$10 Deal: El Mero’s southern fried chicken taco
This taco nails the crispy-creamy-spicy trifecta. It’s like if your favorite bar snack went south of the border and came back with an accent.
Joshua Carlucci
There are 183 articles by Joshua Carlucci :
-
April 2025
-
$10 Deals -
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Mix and match at Great China Market
At Great China Market, $10 gets you a satisfying variety of combinations of delicious pastries and caramelized pork.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Ragin’ Cajun’s fried shrimp po’boy
This one’s definitely worth the mess.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: ZamZamz’s kefta pita
Think a burger meets a kebab meets a wrap, but it’s better than any of those.
-
-
March 2025
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Ricos Tamales in six different flavors. All good.
Ricos Tamales “El Ruco” isn’t listed on Google Maps. It’s a folding table on the sidewalk. But it’s the real deal.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Lao Street makes Memphis’ foodscape special
Lao Street Kitchen’s papaya salad is a masterclass in balance, hitting sweet, sour, salty and spicy all at once.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Chukis’ hefty, cheese-wrapped Birriburro
A word of warning: This is not a “light lunch” situation. This is a commitment. You’re either going to need a nap afterward or a solid reason to walk around for the next hour.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Hard Times’ chicken Caesar sandwich is a revelation
You’d think all the hype, the endless press and the Instagram carnage of stacked sandwiches might make it impossible to live up to expectations. But you’d be wrong.
-
-
February 2025
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Memphis Crawfish Company knows how to boil
Make sure you get your money’s worth at Memphis Crawfish Company No. 2 — suck the heads.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Pho 4Ever takes the spotlight again
Pho 4Ever, which we highlighted two years ago for its bánh mì dac biet, has perhaps the best bánh xèo in Memphis.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Could the best of the best be Pho 4Ever’s bánh mì dac biet?
Though there is a seemingly infinite number of bánh mì sandwiches, there is but one to rule them all — the bánh mì dac biet.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Street food at La Salvadorena
The cheese pulls apart in stretchy strands, the meat is deeply savory, and the slightly spicy salsa verde on the side gives each bite a little punch.
-
Premium
ReviewsNew Eats: Crosstown’s Bao Toan brings the Bao Bao Shrimp
Bao Toan is the kind of place that builds anticipation starting in the lobby. It’s date-night gold.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Takashi is a Japanese bistro with pan-Asian range
An entire Thai menu — with an impressive version of drunken noodles — adds to Takashi’s offerings of well-executed sushi and soba bowls.
-
-
January 2025
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Isabella’s New-York style pizza in Bartlett
The display case tells you everything you need to know about Isabella’s. A sprawling array of classic, oversized slices dominates the counter.
-
Premium
Food NewsFormer nurse and chef is behind Rawgirls’ revival
When the new Rawgirls owner Laura Wegner saw an opportunity to merge her culinary roots with her health care expertise, she didn’t hesitate.
-
Premium
Food NewsElevated Vietnamese cuisine coming to Crosstown
Bao Toan, from the family behind Mochi & Mi, will open their newest restaurant Wednesday, Jan. 29.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Guatemalan ‘surf and turf’ at Alicia Restaurante
The rib steak, with its charred edges and tender middle, balances beautifully with plump shrimp just kissed by the grill.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: El Palenke’s carnitas burrito is fast but good
Taqueria El Palenke Express doesn’t try to overdeliver, and it doesn’t have to.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: The Lamplighter’s bare bones, but delectable, cheeseburger
Pair your burger with a beer, cue up a Patsy Cline song on the jukebox and let yourself be charmed by the misshapen magic of this Midtown institution.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Nagoya House’s tonkotsu ramen won’t leave you wanting
Unlike some budget-friendly ramen joints that cut corners, Nagoya’s broth delivers a depth and complexity that holds its own — especially against others around the city.
-
-
December 2024
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Quinoa at the Complicated Pilgrim has layers of flavor
Complicated Pilgrim’s breakfast bowl proves quinoa isn’t boring; it’s just waiting for someone to show it a little love.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Ali Baba’s smoky-sweet flavors are straight from the fire
Joshua Carlucci says a Mediterranean wood flame grill is at the heart of Ali Baba’s traditional — but unforgettable — menu.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: At El Pollo Latino, rotisserie chicken is undeniably the star
For $10.50, you’ll get half a portion of their pollo asado, a firewood-smoked rotisserie chicken that’s tender, juicy and steeped in a subtle smokiness.
-
$10 Deals $10 Deal: Malia’s rib tips — no frills, all flavor
The setup at Malia’s is as no-nonsense as the food. The shack is weathered and well-loved, with hand-painted lettering and a menu nailed to a wooden plank.
-