The 10 Best Local Grills In Jackson, Mississippi

There’s a new kid in town, and it’s shot straight to the top of Jackson’s barbecue scene. The Pig & Pint has been drawing the city in since they opened in 2015 with some truly fantastic food. They’re working with a simple concept – barbecue, in the form of baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket, or smoked chicken, and the sauces and sides to fulfill anyone’s desire. Their sandwich options are also extremely enticing – such as fried green tomato BLT. The place simply oozes southern charm from top to bottom, and when you leave, you’ll just be sorry that there wasn’t more space in your stomach to try more. Don’t forget to have a look at their beer list.

Bully’s Restaurant is like your southern mother’s kitchen – if everyone in the neighborhood were always invited. There’s a truly welcoming, homey feel here and you’ll get the prices, portions, and service to match. Don’t expect luxury – instead, they’ve spent their time and energy crafting some truly great barbecue and southern soul food, be it ribs, beef tips, or fried catfish. As any good southern restaurant should, they’ve got homemade sweet tea to wash it down. As soon as you pull up and see the crowded parking lot, it becomes clear that this is a local favorite and a highly worthwhile stop.

Chimneyville Smokehouse is old school, and it owns it. It’s cafeteria-style, meaning that you come up to the counter and point out what you want to then see it ladled in heaps onto your plate. The pulled pork sandwiches (if you want to really embrace the southern spirit, don’t forget to put coleslaw on top of the sauce) and ribs are delicious, but you’re really going to want to save some room for the banana pudding for dessert. Possibly the most difficult thing will be choosing between the sides, so the safest bet is probably just to say yes to as many as you can fit onto your plate.

E & L Barbeque may not be in the most glamorous neighborhood but good barbecue is good barbecue, and that’s their business. Another cafeteria type place, you’ll want to have your mind made up when you go up to the ordering line, because they’ll move you right through. Their particular specialties are the ribs and the sauce, which you can buy by the quart or the gallon if you ask for it. If you travel a lot, you’re probably familiar with the idea that the best food doesn’t come from the best-looking places – and E & L Barbeque is further proof of this rule. Brunswick Stew | © Joe Loong/WikimediaCommons

Hickory Pit has received various accolades about the quality of their barbecue over the years that they’ve been open, and this friendly, family-owned little restaurant just keeps going strong. If the owners happen to be serving when you get there, they’ll immediately welcome you in warmly. You can get your ‘que in sandwich or platter form, and the restaurant also has a couple of more unique options – like a po-boy sandwich, for example, or the Brunswick stew, an item more common in the Mid-Atlantic region. Their sweet sauce is renowned for the flavor, as are their carrot and coconut cakes – don’t miss them.

F. Jones Corner, as they call it, serves up some great barbecue – but they’re so much more than just a BBQ joint. Housed in a former filling station that’s listed as a historic building, F. Jones Corner brings their varied and creative southern and barbecue menu together with great music to put on a show for visitors on the weekends and just create a fun, comfortable atmosphere for the other nights. Depending on the artist, you might get blues one day, jazz the next, and hip-hop the next – you never know what to expect. Once you hear the music, feel the vibe, and bite into the barbecue, you’ll be hooked.

Whether or not you’re staying the Hilton Garden Inn, which houses the King Edward Grill, you’ll want to stop by for a meal while you’re in Jackson. Their menu is based around local and seasonal food, so you can be assured that whatever you get will be fresh and be tied to the character of the city. This is another great place to get the southern specialty that is fried green tomatoes, and the pork shoulder sandwich will leave you craving a whole second plate, no matter how full you are. The setting is certainly luxurious, so if you’re looking for the combination of mouth-watering barbecue and a fancy night out, King Edward is the place to come.

They really know their way around the grill at Burgers & Blues. The owner envisioned it as the perfect combination of a great restaurant and a fun bar – meaning, they’ve got something for everyone, from families with young children to a group of students looking for a night out. Their menu is a mix of southern stylings and bar food, with some extremely tempting burgers that you can choose between. If you don’t find anything you like, just build your own. You’ll find their pulled pork sandwich to be quite a treat as well, and if you’re looking for a twist on the typical ‘que menu, get the barbecue nachos as an appetizer.

Two Sisters Kitchen is southern soul food at its absolute finest. It’s entirely buffet, and the menu changes daily, so you know that it’s cooked fresh after years of experience. You might find barbecue one day and chicken fried steak the next, with an ever-changing menu of tasty sides that will be enough to pull you off of any diet. Expect some combination of biscuits, fried okra, creamed corn, fried chicken, and so much more, of course with sweet tea to wash it all down. The owners are really passionate about making this a warm and friendly place for everyone who stops by – the South has as a reputation to uphold, and Two Sisters are going to be the ones to do it.