BABALU® - Overton Square

2115 Madison Ave, Memphis - 38104
295 reviews
Tapas/Small Plates Latin American
(901) 274-0100

First time here! Not impressed! Came for late lunch birthday celebration! Tons of staff present, yet we waited for service and was assigned to a table of a staff who had already left for the day! WeirdAlthough the food was good, the prices are way too much for the size of the tacos, sides and burgers. The drinks were good, so it made up for it!Considering this location wasn’t packed, I would’ve expected the floors, tables and chairs to have been clean… it wasn’t ?Better customer service, better prices and a cleaner establishment would’ve made our visit 5 star ⭐️

My family enjoyed their variation on the Mexican cuisine we know in California. It is bright and flavorful much like coastal Mexican cuisine. Guacamole is made table side and tasty. Service is friendly and attentive. They gave us to-go cups of our beverages which was an unexpected gift.

Highly recommend coming here, suggest calling ahead for a table though because it was packed but worth the 20-30 minute wait. The other option is to sit at the bar. Either seem good. The duck tacos were simple and yet unique and still delicious. The Cinnamon Bread Pudding stole the show for me. Coming back here soon for more

This was my first visit and I'll be darned if I take forever to go back. The queso appetizer is too spicy for me but Husband loved it! I did love those chips though.I had a pear margarita that was deliciously on point and refreshing.The street tacos are very good, but small, so order more than one if hungry, preferably with their fries. So good!

I didn't get pics of the BabaBurger. It was SOOOO GOOD!!! Order it first. OK Don't. Order the made-at-table Guac first. They kick it up with sun-dried tomatoes. ☆SMACK☆ Then order the burger. Great lunch prices . Those are lettuce wrapped tacos. KETO accommodation and unbelievable. A Beef-Rib and Smoked Pork-Belly taco. WoW !!! No cilantro for me Por fa-vor. Loved this restaurant.

What a cool and bright spot to celebrate after graduation. Our party of 8 couldn’t be seated immediately so we waited at the bar which was a good start to the experience. They had a good selection of local beer on tap, the 201 Hoplar IPA (my favorite) was a perfect balance of hops and fruit. Others in the party liked the sangria flights, mixed drinks, and the custom frozen margaritas.When we were seated we started with the table side guacamole, made to perfection and possibly the best tasting guacamole I have ever had, witness the destroyed bowl below. Our entrees were all extremely tasty. The Cubano sandwich was full of meat the star being the pork belly and the braised short rib grilled cheese was a flavorful blend of meat, cheese, and aioli. Our only complaint was the grilled sandwiches came out under or over cooked cooked, thus the 4 stars. Everything else from the breakfast burrito to the street taco had unique flavor profiles and were executed very well. Another big hit was the Brussel sprouts, crispy and drenched in a wonderful sweet glaze. Everybody, even the non sprout likers, enjoyed the taste.Our server who had many tables was extremely helpful with the menu selections and attentive our table’s needs. She did an excellent job.I will revisit the ratings next time I eat there. It could be 5 stars except for the sandwiches. Highly recommended!

Very busy on a Saturday but we were seated in a timely manner. The food was very good! (I’m partial to the one in Jackson). Service was excellent. Table side guacamole is the best!!!

Great Mexican style restaurant with a sprinkling of local Memphis cuisine. Friendly staff, bearded bartender very professional and friendly, good cocktails, quick service, food among the tastiest Mexican meals I have had. Done with attention to detail. Best meal I had in Memphis

45 minute wait—to be expected on a Sunday afternoon. Finally got seated and we didn’t have menus for about 10 minutes. Out of major drink options so we had water and sweet tea. Food arrived within 15 minutes. Blackened salmon was completely raw on the inside, roasted Brussels sprouts were delicious. Also ordered rice and beans that came halfway through my meal. Sent the salmon back. 10 minutes later the server brought me a new salmon, but no brussel sprouts. Mind you. I had barely touched the brussel sprouts. The server suggested I speak with a manager which I didn’t request. The manager Carrie came very quickly, was very apologetic and brought out the brussel sprouts. The manager definitely returned my experience around and her customer service was amazing! The server was not the most concerned and the food overall (from what I ate) was mediocre.

Food and service is always great! Highly recommend the shrimp and grits and any of the tapas are great! Always get the guacamole. Try their lemonade since it is hand squeezed and delicious. They also have a heavy pour with their margaritas. Not a fan of their baba burger. Too swanky for me but my sister loves it. Always enjoy my time there and food there!