This Low-Key Tennessee Soul Food Restaurant Keeps Winning Over Regulars

Memphis has always been a city where soul runs deep, not just in the music but in the food that feeds its neighborhoods. Tucked away on Mississippi Boulevard, The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant has been serving up honest, home-cooked meals that remind folks why they keep coming back, generation after generation.

It’s the kind of place where regulars know the menu by heart and newcomers quickly become part of the family. If you’re searching for authentic soul food that doesn’t need flashy signs or fancy marketing to prove its worth, this low-key gem in the 38126 zip code is where the magic happens.

A Legacy That Stretches Back To The Civil Rights Era

Walking through the doors at 998 Mississippi Boulevard feels like stepping into a living piece of Memphis history. The Four Way opened its doors in 1946, making it one of the oldest African-American owned restaurants still operating in the South.

Back when segregation laws dictated where Black patrons could dine, this establishment became a sanctuary where community leaders, activists, and everyday folks gathered around tables laden with cornbread and collard greens.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself dined here during his visits to Memphis, along with other prominent figures of the movement. The walls seem to whisper stories of strategy sessions held over sweet tea and fried catfish.

Owners have changed hands over the decades, but the commitment to preserving both recipes and reverence for the past remains steadfast.

Current patrons sit in the same booths where history was discussed and decisions that shaped America were made. The restaurant doesn’t boast about its past with gaudy plaques or museum-style displays; instead, it lets the atmosphere speak through faded photographs and the warmth of continued service.

Eating here means participating in a tradition that transcends mere sustenance and touches something profoundly communal.

Fried Chicken That Converts Skeptics Into Believers

Some restaurants claim to have the best fried chicken in town, but The Four Way lets its crispy, golden-brown masterpieces do the talking without needing billboards or social media hype. Each piece emerges from the kitchen with a crackling exterior that shatters at first bite, revealing meat so tender it practically falls from the bone.

The seasoning blend remains a closely guarded secret, passed down through kitchen generations like precious heirloom jewelry.

What sets this chicken apart isn’t just technique or temperature control – it’s the patience involved in preparation. The meat gets marinated long enough to absorb flavors deep into every fiber, then coated in a flour mixture that achieves that perfect balance between thick armor and delicate crunch.

No shortcuts, no frozen substitutes, no compromises on quality even when the lunch rush threatens to overwhelm the kitchen staff.

First-timers often order a single piece as a test, planning to save room for other menu items. That plan typically crumbles by the second bite, when they realize they’ve encountered something extraordinary.

Regulars know to order extra pieces for later, though those rarely make it home intact.

Collard Greens Simmered To Silky Perfection

Anyone can boil greens until they surrender their color and texture, but cooking them properly requires understanding the difference between submission and transformation. The Four Way’s collard greens achieve that elusive sweet spot where each leaf maintains enough integrity to provide gentle resistance while melting across your tongue with buttery richness.

Slow-simmered with smoked turkey instead of the traditional pork, they accommodate various dietary preferences without sacrificing the deep, smoky essence that defines proper Southern greens.

The pot liquor – that flavorful broth left behind after the greens are served – deserves its own accolades. Many patrons request extra cornbread specifically for sopping up every precious drop, treating it like liquid gold that shouldn’t go to waste.

The cooking process takes hours, not minutes, allowing onions, garlic, and spices to weave themselves into every wrinkle and vein of the leaves.

Visitors from other regions sometimes approach collard greens with trepidation, unsure what to expect from this unfamiliar vegetable. After tasting The Four Way’s version, they often become enthusiastic converts, suddenly understanding why Southerners consider greens an essential component of any respectable meal rather than an afterthought side dish.

Macaroni And Cheese That Defines Comfort

Forget everything you know about boxed pasta dinners or trendy gastropub variations with truffle oil and lobster chunks. The Four Way serves macaroni and cheese that remembers its roots as honest comfort food designed to warm bellies and lift spirits.

Baked until the top develops a golden crust with slightly crispy edges, the interior remains creamy without becoming soupy or greasy – a balance many restaurants attempt but few achieve successfully.

The cheese blend leans toward sharp cheddar, providing enough tang to keep the dish interesting rather than one-dimensional. Real butter, whole milk, and eggs contribute to a custard-like consistency that coats each elbow macaroni piece thoroughly.

No fancy pasta shapes here, just traditional elbows that capture pockets of cheese sauce in their curves, ensuring every forkful delivers maximum flavor.

Children adore it for obvious reasons, but adults find themselves scraping their plates clean with equal enthusiasm. The portion sizes lean generous, yet people consistently finish every bite, sometimes loosening their belts afterward with zero regrets.

Located at 998 Mississippi Boulevard in Memphis, this spot knows that sometimes the simplest dishes executed flawlessly create the most lasting memories.

Catfish Fried With Unmatched Expertise

Mississippi River catfish holds a special place in Memphis culinary tradition, and The Four Way treats this local treasure with the respect it deserves. Each fillet gets dredged in seasoned cornmeal rather than plain flour, creating a textured coating that provides superior crunch and authentic Southern flavor.

The fish emerges from the fryer with a beautiful amber hue, crispy on the outside while maintaining moist, flaky flesh within that breaks apart cleanly with a fork.

Fresh catfish makes all the difference – the kitchen refuses to work with anything frozen or farm-raised from distant locations. This commitment to quality means the fish tastes clean and sweet, without any of the muddy or fishy notes that give catfish a bad reputation among the uninitiated.

Paired with tangy coleslaw and hushpuppies, the catfish plate represents Delta cuisine at its finest.

Friday catfish specials draw crowds that spill out the door, with folks willing to wait patiently for a table rather than settle for lesser versions elsewhere. The restaurant’s location in the 38126 area code makes it a neighborhood anchor where fish fries feel like family reunions and strangers bond over shared appreciation for properly prepared seafood.

Service That Treats Everyone Like Extended Family

Fast food chains train employees to follow scripts and maintain emotional distance from customers, but The Four Way operates according to different principles entirely. Servers remember regular customers’ names, usual orders, and even ask about family members who haven’t stopped by recently.

This personal touch transforms a simple meal into a genuine social experience where people feel seen and valued beyond their role as paying customers.

Even first-time visitors receive warm welcomes that make them feel less like tourists and more like friends who simply haven’t visited in a while. Staff members offer recommendations without pushiness, steer indecisive diners toward house specialties, and check back frequently to ensure satisfaction.

The pace moves at Southern speed – never rushed, but efficient enough that no one feels neglected or forgotten.

During busy lunch hours when every table fills and people queue near the entrance, servers maintain their composure and friendliness despite the pressure. You won’t find eye-rolling or impatient sighs here, just hardworking folks who take pride in hospitality and understand that good service enhances even the most delicious food.

Situated in Memphis’s 38126 neighborhood, this restaurant proves that treating people right never goes out of style.

Prices That Respect Working People’s Budgets

Gentrification and food trends have pushed many restaurants toward pricing that makes regular dining impossible for average working families. The Four Way bucks this trend deliberately, maintaining prices that allow people to eat well without choosing between dinner and other necessities.

A full plate loaded with meat, multiple sides, and cornbread costs less than many fast-food combo meals, proving that quality and affordability aren’t mutually exclusive when restaurants prioritize community over maximum profit margins.

The value proposition becomes even clearer when you consider portion sizes that often provide enough food for two meals. Regulars know to bring containers for leftovers, planning tomorrow’s lunch while enjoying today’s dinner.

Senior citizens on fixed incomes, young families stretching paychecks, and students watching every dollar all find welcome here, never made to feel lesser because they can’t afford expensive dining experiences.

Some might question how the restaurant maintains such reasonable prices while using quality ingredients and paying staff fairly. The answer lies in efficiency, loyal customer base that provides steady business, and owners who measure success by filled tables and satisfied patrons rather than purely by profit margins.

This philosophy has sustained the business through economic ups and downs when trendier establishments came and went.

An Atmosphere Where Authenticity Trumps Instagram Aesthetics

Modern restaurant design often prioritizes photogenic moments over genuine comfort, with Edison bulbs, reclaimed wood, and carefully curated vintage props that feel more like stage sets than actual gathering spaces. The Four Way takes the opposite approach, offering a straightforward dining room where function matters more than hashtag potential.

Booths show honest wear from decades of use, tables are practical rather than artisanal, and the overall vibe suggests a place more concerned with feeding people well than attracting influencers.

This lack of pretension actually enhances the experience for those seeking substance over style. Without trendy distractions, diners focus on what matters: conversations with companions, flavors on their plates, and the comfortable feeling of being somewhere that doesn’t demand performance or presentation.

The restaurant’s authenticity stems from continuity and consistency rather than calculated branding strategies.

You’ll find three generations sitting together at tables, businesspeople grabbing quick lunches, and couples enjoying quiet dinners without feeling pressure to document every moment. The Four Way at 998 Mississippi Boulevard doesn’t need to chase trends because it established its identity long before social media existed, and that timeless quality continues attracting people who value real experiences over curated content.