Memphis, Tennessee’s Oldest Restaurant Has Fried Burgers in the Same Grease Since 1912

Elmer 'Doc' Dyer opened his cafe on North Cleveland Street in Memphis in 1912 and made a mistake that became a legend: his cook forgot to throw out the cooking grease one night. The next morning they kept going with the same fat. Customers loved the flavor.

The grease has been strained daily and replenished, but never fully replaced, in the 113 years since. When Dyer's relocated to Beale Street, and again to Collierville, the fat made the move under armed police escort.

Memphis's oldest restaurant carries a lot of history. The grease is the most famous part of it. It made a 50-state burger guide worth bookmarking.

The technique is simple to describe and impossible to replicate elsewhere: a thin beef patty deep-fried in a cast-iron skillet in cooking fat that has been maintained and replenished for over a century. The result tastes like nothing else.

What to Order

The Dyer's Burger is a thin beef patty deep-fried in a cast-iron skillet in the legendary cooking fat. Order it without lettuce or tomato. The cheese and the beef are what carry it.

The Double Double Combo, two patties and two cheeses, is the standard first-timer order for the full experience.

Fried PB&J donuts. Farm-raised catfish. Hot tamales. Grilled chicken salad. The menu is bigger than the legend, and most of it is worth ordering. For more on the food scene nearby, see Beale Street restaurants that define Memphis food.

A Century of Memphis Tradition on Beale Street

Doc Dyer sold the restaurant in 1935 to Kahn Aaron, who maintained the tradition for decades. Each subsequent owner received the same instructions: strain the grease daily, replenish it, never fully replace it.

The Beale Street location became one of Memphis's most recognizable restaurants. The Collierville location at the Town Square carries the same spirit and the same grease.

The straining and replenishment process for the cooking fat at Dyer's happens daily. The kitchen filters out particulates, checks for off-flavors, and adds fresh fat to maintain the volume. The process is more disciplined than the legend suggests — this is craft maintenance, not kitchen neglect.

The Collierville Town Square location, opened after the Beale Street location became the primary address, serves the eastern Memphis suburbs with the same recipe and the same technique. For Shelby County residents who don't want to drive into the city, it's the full Dyer's experience at a different address.

The straining and replenishment process for the cooking fat at Dyer's happens daily. The kitchen filters out particulates, checks for off-flavors, and adds fresh fat to maintain volume. The process is more disciplined than the legend suggests.

The Collierville Town Square location serves the eastern Memphis suburbs with the same recipe and technique. For Shelby County residents who want the full Dyer's experience without the Beale Street crowds, it is the practical choice. For more of the state's dining history, see legendary Memphis restaurants.

Plan Your Visit

Dyer's has two locations: 205 Beale Street in Memphis and the Collierville Town Square location. The Beale Street location is open daily from 11 a.m. into the late night.

Call (901) 527-3937 for the Beale Street location. Check the Collierville Facebook page for hours. While you're planning the trip, check out Tennessee's oldest restaurants still serving today.