry cream sorbet on the chocolate skillet cake). The food was delicious and the ambiance on the patio was fun and festive. read more

Awesome food and service. We have been enjoying the vegetarian options like the tacos and black bean burger. We will be trying the new bowl option next. See ya'll again soon! read more

We just loved our server named Sunshine!! Amazing food! Fresh Guacamole made at your table. Fantastic service delicious Sangria and cocktails! Not expensive! Wonderful experience. read more

Omg yummmm!!! I am so happy we decided to come here! I came here one time years ago but only for drinks... Don't skip the food because it is DELICIOUS!!! I had the vegan black bean burger and I think it may have been the best black bean burger I've ever had! My husband got the baba burger because our lovely bartender recommended it and he said it was the best burger he'd had in a looooong time!! So freakin good! I also had the sangria flight and loved it.. plus some green tea shots!! So fun, we will definitely be back next time we're in the area. :) read more

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Babalu makes tasty food. I mean there were flies all over the place and the restaurant was filthy, like many Memphis restaurants. But my burger was one of the better ones I've had in the area and my partner's tacos were just plain great. Now, price-wise and ambiance-wise... it's small food. And did I mention all the flies? Take-out in the future... read more

Babalu Memphis East - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Babalu on Poplar is our go-to brunch spot for their $4 make-your-own mimosa and delicious brunch fare. The tableside guac is an absolute must--some of the best in Memphis. Service is generally fast and friendly, food is fresh and delivered quickly, ambiance is a bit industrial, but this location is currently going through a remodel, including extension of their patio, so it's a work-in-motion. Pro tip: the full menu is available, even during brunch! read more

Babalu Memphis East - Best guac in Memphis! - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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I love love love the bread pudding from here! It's so good! I also sometimes get the Brussels sprouts and that's good as well!

Today a friend and I went to eat outside and enjoy the weather. We ordered drinks and my friend had a crack in her ID. Wasn't broken just cracked. The waitress went back and told the "manager" as if it was invalid. The waitress then came back and my friend told her that she could even scan the ID to see it was valid. She said "If we can scan it, it' should be fine." After she scanned it, it went through and she took the order for the appetizers. Then the "manager" came out saying she could not serve drinks although my friend had visited days before with no worries. The women were very passive aggressive and just simply did not want to serve us. 0/10 I would not recommend to anyone. The service sucks!!!! read more

Babalu brunch is hit or miss with me sometimes. I ventured out of my usual (I usually come for lunch or dinner) and I probably shouldn't had lol! Service is decent. The mimosas are under $4 so that's a WIN and the brunch menu is pretty nice. However the skillet dip is not what you think. It's NOT dip. It's really thick, almost solid. I'm giving 4 stars out of 5 because this was one time I didn't like everything. But trust me, when I get my usual stuff, I'm in HEAVEN. I'll update my review with the menu items I would highly recommend. read more

First experience was decent Food: the menu offers a great variety of tasteful options; the lamb slider was okay, would definitely try it again. Not too dry, salty or greasy. Their short rib egg roll was greasy, not much meat but it was tender! Their spin on yellow rice and beans is interesting, too much corn, but interesting. The showstopper was the redfish sandwich, spicy & absolutely delicious! Service: was good & friendly, and courteous! Menu is moderately priced. Ambiance: clean, nice place to dine with friends, coworkers, family or solo. read more

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Outstanding. Kid friendly. Tasty food (I'm looking at you duck quesadilla). And their house margaritas actually make you want to come back for them alone. 10/10 would consume again. The atmosphere makes it a great spot for most laid back occasions. Wouldn't necessarily come with large parties of people or for a special occasion, but anything short of that would be fitting. read more

I added blackened chicken to chop salad. My partner had blackened chicken on the grilled Caesar salad. A little salty, but otherwise flavorful and delicious. Great combination of flavors. This place has a big menu with options for everyone. Clean and bright. Service is excellent. The only negative was the horrible smell of the window cleaner that they were spraying near us. I asked them to stop while we were eating. read more

Just passing through and wanted something light for dinner, thought, why not fish tacos. I decided to swing by and do a to go order. The people behind the bar were very friendly and took my order right away. I ordered 4 of the fried fish tacos, a shrimp taco and a chorizo taco. I also decide to get the tuna ceviche. When I got back to the hotel to eat and opened everything up it all looked really good. The shrimp and chorizo tacos were good. Good flavor and great taste. The fried fish tacos on the other hand tasted a bit over cooked. The fish was dry and chewy. The flavor of the sauce was good but the fish was not really edible. The tuna ceviche had a great flavor and the sweet mixed with the avocado and tomatoes was very good. read more

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I hadn't been to Babalu in a while but thought of it for lunch today. I was a party of 1 and sat at the bar. I ordered the Hot Honey Shrimp appetizer (really good and not overly spicy) and told the bartender I'd start with that and figure it out from there. After grazing on the fried shrimp, I wanted something lite....a salad perhaps, but nothing huge. I asked the bartender if they had a side salad of any sort. She told me they had a kids Cesar salad. PERFECT! Between that and the shrimp, it was just the lunch I needed. The reason I write this review is because of the bartender herself. I didn't get her name (unfortunately), but she was fabulous. I noticed how attentive she was to all of the customers at the bar and her fellow staff members when they needed drinks or change made. She didn't have to suggest the "kids" salad to me and could've just made me order the more expensive full salad, but she didn't and that was much appreciated! So, to whomever was working the lunch shift at the bar on 11/12/2024.....THANK YOU! I'll be back! read more

We have always loved the food at Babalu. Tableside guac is excellent and so is the burger and the steak skewers. We actually ate here twice this week! My only complaint is the very weak drinks. Everyone in our party got a different margarita and everyone loved them except every person said they couldn't taste any alcohol in them. At $12-15 each we did not order a second round. We ordered different drinks on each of our 2 visits and both times felt the same way. My husband used to be a bartender and said he would just order beer or wine next time. read more

Babalu Memphis East - Steak on a stick and rosti potatoes! - Tacos Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Babablu is always good and pretty consistent! However, lunch always takes longer than I expect even when it isn't busy. I recommend the steak skewers! read more

First time trying this spot and I can say I was quite impressed. The lighting was set to a perfect setting that made the place seem cozy and yet upscale. The favorite part of my meal was the Juke Joint Juice . Whenever was behind the bar definitely did their job tonight because 1 drink was all it took. Customer service was impressive along with how quick the kitchen was able to provide the food in a reasonable amount of time. Ordered the desert sampler to go and haven't tried it so I will be updating the desert part soon . read more

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Great customer service! Food came out hot and quick! Will definitely be visiting again! read more

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