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    SOB Downtown

    4.0 (704 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    SOB Downtown Photos

    Business Info

    SOB DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - SOB Downtown

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    View of bar and the HVAC duct and vents!
    Mark G.

    Friday night no reservation needed. After looking at MANY menus was the most GF friendly place we could find in downtown Memphis. Bowls bowls bowls. Great vibe and bar. Live Music in "sitting area" up front. Booths and tables and a loooooong bar. Tip there is a line of tables right under the AC vents. Could be a good thing/bad thing depending on weather and how you are dressed.

    Spicy chicken sandwich.
    Kontji A.

    Good old reliable! They have a new menu as of 11/21/25 and it's still hitting! This place never misses. I've been coming here since they put S.O.B. on the door and it's always consistent -- great food, good vibe, and super consistent. My favorites are the General Tso's cauliflower (seriously addictive), the adobo short rib (melts in your mouth), and the grilled salmon with maple bacon brussels sprouts. The menu has a ton of variety -- bowls, flatbreads, tacos, pastas, even solid vegetarian options -- and it's all done well. I've brought out-of-town friends here and everyone finds something they love. They've grown a lot over time, expanding into two dining spaces in the same building, and even opened a second location in East Memphis. Says a lot about how well they're doing. Service is always solid, and the atmosphere always feels upbeat. Great for lunch, dinner, weeknights, date nights, or group dinners. Just an all-around dependable spot with food, service and ambiance that keep me coming back.

    Licid dream
    Tommie W.

    The food was hot and fresh. I ordered the SOB burger medium well but they overcooked it so it didn't taste as good as I wanted to. The cocktail was ok. I think the Sanderson location has better food and drinks. That's my normal location but I was downtown so I decided to give this location a try.

    Shawarma Bowl
    Rich A.

    Located in the up-and-coming South Main neighborhood, South of Beale (or, SoB) is an upscale casual restaurant in a newly-renovated historic building that was once the Ambassador Hotel. SoB offers reasonably-priced internationally-inspired fusion cuisine and tasty and innovative cocktails served by efficient and friendly staff. SoB features a menu with something for everyone, including those with various dietary restrictions, with burgers, bowls, salads and entrees at prices that range from $15 for a veggie or turkey burger and fries to $36 for a New York Strip steak or drunken lamb chops. I ordered the Shawarma Bowl ($17), a Middle Eastern-inspired dish comprised of broiled chopped chicken thigh served over yellow rice, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and topped with shawarma sauce and sriracha with a few pieces of pita bread. YUM! The bold flavors came together well to make a very tasty dish. My dining companion ordered the Zaka Bowl ($16), a Korean-inspired dish with marinated mushrooms, carrots, green beans, sunny-side egg, white rice, and sesame, drizzled with kimchi vinaigrette and topped with fried tofu (+$9), which she really enjoyed. As for the cocktails, I tried the Bittersweet Symphony ($13), made with juke joint bourbon, lazzaroni maraschino liquour, orange juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and angostura bitters, which was an very tasty and refreshing take on a traditional Old Fashioned cocktail. The portion sizes were very filling and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food. We will definitely be back next time we're in Memphis! PRO TIP #1: Flavortown Mayor Guy Fieri visited South of Beale in the 2012 Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode "Flavortown Medley". He, owner Ed Cabigao, and executive chef Bryan McDaniel made the Duck Fried Rice and Jack Daniels-infused bread pudding.

    Camille F.

    Great weather for PATIO vibes! I've been to SOB more than I can count and I can't believe this is my first review. BUT. The food is good, the happy hour is great and I often get pretty good service, however, I do think they have an opportunity to boost their attention of the patio. There was a bit of a wait today but once we brought it to the hostess attention, it was quickly resolved. Overall, a nice experience every time!

    Steak flatbread
    Alyssa H.

    Love the vibe here! We came on a Sunday, no reservations and had no problem sitting at the bar. The service was great. We had the apple salad which was so good and flavorful. The drinks were also fantastic. The flatbreads were good but I will say, while they were flavorful it was a pita with toppings. Let's just call it what it was, it was good. Was it $16 good? I wouldn't say so. And while it all had good flavor, the pita wasn't toasted or grilled so it was definitely "50 shades of soft" very one note texturally. I had hoped for more I must say. But overall, it was good.

    Shawarma bowl
    Ria B.

    No major complaints. I got the shawarma bowl which was better than I expected for downtown Memphis though it was pretty far off from an actual shawarma bowl. The Chicken was cubed and not shredded, the rice was weirdly sticky too, but the flavor was actually pretty good. The pita was standard too but did not taste made in house. The ambiance inside is modern and clean. If you want a nice place to sit and enjoy a dinner with friends or a date. No complaints on service everything was out in time and they were attentive.

    Mae D.

    Excellent service & food! A modern American Asian cuisine. A wide variety of different options to choose from! Can't go wrong with any!

    Naked salmon w/ very good mac and cheese.
    Mark M.

    My service with Trey was very good, no complaints! I have been to SOB before for drinks but this was my first time for dinner. I originally ordered the steak but come to find out they were out of filets of steak (on a saturday night, they stated they just had a bigger party all order some) so I had to order something instead. I got the salmon with mac and cheese and while good, the salmon just came as a seared filet with nothing on it, just a naked piece of fish. Pretty boring. I ended up adding the salmon into the mac and cheese and it was very good that way!

    Cross section of the Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
    Ali D.

    Atmosphere of this place gets a 10/10! I felt like it had personality, was big and open, and still felt intimate! The location is great too especially if you're enjoying the sights and sounds of downtown Memphis before or after your meal. I dined in a party of 4 and we shared three appetizers and tried four different meals -- all of it was a damn knockout! My meal: Buffalo chicken sandwich with french fries. Fries were crunchy on the outside and so soft on the inside with so much flavor. I love a good French fry!!! The sandwich stole the show. The sauce was sooooo wonderful and the blue cheese on top was subtle for most of the sandwich and then you'd get a sharp bite and it was just delicious! My husband loved the steak & Mac and cheese. I tried a bite of both and it was wonderful! My sister and brother in law split the duck patty melt and the short ribs and they enjoyed both so much as well. For appetizers we got the cheesesteak egg rolls and the chicken bao buns and they were delicious but the buns stole the show! (So much so that I neglected to get a photo of them!) Our server was kind and there when we needed anything. Food runners (possibly the chefs as well?) who brought the food out were so genuinely nice as well. SOB left a great first impression. It's worth your visit and attention and offers tons of unique menu options! We are lucky to have them in Memphis!!

    Shawarma Bowl
    Tommie B.

    I had the Zaka Bowl and added tuna. It was pretty good and had a nice mix of flavors. We also shared the cauliflower wings, which were tasty, and everyone loved them. My friends had the burger, which they really enjoyed, and the Shawarma Bowl, which I heard was really good. The chicken in the bowl was very flavorful, and the shawarma sauce complemented the dish well. They serve complimentary popcorn with their special seasoning instead of bread, which is a cool touch. I'm not a fan of the buffalo chicken dip; it's way too chunky and not very spicy. The staff is friendly, and the restaurant is very beautifully decorated.

    Uhhh Dessert
    Sharon W.

    First- the waitress was sooooo rude. She was impatient, said I'll be back and walked around like we were invisible. The bread pudding- nothing Jack or Coke about it. The worst big piece of bread pudding, that plated syrup was supposed to be the jack and Coke reduction syrup but not. Then a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Tragic. Other than that- this place is nice.

    General Tso's Cauliflower
    Maya T.

    First time here and everything was great! We always eat at Flying Fish when we come to Memphis, but we were truly impressed with SoB haha We started off with the General Tso's cauliflower bites, delicious. I got the Zaka Bowl and me and my sister got the Espresso Marrini's. The Zaka Bowl was different, I liked it and the martini's were great. The service was great! We were seated at the bar and the tender, Joe was awesome! I personally feel there should've been someone else behind the counter helping him out but that's just my take on that. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. I would definitely come to SoB again!

    Tuna

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    Hard Times Deli

    Hard Times Deli

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    Anytime I'm anywhere near Hardtimes Deli, I have to stop in for what I consider the best Turkey…read moreBacon Ranch sub in the city. The combination of freshly baked bread, smoked turkey, pickled avocado, and crispy bacon creates an incredible flavor in every bite. The atmosphere is just as enjoyable as the food. With its laid-back vibe and cozy seating, it's the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a great meal. Today, I paired my sandwich with Jalapeño Ranch Sea Salt chips, and to top it all off, I grabbed a Jarritos Pineapple soda--the perfect drink to complement an already amazing lunch. If you're looking for a delicious sandwich and a welcoming place to unwind, Hardtimes Deli is definitely worth a visit.

    This place is fantastic. I have gotten sandwiches here a few times and they never disappoint. They…read moreare packed full of meat and toppings and many of the sandwiches put a unique spin on classics. The staff are always super welcoming. The only downside is the price, as spending ~$20 on a sandwich is never fun, but it seems like that's just about everywhere these days. However, if you're not that hungry, these sandwiches can be stretched to 2 meals to keep the cost down. A few of my favorites are the Turkey Bacon Ranch and the SSS Chopped Cheese. THEY ALSO HAVE CANNED GATORADE. IYKYK Being able to pop over to Slowdown Dry Goods next door while you wait for your food is a big plus. They always have some cool stuff to check out while you wait.

    Photos
    Hard Times Deli
    I took a pic of our sandwiches, potato salad and kimchi to send to my son in Dallas to brag that Memphis finally has a real Deli!
    I took a pic of our sandwiches, potato salad and kimchi to send to my son in Dallas to brag that Memphis finally has a real Deli!
    Outside

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    Outside

    SOB Downtown - gastropubs - Updated August 2026

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