The Best Restaurants in Jackson, Where the Dining Scene is Having a Moment

By Kelly McMurtry

Jackson, Mississippi, has long been the cradle of rich Southern culture. It’s where writers like Eudora Welty and Margaret Walker put pen to paper, where B.B. King strummed his first chords, and where gospel choirs filled church pews with Sunday morning hallelujahs. The city’s creative spirit feels inseparable from its food, a culinary scene as soulful as its soundtrack. These days, I’ve found that Jackson is more than just barbecue and biscuits—it’s a burgeoning food destination worth savoring. Here are the 12 best restaurants in Jackson.

Elvie’s

1. Elvie’s

If Jackson’s culinary future had a mascot, it’d be chef Hunter Evans at Elvie’s. This Bellhaven restaurant whispers French sophistication into Southern classics, like crawfish étouffée served as a croissant filling. If that sounds like overkill, let me assure you, it’s not. It’s perfection. And the space—minimalist and charming.

2. Walker’s Drive-In

Forget the name; Walker’s isn’t slinging cheeseburgers to teenagers in poodle skirts. Instead, Chef Derek Emerson’s Fondren hotspot offers dishes like scallops over sweet corn risotto that feel at once fancy and familiar. The redfish Anna, a buttery masterpiece topped with lump crab, is the kind of dish you’ll think about weeks later, unprompted, like an ex you never really got over.

Saltine Restaurant Jackson MS shrimp Po boy

3. Saltine

Saltine is where seafood gets its spotlight, with fresh Gulf oysters shucked faster than you can say, “Pass the Tabasco.” The chargrilled oysters are smoky and indulgent, but it’s the shrimp po’boy—overflowing with crispy crustaceans—that keeps me coming back. There’s also a craft beer list long enough to test your decision-making skills.

4. The Manship

Manship Wood Fired Kitchen’s Mediterranean-influenced menu feels like a culinary field trip. The wood-fired pizzas are laden with what’s fresh from local farms. But the standout is the lamb meatballs, glazed in a sticky-sweet sauce. The open kitchen adds a layer of drama, as flames lick the pans and servers whisk plates to tables like they’re auditioning for Top Chef.

5. Brent’s Drugs

There’s retro, and then there’s Brent’s. This Fondren soda fountain has been around since the 1940s, slinging pancakes and egg creams like it’s still Eisenhower’s America. But the real secret is in the back: The Apothecary, a speakeasy serving some of Jackson’s best cocktails. Two words: bourbon milk punch.

6. Lou’s Full-Serv

Lou’s is a spot where comfort food gets an upgrade. The bourbon-glazed pork chop is so tender you’ll question every other pork chop you’ve ever eaten. Pair it with the pimento mac and cheese and thank me later. Lou’s feels like the kind of place you could eat at every week and never get bored.

7. Iron Horse Grill

Music and Tex-Mex collide at this downtown spot that doubles as a Mississippi music museum. At Iron Horse, the sizzling fajitas arrive at your table in a cloud of drama, while the queso is worth its weight in gold. The industrial-chic vibe ties it all together, making Iron Horse Grill as cool as it is tasty.

8. Johnny T’s

Farish Street is steeped in history, and Johnny T’s Bistro & Blues fits right in, offering upscale soul food with a side of live jazz. The shrimp and grits are as rich as a Delta sunset, and the fried chicken could convert even the most loyal Popeyes fan. The setting—a swanky space decked out in vintage blues memorabilia—feels like a party where everyone’s invited, provided they order a cocktail or two.

9. Aladdin

Head to Aladdin Mediterranean Grill for lamb shawarma and tabbouleh that tastes like a Mediterranean vacation. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the hummus is so smooth it might ruin all other hummus for you.

10. CS’s

CS’s is an ode to simplicity. No frills, no pretension, just burgers as big as your face and fries that hit the spot. The Big 4 burger is stacked so high it defies gravity, and the atmosphere is pure Jackson—laid-back, friendly, and ready to feed you until you’re full and happy.

11. Bully’s Restaurant

The weathered exterior of Bully’s is a lesson in humility: don’t judge a restaurant by its barred windows. Inside, the James Beard Award winner serves some of the best oxtails I’ve had this side of heaven. The macaroni and cheese is custardy, the cornbread will make you weak, and the whole experience is like stepping into someone’s kitchen—someone who really knows how to cook.

12. Big Apple Inn

Pig ear sandwiches might sound like a culinary dare, but at Big Apple Inn, they’re a rite of passage. This Farish Street staple has been dishing out tamales and ear sandwiches for over 80 years. Anthony Bourdain loved it here, and if that’s not endorsement enough, I don’t know what is.