Where to Eat

Dining options on campus

Union Food Court  - Burger King® WHOPPER® Bar; a Taco Bell® Express; Miso, which specializes in sushi and Asian cuisine; Topio's fresh baked pizzas and calzones; and Bistro 1912, which features specialty sandwiches, salads, and soups; Grab-N-Go, with bottled drinks, sandwiches, salads, desserts and more.

Union Market - It features a Dunkin' Donuts with hot coffee, fresh donuts, and more. The Market also has a variety of Grab-N-Go sandwiches, salads, parfaits, bottled drinks and other snacks.

Tigers of Memphis - Place your order, sit down, and we'll bring the food to you! Enjoy watching the flat-screen TVs, the beautiful view of the campus fountain, or challenge a friend to a game of pool.

All of the above are located in the University Center, two floors below all of the exhibits and River Room, and adjacent to the University Center Auditorium. The Union Market is open in the morning and the Food Court is available for breakfast or lunch.

Housing in the Living Learning Center dorm includes three all you can eat meals per day in the Fresh Food Company in Jones Hall, adjacent to the dorm. All participants are welcome to eat there as well, either on a cash basis or with a meal contract. The meal contract, for $117, is for three meals per day Monday through Saturday, and offers discounted prices and no sales tax.

For those who wish to explore other options, including the world's best barbecue, the "Horn Player's Guide to Memphis Dining" and an accompanying map will be available at registration. Until then, explore offerings near the campus on this website.

Barbecue 101

  • Wet or dry?

    Ribs can be ordered basted with sauce or seasoned with dry rub. Your best bet is the platter with half of each.

  • Meat should be tender, not mushy.

    To achieve this, Memphis barbecue pork is smoked on grates suspended over hardwood charcoal in the traditional fashion; some newer places may simply use wood.

  • Look for the smoke ring.

    If you examine the inside edge of the meat closely, you should be able to see the trace of a pinkish line, which indicates a job well done.

  • Carry a detailed map.

    Most locals have been going to the same barbecue joint for so long that they tend to be loosey-goosey about exact directions.

  • Don’t expect fancy.

    Barbecue houses rarely have a restaurant-like ambience. Most started out as roadside take-out shacks and retain their original on-the-fly feel.

  • White bread is the right bread.

    Don’t let the Wonder Bread truck parked outside put you off; barbecue requires the soft squares for sopping up what’s left on your plate.