Great Lakes Cafe

Update: we tried the brisket mac and coleslaw during Memphis Days and I'm hooked! The coleslaw is honestly some of the best I have ever tasted.
The brisket mac was amazing. We'll definitely be back for more!
I haven't had the chance to try the BBQ yet. I'm just so excited to have the previous menu back!!
(It may not look like much, but my turkey breast sandwich is the BEST.)
Such a great addition to our little community ❤️

Great Lakes Cafe carries on the legacy of a decades old, family-owned donut and sandwich shop, "Donut Girls," and the "Honey Bee Cafe," which unfortunately closed its doors earlier in 2023.

As locals, we are thrilled to see the doors to this iconic spot in Memphis reopen. The beloved historic "Donut Girls" sign remains intact above the mural on the side of the building, but the inside was beautifully remodeled to better fit the cafe vibe as the business first changed hands (Honey Bee Cafe management did a beautiful job).

The legacy of DG and the Bee are in good hands; the new owners of Great Lakes Cafe worked with the founding "mothers" of Donut Girls and are keeping the tradition of serving delicious cake donuts while also adding their savory barbeque to the menu, which their family perfected in their popular food truck business. Their baked beans, shredded pork, and mac n' cheese are swoonworthy (and that's coming from a flexitarian who seldom is tempted by meat).

Our family looks forward to many more mornings with donuts and delicious lunches at Great Lakes Cafe.