Closest thing to soul food in Orange County. Cute restaurant. Great atmosphere. Amazing menu. Surprisingly good prices. The crab cakes are always a win, and the fried chicken with collard greens never disappoints. One thing that always amuses me: the bar is packed at brunch with people already several drinks deep at 10 a.m. I love that for them. Vacation-mode activated. The only downside is the waitstaff. Very LA-snob energy. You get the feeling you're inconveniencing them simply by showing up, which takes away from an otherwise great experience. So I don't go often. But when I'm craving soul food, it's one of the few places I'll happily return to. read more

The food here was Excellent! We got there after being over across the street at the LAB, where every place was PACKED. We walked in said sit anywhere you'd like and we did. They have Indoor and outdoor seating. We sat out back at the picnic table. Nice amount of shade wasn't too hot. Service was great. Food made from scratch. He had gumbo and deviled eggs; I had chicken. Both were delicious!. Bathrooms were clean(that's a thing !) they even had a kids menu, with crayons I might add. On it they had grilled OR battered chicken strips ! Finally a place that has a healthy alternative !!! Overall great food, great service and we will be back ! read more

Our office group of almost 30 had another fantastic happy hour here recently. Food was great, service was excellent. Loved the crab cake and the beets goat cheese salad. Devil eggs, burger sliders were all very good. The banana bread pudding was amazing! We also brought our own cake that someone in the office ordered from a French bakery. read more

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Me and a cousin were at a car show by this area and decided to finally give this place a shot. Memphis Cafe has been around forever and was pretty excited to go! We walk in and our host/server asked if we wanted inside or outside and we opted to go outside. The place itself inside seems pretty cramped but outside has two patios which was awesome. While I was looking at the menu, our server brought out some glasses and water and asked if we were ready to order but me and my cousin opted to look at the menu a little longer. Sadly though, that original waitress disappeared for a while and it took about 10-12 minutes before a new server came by and took our order. I opted for the steak eggs and an appetizer crab cakes. Our newer server was really nice and explained everything about what we ordered and even gave her recommendations and even asked if we wanted the crab cakes to come out first. She was super cool! The crab cakes came out first and those were super delicious. Crunchy and whatever sauce was used with it to complement the crab cake, it was delicious! The runner at first delivered our food to the wrong table but corrected herself and came to our table which was pretty funny haha. The steak came out came out a perfectly cooked medium rare. It was a delicious cut. Along with a small side of country gravy, crunchy hash browns and the scrambled eggs, It was delightful! I paid around $36 for the whole meal (split cost on the crab cakes) and considering the amount I ate, I think it was a decent price. The steak and eggs alone would've been $28, you be the judge considering food costs these days. Other than that, I think the service needs a little bit of work. Aside from the very cool 2nd waitress, there are some miscues with the first server and even our runner who brought the food. Both can be fixed though and it was a very minor inconvenience to note. I would definitely say, get your breakfast fix here! Prices are fair and the food you get is absolutely delicious! read more

Memphis Cafe - Steak and eggs! - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We made reservations on this beautiful Saturday for 12:30 pm. We were seated right away, the staff was extremely friendly and attentive. We tried one of the most popular items on the menu which was the shrimp that also has fried okra, devoured (tried to lick the bowl) kind of feel good food that left us craving for more. We loved the fries. Not extremely greasy or salty. Had to balance it out with a salad and I couldn't have loved it more with the crusted chicken that matched perfectly with the blue corn tortillas, the dressing was light and I didn't feel overly stuffed. It's a nice setting, corner restaurant, parking can be challenging but street parking available too. Their menu has something for everyone and you can't go wrong with breakfast all day. Will have to come back to try the chicken and waffle or catfish (made after 5pm) read more

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Went here to meet up with my business partner for brunch and a quarterly review. I had the breakfast burrito which was full of fresh and tasty ingredients. The service was great. The atmosphere was casual and cool. Good decibel level for a conversation. I will be back to try other meals from the menu. read more

Fried catfish. OMG. Amazing. There were 4 of us and we got 3 orders of this. Best fried catfish I've ever had. Perfectly crispy and tenderAnd we had one gumbo. And the banana fosters bread pudding for desert. This was delicious and DENSE. Service was delightful. Laurie, our server, is super friendly and fun. The music was a bit loud (oh god does this mean I'm getting old?!), but so were we. They have great non-alcky drink options too. My partner got a blueberry lemonade that she says is delicious. I wouldn't know. It disappeared before I could get to it. :) The ONLY thing I would say is that I found the hush puppies a bit too salty for my taste, but everything else was SO good. Bathrooms are gendered and single-stalled. Parking is in the lot, which seems like it can get full during peak times. Our friend used to come here on the regular when she lived in the area. We might make the drive back just for that catfish! read more

Memphis Cafe - Banana Fosters bread pudding - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Amazing food! Best po boy we've had in OC - fresh bread filled with ample perfectly fried shrimp. Shrimp and grits were excellent - flavorful bbq shrimp with tasty green chile grits and crispy fried okra. We enjoyed the side of candied pecan salad. Their biscuits are also outstanding - fluffy and flaky. We enjoyed the mocktails. They have dog friendly outdoor seating. read more

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My son was craving eggs Benedict at 2 PM on a Thursday. We ended up at this place, so happy to have found what we've been searching for. Since the place is technically a bar at night, the place was empty when we came in just before the crowds. The door was inconspicuously located on the side, which we had to search for. That in itself was a fun "hunting" experience. We literally circled the entire restaurant before we can find it. It was so small I thought we were entering the back door. They did have a spacious patio seating, but we opted for inside since it was a hot day and the AC was blasting in there which was really nice. We ordered eggs Benedict just as we had planned and a strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious. Service was quick and friendly. There was a lot of parking around the establishment. When at the Lab, there is a planned return trip to this place. read more

Memphis Cafe - Eggs Benedict and a side of a tasty strawberry lemonade - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We stopped by Memphis Cafe to enjoy a meal after hitting up some nearby breweries. I absolutely love the retro vibe of Memphis Cafe! It's nice to have a choice between the indoor and outdoor patio seating. We ate outside since it was a nice day to enjoy the fresh air. We ordered the breakfast burrito, sauteed brussel sprouts, sweet potato fries, and Memphis Soul Burger. For drinks we ordered Memphis Mules and Mimosas. Everything was absolutely delicious and the drinks were amazing! We had such a great time and were so hungry that I forgot to take pictures of our meal and drinks! Our server was super friendly and attentive! She helped to make our dining experience fun and memorable. This is such a great place to stop by for a great meal or even drinks and pupus (appetizers)! My husband enjoyed coming here so much - he even set up a Happy Hour event for his work colleagues to celebrate their end of "busy season." This is an awesome place for small and large groups! We highly recommend it! read more

Memphis Cafe is quickly becoming one of my favorite breakfast spots. It is a nice cozy breakfast spot that has some great outdoor seating. A must-try is their fried chicken and waffles. The chicken has a perfect crispy exterior and a juicy interior topped with their gravy. The waffle has the perfect crunch. Each bite is pure comfort and flavor. We also had the Memphis two egg breakfast which again was just as satisfying. The service has been excellent both times that I have visited. Overall this is a spot I highly recommend for some great breakfast. read more

Memphis Cafe - Memphis Two Egg Breakfast - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here on a Saturday morning and had a great experience, from the service, to the food and atmosphere are all wonderful. We sat out in the enclosed patio and enjoyed the Green Chilaquiles and my husband enjoyed the breakfast burrito with sausage and bacon. Will definitely come ba read more

Memphis Cafe - Green Chilaquiles and bacon and sausage breakfast burrito - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I really do love this place and come back all the time - I even have my usual booth I always sit in. I have OCD so that's just how it goes for me, same spot every time. But the seat has a tear in it and it's really uncomfortable to sit on - like you're aware of it the whole entire meal and you can't just ignore it and move on. The current fix is duct tape which honestly isn't helping. I mentioned it to the manager twice on separate visits and both times was told the owner already knows. I actually believe that - which is why I'm writing this instead of just venting. I think the owner genuinely cares and I'm hoping this one just slipped through. For someone like me who can't just switch seats and move on, getting that booth reupholstered would really mean a lot. It's a small inexpensive fix and the difference it would make is huge - at least for me. The food is great, the vibe is exactly why I keep coming back. I just really hope this gets handled. read more

Memphis Cafe - booth seating - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've came to this cafe a few times and I've always had a great experience. The food and service are both good. It's a southern style comfort food restaurant. I've tried different foods from this restaurant. So far one of my favorite dishes here is the BBQ Green Chili Shrimp and Grits! At first, I was not too sure about the Green Chili mixed with the grits because I've always had regular grits. It was so good! It's one of my go to restaurants when I'm in Costa Mesa. Also this cafe is located right next to The Lab Anti-Mall which is a great outdoor shopping center. read more

This place is such a throwback for me as my wife and I had just started dating and had first visited when it opened nearly 30 years ago, and coming back now reminded me exactly why it's still so good. We ordered the meatloaf (1/2 off on Sundays), which is clearly a crowd favorite, and for good reason. The gravy had this peppery/steak sauce vibe that paired perfectly with the dish. The fried chicken was another standout, super juicy and cooked perfectly. And the steak? Expertly prepared and full of flavor. The only downside is that it runs a little cold inside, so maybe bring a sweater. But honestly, don't let that stop you from coming. Memphis has earned its place as a local institution, and we'll definitely be adding it back into our regular rotation. If you've never been, it's absolutely worth trying for the first time. If you have, it's probably time for a revisit. read more

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Been coming here since 2012 and it's easily one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The fried chicken is amazing and I would get it every time if not for the southern Benedict during brunch. Outdoor seating is nice with groups, but the inside is cosy when dining alone. Staff has been consistently friendly and enthusiastic. Total recommend. read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Benedict. An eggs Benedict with corned beef and a spicy sauce. - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The food is consistently great. We dine here often. Staff provides great customer service. Plus, they allow dogs in the patio, so we take our small pup! We enjoy the fried catfish, meatloaf and fried chicken. read more

One of my Favorite breakfast spots !!!! Love their corn, beef and hash Benedict, definitely need to return for lunch and dinner to try more menu items read more

Memphis Cafe - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great food, great cocktails and great service every time. Memphis has kept their high quality, good portion sizes and friendly service without raising prices. This is appreciated and will keep me coming back! read more

Wow. I was absolutely blown away during my most recent visit! The service was absolutely impeccable and they were nothing but friendly. We brought our cat with us and we had rotating staff coming out to take photos of her. I ordered their southern eggs benedict and I was blown away. Their take on hollandaise paired with their corned beef and eggs was absolutely delicious. Their outdoor patio was a plus and gave us a the ability to enjoy the fresh air while eating great food. read more

I was on a work trip and was looking for a place to eat for dinner. I saw this place on yelp and saw their happy hour menu. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted by staff. Staff were friendly and very helpful. I ordered the gumbo fries, Nashville hot chicken with waffle and whiskey and coke. The gumbo fries were delicious and very filling. The chicken and waffle were delicious. Whiskey and coke was refreshing and delicious. The ambiance is customer service friendly. The happy hour menu had a great food and drink selection. This is a great place to eat. read more

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A friend recommended this place for breakfast and finally we were able to visit. As soon as you enter the place, it gives you that cozy retro feel. The service was attentive and our server did check up on us. The food is good, we ordered waffle & chicken, and egg Benedict. The corned beef on the Benedict however was a little overwhelming in my opinion. It kinds of take over the entire dish. The price is a little high since there were no side dish with it. Overall, I would come back if we are in the area. read more

Memphis Cafe - Egg Benedict - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This place is such a cool restaurant to visit. I love the vibe inside and the staff is extremely kind. I ordered the southern catfish and it did not disappoint!! It was soooo soft and melted in my mouth. It was amazing. I also got the cauliflower appetizer which was sooo good, and i dont even like curry. The lavender lemonade is by far the best lemonade ive ever had. Super refreshing. Definitely come by and visit if youre at the anti mall! read more

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I was craving pancakes and these hit the spot!! also got the green chile grits - wow!! sooo insanely flavorful in a way i was not expecting. i honestly want to come back here to try more things off the menu bc the grits really struck a chord with me. the service was lovely and i like that they have outdoor seating as well. read more

Memphis Cafe - Buttermilk Pancakes - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Memphis was a local recommendation upon a local yelp elite recommendation. High praise and they damn well deserves it. For meat eaters and vegetarians alike there's tons to choose from, omit or addict. By that I mean their green chili grits.. it was so surprisingly grandmama's grits that I asked for seconds. There's a first time for everything! And the second and each time after the grits bowl was practically licked clean. Loved the deviled eggs and sweet potato fries. Great friendly service with this invisible cloak of character. read more

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I was craving Catfish, which is hard to find in Orange County, so off to Memphis we went. I started with a cup of Gumbo, which is also hard to find in Orange County. It was very good. The catfish plate was very good, too, and generously portioned with a sizable Catfish fillet, collard greens, jambalaya, and hush puppies. She got pancakes and enjoyed them. I washed mine down with a Michelada as one does. The service was great. I'd say friendly, attentive, and on the ball. Ambience wise, it's a relatively small space with a little bit of a hipster vibe. Don't let that deter you, though. We enjoyed our lunch. My pics are better if you click on them. Cheers! read more

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The food was delicious. The service isnt so personal but they are extremely busy usually so they are go go go. When they have a chance to stop, theyre very nice for conversation. The inside is tight and louder if youre okay with that, otherwise they have a great outside area with picnic tables and its covered read more

First of all, I like the food here and I want it to succeed! Having said that, the recent visits were disappointing. The place feels tired, and not clean. Lately the coffee is always very sour, not sure if it was due to the beans or the descaler. Ordered a cafe latte and it was different from previous times. A bit of foam was added to the top of sour coffee to pass off as a cafe latte??? Of course it's going to separate and curdle. Why? read more

Memphis Cafe - Coffee with a bit or curdy foam on top to pass off as cafe latte - Southern Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Cute small little joint, came here for breakfast since I figured why not try a new place. My kids ate majority of their plate, but I guess for me when I ordered the Fried Chicken and waffles it was decent. The best part was mainly the chicken/gravy. Prices are high, the staff was great, they always checked up on us, and fairly amount of good parking space. Who knows maybe this place is known for their lunch menu. read more

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Great lil spot that has been around for 30 years. Full bar, breakfast all day, soul food, so tasty. Always great service, friendly staff, very attentive. Kitchen is very consistent. Great happy hour menu, private parking lot, indoor/outdoor seating. Can be an intimate spot or great area for large group. Pup menu, soul food, does not disappoint so give a try if you've never been! Quick update: would recommend checking with your vet first if ordering off the pup menu. Found out the hard way tonight, with my pup dealing with pancreatitis, that the bacon for little pups is very bad (my error...fat content, which ironically is why I skipped the beef patty, paired with the salt used for curing bacon is a recipe for disaster). She had thrown up her entire meal later that afternoon (which I did think was likely the bacon as that's not something she's had before as an entire piece to herself), but has continued to throw up tonight. Would recommend the restaurant just put a notation on the menu, maybe add salmon, chicken, or oatmeal to the menu, or a make it a mini option (for the same price through as it's the same labor). She's finally sleeping now, but off to the vet in the morning. Some things in life are too much of a good thing... read more

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Really good southern food that's reasonably priced too. The breading on the chicken and fish is perfect. The gravy paired incredibly weird too. The 3 of us shared us the dishes and I loved it. Service was quick read more

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I have always enjoyed Memphis Café. It's the first time I've been back in a while because I moved away, but the fried chicken had was delicious. The bartender knows how to make a good bloody Mary. I'll definitely go back soon. read more

So glad this place is still around. Been coming here for over 30 years. Mostly for dinner but more recently for breakfast. Great soul food options and love the atmosphere. Not cheap but not exorbitant either. read more

I've been here a few times. Once just recently. Here are my thoughts. The food was decent. I got their special, Crabcake Eggs Benedict. It was good, not great. The Hollandaise sauce was fine. It was chipotle flavored and the waitress was sweet enough to let me try it before I ordered. I don't like things too spicy, but this was fine. It came in toast, not a English muffin, and it had potato wedges underneath. Those weren't my favorite. I would have skipped the wedges. My friend ordered chicken chilaquiles. I like that they have a chicken option. The chilaquiles were too spicy for me, but he loved them. We both ordered lemonade. He ordered blueberry, I ordered strawberry mint. Both were delicious. Not refills on the handcrafted lemonade. OK, I get that. My lemonade was delicious, but I liked his blueberry a bit better. They have other flavors too. Our waitress was so nice. I couldn't hear her name, but she was amazing! They have indoor and 2 outdoor areas to sit. We decided outdoors. That was a mistake, but one we made. There were just too many flys. Again this was our fault based on our own choices. The day was too beautiful to not enjoy it. The flys that came with it were not beautiful. read more

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Great dinner on date night with my husband. Memphis serves breakfast all day he enjoyed his favorite biscuits & waffles while I savored their halibut special. This little place may be casual but it has a great vibe with amazing original entrees made in their kitchen! And they change their fish specials monthly! We liked their desserts too (Chocolate Bananas Foster breads pudding and a peach-blackberry cobbler). Our server, Lori, gave us great feedback and advice about our choices, and answered all our questions. And she was right about everything. Definitely returning in the future. read more

The "psycho" chicken sandwich was amazing and the sweet potatoe fries were delicious! Service was great and the restaurant is small with a full bar. They do have outdoor seating for the fresh air. read more

One of the best kept secrets in Costa Mesa. Try the Down Home Gumbo and the Crab Cakes as well as the Bacon wrapped Shrimp. Such a yummy menu. read more

Let's start with the service everyone that spoke to us ( the host and the server) were super nice. The host wished be a happy birthday and everything. The restaurant is very small inside only able to fit a few guest and very small table tight so we sat outside. Outside was a bit better but it was kind of loud from the fans. Now man for the food. What can I say. This is not and I REPEAT NOOOOOT MEMPHIS FOOD. I understand at one point 50 years ago they may have had some kind of Memphis soul cooking, but baby this was not that. I am from the east coast and the southern this was a horrible attempt at making southern style food. First the gumbo. The rue was definitely not a rue but a gravy. It had no authentic gumbo taste, it did have the chicken and sausages it lacked in true gumbo flavor. Also the shrimp were bad. I mean horrible. The shrimp literally turned into mush in your mouth. I even showed the waitress how nasty that was that the shrimp just turned into to mush when you picked it up. The black eyes and rice was definitely nothing like it should be. First thing first. It was just a bowl of rice with a few black eyes mixed in with some veggies and a spicy sauce. Smh! That is not how you make black eye peas. And the shrimp and grit was the worse. True shrimp and grits have a spicy Cajun gravy on top. This had tomato sauce. Like it was a sweet tomato sauce the only thing I can describe it as is tomato basil soup. Never in my 35 years of living have I ever seen anyone make it like this and no Memphis doesn't make it like this... this was definitely made by someone that had no real clue what soul or southern style food is. My husband got chicken and waffles. The waffles came out ice cold like they had been sitting out for a long time. The best part of the meal was the chicken. He was tender, seasoned well and juicy. Thank god my husband got the gravy on the side because it tasted like flour. No flavor whatsoever so ever in the gravy. I ended up having to just order two pancakes because that food was not good at all. I know I would never come back read more

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Popped in here for breakfast on a Sunday morning and was pleasantly surprised. The parking lot is small, but there is plenty of street parking available if it's full. We chose a seat on the patio and the waitress was very attentive and helpful. Ordered a POG mimosa and a strawberry mint lemonade and both were absolutely delightful. The Southern Eggs Benedict were phenomenal and the stuffed French toast with berries was like the perfect breakfast dessert. Will definitely be returning. read more

We came here yesterday and let me tell you the food was amazing! I really enjoyed that they had an indoor, outdoor covered area and a fully outdoor area. The service was very attentive and very fast. This cafe is definitely child friendly! This place has been one of my favorite places so far in California! read more

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