Johnnie's Drive In

True Americana The dough burger was not bad. It reminded me of a salmon patty in the texture and consistency. Prices are quite reasonable and the staff very welcoming. The crowd was a good mixture of locals and Elvis tourists. Worth checking out when you are in the area.

Great experience at this locally owned operated cafe. We were charmed by the atmosphere and many locals lunching here. The dough burger and chicken salad, fries and tater tots were all fine. Our bill was $21 and change. No prices on menu or the ticket. they only take cash.

I can’t imagine a trip to Tupelo without a visit to Johnny’s Drive In. We ate inside, but there is outdoor and in car dining as well. I can just imagine Elvis eating here. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. The food is good and the decor is simple wonderful.

OMG, this place ROCKS!!! The service is excellent! You can tell they love their jobs! Very jovial and friendly and accommodating ♡ Food is the BEST!!!

Elvis used to come here as a kid! The food is excellent!! Pur waitress was awesome. Plenty of Elvis memorabilia!!

Perfect dive diner, claim to fame: Elvis use to visit as a boy. No prices on menu but 2 cheeseburgers, fries and a coke were just over $20. Waitress super friendly, quick service and food arrived fast. Cash only.

A must-do in Tupelo. Not only loaded with Elvis history and memorabilia, but great diner food and such a friendly staff. The four of us all got different meals and everything was A+.

Super fantastic experience! Johnnie's Drive In was one of several destinations during my three day adventure from South Central Kentucky to Natchez, MS via the whole Natchez Trace. I ordered and enjoyed a cheeseburger, tater tots, and some unsweetened iced tea. Way friendly staff! This place is just cool. There is a clean and stocked restroom. Good parking and some slots allow you to drive forward to exit. There is outdoor seating available too.

While in Tupelo, Mississippi I had to try Johnnie's Drive-In. It is definitely a tourist trap and embrace that Elvis ate here and that it is close to his childhood home. They even have a sign at one table where Elvis ate. Walking in, it is a tiny place, but it has a cool enough ambiance. The place is filled with Elvis memorabilia. So, they are known for their dough burger. A dough burger is basically a burger that uses flour to stretch out the meat and can be sold for cheaper. I figured that I would give it a try. I also got a cheeseburger and onion rings. The total for my whole meal was under ten dollars before the tip. The food was pretty good. Nothing great, but definitely good. The only rings could have used more salt. The cheeseburger was decent and a better choice than a national fast-food chain like McDonald's or Burger King. I'm glad that I tried a dough burger and it was okay, but I preferred the all-meat burger. I would definitely recommend here. It is a piece of Tupelo, Mississippi's history and they definitely embrace the Elvis connection.

After hearing about this place over at the Elvis museum and checking the reviews on Yelp we popped in for an early dinner. We went inside to soak up the atmosphere versus eating in our car. The inside is all Elvis and quite a throwback. I really enjoyed that vibe (we did sit in the Elvis booth since it was empty when we arrived). The waitress was very friendly. I had heard the prices were dirt cheap so I wasn't too worried that the menu did not have prices - though I did worry that as northerners we might get charged more! In the end it was really cheap. I had to try their cheese dough burger. I cannot say that I was impressed. It was pretty dry - I had to use the ketchup and bbq sauce to make it edible. The side of baked beans were OK. My wife got the pulled pork platter. The tots and Cole slaw were the best part. I tried it and the pork was a bit tough and had no smokiness to it. Pretty bland. Again the bbq sauce made it better. Not all quirky historical places have good food....

Johnnie's is close to the highway and at 1:00 on a rainy Saturday the lunch crowd was thinning enough we could get a table inside. The server was friendly and our food came out in a reasonable time frame. My BBQ ham was very good and my husband enjoyed his cheeseburger. Reasonable servings at a reasonable price - Cash only.

I am a 50+ year customer of Johnnie's. I love their "dough burger"! The service is great! The ambiance is that of an old drive in restaurant. They even still have carhops. So if you find yourself in the small city of Tupelo, MS, go here for a burger or bbq! Elvis Presley ate her often. There's even an Elvis Booth, where he was photographed many decades ago!

Calibrate your expectations, people! This is, for what it is, a 5-star experience. Where else can you dine where Elvis *and* Paul Thorn dined? The doughburger is unlike anything else I've ever eaten. It's as if a hamburger patty and granny's biscuit dough made a love child whose cradle was lined with pickle and raw onion. With American Cheese for a blanket! It's unusual, to say the least. I had two. The prices are low. Hilariously low. And the menu options are plentiful. If you can't dine in Elvis' booth (I did!!!!) well, that's all right, mama, because at every table the walls are lined with memorabilia, photos, autographs, you name it. Or you can dine outside where they've thoughtfully placed a few picnic tables in a covered area. Pro Tip: This place is CASH ONLY. Plan ahead.

It was great service & food. The workers were very respectful and provided great service.

One of the last locally owned restaurants in Tupelo. Everything we've ever ordered has been very good. The menu is typical mid 20th century drive in ; burgers, dough burgers, BBQ & other sandwiches. Johnnie's also serves dinner platters & salads. The service is exceptional; friendly & efficient. We love this place!

(At the time, this restaurant takes cash only.) Girlfriend and I came here this afternoon when we got done with the Elvis Presley's Birthplace museum. I got the cheese dough burger with tater tots and she got the all meat dough burger with onion rings. Our waitresses were nice and friendly and made sure we were welcomed. Next time we come to Tupelo, we will be visiting this restaurant. Just need to remember that you can order food from your car; which confused me at first when I saw a worker coming to my car.

Had to try the famous Dough Burger. Did not disappoint. Sat in the Elvis booth! Service was like you were treated like a regular local. Our waitress was a lot of fun. Kidding around with me. Elvis photos and memories everywhere. Surreal it was almost like you are back in the day!

Cool little spot. We're on a trip and stopped off at Johnnie's Drive In after seeing the Elvis Presley Birthplace museum. Super chill and looks like a spot my mom and dad would have dined at. Lots of cool Elvis Presley memorabilia and pictures on the walls. It was close by, staff was courteous, and the food hit the spot. I ordered the chicken fried steak and a side salad. Aka, Tupelo's Oldest Restaurant!

A hunka hunka lotta bun. Passing through on business, how could I not try this place. The hotdog was so tiny, very little flavor on a hamburger bun. Very disappointing.

Amazing!! Food is old school burger and fries done perfect. Place is run like a well oiled machine. Better than the food is the service. We felt like locals and were treated like we were. Family ambiance filled with tons of Elvis memorabilia. Johnnie's is a must for those passing through Tupelo.

Had to experience a "dough burger" after touring Elvis' birthplace, knowing he would eat this after school. I thought it was a hamburger made with a donut bread, but it was the meat mixed with flour; what they did during the depression. My friend didn't want to try it, but my aunt, cousin and myself had to try what Elvis ate. To me it tasted like a veggie burger but tasty and decent, or maybe it was because we were starving My cousin and I were able to talk to the owners for quite a while and they gave us such a great history about Tupelo, Elvis and places to continue to visit while we were in town for the last day before going back to California. Such a great experience for my 50th Birthday for Elvis full experience in August 2022!

Amazing little diner doughburger is the only way to go. If you're starving get 2! Don't miss this spot if you're in the area!

Great visit and enjoyable. Food was so good as well and there was hardly any wait. Very friendly staff.

So glad we stopped at Johnnie's. It was completely worth it. The small diner is well preserved and very clean. The hamburgers and onion rings are delicious. I did try the dough burger, that Elvis had ... not my thing, but happy to have tried it. They have a guest book available for visitors to sign and the booth where Elvis sat is clearly marked for all to enjoy. Wish there was a Johnnies in every city! But, then again that's what makes this place so special and unique. Family owned and staff was amazing ... kind, friendly and hospitable.

Great food and atmosphere . Pretty cool sitting in the Elvis Presley booth. The pies are amazing

Was staying close by & am a HUGE Elvis fan so of course looked for Elvis themed restaurants...this place came up since Elvis went there growing up...& it was awesome!!! From the Elvis booth (which yes, we did sit at!) to the doughburgers (which were really good) to the food (which was amazing) to the prices (which were unexpectedly low) to the atmosphere which was...ELVIS, there's no way to go wrong with this place!!! But our favorite part (other than Elvis) was the waitress!!! She was amazing, funny, fast, got everything right, interested in us by asking asking questions, made us laugh almost the whole time there & she absolutely made it a PERFECT experience!!! Thanks M....we'll never forget you!!! D & J From Crossville, TN

This place is like a rite of passage for any Elvis fan since it's located across the street from where the Elvis birthplace is and they also have a picture of Elvis sitting in one of their booths. You can sit in the same booth , appropriately named the Elvis booth. The memorabilia decorating the interior invokes a sense of nostalgia and simpler times. I recommend this place for any Elvis fan for its ties to the superstar, just know the food is just average and the service probably varies by waitress. Our waitress was neither friendly or welcoming. When we tried to ask her questions about the menu she seemed annoyed . When I asked her if I could plug my cell phone into an outlet to charge , she snapped that it was not allowed. Her tone was condescending. Perhaps she was having a bad day but this being our first (and probably last) visit, her attitude tarnished the experience. On a positive note , the food came out fast , our check was cheap and they offer covered parking which is great for rainy days (it was pouring during our visit). We opted to split their signature burger , the doughboy - it was meh , I wouldn't order it again and I'm glad we shared just one. The fries were good but they weren't anything you couldn't get anywhere else . My mom asked the waitress about their baked beans and she said they were made in house but upon trying my mom swore they tasted straight out of a can. Considering their reasonable prices & history, I would recommend to any Elvis fan with time to spare for a quick & cheap meal as long as you can manage your expectations.

They came recommended from The Birthplace for the best shakes in town. We pulled in and the menu posted in the parking lot had no shakes listed. We called to inquire if in fact they had shakes. They did!!! They only have chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla -they made them perfectly thick where your cheeks become concave and were certainly divine. The "waitress" was super friendly and happy to serve. Definitely will return the next time we're there or passing through!

The ambiance and historical value of the place makes it a 4. The prices are very reasonable and the food very basic. We had a Dough Burger, BLT, tater tots, beans and ice tea. Total bill- $12. Think 1950's style food. The Dough Burger is called that because it has flour in the meat.....I guess Elvis loved it!

Giving 2 stars bc of nostalgia I guess. Locals were friendly. The food deserves no accolades. Not good at all. I'm not a picky eater nor were others with group and no one really enjoyed their meal. I think this place uses Elvis's name for promotion. Like an earlier re ire said.....if Elvis ate there it's bc it was the only place to eat or it must've really been different back then. Not recommended. Drive by and look at it to say you've seen it but don't spend the money to eat there.

Been working in Tupelo for a couple of weeks and decided to try another new place. Felt like hamburgers tonight so we came here. After reading some other reviews I decided to get a dough burger since it sounded interesting...and because Elvis liked it...so why not? I ended up getting the XL cheese dough burger with tater tots. It was not what I was expecting, but it was actually pretty good and they gave me a ton of tater tots. As far as the restaurant itself goes, it is very small...so is the parking lot. It is one of those places that probably has not changed much over the years. I felt like I could have been in 1960 or 2017, which to me is not a bad thing. The people are friendly and it seems like everyone knows everyone in here. I noticed the waitresses calling many people by name as they walked in. It seems to be the perfect local hangout. I'd definitely come back to try something else. Probably the regular cheeseburger because one of my guys said it was really good. If you haven't been here before, make sure you bring cash though. This is a cash only place. No credit or debit cards.

Stopped in after the Elvis tour. I saw BBQ and thought it should be good down south Q. Wow was I wrong. It was awe full. In my life I've never heard of cold BBQ. I would've never thought to ask if they served it hot or cold; would you? It was served in s small store bought bun wrapped in paper and served straight from the fridge (not sure how long it stayed there prior to serving). I also ordered a chicken fried steak sandwich that I thought was good but also served on a cool bun, which if toasted or grilled would've really helped. Maybe s splash of gravy on it? Looking at the good reviews now I wish I would've ordered a burger. Cold BBQ? Seriously? At any rate I should've found a better place for Southern BBQ.

A piece of history, anything associated with Elvis gets five stars for me! Tupelos oldest restaurant, I had a dougburger... Created from the depression era where flour was added to the meat to make it go further. I sat in the Elvis booth and got to meet the owner. Great staff and friendly people. If you are in town, live some history and stop by.

$14 for a double burger, tots, and canned diet soda. And not very good. This is a classic local dive; people from Tupelo who grew up eating here love it for the nostalgia. Out of towners, there are better options

I'm giving this a 5 stars because the food was good - which is what's most important - and the prices were even better. I went here partly because of travel recommendations and reviews and partly because of Elvis - yes I am a fan. However this unassuming little building serves up some delicious food. My mom and I both ordered the all meat cheese burgers, my brother order a dough cheese burger and my dad ordered the XL all meat cheese burger. They have a variety of sides which is always nice at a burger joint to have options. I got tater tots which were cooked so well - super soft not hard rocks like most places. The burger had a great flavor , it came with pickles, onions, and mustard. You could get lettuce and tomato for extra. I loved the flavor and it was cooked perfectly - just a little bit juicy but not greasy. The toppings complemented the burger rather then overpowering. I also ordered a small chocolate milkshake which hit the spot on the hot day! Super creamy! My brother enjoyed the dough burger. The place itself is small and old - it's the oldest standing restaurant in Tupelo. They have a lot of memorabilia. There are a few small booths. Overall it's pretty tight and the age shows- but it gives it character. Oh and if you're an Elvis fan- check out the Elvis booth! Overall, it's worth the stop if you're in Tupelo for the cheap delicious eats. If not, just the atmosphere alone is pretty great. And the owner and our waitress were both incredibly nice with that Southern Hospitality you always hear of.

We stopped off on our way through town - got takeout from Johnnies, then went and ate outside at Elvis Presley's birthplace. We wore our masks but none of the staff did. Great food tho - Highly recommended!

Awesome burger and service!!!, 38 wedding anniversary!!!! Enjoyed seeing visitors from England, dinning with us, sorry no bangers and mash....

What a staple in the community. If I owned the church behind Johnnies, i would donate it for an extended parking lot and service area :) two cheese dough burgers and two hot dogs please!!!! Mmmmmm. I always feel like a hunk a burn in' love after coming here.

This place is a right of passage, with a personality all of it's own, brimming with character. Pretty much everything you get is deep fat fried, large portions, fair prices. The burgers have a great taste, no frills, just good old fashioned 1970 style burger joint, made a little famous by the fact that elvis is said to of ate here often. Good old no frills food.

Color me confused by these two negative reviews. I don't doubt the experience of those folks, but I can say we had a fantastic breakfast Johnnie's. I coach a high school debate team and the kids and I were in Alabama for the National tournament. After their all too early exit from the tournament, we decided to spend a day road tripping around, seeing fun things. On our way to Memphis (and Graceland!), I figured Tupelo would be a great place to stop-- hey, why not see where Elvis was born if we were going to see where he died, right? When I heard that Johnnie's had some more Elvis history, it was a no brainer that we'd pop in for breakfast. There were a few locals milling about, as well as a waitress or two and the matriarch of the restaurant (who was clearly running the show). When the matriarch heard we were from California, she insisted we sign her guest book (no, but seriously: take a look at the guestbook if you get a chance. Hoooo boy, there are some *crazy* rantings in there about guns and Amurica etc etc). Anyway, I got the chicken fried steak, along with some biscuits, gravy, and sweet tea. The sweet tea was easily the sweetest tea this native Californian has ever tasted, but despite the early on set diabetes, it was delish. The gravy was crazy good, reminding me of the white gravy my step grandmother from Arkansas used to make by the bucketload. Biscuits were flakey and great. And the chicken fried steak was fried perfectly- it wasn't overly greasy and you didn't even need a knife to cut it. Flavorful and delicious. Everyone in our group enjoyed their meals, but everybody got breakfast. So, I can't speak to other meals. Still, I would definitely stop by Johnnie's if I ever find myself in Tupelo again-- and so should you.

This is the oldest restaurant in Tupelo, MS and it is almost right across the street from where Elvis Presley was born. Elvis frequented this restaurant during his time in Tupelo and came to eat here on his trips back to Tupelo after becoming famous. As such they have a booth called "The Elvis Booth". Be sure to get a picture in that booth before you leave. As a local who recommended the place to me said: "The place hasn't changed a bit since the 1950s." The place is very small and simple as is their menu. Burgers, fries, tater tots, shakes, soft drinks. That's about the extent of what you'll get here. The walls are adorned with Elvis memorabilia and other historic photos and newspaper clippings. They have one menu specialty here, the dough burger, which you should consider trying to make the experience more unique. In case you're wondering, dough burger is a depression style burger that mixes the ground meat with dough to save on meat costs and still maintain the size of the hamburger. A lot of people complain that its bland. I honestly did not notice any difference between my dough burger and a regular burger. Be sure to get your dough burger with onion and mustard. Also, the tater tots here are awesome! I can't believe people have complained that the servers here are unfriendly. The staff here could not have been more welcoming and friendly. When I first arrived at the restaurant the Elvis Booth was occupied. As soon as the people eating there left, one lady rushed over to clear it off as fast as she could so my family could take pictures there. That was really nice! Another younger woman working there offered to take our pictures at the booth without us even asking her. She joked about how she has taken more pictures of people in that booth than her own kids! The workers could not have been more awesome! If you're in Tupelo, MS to see all of the Elvis spots this is one you must be sure to stop at.

The dough burger had me curious so we got one and shared and each of us got a cheeseburger with onion rings and fries. Excellent! Also got an order of funnel cake fries oh my goodness!!!!

Pros: Dough Burger is a must try. Other options are fantastic as well. Price and quality are unbeatable. Cons: Limited parking. Wait staff seem hesitant to serve non-Caucasians. Small diner is packed so prepare for a wait.

This is the real deal, and there aren't too many like this left. It's not gourmet, but it isn't supposed to be. The service is a little slow, but once the food comes out you know why. They're taking the time to be sure everything is right. This means hand packed burgers on a flame grill. It means fries with the right amount if crisp and salt. It means lemonade that tastes refreshing but not like liquid diabetes. The staff is very cordial, as are the regulars. Within 10 minutes I felt like is been going there for years. On top of all this there is the very real, very cool Elvis connection. Be sure to stop by, you'll be glad you did.

In town for business and was taken here by a local. I always try to eat at a non chain restaurant to savor the local vibe and flavors. At Johnnie's the seating is limited and the waitress was friendly. Tried the hamburger steak smothered in gravy and mushrooms. It seems the South likes their gravy and biscuits with everything! You already know about the Elvis connection.

Stopped by on a trip due to the history and was pleasantly surprised by the food and the service. Breakfast plates were delicious and a great price. The doughburger was different with a crunchy texture but tasted good and at $1.35 well worth it.

I love Johnnie's and have been eating here for many years. I cook rarely, I stop by very often, pull in, order, and in 5-10 minutes I'm on my way. I am seen and waited on very promptly; the servers/waiters are very kind, courteous and polite. Orders are processed quickly and correctly, which I can't say for some other restaurants, and the food is hot and delicious. They have quite a good selection of food, but I usually always order the same thing: a couple of dough burgers with cheese and usually fries and a chocolate milk shake. I sometimes order a BBQ; they are very good as well. I have never found a "dough burger" anywhere I have ever been. I love them. Also, they have a great milk shake. I'm sure the other flavors are great as well, but I always order chocolate. It is great. I guess you can tell that I love this place. If you're visiting Tupelo, you must stop by and give it a try. They recently celebrated their 75th anniversary so obviously they know what they're doing: fast, friendly service, great, fresh, hot food and drinks, very reasonable prices and great customer service. I'm hungry; I think I'll go now.

We were passing through and it was lunch time plus I wanted to drive by the birthplace of Elvis. Tried a dough burger before coming ber I'd never heard of it. It was good! If I lived closer id go back great service!

This is a great place for lunch! The food was very cheap, but still good! Try the "Cheese Doughburger" with an RC Cola, as Elvis did, in the Elvis booth!

Best Breakfast in Tupelo!!!! Staff is exceptional... this is our second visit from the gulf coast, we had the same waitress both times. She is sweet as a kitten, love her strong country accent.

Stopped there for lunch on our visit to Tupelo. It's a very simple place with simple menu but with great people. The food is very good but I think that it would be more. Once in Tupelo, you must stop there for a burger.

Stopped by, because Elvis ate there, but you can't go inside, the whole point of going, the doughburger is a novelty item,try one to say you did, but not good. The "ribeye " sandwich is processed meat, and is not good, very salty,the fries are well, fries. The one time we will probably visit Tupelo and couldn't go inside. A 2 is generous. Open it back up for his Fans!

Johnnie's Drive-in is not only a Tupelo favorite but a must stop for Elvis fans the world over, including myself! I've frequented Johnnie's more times than I can count, but today I wanted to experience it with a fresh perspective as that of a tourist in our own backyard...and it was FANTASTIC! I started out taking plenty of photos outside and reading the Elvis landmark. You can park and they will come out and take your order, but for the full package you gotta go inside. So after entering, I requested the Elvis booth, but it was already taken, oh well. But while I was waiting for my food, the booth became available and I was ask if I would like to sit there instead...well yah! I was super impressed by this cause they understand the connection their patrons, new and old-timers (today I qualify as both) have with the total Johnnie's / Elvis experience. Now for the food. For my sides, I ordered the onion rings which was large, crisp and tasty. The kind when you bite into them and the whole onion slice doesn't follow suit. I also noticed they started offering fried green beans! Now, I'll eat green beans when my wife cooks them, but I'm NOT ordering them off a menu (just not how I roll). But this intrigued me so I decided to give it a try... Let's just say that I can't imagine eating green beans any other way! Give-um to me battered, deep fried, with a side of ranch any day! Now for what I came here for...the Johnnie's burger. You've probably already noticed I've got 2 burgers. Y'all may not have known this cause it's NOT on the menu, but if your "in-the-know", you can order a JUMBO Johnnie's burger for $2.50! And it's huge! Made the same as the original with mustard, pickles, and onions but super-sized. It was a wonderful experience and not one that should be enjoyed just by excited visitors. So put on a fresh pair of eyes and give them another try for the first time! See LOCAL favorites and their FAMOUS foods @ "Eating Out With Jeff Jones" on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/eatingoutwithjeffjones Check it out, click like, share, and enjoy! #eatingoutwithjeffjones

I went to see Elvis' birth place and the lady in the shop told me that I had to come here and try it out, that it was Elvis' favorite place to eat in town. Well, maybe this was the only place to eat in town back in the day, oh, and Elvis' taste buds must have been dull after all the drugs he ingested because this place is CRAP!! The people are VERY nice, but thats all the charm this place has. I saw the guy in back making these things, and there was pre-cooked meat just sitting on a plate, and he put the meat in between 2 buns and put it in a grill press. They call it a dough burger because back in the day they were poor and put flour in with the meat to stretch out the meat to make it appear to be more of it for people to eat. Well, Elvis must have gotten bloated from eating all those dough burgers. I had one bite and spit it out, PUKE, PUKE, PUKE!!!!

Simple and awesome! Honest food and a great lunch. Had the pulled pork bbq sandwich and fries. Magnificent flavor and our waitress was very nice.

So coo! Elvis actually are here and there is a photo of it and an "Elvis booth" (we are in it) a great addition to our Elvis pilgrimage! The staff was very friendly and explained to us Mississippi BBQ! They have traditional dough burgers styled from the 1940's and they are not bad and a taste of history!

A must stop! The dough burgers that Elvis loved are delish! The owner and waitress are super sweet. Fun to be able to sit where Elvis sit so many times.