Memphis Cafe - Costa Mesa

In 1995, Dan Bradley, Diego Velasco, and Andy Christenson embarked on the journey of opening their own restaurant. They took on the ambitious task of renovating the historic Kings Inn building themselves, and they did an impressive job. Nearly 20 years later, their hard work has truly paid off in the quality of the food. The exterior of the restaurant is unassuming, but upon entering, you're transported to the 1950s with its dim lighting and vintage dining furniture. Although the kitchen is compact, it efficiently produces outstanding dishes right in front of you.

The fries deserve a special mention as well. I ordered the Soul Burger, which was massive, covering about half a large plate. The other half was piled high with hot, freshly cooked julienne fries that were still glistening with oil. They felt lighter than traditional fries, almost like eating crispy chips instead of heavier French fries. This made them incredibly easy to snack on, and I found myself happily grabbing handfuls until I finished the entire serving. Everything was just so good!