Add another Mexican restaurant to the stretch of Summer Avenue we all love for our tacos and tortas. La Unica has finally opened in an old Wendy’s.

Rock’n Dough has opened in the former Fox Ridge Pizza in Cordova with the same favorites, from pizza to beer and more, that it has in Germantown, and it continues to expand.

From chicken to tacos, this street food stroll has some mouth-watering treats in store. 

New Asia, a favorite Chinese restaurant known for its authentic dishes and a large Chinese-American selection, has finally reopened its Germantown dining room.

As a new recurring feature, I’ll be on the hunt for street-food finds in the Memphis area: good stuff from food trucks, farmers markets, gas stations, walk-up windows and the like.

Outdoor seating on Huling outside Puck Food Hall needs to be enjoyed while the weather begs you to get out and eat, work a bit, maybe even have a cocktail. And you can order from neighboring restaurants, like Grecian Gourmet, too.

At Tavern 018 in Cordova, the plate lunch is a remarkable bargain at $7; the food is good and most of it is from scratch.

Global Café opened in 2018 to give immigrant food entrepreneurs a place to cook. Two of us split empanadas and Juan’s tacos, and it was more than we could finish.

A Summer Avenue taco truck scene has bloomed through the summer, with at least eight regular trucks around the wider neighborhood and several others that seem to pop up more infrequently. If you live near Summer or Macon avenues between Highland and White Station, there’s a good chance you can walk to a taco truck. 

Hazel’s Lucky Dice Delicatessen, Karen Carrier’s restaurant named after her mother, opened Monday in her Cooper-Young corral. 

Southall Café is open and serving breakfast and lunch in the heart of East Memphis; the chicken sandwich is top-notch.

Yeah, you read that right. You can eat a meal for $10 at Las Tortugas, and if you’re sharing, you can even have guacamole.

Three ‘new’ burger specials around town are special ones indeed: One of them has been gone more than three times as long as it was served.

Lobster Exotic is the new special sandwich at Elwood’s Shack and it’s a winner with tenderloin, lobster and Hollandaise.

River Oaks Restaurant has reopened and chef/owner José Gutierrez is relaxed, his food is excellent and the restaurant as comfortable and welcoming as ever.

The Beauty Shop is back and better than ever, with some new menu items to go along with some of chef/owner Karen Carrier's classics.

In lieu of a buffet, India Palace is serving food thali style, and is giving customers masks if they arrive without one.

Erling’s has reopened with an expanded bar, a new bar menu and happily, most everything else has remained the same.

Acre has reopened and only one item from the pre-COVID menu remains. The restaurant has also embraced family-style share plates, and all the food is good.

Magnolia & May opens its dining room Friday, May 29, with a “country brasserie” menu of new items and Not the Grove’s pimento cheese (but it is). 

Fam’s second restaurant opened just a month or so before COVID closed dining rooms, but now it’s reopened on Highland, serving fresh and healthy food.

Mississippi Terrace has opened in Bass Pro Shops at The Pyramid, offering plenty of outdoor seating and a nice view with a snack and cocktail.

Ryan Trimm is doing what it takes to keep his restaurants going, and that includes theme nights for takeout. On Wednesdays, it’s paella.