I Hit The Backroads Of Mississippi To Try 10 Meat-And-Three Spots (And 6 Were Pure Southern Comfort)
Backroads have a funny way of guiding you toward the kind of meals that feel like a warm, familiar hug.
I set out across Mississippi in search of ten meat-and-three spots where the sides are plentiful, the gravy flows generously, and the smiles arrive as naturally as the sweet tea.
Along the way, six places stood out—serving pure Southern comfort that lingers in your memory long after the last comforting bite.
These kitchens honor tradition, offer kindness without hurry, and remind you why simple food matters.
Come hungry, bring a little curiosity, and let this list lead you to plates that taste like home.
1. Bully’s Soul Food Restaurant (Jackson)
The first forkful here hits like a story your aunt tells every holiday, familiar and warm.
Steam curls from the plate, and the sides arrive like longtime friends gathered around the table.
You lean in, and the hush in the room is just folks settling into their plates, finding that sweet rhythm between conversation and comfort.
The meat carries that slow tenderness you hope for, and each side brings its own quiet chorus. Nothing shouts, yet everything sings.
There is a rhythm to choosing your three, and you start trusting your instincts.
Maybe you chase creamy with something bright, then add a crunch to keep things lively. That balance makes the next bite feel inevitable, the one after that somehow better.
You glance around and see strangers nod the way people do when a plate understands them.
Before you know it, the meal has slipped into memory territory, where flavors turn into feelings and time moves kindly.
What stays is the softness of the spices and that little lift from a well loved kitchen.
You walk out a touch slower, the good kind of full, carrying a promise to return.
Where to find it: 3118 Livingston Rd, Jackson, MS 39213
2. Mama Hamil’s Southern Cooking & BBQ (Madison)
Walking in feels like stepping into a family reunion where everyone already saved you a seat.
The line moves with cheerful patience, and the platters look like they have been waiting just for you.
You build a plate the way you build a good day, with a little smoke, a little cream, and something bright to keep your balance.
Every bite has a friendly confidence that says relax, you are in the right place.
The room hums with chatter that matches the easy rhythm of the meal.
There is generosity in the scoops, and you never feel like you have to defend your choices.
A forkful of something tangy gives way to velvet smooth comfort, then a bite with a gentle crunch wakes everything up again.
It is the kind of plate that encourages seconds, then forgiveness.
The sauces speak in low tones, letting the meat tell the story. You find yourself planning the next visit before this one ends.
By the last bite, your shoulders have dropped and your smile is settled.
The backroads start to make sense because they led here. Comfort hangs in the air like a friendly secret, passed from tray to table.
Where to find it: 480 Magnolia St, Madison, MS 39110
3. Ajax Diner (Oxford)
On the square, this spot buzzes like a front porch on game day, relaxed but ready for a good time.
Plates shuffle out with that confident diner stride, piled just enough to make you grin. You angle for a seat and watch the flow, the kind of easy ballet that happens when a place knows itself.
The meat is tender and forgiving, the sides are balanced and playful. You taste something familiar, then find a little twist that keeps you leaning forward.
There is a tempo to the room that nudges conversation along.
You trade bites with a friend and realize the plate tells a story in chapters, salty, creamy, bright.
The cornbread sits like a polite neighbor who becomes the life of the party once the butter shows up.
Nothing tries too hard, which is exactly why it works. Even the simplest spoonful feels earned.
As the door swings and new faces drift in, you take a final sip of sweet tea and count your small victories.
A clean plate, a happy table, and a promise to return. This is why backroads were made, to land you somewhere that feels inevitable.
Where to find it: 118 Courthouse Sq, Oxford, MS 38655
4. Mama Jo’s Country Cookin (Oxford)
This is the kind of room where time stretches just enough to fit a second helping.
The counter smiles, the kitchen hums, and the plates look like they traveled straight from a church potluck. You settle into a seat and let the warmth do its work.
The meat is steady and sure, wrapped in simple seasonings that feel like good advice.
Sides arrive like a chorus backing up the lead singer, all harmony and heart.
You layer bites for balance, a soft spoonful against something with a little snap, then a buttery corner to tie it together.
It is a plate built for lingering, not for rushing.
The conversation around you picks up, easy and neighborly.
You catch yourself nodding along to nothing in particular, just the comfort of it all. The room fades and the plate takes center stage.
By the end, you are full in more ways than one.
You carry a gentle glow out the door, like a porch light walking you home.
If comfort is a compass, this place points true every time.
Where to find it: 1503 N Lamar Blvd, Oxford, MS 38655
5. Pearl’s Diner (Laurel)
Sunlight pours across the tables like it has reservations, catching the steam rising from every plate.
The first bite brings a calm you can measure, steady and warm. Crispy meets creamy, then something green steps in to keep the peace.
You look around and see nods from folks who have been here enough to trust the process.
That quiet confidence is contagious. The rhythm becomes simple.
Fork down, smile, fork up. Each side feels like a friend of a friend who already knows your name.
Sweet edges, savory middles, and a little pepper to keep you awake.
You find the cornbread does a fine job of introductions, pulling the plate together with every swipe.
By the time your plate starts to show, you realize the backroads detour was the point all along.
You did not stumble here, you arrived.
The meal ends the way a good song fades, not with a stop but with a feeling that keeps going. Save room for that feeling. It carries well.
Where to find it: 330 N Magnolia St, Laurel, MS 39440
6. The Midtowner (Hattiesburg)
Here, the day starts at a confident pace, like a favorite playlist you do not skip.
Plates arrive with clean lines and generous spirit. The meat is unfussy and well cared for, and the sides slip in with just enough personality to keep things lively.
You taste comfort without the heaviness, and that balance feels like good manners. People chat in easy circles while the staff moves like a well tuned band.
The biscuits lean tender, the vegetables feel fresh, and the starches make sure no one leaves hungry.
You trade bites across the table and realize there is no wrong combination, only new favorites.
A little salt lifts something silky, then a bright bite lands, and you are off again.
The room glows with the kind of energy that makes you linger. Time is kind here.
When the plate clears, you still feel light on your feet, like the meal handed you the afternoon.
You step outside with a contented grin and a plan to return sooner than later.
Backroads often surprise you. This one simply welcomed you in.
Where to find it: 3000 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
7. George’s Museum Café (Jackson)
The name hints at history and the walls back it up, quietly framing stories while plates do the talking.
Lunch moves with a friendly clip, the line gathering and thinning like a tide.
You get your choices in order, then the tray lands and suddenly the world shrinks to a fork and a smile.
The meat is straightforward and satisfying, the sides keep tempo with familiar beats. It feels honest.
There is a museum calm here, but the food is anything but still.
A creamy spoonful meets a peppery bite, and you find the middle that makes you reach back in.
You listen to soft conversations and let the room guide your pace. Nothing races. You just settle.
By the last bite, you have made peace with the afternoon.
The backroads theme tightens, and this stop fills a necessary chapter, steady and sure.
You leave with a small glow and a note to self. Some places do not need to shout to be heard.
Where to find it: 1150 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216
8. Rosie’s Family Kitchen & Catering (Jackson)
This spot feels like a friend’s kitchen that got ambitious and invited the whole neighborhood.
Laughter tilts through the room, and the plates show up with that proud home cooked posture.
You get your meat, then the sides stack up like a family tree, each with its own personality.
Something creamy, something bright, something with crunch, all in easy conversation. It feels personal without being precious.
The flavors lean trusting and true, the kind that respect the basics.
You find comfort in the familiar and delight in the balance.
The cornbread is a reliable handshake, the vegetables carry real cheer, and the gravies tie loose ends.
You settle into a pace that suits a second helping. No hurry, just happiness.
By the end, you are grateful for the kind service and the way the room softens the edges of a long day.
This is the kind of comfort that keeps its promises.
You walk out lighter, even if the plate was generous. Backroads win again.
Where to find it: 4304 Welota Dr, Jackson, MS 39209
9. Vic’s Biscuits & Burgers (Laurel)
At first glance you think breakfast, then the plate sets down and announces a bigger plan.
The biscuit is tender and ready to play host, while the sides join in like a friendly chorus.
You mix bites the way you mix a good road playlist, a little crispy, a little cozy, and something with zip.
The burger side of the menu winks, yet the meat-and-three spirit takes the lead. It is a flexible kind of comfort.
The room keeps things casual and bright, the tempo quick but welcoming.
You take a bite that bridges morning and midday, and suddenly the day opens up.
There is no fuss, just food that gets you where you are going. Every forkful has a purpose and a little joy. You feel understood.
By the last crumbs, you are ready to wander again, topped up and easy going.
This is roadside happiness done right, with portions that treat you kindly. Save the address and the memory. Both will serve you well.
Where to find it: 804 Chantilly St, Laurel, MS 39440
10. Old Country Store Restaurant (Lorman)
The building looks like it has heard a thousand stories and is ready to tell a few more. Inside, wood and warmth set the tone, and the plates follow through with deep comfort.
You find a rhythm between savory and sweet, spoon to fork, pause to smile.
The meat tastes like it came from a recipe that respects time. Sides gather like cousins at a reunion, each one bringing a little charm.
The atmosphere makes you slow down without asking.
You notice the details, the gentle clatter, the soft laughter, and the way steam hangs in the light.
A creamy bite gives way to greens with a friendly nudge. The cornbread helps everyone get along. It all adds up to a plate that feels complete.
Walking out, you can still hear the room behind you, steady and kind.
The backroads have done their job, leading to something worth remembering.
Comfort is the headline here, delivered with grace. You carry it with you, the way you carry a good song.
Where to find it: 18801 Highway 61, Lorman, MS 39096