Like most city natives, you tend to miss out on “hidden gems” within your city because you’re sometimes looking for the next big thing (especially when it comes to food), or if it’s in an area that’s considered touristy. In Memphis, however, that needs to change because we have so many delicious, locally owned restaurants that we need to tap into to, especially now due to COVID. One such place that needs to be on your radar if it isn’t already is King’s Palace Café, located on our Historical Beale Street.
Kings Palace Café serves Cajun cuisine ranging from Shrimp & Crawfish Etouffee, Blackened Catfish, Voodoo Potatoes, and many more. The interior vibes are reminiscent of NOLA, they offer live music indoors and on a “lazy patio’ and while it’s a perfect place for a party, it still has that low key feel to it so you won’t feel overwhelmed by the crowd.
They’re known for their award-winning gumbo, and I’ve been craving some southern comfort food, so when I popped in I tried the Championship Gumbo, Fried Green Tomatoes, Memphis Style Jumbo Wings, and Pecan Pie.
The Championship Gumbo is rich, but not heavy, flavorful and not too hot/spicy-it’s the perfect balance and it was a winner for a reason.
The Fried Green Tomatoes are done Southern Style, and again, the flavor was delicious. The tomatoes were juicy with a little bit of tang, and they were seasoned to perfection. They’re served with a horseradish sauce but you don’t really need it unless you want it.
The Memphis Style Jumbo Wings are hickory smoked, and my best way to describe them is that they taste like they’re straight off your cousin’s grill at the family cookout. There’s a touch of sweetness to them and they’re not hot (though they are served with a hot dipping sauce if you want that added heat).
Finally, I tried the Pecan Pie and OMG. I typically only eat Pecan Pie during the Holiday season because it’s so rich and a nice indulgence, but this may be one that I go back for on the regular, lol. It’s not too sweet, the pecans are firm but not hard, and the crust melts in your mouth. This is one of those pies that you buy whole and then try to pass it off as your own homemade dish at dinner because it’s THAT good.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. The pricing is affordable and the portions are generous-you and your fam or friends can order a few dishes to sample and you’ll definitely get full, lol. It was quiet while I was there because it was early afternoon (the band was starting to set up outside and my server Andrea said it picks up in the evening and on the weekends). Speaking of Andrea, I really enjoyed talking to her while I was there. Because it wasn’t busy, we were able to chat about the food, the business on Beale as a whole, and even food blogging. It felt like I was talking to a friend, which is something that I absolutely love at establishments like this. You want to engage with people who are personable and open-it makes the overall experience so much more enjoyable.
During the day and into early evening, Beale Street is actually quite family friendly (there’s a cool old school candy store that’s located right next door to them that I’m going to visit), so whether you’re a tourist from out of town or just want to get out and explore your home town, take a few hours to head down and hang out. While COVID has made things a little bit harder to do, Beale Street is actually designed for you to safely mingle and pop in and out of businesses with ease, so it would make for a fun Saturday afternoon outing.
To learn more about King’s Palace Café and to see their menu, click here. They’re located at 162 Beale Street, open daily, and you can do takeout or order from them on UberEats as well.
Thank you to Memphis Travel and I Love Memphis for the opportunity to better explore and support our local eateries and to Eat Local. If you’re looking for new places to dine, check out the I Love Memphis Food Facebook group!