With at least eight new restaurants expected to open across Memphis in Spring 2026, the city’s dining scene is expanding to include international cuisine, café concepts and upscale dining while still reflecting local demand for affordable, convenient meals.
Planned openings include Kuya, a Filipino snack bar, Fuego Vivo, a Mexican steakhouse, Ahi Asian bistro and several new café concepts, adding to the variety of dining options available across the city. As Memphis continues to grow its restaurant scene, culinary experts say the mix of concepts reflects changing dining preferences among residents.
“Kind of that fast, quick, easy meal is what people are looking for,” said Chef Eric Etter, Assistant Professor of Teaching at the University of Memphis’ Kemmons Wilson Culinary Institute. “But I definitely think the expansion of international dining that we have here in the city is going to continue to grow.”…