Excellent Southern Comfort Food Restaurants Part I
Kentucky to Tennessee
When we started compiling a list of southern comfort food restaurants we found so many awesome places. It’s hard to make a reasonable list for every state in the south at one time. So, we’re starting with the most northern states and heading south. You’ll find recommendations from locals for Florida over to Texas in Part Two.
Southern food is one of the best parts about travel destinations in the south. Properly fried chicken and okra is usually paired with collard greens and pinto beans. A good restaurant will serve it with a big ol’ biscuit or some cornbread that is smack-your-mama-good.
As you travel south, you’ll find traditional hearty dishes that bring joy to your tastebuds and inches to your waist. Indulging at a really good southern comfort food restaurant for a meal should always be part of your southern travels. No matter where you go in the south, you’ll find restaurants that cook like somebody’s nana.
How To Find A Good Southern Comfort Food Restaurant
If you want to know if it’s going to be a true southern restaurant look for the signs.
- First and foremost, the sweet tea should be brewed in house. If tea is coming out of a soda machine, pass on by.
- You should see at least one pick up truck in the parking lot if you’re in a small town.
- You should definitely see somebody that looks like your grandma or granddaddy eating there if it’s lunch time.
Find Out If The Locals Like It
Ask people who work in the hotel where you’re staying where they like to eat. Grab a snack at a grocery store and ask the cashiers where they like to get a good southern meal. Reviews online are great, but word of mouth is a restaurant’s bread and butter in the south.
If the people who live there like it, it’s probably pretty good. When you ask someone if they like eating somewhere and they say something like, “it’s a’ight”, it’s most likely going to be a mediocre experience.
If they say, “we eat there ’bout every Friday”, you’re in for a darn good meal.
Look At What Is Being Offered On The Menu
You should always see at least one of these dishes on a menu of good southern comfort food restaurant.
- fried chicken
- chicken fried steak
- shrimp and grits
- fried green tomatoes
You should also see some traditional southern side item options too!
- collard greens
- deviled eggs
- pintos
- corn pudding
- grits
- good old mac and cheese
You’ll see some other basic standard options like burgers and fries in most southern restaurants. Being hospitable means having good standby options available for people who can’t quite handle the depth of flavor in good southern food.
Look For “Homemade” or “Made In House”
It’s not just about what’s on the menu, but how it’s prepared. If it doesn’t say made in house or made here then it’s probably coming out of a box or a bag. Restaurants don’t always advertises that their dishes are all homemade. Call ahead and ask or ask your server because they definitely know. They’ll be more than happy to share which items are made at the restaurant so you can try the best things they have to offer.
Southern Desserts
Peach cobbler, strawberry shortcake, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, key lime pie and Mississippi mud brownies are many of the traditional southern desserts you’ll see in southern restaurants. You’ll find ice cream available to help you cool off in the heat and cobblers don’t have to be peach. Depending on the time of year, it could be strawberry, blackberry, or apple.
Look for regional favorites in southern comfort food restaurants
Every state in the south has something they are known for regionally. There are restaurants that specialize in state cuisines. You can also find a pretty tasty version of a region’s speciality in a southern comfort food restaurant. From fried chicken and bbq pork to calabash shrimp and key lime pie, you can find a little something of each state’s favorite dishes in their best southern comfort food restaurants.
How We Chose The List
We started asking people from different areas in the south what the best southern comfort food restaurants are in their area. We repeatedly heard many of the same answers. So we pulled together a list of destination towns and restaurants.
Southern Comfort Food Restaurants in Kentucky
Kentucky has some regional flavors that we all love. We all know about Kentucky and fried chicken. Some other regional favorite flavors include mutton barbecue, hot brown and of course Kentucky bourbon.
Mutton BBQ
Tough old sheep are not nearly as tender or tasty as lamb. However, cook it slow over low heat in a salty, peppery vinegar mutton dip and you get some very flavorful tender meat. If you want to find this regional delicacy, you’ll want to visit the town of Owensboro in Kentucky.
Hot Brown Sandwich
This warm open face white toast sandwich with turkey, bacon and ham smothered in a cheese gravy (Mornay sauce). It’s then topped with pimento peppers or tomato slices. It’s specifically famous in Louisville and tastes like heaven.
One of the best places to find a good Hot Brown is Goose Creek Diner, but there are a ton of other restaurants that serve it. The “Hot Brown Hop” is a trail of restaurants you can check out with a ton of varieties of this dish. Check out the Go To Louisville page for more information.
Most of the best southern restaurants in Kentucky are going to have fried chicken on the menu. Also, if there is a bar attached to the property you’ll find some good bourbon beverages to go with those chicken dishes.
Lexington
- Blue Skillet
- MiMi’s Southern Style Cooking
- Josie’s Restaurant
- Josanne’s Homestyle Kitchen
- J. Render’s Southern Table & Bar
- Minton’s
Louisville
- Shirley Maes Cafe
- Goose Creek Diner
- The Village Anchor
- The Eagle
- Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ
- CASK Southern Kitchen & Bar
Foodie Things To Do In Kentucky
When you are vacationing in Kentucky as a foodie, there are a lot of fun things you can do to enjoy your time away. Food tours, beer walks and haunted tours are a few options to enjoy in the evening for an hour or two. If you have a sweet tooth, you can take the Rebecca Ruth Chocolate Tour. You’ll learn about a small town factory and taste some incredible chocolates.
If you are a bourbon fan, you can indulge in a four hour tour of bourbon country with a group of friends. You’ll learn the ins and outs of good bourbon distilling and how to properly prepare to taste bourbon. This tour includes a trip to my favorite distillery Buffalo Trace for some amazing tasting. It’s definitely an indulgent adventure for up to 6 people and costs around $1200.00 per group..
Southern Comfort Food Restaurants in Virginia
Regional Dishes In Virginia
Fresh Oysters and Country Ham are traditional Virginian fare. You’ll also find a lot of flavorful Brunswick stew and a melting pot of other southern dishes in Virginia.
Oysters
Oysters are the very oldest dish known to be served in Virginia. It’s so popular that that you’ll find Oyster festivals throughout the summer all along the coast. Festivals showcase dishes like the fried oyster sandwich, Oyster shooters, or just fried oysters. The best oyster dishes are going to be found along the coast and you definitely find them in Virginia Beach.
Country Ham
Virginia country ham is extremely salty and is traditionally a breakfast item. Slap a small piece on a biscuit and eat it with some eggs. Add a tall glass of sweet tea and you’ll be indulging in a flavor adventure.
Virginia is full of flavorful southern dishes and a mix of culturally diverse cuisines because there are so many people from so many places. People are brought together near the country’s capital and bring their traditional cuisine along. Unique takes on traditional dishes are available in almost every city in Virginia. It’s easy to find something you like no matter what destination you are visiting.
Roanoke
- The River & Rail Restaurant
- Local Roots
- Heavenly Foods LLC
Richmond
- Mama J’s Kitchen
- Southern Kitchen
- Croaker’s Spot Restaurant
Virginia Beach
- Commune
- The Bee and The Biscuit
- The Rustic Spoon
- Mary’s Kitchen
Southern Comfort Food Restaurants in Tennessee
Tennessee Regional Dishes
Tennessee is known for a lot of things, music, Dollywood, sports and and good old Tennessee Whiskey. When it comes to the food scene, the variety of notable foods is as good as is it gets. Memphis style bbq, Nashville Hot Chicken, baked beans, moon pies, and stack cakes are some of Tennessee’s good eats options and you can find them all across the state.
Nashville Hot Chicken
This chicken is exactly what it sounds like. The chicken is battered in a spicy peppery breading and deep fried. It’s served with pickles on toast and packs one heck of a kick if it’s done right. The original Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack is still a Nashville staple! Definitely stop by and grab yourself some hot chicken if you’re in the mood for something spicy.
Memphis Barbecue
Memphis style bbq is hardwood smoked pork that is dry rubbed and sauced in a tangy tomato based sauce. You’ll find bbq sandwiches in almost every part of the town and folks in Memphis are proud of their bbq. Memphis considers themselves the bbq capitol of the world, which a couple of other towns might argue, but it really is great barbecue.
Baked Beans
Once you’ve got your barbecue on a plate, you have to add a side of baked beans. If you’re in Tennessee, it’s going to be Bush’s baked beans since they are made right there in Chestnut Hill. The best baked beans have a little bacon and sweet twang that makes you crave more with every bite.
Moon Pies
Moon Pies are basically s’mores. Graham crackers with a marshmallow topping are dipped in a chocolate coating and when they are done right, should be about the size of your palm. Some places add ice cream, others heat them up and serve them with a chocolate drizzle, but any restaurant that carries homemade moon pies for dessert is a place you want to try.
Stack Cakes
Tennessee Mountain Cake or stack cake is an Appalachian tradition. The cake is made of thin, crunchy cookie like layers that are stacked and filled with a fruit pie filling. The fruit softens the cake and creates a great texture difference and sweetness that even folks who aren’t big dessert fans can appreciate.
Whatever region of Tennessee you choose, you’ll find great southern comfort food to try and plenty of restaurants serving up regional specialities.
Gatlinburg
- Split Rail Eats
- Mama’s Chicken Kitchen
- Tennessee jed’s (lunch)
Nashville
- Moneli’s
- Arnold’s Country Kitchen
- Doll’s Family Cafe
- The Loveless Cafe
Memphis
- The Choo
- Miss Girlee Soul Food Restaurant
Foodie Things to do In Tennessee
BBQ festivals and competitions are a great way to experience Memphis on a weekend getaway. Take a tour of some breweries or whiskey distilleries to savor the flavors of some adult beverages. For a very unique experience, go to the Banana Pudding Festival in the fall or the Watermelon Festival in the summer.
You will find everything from smoked watermelon to pineapple banana pudding bakes and the flavors will blow your mind!
The Wrap Up: Southern Comfort Foods Restaurants
We love trying new restaurants and specifically restaurants that are owned locally. This makes for the best service, food and atmosphere. Restaurants designed and operated in the community by people who live in the community are unique, special and a lot more fun to try.
Anytime you have the opportunity to travel to a southern destination, remember to check out what the locals like, be willing to try something new, and enjoy the whole dining experience. When in doubt, get dessert and always opt for sweet tea if you can. Y’all have a wonderful time wherever and whenever you travel south! When you’re ready to head a little further down the east coast, check out Comfort Food In The Carolinas and Georgia.