We Ranked The 7 Best Southern Restaurants In Mississippi And Here Are The Results
A plate of smothered pork chops on a quiet weekday taught us more about Mississippi than any guidebook ever did. We kept driving, kept eating, and kept finding modest dining rooms that served food worth planning a whole family trip around.
Southern cooking here is about history, kitchen pride, and long tables where kids and grandparents share the same bowl of greens. Here is our ranking of seven spots that each earned a place for a different reason.
7. Bully’s Soul Food Restaurant, Jackson, MS
Smothered pork chops swimming in gravy set the tone at our top pick, a small, unpretentious building in Jackson that feels like a family kitchen. Nobody here is chasing trends.
The cooks simply make soul food the way it has always been made, and the results speak for themselves.
Fried catfish, beef ribs, fried chicken, and fried green tomatoes fill the menu, along with old-school specialties like the pig feet and neck bone combo. Portions run generous, so a hungry teenager and a picky younger sibling can both leave satisfied.
Most plates land in the $10 to $20 range per person, which makes feeding a whole crew far easier on the wallet.
Families will appreciate the practical touches too. There is a kids’ menu, high chairs are available, and the staff move quickly and warmly between tables.
Takeout and catering are options if you prefer a picnic later.
Timing matters, though. Doors open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and the restaurant closes on weekends, so plan this stop for a weekday lunch or early dinner.
Parking can get tight, with a small free lot and street spaces nearby. Arrive a little early and you will be rewarded with a hot plate and a true taste of Jackson.
6. Boure Restaurant, Oxford, MS
High ceilings, gorgeous wood floors, and a balcony overlooking Oxford’s Courthouse Square give this restaurant a look that matches its cooking: rooted in tradition with a modern farmhouse twist. Boure leans into Creole flavors while keeping one foot planted firmly in classic Southern comfort.
Wild Gulf shrimp and grits sits near the top of the menu, joined by gumbo, BBQ shrimp, and pasta jambalaya. Fried crawfish tails arrive with a tangy, spicy sauce that makes a fun shared starter.
For something unexpected, the brisket shepherd’s pie blends two comfort traditions into one hearty dish.
Kids are well covered. A dedicated kids’ menu, high chairs, and familiar choices like onion rings and sweet potato fries keep younger diners happy while adults explore the more adventurous plates.
Expect to spend about $20 to $30 per person.
Reservations are not accepted, so strategy helps. Monday and Tuesday afternoons tend to be quieter, while Thursday through Saturday evenings fill up fast.
Hours run Monday through Saturday starting at 10:30 AM, with Sundays closed. Street parking around the square can be tricky, so consider a short walk and pair the meal with a stroll through downtown Oxford’s shops and historic buildings.
5. Magnolia Grill, Natchez, MS
Sunset over the Mississippi River is the free side dish at Magnolia Grill. Set on historic Silver Street in Natchez, the restaurant features a glassed-in deck and an upstairs dining room where wide river views stretch out beside your table.
Gulf seafood takes center stage. Blackened redfish, seafood bisque, crab-stuffed mushrooms, and shrimp and grits all reflect the region’s coastal pull, while catfish briars and fried green tomatoes keep things deeply Southern.
Steaks, burgers, and a tenderloin round out the menu for anyone who prefers land over sea. Save room for the chocolate pecan pie, a sweet finish kids tend to remember.
Families get a relaxed setting with a kids’ menu and high chairs. Reservations are accepted, which is handy for weekend dinners when the place gets busy.
Prices typically run $20 to $30 per person.
Hours are Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11 AM, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant closes on Mondays.
Parking is usually plentiful, a welcome break after a day exploring Natchez. For the best views, aim for a table upstairs close to sunset.
Children can watch boats drift by while the grown-ups finally get to sit back and enjoy the meal.
4. The Lady May, Ocean Springs, MS
Honey butter fried chicken is the dish that put this Ocean Springs restaurant and market on our radar, and it lives up to every bit of the buzz. The Lady May takes classic Southern comfort food and gives it a little polish without losing its homey soul.
Biscuits arrive rich and buttery, mac and cheese is creamy, and Crawfish Monica brings a taste of the Gulf Coast to the table. Crab cakes, a pimento cheese board, and hearty salads with house dressings like honey lime and lemon basil show the kitchen’s range.
Fried bread pudding makes a memorable dessert.
Mondays bring a deal worth circling on the calendar: a fried chicken plate with mac and cheese and biscuits for about $10. Most meals stay in the $10 to $20 range, which helps families stretch a beach-town budget.
Open daily from 9 AM, the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it fits almost any schedule. Outdoor seating comes with live music, and dogs are welcome both inside and out, a rare bonus for traveling pet owners.
Kids’ menus and high chairs are available. Saturdays get crowded, so weekday visits feel more relaxed.
3. The Midtowner, Hattiesburg, MS
Breakfast all day might be the most family-friendly promise a restaurant can make. The Midtowner in Hattiesburg keeps that promise inside a nostalgic diner setting, complete with counter service and cozy booths.
Sweet potato pancakes are the signature, fluffy and lightly spiced, and kids usually clean their plates. Cathead biscuits with gravy, the Butcher’s omelet, and the Hardy Breakfast cover the hearty end of the morning menu.
Catfish and grits brings a distinctly Southern option, while country fried steak, meatloaf, fried okra, and squash casserole keep lunch firmly in home-cooking territory.
Meals generally cost $10 to $20 per person. Service moves fast, and the staff are polite and easygoing, which helps when little ones are hungry and impatient.
High chairs and a kids’ menu make the visit even smoother.
Plan ahead on timing. Hours run daily from 7 AM to 2 PM, so this is strictly a morning and early afternoon stop.
Weekend mornings bring the biggest crowds, and reservations are not accepted. Arriving on a weekday or right at opening gives your family the best chance of grabbing a booth quickly.
A free lot and street parking are available, though spaces fill up during peak hours.
2. Goodness Gracious, Tupelo, MS
Fall-off-the-bone tender is how the smothered pork chops come out at Goodness Gracious, a family-owned spot tucked into a suite on West Main Street in Tupelo. The setting is simple and quiet, which suits food that tastes like Sunday dinner at a relative’s house.
Meatloaf, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, hamburger steak, and BBQ chicken anchor the menu. Tuscan chicken and tacos add a bit of variety for anyone wanting a change of pace.
Portions are ample, and prices sit comfortably between $10 and $20 per person.
For families on the road, the setup is easy. Counter service keeps things moving, though table service is offered too.
High chairs and a kids’ menu are on hand, and parking is usually plentiful, a relief when unloading car seats.
Hours are short, so check the clock before you go. Lunch runs from 11 AM to 3 PM on weekdays and Sundays, and the restaurant is closed on Saturdays.
That Sunday opening makes it a smart choice after church or a morning visit to Tupelo’s landmarks. Takeout is available if you would rather grab plates and eat at a nearby park while the kids burn off energy.
1. Walnut Hills, Vicksburg, MS
Round tables with lazy Susans spinning bowls of Southern classics make lunch at Walnut Hills feel like a big family reunion. Housed in a historic home in Vicksburg, this restaurant offers round table-style dining at lunch, where everyone shares from the same rotating spread.
Fried chicken is the star and the reason many travelers plan their route around Vicksburg. Shrimp and grits, chicken fried steak, and fried green tomatoes join it, and the dessert lineup is impressive.
Banana pudding, carrot cake, and hummingbird cake give kids plenty of reasons to behave through the main course.
Families love the round table format because children can try small spoonfuls of new dishes without ordering full plates. A kids’ menu and high chairs are available, and reservations are accepted.
Expect to spend $20 to $30 per person.
Hours vary across the week. The restaurant opens at 11 AM Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, staying open until 9 PM, and serves Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM.
Tuesdays are closed. Sunday afternoons are busiest, so a weekday lunch offers a calmer experience.
Parking is usually easy, and the historic house makes a natural stop before touring Vicksburg’s riverfront and history sites.