Mississippi’s Soul Food Legacy: 14 Must-Try Spots Across the State
Soul food in Mississippi is more than a cuisine; it’s a celebration of culture, creativity, and community. Discover the restaurants still carrying this legacy forward, where deep-rooted culinary traditions continue to bring people together. Image: Visit Mississippi
Soul food is a cuisine born from history, blending African, European, and Indigenous traditions and shaped by the ingredients once available to enslaved people in the South. At its heart, however, it is a celebration of resilience, resourcefulness, and pride. Rooted in tradition and shaped by generations of cooks who understood that food could nourish both body and spirit, soul food traditions tell a story of creativity and ingenuity. And in restaurants across Mississippi, that story is still being written, one delicious plate at a time. Join us for a taste of some of the state’s finest soul food eateries.
Jackson: An Epicenter of Flavor
Born from necessity, soul food transformed rations like hog jowls, pig’s feet, and greens into a culinary art form that became a symbol of cultural identity. In Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson, you’ll find time-honored recipes prepared with intention, inviting guests not just to eat, but to take part in a tradition worth celebrating.
- Big Apple Inn: Established by a first-generation Mexican immigrant family in the 1930s and located on historic Farish Street, Big Apple Inn is famous for its pig ear sandwiches, smokes (aka smoked sausage), and tamales. The food is served with a side of history: the restaurant was a popular meeting place for Freedom Riders and hosted meetings held by Medgar Evans in its basement.
- Bully’s Soul Food Restaurant: Bully’s is a Black-owned, James Beard Award-winning restaurant serving up the classics in a down-home, unpretentious atmosphere. It is not to be missed!
- Hen & Egg: Chef Nick Wallace adds a modern twist to Southern food at Hen & Egg, located inside the historic Sun-N-Sand, a cool, retro spot that once lodged prominent activists during the civil rights movement.
- Fred’s Soul Food: A must for a big, old-fashioned breakfast, Fred’s has a menu to satisfy any soul food lover, ranging from fried bologna and eggs to salmon croquettes and rice.
- Sugar’s Place: Enjoy chicken, catfish, waffles, and much more at Sugar’s Place, another of Jackson’s downtown culinary gems.
The Delta: Where Flavor & Tradition Meet
During slavery, cooks adapted their native culinary traditions to available ingredients, such as okra, yams, and black-eyed peas. And many staples of soul food, like bitter greens and organ meats, were considered undesirable or downright inedible by some. But when skillfully prepared, these ingredients were the basis of hearty, flavorful meals. Today, these ingredients are the stars at some of the Delta’s tastiest restaurants.
- Big Daddy’s Soul Food: You’ll find hearty servings of authentic soul food in the small town of Tchula, including fried chicken, baked pork chops, cabbage, turnip greens, and okra.
- The Hollywood Cafe: In Robinsonville (near Tunica), Hollywood Cafe dishes up savory Southern noshes, including its famous fried pickles. Fun fact: Located on the Mississippi Blues Trail, the cafe was immortalized in Marc Cohn’s hit song “Walking in Memphis.”
- Ground Zero Blues Club: This Clarksdale favorite is perhaps best known for being co-owned by the legendary Morgan Freeman. People come for the music and a potential glimpse of the actor, but stay for the slow-smoked pork barbecue, fried catfish, and burgers.
- Airport Grocery: This rustic, bluesy Cleveland mainstay offers an authentic taste of Southern soul food!
- Soulful Addiction: Located in The Watermark Vicksburg, Soulful Addiction is new to downtown Vicksburg’s culinary scene but has quickly become a popular spot for its hearty, comforting, and flavorful dishes.
More Iconic Soul Food Spots Throughout the State
While the cuisine has been around for much longer, the term “soul food” became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. During the Great Migration, Black Americans moved from the South and took soul food recipes with them.
Black-owned restaurants across the country served up nostalgia and comforting meals while bolstering economic growth and providing safe spaces during the civil rights era. Back home in Mississippi, soul food has found a home in several fabulous eateries from the coast to the northeast corner!
- Ms. Audrey’s Soul Food and Catering: Ms. Audrey herself runs this Gulfport mainstay! Everything on the menu is made with fresh ingredients, using recipes straight from Ms. Audrey’s “Kitchen Bible.”
- Blu Jazz Cafe: Soul meets Cajun style in this Hattiesburg hotspot, owned by local entrepreneur Nelson Haskin.
- Soulshine Pizza: An unexpected treat — pizza with a slice of soul! In addition to freshly prepared, made-to-order pizzas and calzones, you can also get red beans and rice, homemade tamales, and Slap Yo Mama Bread pudding for dessert. Visit Soulshine in Flowood, Ridgeland, and Gluckstadt.
- Dilworth’s Tamales: Famous for tamales served both hot and mild, Dilworth’s is also loved for its fun, retro drive-through window. Fun fact: Dilworth’s Tamales, in operation since the 1960s, is the oldest Black-owned restaurant in Corinth.
This article was made possible by Visit Mississippi.
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.