10 Best Mississippi Restaurants

Mississippi is famous for fried catfish, shrimp and grits, comeback sauce, and mud pie. The state's food identity is rooted in Southern and Soul Food cooking, with a strong influence from the Gulf of Mexico. What sets Mississippi's food apart is its use of local ingredients like Gulf shrimp, crawfish, and pond-raised catfish. Comeback sauce, a mayonnaise- and chili sauce-based condiment similar to a remoulade, originated in a Jackson Greek restaurant and is now a staple across the state, served with everything from fried pickles to salads. The state is also known for its classic Southern vegetables, like collard greens, black-eyed peas, and fried okra, which are fundamental components of the traditional "meat-and-three" meal.

The average cost of a meal in Mississippi at a budget restaurant is between $15 and $25 for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $60 and $100. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like Vestige or MM Shapley's Restaurant start at $100 per person and can increase based on menu choices.

Mississippi has a strong presence of national fast-food chains that specialize in chicken, with Popeyes and Chick-fil-A being extremely popular. Regional brands like Cook Out and national staples such as McDonald's also have a large customer base. These chains are some of the most popular fast-food restaurants in the state.

• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Known for its Louisiana-style fried chicken, biscuits, and red beans and rice.
• Chick-fil-A: A highly popular chain famous for its chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and customer service.
• Cook Out: A North Carolina-based chain with a growing Mississippi presence, known for its extensive menu of char-grilled burgers, barbecue plates, and milkshakes.
• McDonald's: A ubiquitous chain with a large following in the state for its burgers, fries, and breakfast menu.
• Krystal: A Southern chain known for its small, square steam-grilled burgers, called Krystals.
• Ward's Restaurant: A Mississippi-based chain famous for its homemade chili, root beer floats, and Big One burger.
• Zaxby's: A popular chain specializing in chicken fingers, wings, and signature sauces.
• Sonic Drive-In: Known for its drive-in service model and a large menu of drinks, slushes, burgers, and hot dogs.
• Taco Bell: A popular choice for its Mexican-inspired menu items like tacos and burritos.
• Waffle House: A Southern institution open 24/7, known for its breakfast platters, hashbrowns, and waffles.

The Mississippi dining landscape, particularly in Jackson and along the Gulf Coast, continues to expand with new openings. Recent additions include Eslin's, a neighborhood cafe in Jackson, and The Reef, a beachfront restaurant in Biloxi. These new establishments bring fresh concepts to the state.

• The Reef: A restaurant in Biloxi offering seafood and American fare with direct views of the Gulf of Mexico. Located at 1749 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531.
• Lost Pizza Co. (Flowood): A new location for the popular Mississippi-based pizza chain, known for its creative pizzas and casual atmosphere. Located 144 Friendly And Fresh Dr, Flowood, MS 39232
• Elvie's (New Location): The acclaimed Jackson restaurant, inspired by New Orleans French cafes, recently moved to a new, larger location in the Belhaven neighborhood. Located at 809 Manship St, Jackson, MS 39202.

The downtown areas of Mississippi's cities, such as Jackson and Ocean Springs, contain some of the state's best restaurants. These central districts feature a mix of fine dining, upscale casual, and historic establishments. The best restaurants in these downtown areas are listed below.

• Vestige: A fine-dining restaurant in downtown Ocean Springs offering seasonal tasting menus that blend Southern and Japanese influences.
• Weidmann’s Restaurant: A historic establishment in downtown Meridian that has been serving Southern and Creole cuisine since 1870.
• Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro: Located in the Westin Jackson, this downtown restaurant serves modern American cuisine with a Southern influence.
• The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen: Situated near downtown Jackson, this restaurant specializes in Southern-inspired dishes cooked in a wood-fired oven.
• Char Restaurant: A classic steakhouse located in Jackson's Highland Village, a short drive from downtown, known for its prime steaks and seafood.

Yes, there are lunch spots in Mississippi worth trying, including Jackson's Radish, Bully's Restaurant, and The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint in Ocean Springs. Radish offers a menu of fresh, customizable salads, grain bowls, and wraps in a fast-casual setting. Bully's Restaurant, a James Beard Award winner, serves traditional, homestyle soul food with daily plate lunch specials featuring items like fried chicken and oxtails. For a casual and lively meal, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint provides award-winning barbecue plates and sandwiches in a unique, rustic environment.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in Mississippi, such as the classic MM Shapley’s Restaurant in Ridgeland, Pulito Osteria in Jackson, and Scarlet’s Steaks & Seafood in D'Iberville. MM Shapley’s Restaurant is a traditional fine-dining steakhouse known for its prime steaks, extensive wine list, and formal atmosphere. Pulito Osteria offers a more contemporary, upscale-casual experience with a menu of house-made pastas and wood-fired pizzas focused on Roman culinary principles. For a high-end resort dining experience, Scarlet’s Steaks & Seafood provides premium steaks and seafood with panoramic views from its location inside the Scarlet Pearl Casino.

Mississippi has restaurants that serve vegan food, including The Beagle Bagel Cafe, Highball Lanes, and Goldbergs Fine Foods. The Beagle Bagel Cafe in Jackson and Madison offers several vegan bagel and sandwich options, including a "Vegan V" sandwich with plant-based sausage. Highball Lanes in Jackson features a dedicated vegan menu with items like a vegan smash burger, chili cheese fries, and a "Big Vegan" sandwich. Goldbergs Fine Foods in Flowood provides plant-based options such as an Impossible patty melt and a vegan reuben sandwich. The Chimneys restaurant in Gulfport also offers a specific vegetable curry dish that is vegan.

Restaurants in Mississippi that serve gluten-free food include Cultivation Food Hall and various establishments with gluten-free menus. Cultivation Food Hall in Jackson hosts multiple vendors, some of which provide gluten-free options for bowls and other dishes. La Brioche in Jackson is a patisserie that offers a selection of naturally gluten-free macarons. Many fine-dining restaurants, such as MM Shapley's Restaurant and Vestige, can accommodate gluten-free dietary needs upon request, offering modified preparations of their steak and seafood dishes.

Mississippi's most famous cuisines are Southern/Soul Food and Gulf Coast Seafood. The state's culinary identity is directly tied to its agricultural heritage and its location on the Gulf of Mexico. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Mississippi.

• Southern/Soul Food: This is the foundational cuisine of the state. It features dishes like fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and the "meat-and-three" plate lunch, which consists of a protein and three vegetable side dishes.
• Gulf Coast Seafood: The proximity to the Gulf of Mexico makes fresh seafood central to the state's coastal cuisine. Dishes prominently feature Gulf shrimp, oysters, blue crabs, and redfish. Common preparations include fried seafood platters, boiled shrimp, and seafood gumbo.
• Catfish: Mississippi is a leading producer of farm-raised catfish, making it a signature food. The most common preparation is cornmeal-crusted and deep-fried catfish, served as fillets or whole fish at restaurants throughout the state.
• Barbecue: Mississippi barbecue is centered on pork, specifically pulled pork and ribs. The style is less uniform than in other states, but it generally involves slow-smoking the meat and serving it with a tomato-based sauce that can range from sweet to tangy.
• Creole: Due to its proximity to Louisiana, Mississippi's Gulf Coast shows a strong Creole influence. This is evident in dishes like shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, and blackened redfish, which are staples on many restaurant menus.