Top Southern Restaurants In New York City
Y’all won’t believe the incredible Southern food scene we have right here in the Big Apple!
As a Georgia transplant who moved to New York five years ago, I’ve made it my personal mission to find authentic Southern cooking that reminds me of home.
From crispy fried chicken to buttery biscuits and soul-warming gumbo, these restaurants serve up Southern hospitality with every plate.
Here are my absolute favorite spots when I’m craving a taste of down-home cooking in the city that never sleeps.
Sylvia’s: The Queen Of Soul Food
Stepping into Sylvia’s feels like walking into my grandmother’s kitchen on Sunday afternoon. The aromas of smothered chicken, collard greens, and cornbread instantly transport me back to family gatherings in Savannah.
Founded in 1962 by the late Sylvia Woods, this Harlem institution has served everyone from locals to presidents. I always order their crispy fried chicken with a side of candied yams that are perfectly sweet with just a hint of cinnamon.
What makes Sylvia’s special isn’t just the food—it’s the warmth. The servers call you “honey” and “sugar” while making sure your sweet tea never runs dry. When friends visit from out of town, this is always our first stop.
Red Rooster: Modern Southern With Harlem Flair
Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson created something magical when he opened Red Rooster. My first bite of their yard bird (fried chicken brined in buttermilk and coconut milk) nearly brought tears to my eyes!
The restaurant blends traditional Southern cooking with Ethiopian influences from Samuelsson’s heritage. Live music fills the space most evenings, creating an atmosphere that’s both sophisticated and down-home welcoming.
Red Rooster’s cornbread comes with a honey butter that I’ve tried (and failed) to recreate at home at least a dozen times. Fun fact: the restaurant is named after a legendary Harlem speakeasy from the 1920s that served as a community gathering spot.
Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too: Home-Style Heaven
Hidden on a quiet Upper West Side street, Miss Mamie’s serves the kind of food that makes you want to hug the chef. Their spoonbread (a soft, pudding-like cornbread) is the stuff of legends – light, airy, and slightly sweet.
Owner Norma Jean Darden collected family recipes from her North Carolina roots to create this cozy spot. The smothered pork chops fall right off the bone and come swimming in a gravy I could honestly drink by the glass.
Last winter during a snowstorm, I trudged 20 blocks just to get their mac and cheese, which uses five different cheeses and has a perfectly crispy top. The tiny space only has about ten tables, making you feel like you’re eating in someone’s dining room rather than a restaurant.
Pies ‘N’ Thighs: Brooklyn’s Southern Sweetheart
The first time I bit into a chicken biscuit at Pies ‘N’ Thighs, I called my mom to tell her I’d found a taste of home in Williamsburg. This tiny spot under the Williamsburg Bridge started as a beer closet operation and grew into Brooklyn’s Southern food headquarters.
Their honey butter chicken biscuit has the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and buttery goodness. The chicken is brined overnight, making it impossibly juicy under that crunchy coating.
Last summer, I brought my Texan cousin here, and even he tipped his hat to their banana cream pie. The vintage decor with mismatched chairs and country music playing softly makes this place feel authentic without trying too hard. It’s Southern without the kitsch.
Charles Country Pan Fried Chicken: Harlem’s Popular Place
Charles Gabriel is a chicken whisperer. Cooking his legendary pan-fried chicken in cast iron skillets rather than deep fryers, he creates the most perfectly crisp, evenly golden chicken I’ve ever tasted.
Originally operating from a food truck, Charles now runs this no-frills spot that draws chicken enthusiasts from across the five boroughs. The buffet-style setup means you can load up on all the fixings – his black-eyed peas with ham hocks are particularly life-changing.
One rainy Tuesday, I watched Charles himself turn the chicken pieces with the same care a jeweler might handle diamonds. The secret, he once told a regular, is seasoning the bird 24 hours before cooking. At 77 years old, Charles still oversees every batch, ensuring his North Carolina family recipes remain authentic.
Melba’s: Comfort Food With Celebrity Status
Melba Wilson learned her craft at Sylvia’s (her aunt’s restaurant) before opening this Harlem hotspot that’s become a celebrity favorite. Her signature chicken and waffles – with strawberry butter and maple syrup – won a throwdown against Bobby Flay, and for good reason!
The restaurant feels like a stylish living room, with family photos on walls and servers who remember your name. I’ve developed an almost embarrassing addiction to Melba’s spring rolls, which brilliantly wrap collard greens, black-eyed peas, and rice in a crispy shell.
After trying unsuccessfully to get a table for weeks, I finally snagged a reservation for my birthday dinner. Melba herself stopped by our table, sharing stories about growing up in Harlem and learning to cook from her grandmother. That personal touch explains why this place has such a devoted following.
Cadence: East Village Vegan Southern Innovation
When my vegan sister visited, I panicked about finding Southern food she could enjoy – then discovered Cadence. Chef Shenarri Freeman’s plant-based Southern menu completely blew us away with dishes I’d never have believed were meatless.
The tiny East Village spot reimagines classics like smoked grits with mushrooms that somehow capture the essence of traditional ham-infused versions. Their palm cake (a plant-based take on crab cakes) with chickpeas and hearts of palm has a remarkably seafood-like texture and comes with the most incredible remoulade.
Freeman draws from her Virginia upbringing to create Southern flavors without animal products. My carnivore friends regularly request Cadence for dinner nights, especially for the maple cornbread that arrives warm in a cast iron skillet. Who knew vegan Southern food could be this soulful?
Hometown Bar-B-Que: Brooklyn’s Smoke Master
Texans might raise eyebrows at NYC barbecue, but pitmaster Billy Durney’s Hometown in Red Hook silences skeptics with the first bite. The brisket, smoked for 12+ hours, has the perfect pink smoke ring and melts like butter – I’ve literally seen Southerners weep with joy here.
Hometown isn’t strictly Southern – it draws from global barbecue traditions – but the Texas-style brisket and Carolina pulled pork honor Southern smoking traditions beautifully. The massive warehouse space fills with the intoxicating aroma of smoking meats and the sounds of live country music on weekends.
Getting there requires effort (it’s in a remote corner of Red Hook), but that first bite of burnt ends makes the journey worthwhile. I always bring out-of-town guests here, and watching their faces as they taste that first bite of brisket is almost as satisfying as eating it myself.
Amy Ruth’s: Home-Style Harlem Institution
Named after the owner’s grandmother, Amy Ruth’s feels like Sunday dinner at a Southern relative’s house – if your relative happened to be an exceptional cook. Their chicken and waffles (named “The Rev. Al Sharpton”) feature the lightest, crispiest waffle I’ve found north of the Mason-Dixon line.
The walls are covered with photos of celebrities who’ve dined there, but the atmosphere remains unpretentious and welcoming. One frigid February morning, I waited 45 minutes in the snow for their weekend brunch – the line of locals willing to do the same told me everything about this place’s reputation.
Unlike trendier spots, Amy Ruth’s serves generous portions of no-frills, perfectly executed classics. Their smothered chicken with gravy and rice is my go-to comfort meal when homesickness hits. The sweet potato pie tastes exactly like the one my great-aunt brings to Thanksgiving – I’m still trying to figure out if they’re related!
Cornbread: Soul Food With A Modern Twist
Cornbread brings Southern classics to Harlem with a health-conscious approach that doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of flavor. Their signature cornbread arrives warm, slightly sweet, with a crisp edge that makes me close my eyes in appreciation with every bite.
Co-founders Adenah Bayoh and Elzadie Smith created a menu that honors traditional recipes while incorporating organic ingredients. The turkey wings (yes, turkey, not chicken) are fall-off-the-bone tender and come with a gravy I’ve been known to mop up with extra cornbread.
Last month during a thunderstorm, I ordered their delivery and was shocked when it arrived with the mac and cheese still bubbling hot in a cast iron serving dish that I could keep! The restaurant’s bright, airy space with colorful murals of Southern scenes makes this newer addition to the soul food scene feel both fresh and familiar simultaneously.