Soul food, the comfort food of the South, can be found in Jackson, Mississippi. Whether you are searching for Mississippi BBQ, elevated Southern-inspired dishes or a surprising dish that brings out your adventurous side, a Mississippi Soul Food Tour is a must.
Radiating cheerful energy in the Fondren arts district of Jackson, Mississippi is a nostalgic 1946 soda fountain, one of the oldest in the country – Brent’s Drugs is an old-school diner that has been routinely featured on media outlets such as the Food Network, Esquire and Buzz Feed. But vibes change at night when you push aside a velvet curtain to reveal a secret speakeasy. Grab a cocktail and delicious fare to make your night.
Under the leadership of Chef Derek Emerson, Walker’s Drive-In serves surprising soul food dishes with local ingredients. If you’ve never tried BBQ Fried Oysters, Portobello Fries or Crispy Fried Lobster Skewers – now’s your chance.
Frequently named one of the best places in Jackson, Mississippi for BBQ, the unassuming Sylvester’s, located in a gas station reigns supreme. Grab a half rack of ribs, of a full rack of ribs, depending on your appetite – either way, you won’t regret stopping by.
Traveling on vacation, calls for courage and a sense of adventure, and at Big Apple Inn, you’ll need both. The hole-in-the-wall played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as a meeting place for Black activists. Nowadays, you can expect lots of flavor and an opportunity to nosh on their slow-cooked, tender Pig’s Ear Sandwich. Nosh if you dare.
A Lou’s Full-Serv Neighborhood Kitchen, they serve a Southern-inspired menu in a vintage industrial atmosphere. Bring a date or a bring a friend, and come for the Teres Major dish, which is a huge steak wrapped in bacon over potato rosti with steak sauce. It takes the term “meat and potatoes” to a whole new level.
Book your stay at Best Western Plus Flowood & Suites.
Transcript:
Do you like to eat? Yeah, we do, too. Which is why we’re on a foodie tour in Jackson, Mississippi. All right, so we are staying here at the Best Western Plus Flowood Inn and Suites. It’s just outside of the heart of Jackson. It’s going to be an awesome place to sort of base our operations. This is our room. Look at this, I’ve been in a lot of Best Westerns. I’ve never seen one of these before. What is going on with the showerhead? It’s just like a built-in spa – where are we Laura? We are in the Fondren arts district. Are we hip enough to be here? I just need to pop in here real quick. I got a prescription to fill. For that rash- there’s a speakeasy in the back! I think this is the restaurant bar. I asked some locals where to eat, and there was a consensus that it’s all about Walker’s. This place is from the 1930s, it looks like an old drive-in but it actually has really nice high-end Southern food. Barbecue marinated fried oysters covered in brie with Granny Smith apples. Now that is Southern style right there. Oh my gosh. That’s a next level kind of bite right there. There’s no way that’s gonna be bad. It’s amazing. All right, this is the special, it’s the trout on top of cheddar jack grits. So good.
Good morning, y’all. All right. So down here. That’s Best Western breakfast and the great thing about it is you can go as light or as heavy as you want. And well after yesterday and what’s coming today, I think it’s a coffee and yogurt sort of order for me, and fruit. Thanks honey. All right, day number two. I am going to take you to a barbecue joint way outside of town for legit Mississippi barbecue. Oh look, it’s in a gas station. All right, that’s how you know it’s good. Here we are. Mississippi barbecue. Here’s what we got, some ribs, we got chicken and rib tips. I love it. I like salt. A little bit of spice. Get it? Get it girl. The meat is incredible. It’s very good. This next stop we’re both going to be having something we’ve never had before, hogs ear sandwiches. Lordy lordy. I do like it, like little tiny sliders. That’s pretty cool. Here it is, pig’s ear sandwich. The consistency is rather slimy. The flavor is good. I can’t say it’s my favorite, but it’s fun. Can we talk about this for a second? It’s our first beer. The flavor is really fun. There’s a jiggle. Let no piece of the pig go wasted. I didn’t think I was hungry walking in here and then I look at the menu and now I’m hungry again. Look, vegetables that aren’t covered in butter! That’s not Mississippi food. You can handle that. All right, it’s a major steak on top of a potato rosti wrapped in bacon. I knew we would eat good in Jackson, Mississippi; I did not know we would eat this good in Jackson, Mississippi. Oh my gosh, I think I’m going to have to fast for a week, but it was worth it. If you need a foodie adventure or any adventure, Best Western’s got you covered. I will see all y’all back in Texas. Let’s go.