Top Soul Food Restaurants in Jackson, MS

Here at Herrin-Gear INFINITI, we’re proud to be a part of the Jackson community, with its rich history and culture. A key part of our city’s identity is its abundance of soul food restaurants, where you can eat delicious, home-cooked meals in cozy settings. Keep reading to learn about soul food’s importance to Jackson and find out about some great soul food restaurants in the area.

What Is Soul Food?

“Soul Food” by Jennifer Woodard Maderazo is licensed with CC BY 2.0

If you’re new to the area, you might not understand how important soul food is to Jackson’s cultural identity. Soul food was developed in the 19th century among African American communities in the Deep South in states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Through migration and tourism, soul food has now spread all across the country, but its roots still thrive here in cities like Jackson. Some important staples of soul food are fried chicken and fish, macaroni and cheese, grits, collard greens, and fried okra. Keep reading to learn about some restaurants in Jackson that serve traditional soul food.

Sugar’s Place Downtown

Located on Griffith Street across from the Mississippi College of Law, Sugar’s Place Downtown is a Jackson institution. The restaurant serves a rotating menu of soul food staples and daily specials. Meal combos typically include a main course, several sides, and a drink, making this an affordable spot to grab a bit of satisfying soul food. Sugar’s Place Downtown is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. They serve breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. and lunch the rest of their operating hours. You can also contact the owner for catering options.

If you stop by for breakfast, you might choose a full platter, including eggs, grits, and bacon. You might also try one of Sugar’s breakfast specials, like the chicken and waffles, a handmade waffle with either hand-breaded chicken tenders or Sugar’s famous wings, or the Texas Toaster Sandwich, which includes your choice of meat, a fried egg, and cheese, grilled between two slices of thick, buttered Texas toast. Lunch options vary but often include baked chicken, chopped steak, and seafood, with greens and fresh biscuits.

Fred’s Soul Food Restaurant

Fred’s Soul Food Restaurant, which is located on Palmyra Street near the Veterans Hospital, serves up soul food staples in a homey and casual environment festooned with New Orleans Saints memorabilia. This restaurant, which used to be called Tay’s Soul Food, opens at 6 a.m., making it a great place for early risers to get a meal before heading to work or a weekend out of town. It’s a neighborhood institution, so the restaurant fills up fast for breakfast, creating a bit of a wait on some occasions due to its delicious fare.

Breakfast is served from 6 to 10 a.m., at which point the restaurant switches to the lunch menu. Fred’s Soul Food Restaurant serves up hearty breakfast options, like the full breakfast, which includes eggs, grits, and bacon or sausage. You might also choose pancakes, hash browns, or rice with cheese, another soul food staple. If you’re looking for a classic Southern breakfast experience, try the fried bologna sandwich, a thick-cut slice of bologna fried up between two slices of buttered white bread, with optional cheese.

Bully’s Restaurant

Located on Livingston Road in North Jackson, Bully’s Restaurant has been serving up quality soul food to Jackson residents and visitors since 1982. This casual restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week except Sunday. Stop by for lunch or an early dinner, with takeout and delivery options. Bully’s Restaurant is a local restaurant with national fame — it won the prestigious James Beard Award in 2016 and has been featured on both the Food Network and Travel Channel.

Bully’s menu features both permanent classics and daily specials, so you might schedule your visit based on what’s on the menu that day. For example, past specials have included smothered liver and onions, as well as meatloaf. You might also choose one of the entrees, like beef tips with rice or Southern fried catfish. Entrees come with two sides, which you can choose from a list that includes cornbread dressing, macaroni and cheese, and fried squash. Dessert options include banana pudding and peach cobbler, so make sure you save room for something sweet after dinner.

Scrooge’s Restaurant & Pub

Scrooge’s Restaurant & Pub, which is located on Ridgewood Road near Interstate 55 north of the city center, is a restaurant with an extensive menu, including lots of traditional soul food dishes. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. You can dine in or order pickup from Scrooge’s during its regular business hours. Scrooge’s features a full bar and a patio, which makes it perfect for spring and summer evenings with friends.

The menu at Scrooge’s Restaurant & Pub includes burger and grill options, but the star of the show is the restaurant’s selection of soul food classics. The menu changes a bit on a daily basis to accommodate specials and lunch deals, so you might find something new every time you go there. Popular items include sausage and chicken gumbo, catfish fillets, and chicken fried steak. Scrooge’s also has a special Sunday lunch soul food menu, with cornbread, collard greens, red beans and rice, and a wide range of meats, including fried fish and chicken.

These are just a few of the great soul food restaurants that you’ll find in the Jackson area. Each one has its own unique flavor and environment, but they all serve up wonderful food. Our Herrin-Gear INFINITI team is dedicated to finding you the perfect vehicle for all your Jackson adventures, whether that means visiting a new restaurant, spending the day at a Mississippi park, or taking a road trip. Check out our inventory of quality new and pre-owned vehicles to find your next set of wheels.