Searching for the best Boston Southern food spots? While Boston isn’t exactly known for its smoked BBQ or jambalaya (It IS New England, after all), there are several spots around the city that satisfy that comfort food craving. This is a local’s round-up of the best Boston Southern food, including Texas-style barbeque, crispy fried chicken, and New Orleans-inspired Cajun/Creole cuisine.
Read til the end for my #1 Southern spot right outside the city.
Best Boston Southern Food Spots
Smoke Shop BBQ
Texas-style BBQ is one of my favorite comfort dishes, so of course I needed to include it first on this best Boston Southern food list. Smoke Shop BBQ is your one-stop shop for whatever BBQ you’re craving, whether it’s wings, pulled pork, or sliced beef brisket. The meats are all well-seasoned, juicy, and tender.
My pro tip is to order one of their specialty barbeque trays and split it with someone else. I always opt for the Pit Boss, which includes your choice of 3 types of meat plus 3 sides. Here’s my order for you to steal: pulled pork, wings, beef brisket, pimento mac and cheese, french fries, and cornbread.
The brisket and wings are smoky and tender, and the pulled pork is just the right sweetness level. Paired with one of their sauces (sweet, spicy, or golden mustard), it’s a flavor-packed meal.
As for sides, I LOVE their french fries! They’re crispy and have a dusting of cajun seasoning. The cornbread is not dry at all, which is a common issue I find with many other places. They top it off with butter for a melty, creamy texture.
Multiple Locations / thesmokeshopbbq.com
Sweet Cheeks Q
An alternative to the Smoke Shop BBQ is Sweet Cheeks in Fenway. It just re-opened after renovations this past summer and is located just steps away from Fenway Park (making it a bustling restaurant on game days). I always start my meal with their Bucket O Biscuits, which come in a set of four and whipped honey butter.
As far as meat goes, the pork belly is a best-seller at Sweet Cheeks. You can get it in a sandwich or a tray – sandwiches are slightly cheaper but come with less meat. Other notable meat dishes include hot links, pulled pork, BBQ chopped prime brisket, and St. Louis pork ribs.
There’s also a wide variety of authentic Southern sides, such as collard greens, BBQ ranch beans, casserole, and broccoli cheese. And, of course, pair your meal with a cocktail from their large bourbon selection (or a sweet tea lemonade for those who don’t drink alcohol)!
1381 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215 / sweetcheeksq.com
Coast Cafe
For authentic soul food and a non-fussy atmosphere, the Coast Cafe in Cambridge is a tiny, family-owned business worth the hype. The restaurant has been around since 1999 and has remained consistent in quality over the past 24 years.
They’re well known for their crispy fried chicken, candied yams, and sweet potato pie dessert. All the entrees come with two sides and cornbread.
Note: Coast Cafe is primarily takeout. The store is tiny and only has 3 bar stool seating. The hours are also a bit strange: it opens from 12 pm-8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 pm-8 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Buttermilk & Bourbon
Next on the best Boston Southern food list is Buttermilk & Bourbon in Back Bay. The New Orleans-inspired restaurant doesn’t qualify as authentic Southern, but its high-quality food and fun atmosphere make it worth mentioning.
One of my favorite dishes here is the buttermilk fried chicken thighs. They come on cheddar-bourbon waffles, whipped velvety honey butter, and a sweet and spicy syrup. The dark meat chicken is juicy, and the skin is crispy. Altogether, each bite is indulgent and delicious.
Other dishes I never skip are the honey-glazed biscuits (served with an addicting smoked cinnamon butter and pimento cheese spread) and fresh-fried beignets. For drinks, I like their unique soft-serve mimosas.
The restaurant has a casual yet elegant vibe, with New Orleans-inspired murals on the walls, a spacious center bar, and leather lounge seating. The restaurant is ideal for a boozy brunch out with friends or a romantic date night. You can enjoy the weather outside on their extensive patio in the summer.
160 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116 / buttermilkbourbon.com
Further Reading: 15 Best Boston Brunches
Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen
Darryl’s is a laid-back restaurant in Roxbury that provides dressed-up Southern dishes and live jazz! Their menu is heavily Creole and Cajun-inspired, with dishes like jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and gumbo!
One of their top dinner items is “Bob’s Glorified Catfish”. It’s a blackened or fried catfish filet with a cajun remoulade and your choice of two sides.
On Sundays, Darryl’s serves a fun live Jazz brunch buffet available for all ages. As of August 2023, it’s $25.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors above age 65, and $19.95 for youth aged 6-15. Their buffet has a variety of dishes, including scrambled eggs, fried chicken, ribs, candied yams, etc. They also serve specialty brunch drinks like mimosas, mojitos, and Palomas.
604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118 / dcbkboston.com
Loretta’s Last Call
Located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, Loretta’s is another live music bar serving Southern food. They have weekly country music and line dancing, making it a fun weekend bar.
Loretta’s giant BBQ pulled pork mac and cheese is one of my favorites in the city! The pasta is extremely cheesy with a hint of sweetness from the pulled pork. I also recommend the Nashville hot chicken and waffles.
The music venue is on one of Fenway’s most popular bar streets, Lansdowne, so expect large crowds on the weekend! Loretta’s also functions as a casual venue for fundraisers, birthdays, fundraisers, etc. While it’s more of a bar than an authentic restaurant, I still think it deserves a mention on this best Boston Southern food list.
1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215 / lorettaslastcall.com
Bootleg Special
For Southern-inspired food in an elegant setting, Bootleg Special in Boston’s South End neighborhood is the perfect option. I especially love the funky interior. The restaurant is dimly lit, with extravagant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, green plants, and eclectic paintings along the walls.
For food, Bootleg Special is best known for their seafood boils. Their signature “Bootleg Special” serves 2-3 people and comes with 1.5 pounds of lobster and a half pound each of shrimp, crawfish, mussels, corn, potatoes, and sausage. You can also build your boil from their variety of seafood.
Bootleg Special also stands out from other Boston restaurants by being one of the only places that sell souffle pancakes! During Sunday brunch, they serve fluffy pancakes in fun flavors like banana fosters, chocolate hazelnut, and strawberry creme fraiche.
400 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116 / bootlegspecial.com
Further Reading: 17 Best Boston Fun Restaurants & Bars
French Quarter
Another restaurant with a slice of New Orleans in Boston is the French Quarter in Downtown. Given its proximity to the theater district venues, the restaurant is a fantastic option for before or after a show. The interior is trendy with white-tile floors, marble-topped bar seating, and bright blue walls.
You can get classic Cajun specialties like jambalaya, gumbo, and crawfish. The gumbo comes with chicken and smoked pork sausage over rice. It has a rich, almost smoky flavor. The texture is very similar to curry.
545 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 / frenchquarterboston.com
Soleil
Another authentic, casual take-out spot for Boston Southern Food is Soleil in the Roxbury neighborhood. The takeout-only shop sells fried catfish platters, fried chicken, ribs, and more. Soleil also sells foot-long po boys. These subs come with Soleil fried shrimp, remoulade sauce, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles on a French bread bun.
2306 Washington St, Boston, MA 02119
Southern Kin Cookhouse
Located in Assembly Row (a bit further out for a Boston Southern food list, in Somerville), Southern Kin Cookhouse is a hip restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. They’re well-known for their spicy chicken and waffles. It’s a bone-in fried chicken on top of a cheddar-chive waffle. The spice comes from the add-ons: Fresno pepper maple syrup and Louisiana honey hot pepper sauce!
For adventurous foodies, try the bayou tacos made with confit alligator. The fried tacos come with avocado puree, corn, and napa cabbage.
The interior has interesting patriotic decor. They have American flag paintings along the brick walls and cushiony booths throughout the restaurant. The inside feels like a spacious cabin.
500 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA 02145 / southernkincookhouse.com
Big Pig BBQ
Last on my best Boston Southern food list is my FAVORITE spot for BBQ, Big Pig BBQ! The restaurant and catering service is located just outside of Boston in Peabody. It’s run by skilled grill masters who authentically grill each meat Texas-style. You can even see some of the grilling and smoking action in the backyard.
The smoked beef brisket is the star of the show here. It was juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Each slice had a healthy amount of fat, but not too much. The exterior was blackened and smoky for extra flavor. The mac and cheese is super cheesy and velvety.
I visited in the summertime, where they had a few picnic tables of outdoor seating. I enjoyed eating my food while watching them grill outside!
Big Pig is also wildly known for their catering services for events.
108 Newbury St, Peabody, MA 01960 / bigpig.com
Honorable Mentions: Best Southern Food in Boston
Pit Stop BBQ in Mattapan → This is a hit or miss among Bostonians for good BBQ.
Wrapping Up: Boston Southern Food
That wraps up my best Boston southern food list! After you eat through the best southern restaurants in Boston, check out my other food guides:
- 21 Best Vegan Restaurants in Boston
- 17+ Best Cheap Eats in Boston
- 11 Best Ramen in Boston
- Boston’s Best Bakery: 17+ Fantastic Pastry Shops
Or, find other things to do in the city:
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