Southern Food Restaurants You Must Try in Kentucky

Kentucky may not be located in the deep South, but its drool-worthy restaurants offer slow-cooked, down-home dishes that represent all the flavors, textures and emotions that are so deeply rooted in Southern food traditions.
Here are some of the best throughout the Bluegrass State.

Tousey House Tavern, Burlington

In the Northern Kentucky town of Burlington, Tousey House Tavern serves up a mess of deep-fried chicken livers with pepper cream pan gravy, fried green tomatoes with country ham and cream cheese mousse, and a four-piece, fried-to-order chicken meal that is so worth the wait.

Jackson’s Restaurant, Richmond

Jackson’s Restaurant in Richmond will fill you up with fried okra, cooked cabbage, hominy, sweet carrots, cornbread stuffing, soup beans, fried potatoes, fried shrimp/fish/chicken livers, chicken and dumplings, country fried steak – whew! – plus hearty breakfasts in the morning and pies and cobblers made fresh daily.

Family Affair, Salvisa

Between Lexington and Louisville, take a tasty detour to Family Affair in Salvisa, where savory soup beans and cornbread, fried salmon patties, buttered corn, green beans, cooked greens and fried apples are served to adoring fans.

Our Best, Smithfield

Continue your Kentucky Southern food itinerary northeast of Louisville, where Our Best in Smithfield features fried oysters, fork-tender country-fried beef steak, crumb-coated catfish, fried salmon patties, chicken livers, fried okra, kale and pinto beans. Desserts here are legendary as well – don’t miss the meringue pies!

Harper House, Cadiz

Known for a wide variety of upscale bistro and steakhouse favorites, Harper House in Cadiz also serves elevated Southern favorites that include smoked meats, pork chops and green beans with sorghum butter, fried fish with creamy slaw and a unique take on a Southern classic featuring sautéed Gulf shrimp, spicy lemon garlic broth, bacon and mushrooms over local pork belly cheddar grits.