10 Mississippi Diners Still Buttering Buns Like It’s A State Law
Down here in Mississippi, some traditions are more than habits, they’re sacred. And few are held in higher regard than the art of properly buttering a sandwich bun. While trendy eateries elsewhere might overlook this humble but essential step, our local diners and roadside joints know better.
A well-buttered bun isn’t just a garnish, it’s the foundation of flavor, the first bite of comfort. I’ve spent years on the road, seeking out those rare spots where butter takes center stage, adding that perfect golden crisp to every sandwich.
These ten Mississippi establishments still do it right, honoring a delicious tradition worth preserving.
1. Big Apple Inn: The Jackson Jewel
Last Tuesday I stumbled into Big Apple Inn after a rainstorm soaked me to the bone. Their famous “smokes” saved my day! Since the 1930s, this Oxford Street legend has been tucking spicy red sausage into pillowy buns so thoroughly buttered they practically shimmer.
The magic happens right before your eyes, fresh buns slathered generously, then lightly toasted until golden. Their house-crafted hot sauce and tangy mustard complete the masterpiece.
Locals whisper that the butter-to-bun ratio hasn’t changed since FDR was president. Whenever I bite into that perfect combination, I understand why this place has outlasted every food trend for nearly a century.
2. Ajax Diner: Oxford’s Butter Sanctuary
My college roommate first dragged me to Ajax Diner after a heartbreak, insisting their buttered buns could cure anything. He wasn’t exaggerating! This Oxford institution transforms ordinary sandwiches into comfort food masterpieces through the liberal application of golden butter.
Their pot roast sandwich arrives on a bun so perfectly toasted and butter-soaked that it practically melts on contact. The edges crisp up just right while the center stays tender and rich.
Watching the cooks work their butter magic from the counter seats feels like witnessing a sacred ritual. Paired with their creamy mac & cheese and cornbread for sopping up every last drop, it’s a Mississippi meal that hugs your soul.
3. Big Bad Breakfast: Morning Butter Bliss
“You ain’t had breakfast ’til you’ve had a properly buttered biscuit,” my grandmother always said. Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford lives by those words! Though primarily a breakfast spot, their commitment to the buttered bun tradition extends to every bread product that leaves their kitchen.
Their buttermilk biscuits arrive glistening with a generous layer of melting butter. Even their lunch sliders feature buns with compound butter spreads that elevate simple ingredients to extraordinary heights.
During my last visit, I watched the chef brush each bun with such care you’d think he was painting a masterpiece. That attention to detail explains why locals schedule their entire day around getting a table here.
4. Jo’s Diner: Retro Butter Revival
Neon lights guided me to Jo’s Diner in Flowood during a thunderstorm last summer. Seeking shelter, I found butter paradise instead! This chrome-clad time capsule serves burgers and breakfast sandwiches on buns so thoroughly buttered they leave a delightful sheen on your fingertips.
The grill master here has a special technique, applying butter to both sides before a quick toast on the flat-top. The result? Crispy edges giving way to a soft center that perfectly captures the sandwich juices.
Regulars know to request “extra Mississippi-style”, code for an additional swipe of butter before serving. The waitresses, many who’ve worked here for decades, roll their eyes but always comply with a knowing smile.
5. Oxford Square’s Hidden Butter Havens
Wandering around Oxford Square last fall, I discovered a delicious conspiracy! Nearly every eatery surrounding Ajax Diner has quietly adopted the buttered bun tradition, creating a neighborhood united by golden, toasty goodness.
The Little Easy serves po’ boys on bread so thoroughly buttered you need extra napkins just to hold them. Across the street, Crossroads Pub elevates simple sliders with butter so rich it transforms ordinary bread into something transcendent.
A local chef confided that establishments around the Square engage in friendly competition over their butter technique. “Some clarify it first, others whip it with herbs, but everybody knows skimping on butter is the quickest way to empty tables around here.”
6. Mammy’s Cupboard: Roadside Butter Royalty
Cruising down Highway 61 toward Natchez, you can’t miss the bizarre 28-foot tall concrete woman that houses Mammy’s Cupboard. What truly stands out, though, isn’t the kitschy architecture but their unwavering dedication to properly buttered buns!
First-timers gasp when sandwiches arrive on oversized buns with butter applied so generously it pools slightly on the plate. The grill marks create a beautiful crosshatch pattern that’s as much visual art as culinary technique.
“Honey, that butter is half the reason people drive from three counties over,” explained my server Dottie when I asked about their method. After one bite of their country ham on that gloriously buttered throne, I understood completely why butter application here is treated with such reverence.
7. The Blue & White Restaurant: Butter Time Capsule
Stepping into The Blue & White in Tunica feels like entering a butter-loving time machine! Since 1937, this vintage diner has maintained the same exacting standards for bun preparation that made them famous during the Depression era.
Their country ham sandwich arrives on a bun with butter applied so meticulously you can almost count the knife strokes. The heat from the grill transforms it into a golden crust that audibly crackles with each bite.
“My granddaddy would drive 40 miles just for one of these sandwiches,” the elderly man at the next booth told me unprompted. “Said during hard times, that butter made you feel rich for a minute.” One taste of their perfectly buttered burger bun confirmed that some traditions deserve preservation.
8. Sunrise Café: Oxford’s Butter Breakfast Club
“Butter first, questions later” should be the motto at Sunrise Café, one of Ajax’s spiritual offspring that carries the buttered bun tradition into breakfast territory. My morning ritual whenever I visit Oxford includes their egg sandwiches on buns so generously buttered they practically float off the plate!
The owner, Miss Ella, supervises the butter application personally each morning. “Too little is disrespectful, too much is showing off,” she once told me while demonstrating the perfect three-swipe technique.
College students nurse hangovers here while locals discuss town politics, all united by those gloriously golden buns. Their breakfast sliders arrive with butter that’s been infused with honey and sea salt, a small innovation that respects tradition while gently enhancing it.
9. Pecan House Café: Jackson’s Soul Food Sanctuary
Rain pounded the roof of Pecan House Café as I ducked inside, immediately enveloped by the scent of butter meeting hot metal. This unassuming Jackson neighborhood joint treats bun buttering as sacred heritage rather than mere cooking step.
Their pulled pork sandwich arrives on a bun slathered with a butter-based secret sauce before meeting the grill. The outer surface develops a delicate crust while the inside remains cloud-soft and rich with absorbed flavors.
“Been buttering buns the same way since my grandmother opened in 1962,” the owner proudly told me while demonstrating his technique. The café’s walls, covered with family photos, silently testify to generations dedicated to doing simple things extraordinarily well. That buttery tradition makes every sandwich seamless, juicy without sogginess, flavorful without overwhelming.
10. Campus Corner Deli: College Town Butter Tradition
Some Mississippi food traditions remain gloriously underground! Campus Corner Deli represents dozens of college town sandwich shops where the unwritten rule remains steadfast: buns must be properly buttered or customers revolt.
My nephew, a freshman at Mississippi State, introduced me to this hidden gem where butter application is treated with scientific precision. Their off-menu “Mississippi Melt” features a double-butter technique, once before grilling and again just before serving.
“Out-of-state students don’t get it at first,” the sandwich maker explained with a wink. “By sophomore year, they’re all butter converts.” Watching tourists’ faces light up at their first taste of properly prepared buns reminds me why this tradition deserves protection. Some culinary rules exist for good reason!