Southern cooking tells stories in every bite. Whether it’s smoky barbecue, buttery biscuits, or melt-in-your-mouth pie, the South knows flavor.
These 20 restaurants serve up the kind of comfort food that feeds the soul and keeps guests coming back.
Based on reader favorites and foodie buzz, these spots are worth the journey, and the second helping.
1. Husk – Charleston, SC
Husk takes traditional Southern ingredients and gives them a seasonal, elevated twist that feels both rooted and revolutionary. The menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and local.
Signature plates like heritage pork with grits and crispy greens speak to the region’s flavors without feeling dated. Every dish here is pure Southern craft.
2. Willie Mae’s Scotch House – New Orleans, LA
Known for its legendary fried chicken with a shatteringly crisp crust, this iconic spot has been a family-run treasure for generations. Locals and tourists line up daily.
The meat is juicy, the seasoning is soulful, and the sides—like buttery lima beans and rice—wrap the meal in true home-cooked warmth.
3. The Grey – Savannah, GA
Housed in a restored 1938 Greyhound station, this fine-dining spot delivers Southern food with refined flair. Chef Mashama Bailey’s cooking is both thoughtful and bold.
Dishes like foie gras with grits or smoked collards with duck are equal parts memory and innovation. It’s a culinary time machine with class.
4. Loveless Cafe – Nashville, TN
Biscuits are religion here—flaky, golden, and always made from scratch. This roadside cafe has been comforting Tennessee for over 70 years.
With country ham, red-eye gravy, and homemade jams, every meal feels like Sunday breakfast at Grandma’s. The charm is baked right in.
5. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q – Decatur, AL
Alabama’s signature white barbecue sauce finds its throne at Big Bob Gibson’s. The slow-smoked chicken is tender and soaked in smoky goodness.
Add the tangy, creamy sauce and a side of slaw, and it’s the kind of plate that turns strangers into regulars.
6. Poole’s Diner – Raleigh, NC
Classic meets modern at this retro-style diner where mac and cheese reigns supreme, topped with crispy breadcrumbs and broiled to perfection.
Chef Ashley Christensen puts a creative twist on comfort staples without losing their soul. Think meatloaf, but make it magic.
7. The Crunkleton – Charlotte, NC
More than just a cocktail haven, this spot’s open-fire cooking brings heat and depth to Southern favorites like cornbread and cast iron-seared steak.
With thoughtful sourcing and bold techniques, every plate delivers warmth and character. It’s a fire-kissed nod to tradition.
8. Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room – Savannah, GA
This lunch-only gem serves communal meals with more side dishes than your plate can hold. It’s a Southern family reunion every day.
From fried chicken to candied yams, everything tastes lovingly passed down. Expect to leave full, happy, and maybe hugging a stranger.
9. Cochon – New Orleans, LA
Pork lovers, rejoice—this meat-forward eatery is all about Cajun rusticity, serving boudin, cracklins, and wood-fired oysters. Every bite celebrates Louisiana’s boldest flavors.
The vibe is casual but the cooking is serious, with rich, earthy dishes that honor bayou roots and butcher-shop skill.
10. Arnold’s Country Kitchen – Nashville, TN
This cafeteria-style joint delivers hot plates with true soul—think roast beef, turnip greens, and buttery chess pie that sells out by lunch.
You’ll wait in line, but it moves fast—and the payoff is a Southern spread that feels like the best church potluck you’ve ever attended.
11. Commander’s Palace – New Orleans, LA
An institution of fine Creole cuisine, this turquoise landmark offers white tablecloth charm with dishes like turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé.
It’s where celebration meets history, served with a side of jazz brunch and 25-cent martinis. A true taste of New Orleans elegance.
12. Brenda’s Meat & Three – San Francisco, CA
Southern flavor meets West Coast freshness at this bold and beautiful take on the classic “meat and three.” Portions are generous, and the biscuits are next-level.
Think collard greens with garlic, fried catfish with sass, and gumbo that clings to your memory. Southern roots, Bay Area bloom.
13. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken – Nashville, TN
Fire meets flavor at this hot chicken haven, offering heat levels from mild to “Shut the Cluck Up.” Juicy meat meets fiery crust.
Sides like pimento mac and vinegar slaw balance the blaze. It’s the kind of burn you crave again the next day.
14. Home Team BBQ – Charleston, SC
Smoked meats and Southern street food collide here, where pulled pork tacos and barbecue nachos feel right at home. It’s barbecue with a playful twist.
Pair it with frozen Gamechanger cocktails, and you’ve got a party wrapped in smoke and sauce. Relaxed, loud, and full of flavor.
15. Screen Door – Portland, OR
Bringing Deep South flair to the Pacific Northwest, this popular spot turns fried chicken and praline bacon into breakfast dreams. The wait is always worth it.
Fluffy biscuits, spicy remoulade, and smoky collards round out plates that feel comforting and unexpected. A Southern brunch paradise.
16. Puckett’s Grocery – Franklin, TN
Once a rural general store, now a comfort food icon, Puckett’s serves meat-and-three plates with a side of live music. Everything comes with charm.
From slow-cooked brisket to banana pudding, the dishes feel like small-town Tennessee on a plate. It’s dinner and a concert in one.
17. Revival – Minneapolis, MN
Revival brings Southern soul to the Midwest with crave-worthy fried chicken and banana cream pie that feels lifted straight from Mississippi.
The kitchen doesn’t shy from fat, spice, or flavor. It’s where crisp crusts, juicy centers, and deep-fried nostalgia collide.
18. The Busy Bee Cafe – Atlanta, GA
This beloved soul food stop has fed legends with oxtail, turkey wings, and cornbread dressing that tastes like a grandmother’s secret recipe.
Expect long waits and warm welcomes. Each bite connects you to decades of Atlanta culinary heritage.
19. Lucille’s – Houston, TX
Chef Chris Williams brings history and heart to the plate with dishes inspired by his great-grandmother’s cookbook. Southern meets sophisticated here.
Shrimp and grits, chili biscuits, and croissant bread pudding all shine. It’s soulful dining wrapped in Houston flavor.
20. Mama Dip’s Kitchen – Chapel Hill, NC
Started in 1976, this homey kitchen built a legacy on fried chicken, pork ribs, and love-infused vegetable sides. Family-style cooking never went out of style.
Every dish carries stories of resilience, family, and Carolina pride. It’s the kind of meal that stays with you long after the plate’s clean.