15 Mississippi Restaurants That Locals Swear By For One Beloved Dish
Mississippi tables tell stories through single plates that become legends. Across the state, certain restaurants have earned their reputation not through long menus but through one dish done so well that locals make it a pilgrimage.
These are the spots where recipes turn into rituals, where a bite connects you to generations of flavor. I have chased these treasures from the Delta to the coast, and each one delivers something unforgettable.
Here are fifteen Mississippi restaurants where one beloved dish keeps the locals coming back.
1. Bully’s Restaurant, Jackson – Smothered Oxtails
Steam curls off a plate of oxtails and rice, rich gravy soaking the cornbread while the line inches forward and chatter hums. Bully’s is that no-frills soul-food room where the oxtails are the quiet star that brings folks back.
The meat falls apart at the touch of a fork, and the gravy has that slow-cooked depth that only patience can build. Every bite tastes like Sunday dinner, even on a Tuesday.
Locals order it by name and never glance at the rest of the menu.
2. Big Apple Inn, Jackson – Pig Ear Sandwich
On Farish Street, regulars order ears with a splash of hot sauce and a grin, the kind of sandwich that tells a whole Jackson story in one bite. It is the house icon, celebrated far beyond the tiny counter.
The texture is tender with just enough chew, and the seasoning carries generations of tradition. I tried my first one on a dare and went back the next day for two more.
This sandwich is pure Jackson history wrapped in wax paper.
3. Walker’s Drive-In, Jackson – Redfish Anna
In the glow of the neon, servers set down Redfish Anna with lump crab, a buttery, lemony classic that never leaves the menu for long. It is the dish people whisper about while calling for reservations.
The fish flakes perfectly, and the crab topping adds a luxurious finish that feels special without being fussy. Regulars time their visits around cravings for this plate.
Walker’s has other great dishes, but this one owns the spotlight.
4. Brent’s Drugs, Jackson – Old-School Milkshakes
A soda-fountain swirl in a chilled metal cup, the shake is half nostalgia and half perfect texture, and it makes the booths feel like time travel. The patty melt is wonderful, but locals come just to sip.
Each shake is hand-mixed with care, thick enough to need a spoon but smooth enough to satisfy. The flavors are simple and honest, just like the decade the fountain opened.
Sitting at that counter, you taste what Jackson used to be.
5. Doe’s Eat Place, Greenville – Delta Hot Tamales
The doorway creaks, the kitchen hisses, and a paper tray of tamales lands beside your steak knife like it belongs there. At Doe’s, the tamales are a way of life, not a side dish.
They are meaty, spicy, and wrapped in cornmeal that soaks up all the flavor. I have watched first-timers order one tray and leave with three more to go.
The Delta invented this style, and Doe’s perfected it over decades of practice.
6. Weidmann’s, Meridian – Black Bottom Pie
After the last forkful of shrimp or steak, a glossy slice of black bottom pie arrives, chocolate and whispery topping stacked over that signature crust.
The peanut-butter crock and crackers on every table set the tone before dessert steals the scene.
The filling is silky and rich, balanced by the lightness of the topping, and the crust holds it all together with buttery precision.
Weidmann’s dates to 1870, and its black bottom pie has long since become a house signature developed under Henry Weidmann, and regulars plan entire meals around saving room for it.
7. Old Country Store (Mr. D’s), Lorman – Fried Chicken
Mr. D sings while the buffet pans empty and refill, and the fried chicken crackles as it meets the plate. Travelers make detours for this bird, then carry the song out to the parking lot.
The crust is perfectly seasoned and shatters under your teeth, revealing juicy meat that tastes like Sunday morning. I have eaten fried chicken across three states, and this version holds its own against any of them.
The atmosphere is as much a part of the meal as the food.
8. Borroum’s Drug Store & Soda Fountain, Corinth – Slugburger
A sizzle on the flattop, a paper wrap, a tang of mustard and onions: the slugburger is pure Corinth tradition. Order one at the counter, and you are part of a very long story.
The patty is a mix of beef and meal, giving it a unique texture that locals defend fiercely. It is not a hamburger, and that is exactly the point.
Borroum’s has been flipping them since before your grandparents were born, and the recipe has not changed one bit.
9. Ajax Diner, Oxford – Chicken & Dumplings
The square fills with football weekends and book talk, but in this lively room, the bowl of chicken and dumplings is the steady comfort. It is the order that turns a busy day into a slow smile.
The dumplings are thick and pillowy, swimming in a broth that tastes like home. Every spoonful warms you from the inside, and the chicken is tender enough to fall apart without effort.
Ajax serves plenty of great food, but this bowl is the one that keeps people loyal.
10. Taylor Grocery, Taylor (near Oxford) – Fried Catfish
Porch talk drifts into the night while skillets hum inside, and platters of golden catfish hit tables with hushpuppies and stories. It is North Mississippi catfish at its most craveable.
The cornmeal crust is crunchy and light, and the fish inside is moist and flaky with just the right amount of seasoning. I have sat on that porch more times than I can count, and the catfish never disappoints.
Taylor Grocery turns a simple fish into a full experience.
11. City Grocery, Oxford – Shrimp & Grits
On Oxford’s Square, the pan sauce smells like garlic and tomato, and the shrimp settle into creamy grits that define the dish for first-timers. It is the plate that turned many visitors into regulars.
The grits are stone-ground and cooked until they reach that perfect creamy consistency, and the shrimp are plump and perfectly seasoned.
This dish has won awards and earned a reputation that reaches far beyond Oxford. One taste explains why the line forms early.
12. The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, Ocean Springs – Ribs
Live blues on the stage, smoke rolling from the pits, and a tray of ribs that pull clean with a tug. The vibe is playful, but the rib game is all business.
The meat is tender and smoky, with a bark that adds texture and a sauce that enhances without overpowering. I have watched people order a half rack and immediately regret not getting the full one.
The Shed combines great music with even better ribs, and both keep you coming back.
13. Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, Biloxi – Stuffed Flounder
Under ancient oaks and brick, the dining rooms hum as servers present flounder stuffed with crab, rich and coastal and celebratory. Generations mark occasions with that one beloved plate.
The flounder is delicate and flaky, and the crab stuffing is generous and perfectly seasoned with a hint of lemon. This is the dish families request for birthdays, anniversaries, and homecomings.
Mary Mahoney’s has been serving it for decades, and it still feels like a special event every single time.
14. Blue Canoe, Tupelo – Connie’s Blueberry Donut Bread Pudding
The band tunes up, the room laughs, and a warm, blueberry-studded bread pudding lands with its caramel ribbon. People swear it is the best sweet bite in the state.
The donuts break down into a custardy base that holds bursts of blueberry in every spoonful, and the caramel adds just enough sweetness without going overboard. I have finished entire meals just to get to this dessert.
Blue Canoe is known for music and good times, but Connie’s creation is the real headliner.
15. The Tato-Nut Donut Shop, Ocean Springs – Potato-Flour Glazed Donut
A morning line curls down Government Street while fresh donuts cool on racks, light and tender from the potato flour. Old-timers claim you can taste the coast in every bite.
The glaze is thin and sweet, and the donut itself has a texture that is softer and more delicate than the usual cake or yeast varieties. I have stood in that line more mornings than I care to admit, and it is always worth the wait.
Tato-Nut has been making these donuts the same way for generations.