In 1996 BJ Chester-Tamayo’s only son Will, known as Go-Go, was killed in a motorcycle accident. Her whole world changed. She had always wanted to manufacture her mother’s preserves, so she took that dream and opened a restaurant named after her mother and her granddaughter, both named Alcenia. She never cooked growing up. She learned every recipe from her mother’s kitchen and opened Alcenia’s on November 7, 1997. The restaurant appeared in Season 4, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Traditional Dishes,” which aired November 3, 2008. BJ Chester-Tamayo is as famous for her hugs as she is for the food — every person who walks in gets one, and she has been known to chase customers down the street if she misses giving them a squeeze on the way out. She told a reporter the DDD experience was “life-changing, still after 13-plus years.” The restaurant sits in the Pinch District of downtown Memphis, a short walk from the pyramid, and has been covered by Roadfood, Good Morning America, the Today Show, the Travel Channel, and Oprah Magazine.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Alcenia’s
City: Memphis, Tennessee
Cuisine: Southern Comfort Food
DDD Season: 4
DDD Episode: 12
Episode Title: Traditional Dishes
Original Air Date: November 3, 2008
Address: 317 N. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-523-0200
Website: https://www.alcenias.com/
Status: Open
About Alcenia’s
Alcenia’s sits in the Pinch District, one of downtown Memphis’s oldest neighborhoods, in a modest lunch room decorated with 1960s psychedelic beaded curtains, folk art, tributes to African-American culture, and white wedding-veil lace strung across the ceiling. BJ Chester-Tamayo purchased the building in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilling the family tradition of ownership over renting. The recipes come from her mother Alcenia Clark Chester, who passed away in 2019 at age 98 after spending her life as an inspiration for the restaurant that bears her name. Every dish is prepared with what BJ describes as the main ingredient: love.
What to Eat at Alcenia’s
The Salmon Croquettes are the brunch signature — meaty, salty, and the dish most regulars return for specifically. The Fried Chicken is light and tender with a crust that earns its reputation. The Fried Green Tomatoes have a crispy crust and tart center that Roadfood specifically called out as exceptional. The Waffles are bready and cinnamon-forward. BJ’s Cabbage, made with the tough outer leaves most kitchens discard, is seasoned with jerk chicken seasoning and slow-steamed until soft and brown — the dish that originally put Alcenia’s on the Roadfood map. The Hashbrowns, slow-cooked soft potatoes served in a small cup drenched in their own drippings, are the sleeper side that visitors remember afterward.
The Alcenia’s spirit belongs in every kitchen. Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Cluckin’ Chicken Dry Rub brings serious Southern seasoning to your own fried chicken, and Guy Fieri’s Kitchen Textiles outfit the home cook with aprons and gear worthy of the effort.
Plan Your Visit
Alcenia’s is open Tuesday through Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (brunch). Closed Sunday and Monday. The kitchen is small and the food is made to order — do not arrive in a hurry.
Address: 317 N. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-523-0200
Website: https://www.alcenias.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Alcenia’s is one of the great soul food experiences in Memphis. Find a downtown Memphis hotel on Booking.com and stream the Traditional Dishes episode on Amazon.
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Alcenia’s appeared in Season 4, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Traditional Dishes,” originally aired November 3, 2008. The restaurant opened November 7, 1997.