These 7 Mississippi Lunch Counters Still Pile Fried Chicken And Three Sides On A Plate For About $10
A handwritten menu board, a steam table full of greens, and a line of folks in work boots told me I had found the right spot for lunch in Mississippi. I only stopped because I was hungry and the parking lot was full, but that plate of fried chicken and three sides stayed on my mind for weeks.
Plate-lunch counters like that one still feed whole families for close to ten dollars a person, and they carry recipes that go back generations. Here are seven places across the state where a meat and three can still make both your stomach and your wallet happy.
1. Jean’s
Lemon icebox pie might be the first thing you remember, but the plate before it deserves equal credit. Jean’s sits inside a cozy, historic building in downtown Meridian, and the Meat & Three sits right at the top of the menu where it belongs.
Pairings here feel like Sunday dinner at a relative’s house. Fried chicken shows up with creamed corn and mac and cheese, meatloaf lands beside braised cabbage, and a fried pork chop often comes with summer squash.
Sweet potato souffle rounds out many plates, and catfish is a local favorite. Turkey and dressing and a vegetable plate give everyone at the table an option.
What about the kids? High chairs and a kids’ menu are available, and the dining room welcomes families and groups.
Counter service and table service both run at lunch, and the kitchen tends to move quickly.
Hours run 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM on weekdays and Sundays, with Saturdays closed. Weekday lunch hours can get busy, so arriving early may help.
Free lot and street parking make the stop simple, and Meridian in Lauderdale County is roughly an hour and a half east of Jackson. Most plates fall in the general ten-to-twenty-dollar range, with coconut meringue pie tempting you to spend a little more.
2. GrateFull Soul
Tomorrow’s menu will not match today’s, and that is half the fun. GrateFull Soul on Main Street in downtown Hattiesburg changes its blue plate lineup daily, so regulars often check in just to see what the kitchen decided to cook.
Meatloaf appears often, sometimes with limas, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. Herb-roasted chicken, fried catfish, fried chicken, and country fried steak take turns in the spotlight too.
Sides lean fresh and vegetable-heavy, with sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, braised cabbage, and broccoli salad among the regular choices.
Picture a small, homey room with a counter where plates come together fast. The setting is casual and unfussy, which makes it an easy fit for grandparents and little ones sharing one table.
Vegetarian eaters can usually build a full plate from the sides alone.
Timing matters here. Lunch runs Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM, and weekends are closed, so plan a weekday stop.
Reservations are not taken, but free lot and street parking are usually easy to find. Prices sit in the general ten-to-twenty-dollar tier, and a meat with three sides can land near the low end.
Takeout works well if you want a plate for the road.
3. The Midtowner
Pancakes at 7 AM, country fried steak by noon. The Midtowner on Hardy Street in Hattiesburg covers both meals under one roof, serving breakfast all day beside a full lunch lineup every single day of the week.
Home cooking is the focus. Meatloaf, chopped steak, and country fried steak anchor the lunch side, and the chicken fried steak has earned a strong local following.
Plates often come with three sides, and portions tend to run generous for the price. Pot pie and a meatloaf sandwich are popular too, along with catfish and grits.
Families will appreciate the high chairs and kids’ menu. Little ones who want pancakes can have them while grandparents order a proper meat and three, which often settles the lunchtime debate.
The room stays casual and busy, with college students and locals mixing in.
Hours run 7 AM to 2 PM daily, and weekend mornings can be crowded. Parking includes a free lot and street spots, though finding a space may take a few minutes at peak times, so a later lunch could be easier.
Prices fall in the general ten-to-twenty-dollar range. Hattiesburg sits about an hour and a half southeast of Jackson.
4. Hen & Egg
Slow Food Served Fast is the motto, and the Blue Plate Special proves it. Hen & Egg operates inside the historic Sun-n-Sand Hotel in downtown Jackson, a mid-century landmark that gives lunch a fun bit of retro flair.
Founded by chef Nick Wallace, known from Top Chef and Chopped Champions, the restaurant honors Southern foodways with a modern touch. The blue plate rotates.
One day it might be fried catfish with mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread, while another brings blackened catfish with potatoes, cabbage, and snap peas.
Breakfast fans have plenty to love as well, from chicken and waffles to Gulf shrimp and grits. Kids can choose from their own menu, and the counter-service setup keeps things moving when little ones get restless.
Curbside pickup is offered for families on the go.
Weekday hours run 8 AM to 2 PM, with Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM and Saturdays closed. Sundays tend to draw the biggest crowds, while weekday afternoons are often quieter.
Free on-site and street parking is usually plentiful. The special is known for its affordable price within the general ten-to-twenty-dollar range, making a chef-driven plate surprisingly easy on the budget.
5. Bully’s Soul Food Restaurant
James Beard recognition usually brings to mind white tablecloths. Bully’s flips that idea completely, earning national honors from one tiny room on Livingston Road in Jackson, where soul food has been the whole point for a long time.
Plates come loaded. Meatloaf with homemade mac and cheese and fresh turnip greens is a classic order, and beef ribs, fried chicken, catfish, and fried pork chops keep the menu anchored.
A pig feet and neck bone combo stays popular with longtime fans, and fried green tomatoes make a great shared starter. Save room for banana pudding.
Small details give the place its charm. Live music sometimes plays near the register, and the atmosphere feels family-oriented from the moment you walk in.
High chairs and a kids’ menu help younger diners settle in quickly.
Lunch and early supper run Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and weekends are closed. Parking options include free and paid lots plus street spots, though space can be tight, so arriving before the noon rush may help.
Most plates fall within the general ten-to-twenty-dollar range. Takeout is available too, which works nicely if the dining room is full.
6. Cafe Unique Southern
Seasoning is the quiet superpower at this Columbus lunch spot. Cafe Unique on Airline Road keeps things simple, clean, and focused on soul food that tastes like it came from a family recipe box.
Catfish is a frequent star, often joined by black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, and cabbage. Chitlins appear on the menu for those who grew up on them, which makes this one of the more traditional stops on the list.
Everything leans well-seasoned without being heavy-handed, and desserts are available for anyone with room left.
Would a grandmother and a first grader both feel at home here? Very likely.
The room is casual, cozy, and quiet, which can be a welcome break from louder lunch crowds, and the spotless dining area is often the first thing newcomers notice.
Plan carefully, since the schedule is short. Lunch runs Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM, with Sundays from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, and Mondays and Saturdays closed.
Reservations are not accepted and delivery is not offered, but dine-in and takeout both work. Free lot and street parking keep arrival easy.
Prices sit in the general ten-to-twenty-dollar range, and Columbus in Lowndes County is about an hour and a half south of Tupelo.
7. Scrooge’s Fine Foods & Drink
Despite a name borrowed from the most famous penny-pincher in literature, Scrooge’s is anything but stingy with portions. Located on Ridgewood Road in north Jackson, this laid-back eatery runs daily blue plate lunch specials alongside a long regular menu.
Sunday lunch is a highlight. Tender brisket often arrives with mashed potatoes, green beans, fried okra, and cornbread, which covers a full meat and three with bread on the side.
Other days might bring fried chicken breast, pot roast, or a marinated grilled pork chop. Red beans and rice, cornbread dressing and gravy, and cabbage are longtime favorites.
Unlike most counters on this list, Scrooge’s stays open well past lunch. Hours run 11 AM to 11 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 10 PM on Sunday, so an early supper works just as well as a noon plate.
Sunday and Thursday afternoons tend to be busiest.
Families will find high chairs, a kids’ menu, and outdoor seating for pleasant days. Parking is usually plentiful, with a free lot and street spots, and curbside pickup is available.
Prices fall in the general ten-to-twenty-dollar tier, and the daily special is often the best value on the menu.