Fast food gets a bad rap, but let’s be honest—we all indulge once in a while. Whether you’re in a rush, it’s been a hard day, money’s a little tight or you just have a hankering for a burger, there’s no shame in hitting up your favorite fast-food joint now and then.
And if you live in Memphis, you have access to some seriously next-level fast-food restaurants. Here are some of the best places to grab a quick bite in Memphis:
Cook Out
With three locations in Memphis and many more scattered throughout the South, Cook Out is famous for its on-the-go drive-through barbecue. Is it the best barbecue in Memphis? Of course not. But is it good? You bet. The menu also includes hamburgers, hot dogs and onion rings, as well as more than 40 milkshake flavors.
Jack Pirtle’s Chicken
Home-grown fast-food chain Jack Pirtle’s Chicken is known for its fried chicken, chicken wings, mashed potatoes and gravy. Be sure to get a jug of this local favorite’s famous sweet tea to wash everything down! With eight locations around town, Jack Pirtle’s has been beloved by Memphians since 1957, and the fact that nobody from outside Memphis has ever heard of it means there’s all the more for us!
Five Guys
There’s a reason Five Guys has been blowing up in the last few years—its fare doesn’t look or taste like fast food. The thick, juicy burgers (each with as many free toppings as you want) served with a heaping portion of fresh-cut fries are about as good as it gets in the realm of on-the-go dining.
Hook Fish & Chicken
You might raise an eyebrow at the concept of fast-food seafood, but Hook Fish & Chicken will put any naysayer’s mind at ease. With options ranging from fried catfish to grouper fillets, Hook is miles ahead of the competition. And if you’re not really a seafood person, don’t despair: It serves chicken, too.
Sai Fast Foods
This Winchester Road establishment is one of the best spots in Memphis for Indian food, fast or otherwise. The goat biryani is a perennial favorite at Sai Fast Foods, as are the myriad vegetarian options—a rare find in the fast food world.
Church’s Chicken
With several locations in the Memphis area, Church’s Chicken is on a whole other level. Its hand-battered fried chicken comes with an assortment of sides, including fried okra, corn on the cob, baked mac ‘n’ cheese, mashed potatoes and honey-butter biscuits.
Krystal
Atlanta-based Krystal has 10 locations scattered in and around Memphis, and we’re glad it does. Before you get confused, know that although this chain is renowned for its sliders, they’re called “Krystals” on the menu. With that said, you can get the Original Krystal, the Cheese Krystal, the Bacon Cheese Krystal… You know what, just get a Krystal Sackfull—that’s a dozen sliders—and pretend you’re going to share them, even though you totally won’t.
Firehouse Subs
With locations everywhere from Union Ave. to Germantown, Firehouse Subs offers everything you expect to find at a sub shop, including but in no way limited to hot subs, cold subs, ham, turkey, roast beef, pastrami and corned beef. It’s your basic hoagie outfit, and there ain’t nothin’ in the world wrong with that.
If you need a great meal in a hurry, you’ve come to the right place. These fast-food restaurants in Memphis are so good, you might even forget they’re serving fast food.
