Franchisee Loay Abdallah, who signed a five-location, five-year deal with Bonchon, tried Korean fried chicken in Chicago and couldn’t forget the taste.

The Memphis Mushroom Festival returns for its third year with music, cooking demos from local chefs, workshops and, of course, plenty of fun ... gi. 

Crosstown Concourse is homebase for SriMu’s online, subscription-based vegan cheese operation, but the storefront also offers grab-and-go options — and will soon include a small cafe.

In 2022 alone, 29 billion pounds of food materials moved through the Memphis metropolitan area.

An auction for two Holiday Deli & Ham locations, plus all the business’ extras, is ongoing through Thursday, Oct. 26, at noon. 

The 1,300-square-foot Memphis restaurant, 706 S. Mendenhall, will include a covered patio when it opens in late February or March. 

The 7,200-square-foot building will house Fanatic Sports Bar, the Wing Fanatic and a 1,000-square-foot entertainment zone known as the “living room.”

As Belly Acres focuses on its East Memphis and forthcoming Southaven location, it’s looking to breakfast and “ultimate Belly shakes.”

The 5,200-square-foot, 140-seat restaurant is at 255 S. Front St., which was formerly Ellis & Sons Machine Shop.

“It’s not some high-pressure cooking competition where people are investing a ton of money and expecting a lot of return,” said the reigning grand champ. “We put forth whatever time or money or effort we can, and ... everybody has a blast.”

The menu is enormous, complete with Indian cuisine ranging across the board from North to South, but with a heavy emphasis on the latter.

Some local restaurants have added service fees to attract and retain quality workers. 

Fable will be located on the first floor of 409 S. Main St., where Puck Food Hall once was.

The general manager of Doc’s Wine, Spirits & More in Germantown says nearby construction has impacted the store’s business. 

The building’s former restaurant tenant, Red Hook, closed Sunday, Oct. 8. 

Local food truck Taco Cat plans to open its first conventional restaurant on Germantown Parkway next month.

The owner of Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos plans to open a third location of the popular restaurant — with even more of an emphasis on tacos — early next spring. 

Big Chicken, a fast-casual chicken concept, is opening three locations in Memphis and North Mississippi next year.

You don’t have to be Jewish or a member of MJCC to dine at Sam’s Corner, which will have a variety of kosher dishes, including salads, fish, pasta and pizza.

More than three-fourths of those who participated in an email survey said they want to move Memphis in May’s annual barbecue contest to Liberty Park.

The 901 Hot Pot & Korean BBQ opened in March in Bartlett and is ready for an expansion. Plus, a second location in East Memphis is in the works.

Feast & Graze owner Cristina McCarter said she plans to close her shop on South Main at the end of the year in favor of a new location.

Belltower Coffeehouse is serving its coffee, teas and more at Shelby Farms Park.

A boozy oasis is headed to Midtown, as the owners of the Cameo cocktail bar lay down plans for a new tropical-themed sibling. 

From “dirty” sodas to baked chicken, more than a dozen restaurants and food vendors within the Memphis Medical District will showcase their flavors at the annual Taste of the District.