184 Best Restaurants in USA

The decor may be somewhat generic, but the food is anything but. Located within the Yotel near the Capitol, Art and Soul serves up simple, honest dishes using the freshest local ingredients—with flavorful and artsy twists. The menu changes, but you are in good hands with dishes like braised rabbit with spaghetti and ramp pesto, and the BLT containing homemade bacon, tomato marmalade, heirloom tomatoes, and sourdough bread. The expansive front patio welcomes dogs (with their own menu).

Long Beach's famous Craftsman bungalows were built en masse during an oil boom a century ago, and while many have been torn down to make way for McMansions and apartment blocks, one now plays home to the Attic, which serves some of the best Southern-style cuisine in the region. The comfort food on the all-day menu delights, from the Flaming Hot Cheetos mac and cheese (don't overthink it; just try it) to the braised oxtails with preserved huckleberry. Daily happy-hour specials serve as an "intermission" between lunch and dinner offerings. Score a coveted indoor table in the home's former rooms, or enjoy the lowkey outside patio. In the mood for adventure? Try to score a reservation for occasional Attic Supper Club events, nestled in a gorgeous private dining room. Like much of Long Beach, the Attic is dog-friendly.

James Beard Award–winning chef Ashley Christensen (also behind Poole's Diner and Death & Taxes) opened this hip fried chicken spot, which serves the namesake dish as well as modern takes on Southern classics. Sit at the bar and wash down the restaurant's hearty cuisine with a craft cocktail or glass of champagne. Brunch is also a hit on the weekends.

This cavernous restaurant-speakeasy behind a storefront selling old vinyl records from the '70s and '80s is barely a secret since you'll likely hear the merriment coming from just behind the velvet curtain in the back. Proudly representing the Bronx, this lively restaurant celebrates Black and Nuyorican old-school hip-hop culture through its graffiti-inspired murals, its music, and above all, its menu, with offerings ranging from churrasco to chicken and waffles.

A Black-owned establishment that brings you delicious food and even better drinks. Its location being so close to Maryland, some dishes are Maryland inspired and to die for. They are known for happy hour themes everyday of the week and their famous brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Even if you weren't raised by a Southern grandmother, the cooking at this bright, comfortable Andersonville restaurant will make you feel right at home, but the Southern heirloom cooking has more depth than you might expect. The brunch, lunch, and dinner menus revive century-old recipes scrupulously sourced out of historical cookbooks from New Orleans to Appalachia and re-create them with high-quality, sustainable ingredients. The drinks menu skews toward bourbon and classic cocktails, but don't miss the Bloody Mary with made-in-house pickles.

Big Shake's juicy hot chicken really holds its own—especially when it comes to its Hot Mess sandwich loaded with coleslaw, pickles, and ghost pepper sauce—but it's also one of the rarer places in town where hot fish is also on the menu. Crispy, golden breaded catfish and whiting fillets also get the famous dry rub treatment here with four different spice levels; there's even a chicken and fish combo platter so diners can get the best of both worlds. Add an order of fried Oreos at the end for a little extra fun.

This Pullman spot has a loyal following of both local residents and out-of-towners, who come for the excellent bar and the Southern-inspired menu that also highlights WSU's locally produced cheese in such dishes as Cougar lobster mac and cheese and Pullman poutine. Gulf gumbo, Bayou catfish, shrimp/crab etouffe, and the "Rajin' Cajun Pasta" (which comes with chicken, shrimp, Andouille sausage, and a heat warning) give a decidedly Louisiana slant to the menu. The bar offers more than a dozen craft cocktails and groups them as "beginner," "intermediate," and "advanced" to reflect their sweetness and alcohol taste.

What started as a beloved Airstream food truck is now a brick-and-mortar staple in the neighborhood that's hailed for its daily scratch-made Southern-style biscuits. There are nine different biscuit entrees to choose from, made with a variety of meats, gravies, and toppings, but there are plenty of tempting "Without a Biscuit" options like the surprisingly tasty egg-topped Lindstrom made with shaved brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, and shredded Parmesan. There are additional locations in Hillsboro Village and Franklin. 

What goes better with buttermilk biscuits than a historical Queen Anne Victorian home? This one, affectionately known as the Corn House (after the Corn family who lived there from 1920 to 1980), is home to some of the best Southern brunch around, from the traditional (biscuits and sausage gravy with a side of cheese grits) to the unconventional (a biscuit burger with pimento cheese and tomato jam). There are additional locations in The Gulch and Hillsboro Village. 

There will be a line, but this hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint is a great spot for grabbing a hand-held breakfast sandwich—say, a honey-chicken biscuit—en route to the ferry. If you're not in a rush, nab a table, and peruse the extensive menu featuring Southern favorites like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles along with avocado toast, brioche-and-berry French toast and linguica hash.

Chef Carlos Swepson, a Mississippi native, puts a contemporary spin on classic American soul food, with down-home dishes like biscuits and sausage gravy, jumbo shrimp and grits, turkey meat loaf, seven-cheese macaroni with applewood bacon, and a fried seafood po'boy. Owned and operated by Swepson and his wife, Markisha, the casual yet smart eatery serves brunch all day, every day in a comfy space directly above the entrance to the B and C trains at 116th Street. There's also a DJ spinning R&B, techno, and soul on the weekends during brunch and dinner. 

Breaded and fried to a golden brown, fried catfish is a classic Southern dish that can be found all over the city, but take it a step further with Bolton's hot fish. This is a Nashville mainstay for a reason—they make hot chicken and fish better than anyone else. They even have vegetarian options. 

The new kid on the Starland block elevates Southern staples like fried chicken and oysters with high presentation and super-charged flavors. Locals flock to the spacious patio for late afternoon cocktails and house-made pickles, and the dining room buzzes with sociability and a kickin' soundtrack.

Two brothers from England traveled the southern United States on a quest to learn everything there is to know about barbecue, and they decided to share the information with Denver. The result is some of the best 'cue in town, from St. Louis–style ribs to beef brisket, pulled pork, and chicken. The sauces are a mishmash of their favorites, including a vinegary one and a sweet one, and the baked beans use their smoked meats for extra flavor. Eat at one of the metal tables amid license plates and knickknacks from the boys' travels, or get it packed up nicely to go. There are six other metro-area locations, including one at Denver International Airport.

Since 1947, Busy Bee Cafe has become a historic staple of Atlanta (even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ate here). This cozy restaurant was founded by Lucy Jackson, a self-taught cook, and today it still offers delicious Southern cuisine that has molded and shaped Atlanta's food scene. From fried chicken to seafood, and with all the sides you could want, there’s no shortage of choices. Busy Bee is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was also awarded the James Beard Classic Award in 2022, and is a 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient.

Though the Caney Fork River Valley Grille is best known for its ribs and catfish, the wild-game menu is a must-try for those with a taste for adventure—this is truly the only place in Nashville where you'll find gator chili, wild elk sliders, or a venison sausage Philly (think classic cheesesteak sandwich but with sausage). There’s live music every Friday and Saturday against a backdrop of taxidermy possums, bears, deer, wolves, bobcats, and much more. The indoor catfish pond is especially scenic, if you prefer a livelier view during dinner.

This clubby, friendly seafood grill is a popular spot for locals seeking a creative and delicious bite. The place is famous for the smoked duck and andouille gumbo, grilled fish, crab cakes, and soft-shell crabs. The desserts are great.

In the former drugstore of the pharmacist who invented Pepsi-Cola, this tile-floored, light-filled corner café is a magnet for visitors and local businesspeople wanting a quick sandwich or large salad for lunch. In the evening the Chelsea is more upscale, with entrées in the upstairs dining rooms (there's an elevator) including shrimp and grits and a candied-bacon rib eye. The bar is well stocked, as are the Pepsi products, the nonalcoholic drinks of choice in New Bern.

A combination of fresh seafood, racks of ribs, local beers, and live music make this a Front Street staple, especially for lunch. Housed in a 1900s grocery building with lots of exposed brick framing wooden booths, Clawson's is stuffed with memorabilia dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Beaufort.

With its retro neon sign, this charming “meat-and-three” café has been a fixture in downtown Clayton since 1931. Now completely renovated and decorated in an industrial-farmhouse style, the restaurant serves a new generation of patrons hearty homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches, and the very best of homestyle Southern cooking. Check out the daily specials board for the latest fresh veggies and seasonal offerings. The fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and homemade desserts are crowd favorites. There's also a market space next door offering gourmet coffee, fresh baked goods, deli items, and grab-and-go meals.

Come for the carefully constructed coffee, but don't leave without a to-die-for egg and country ham biscuit with jam.

From the rustic wood-paneled walls and the rows of rocking chairs to the shrine of signed headshots from country music legends, this catfish surf-and-turf restaurant has been turning out traditional Tennessee cooking in a laid-back family atmosphere for decades. Beyond the obvious steak, catfish, and shrimp mains, they also offer several standout sides like coleslaw, hush puppies, and fried pickles.

From Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley, the chef-owners behind Austin's Foreign & Domestic, comes this modern interpretation of a country café, with Commerce Hall, a music venue, upstairs. The seasonal menu is on the short side, but everything on it has been truly perfected, from the crispy, airy popovers to roast chicken with molasses carrots and mushroom jus to hearty spaghetti bolognese. The real pièce de résistance is the chicken-fried steak, which is fried to featherweight perfection, topped with creamy redeye gravy and served with smashed duck fat potatoes and lemony green beans. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday.

Embodying the new Southern cuisine, Cotton & Rye offers a menu that is creative and artistic with a strong sense of tradition. You'll see classic, recognizable comfort dishes like shrimp n' grits and thick bone-in pork chops, but careful intention goes into the preparation and presentation that results in delightful sensory surprises. The casual-chic dining room embraces the design boldness of 1950s bank architecture and unfolds around the central bar, serving up some of Savannah's best cocktails. Stop by for an excellent happy hour on the back patio.

Family-owned and friendly, this no-frills lunch buffet is the place for soul food in the Asheville area. Load your plate with fried chicken, catfish, and pork chops, but leave room for classics like collards and mac and cheese.

Whether you couldn't snag a reservation at Virtue or you just want another taste of chef Erick Williams' food, Daisy's is a good choice. The location of this New Orleans--inspired counter-service spot, on the ground floor of a mixed-use commercial building, feels a little generic, but the dishes, like fried green tomato po' boys and debris fries, are full of boisterous personality. There's a full bar with sazeracs and frozen hurricanes, too.

For an unparalleled experience that will leave you stuffed with Southern goodness, brave the line outside this throwback restaurant (open since 1959 in a former hospital building surrounded by a picket fence and flowers) serving fried chicken, country-fried steak, country ham biscuits, mashed potatoes, green beans, and banana pudding. Platters are delivered to your table family-style, and it's all-you-can-eat for the price of admission.

A vestige of a past era in Cannonborough-Elliottborough, this stalwart soul food joint still boxes up fried shrimp, deviled crab, and juicy pork chops. The menu changes daily, and it's wise to follow the recommendations of the chef just behind the counter in the open kitchen. Most folks take their okra soup, turkey wings, and country ribs to-go, but there are a few barstools and a couple of simple tables just inside the door.