Sunrise Memphis (East Memphis) — Restaurant in Memphis

I cannot recommend this place enough!! Got breakfast here two days in a row while in Memphis, and I loved it more each time!

First day we got takeout breakfast, because the line was out the door around the building. We got the McBetter biscuit sandwich, the Dirty South biscuit, and the Usual biscuit. The McBetter and the Usual are classic combos of egg, cheese, and sausage/bacon respectively. Both were good, but the biscuit elevated it so much. The Dirty South was amazing! The cold pimento cheese contrasted with the hot, crispy green tomato, and the freshness of the relish cut through the fried tomato’s acidity. By the way - I would recommend this even as a tomato hater. I don’t like tomatoes raw because of the texture, as I know many others do. You can’t feel it in this sandwich, trust me!

The second day we ordered the Kitchen Sink and the Chorizo Bowl. The Kitchen Sink was a good standard American breakfast, though the sausage was a little too salty. The chorizo bowl was really good; it had their homemade chorizo, which was slightly spicy and fatty; pickled jalapeños and onions, which cut through the fattiness really well; pico de gallo, which I did not eat but my mother said wasn’t all that; two eggs (I got mine over easy); all on top of their grits. Their grits are really creamy and buttery, which is a perfect medium to contrast the crunchy/crispy toppings. We also got biscuits on the side, which came with salted butter and a pink marmalade - I think it was strawberry. Their grits marmalade had a fantastic caramelized flavor to it without being too sweet, and the biscuits were really soft and buttery.

The atmosphere is super nice - everything is very clean and maintained. The staff is lovely; they’re really nice people and they bring out the food to you, which I did not expect since you order at the kiosk. I think the ordering system really helps them move quickly, since the place is super popular and lines build fast. They also have an open face to the kitchen which I was fascinated by.

TLDR: definitely, definitely, definitely come to this place. And get...

I'm seriously impressed with this new location which is likely evident from the length of this review. When the line started flowing out the door, a team member stood outside to greet customers and keep order to the line. She also alerted the inside that we had a party of 6 so they had a table for us after we ordered. With two small children, it made all the difference, that we didn't have to juggle everything and find a 6 top table. So even if you see they are busy, you will have a good experience getting in. The food was fast and came out hot. Cinnamon roll was homemade with traditional glaze icing. My kids and teens loved it. Ciabatta toast was a cross between the yeast rolls and sourdough toast, really good. The hashbrowns are everything you ever wanted CK's to be after a drunken college night, super crispy on the outside without the grease. Speaking of hair of the dog, they have vodka steeped in various spices and heat levels to mix up your bloody mary. I'm coming back for one of those! Coffee was steamy hot, even after I added my super dose of cold cream. They have all the sweeteners and types of milk you need to prep your own. The restaurant is light and airy but feels cozy at the same time, likely because it's decorated with really cool Memphis art. A great place to visit regularly or take out-of-town guests. Good for a weekend sit down, but also for a biscuit on the go. You can order online and there is a separate door in the back to easily pop in and pick up. This is what East Memphis has needed! Finally, the staff. They are fantastic, beyond friendly. They were constantly looking to make sure everyone was having a good experience. Honestly it was one of the best service experiences I've had. Get there soon,...

According to the long timer who was manning the door, it’s typical for there to be a line out the door. Scan the QR code by the entrance (or he may offer you a menu) so you can an educated consumer. Don’t be like the two families in front of us who waited to decide until they got to the counter. 😉 We read ahead and knew we’d place our order first - THEN they find you a table. So, if you figure out what you want before you get to the counter, the line moves super quick. Everyone we met was very patient, accommodating and friendly.

They specialize in breakfast / brunch foods so they will nail that if you go that route. This was our first time and everything was excellent. My wife got the hot honey biscuit sandwich, and an order of pancakes, while I ordered the biscuit bowl. It may or may not be on the menu (hint hint), but if you ask for it the cashier will know what you want. My wife’s sandwich was rather messy but she enjoyed it. The secret biscuit bowl was just the right price and portion.

It’s a self service drink station for both soda and tea. The dining room is super fun with interesting things on the wall and adorable tables and chairs that just sort of make the whole dining room a blast. The food came out pretty quick. It was hot, made to order and tasted fantastic. I can’t wait...