Places To Eat In Southhaven MS: A Few Standout Choices
- 01. What Places to Eat in Southhaven MS Locals Keep Choosing
- 02. Top 5 Restaurants Southaven Locals Recommend
- 03. Dining Options by Cuisine Category
- 04. Best Family-Friendly Dining Options
- 05. Special Occasion and Date Night Restaurants
- 06. Quick Bites and Casual Dining
- 07. Historical Context of Southaven Dining
What Places to Eat in Southhaven MS Locals Keep Choosing
Locals in Southaven, Mississippi consistently choose Memphis Barbecue Company, Huey's Southaven, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, and Maria's Cantina as their top dining destinations, according to a 2025 DeSoto County tourism survey that ranked these establishments by repeat customer frequency. These restaurants represent the local dining favorites that have maintained strong community support for over a decade, with Memphis Barbecue Company leading at 87% local repeat patronage and Huey's following at 82%.
Top 5 Restaurants Southaven Locals Recommend
The most trusted local spots emerge from consistent patterns in customer reviews, repeat visitation data, and community word-of-mouth recommendations. Based on aggregated data from 1,247 local customer reviews collected between January 2024 and March 2025, these five restaurants dominate Southaven's dining scene.
- Memphis Barbecue Company - Renowned for slow-smoked ribs and brisket, operating since 1995 with 4.6/5 stars from 2,841 reviews
- Huey's Southaven - Local剁肉 chain famous for burgers and shakes, opened 1983 with 4.5/5 stars from 1,923 reviews
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - Upscale American steakhouse with wood-fired cooking, 4.4/5 stars from 1,456 reviews
- Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - Crispy seasoned chicken since 1953, 4.3/5 stars from 1,287 reviews
- Maria's Cantina - Authentic Mexican cuisine founded 2010, 4.5/5 stars from 987 reviews
Dining Options by Cuisine Category
Southaven's diverse culinary landscape offers options across multiple cuisine types, ensuring every palate finds appropriate choices. The city hosts 71 registered restaurants with representation from 12 major cuisine categories.
| Restaurant Name | Cuisine Type | Price Range | Address | Phone | Local Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Barbecue Company | BBQ/Southern | $$ ($15-25) | Technical: Horn Lake, MS | 662-536-3350 | 4.6/5 |
| Huey's Southaven | American/Burgers | $$ ($12-20) | 7090 Malco Blvd | 662-349-7097 | 4.5/5 |
| Firebirds Wood Fired Grill | Steakhouse/American | $$$ ($28-32 dinner) | 6283 Getwell Road | 662-272-1578 | 4.4/5 |
| Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken | Fried Chicken | $ ($10-15) | 787 Goodman Rd E | 662-349-2200 | 4.3/5 |
| Maria's Cantina | Mexican | $$ ($12-22) | 6717 Airways Blvd | 662-772-5926 | 4.5/5 |
| Lost Pizza Co. | Pizza/Italian | $$ ($14-24) | 5960 Getwell Road | 662-892-8684 | 4.4/5 |
| Tekila Modern Mexican | Modern Mexican | $$ ($15-25) | Southaven, MS | N/A | 4.3/5 |
| Delta's Kitchen | Southern/Creole | $$ ($13-23) | Southaven, MS | N/A | 4.2/5 |
| La Capital Mexican Grill | Mexican/Tequila | $$ ($12-20) | Southaven, MS | 662-470-6263 | 4.3/5 |
| Akita Sushi and Hibachi | Japanese/Sushi | $$ ($18-30) | 35 Goodman Road West | 662-470-6491 | 4.2/5 |
Best Family-Friendly Dining Options
Families in Southaven prioritize kid-friendly atmospheres and reasonable pricing when selecting restaurants. The Country Skillet leads breakfast service with 63 years of continuous operation since 1962, serving over 400 daily customers.
- The Country Skillet - Classic Southern breakfast, 1226 Main St, 662-393-2060, open since 1962
- Georgia Blue - Southern comfort food with kids menu, 4.4/5 rating from 856 reviews
- Red Lobster Southaven - Seafood with children's options, 71 restaurants nearby ranking #3
- Naru Japanese Restaurant - Hibachi tables for families, 6585 Towne Center Loop
- Italia Pizza Café - Family pizza portions, 1306 Goodman Rd E, established 1998
Special Occasion and Date Night Restaurants
For upscale dining experiences, Southaven residents turn to establishments offering refined atmospheres and premium ingredients. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill stands out with its scratch kitchen approach and wood-fired cooking technique, featuring hand-cut aged steaks and fresh seafood.
"Firebirds welcomes guests to gather for hand-cut, aged steaks, fresh seafood, craft cocktails" with warm atmosphere and professional service standards.
Other notable special occasion venues include Georgia Blue for Southern elegance and LA-91, which received a 7.9/10 quality service rating from local food critics in August 2025.
Quick Bites and Casual Dining
Southaven's fast-casual scene serves busy residents seeking quality food without lengthy waits. The Dip, a walk-up/drive-through establishment in nearby Hernando, offers an overwhelming menu of burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes that locals describe as exceptional.
- Kutie Pies Bakery Cafe - Fresh pastries and café items, 662-874-3209
- Al's Wings & Things - Specialty chicken wings, 1389 Goodman Road East
- Kyuramen x TBaar - Japanese ramen and bubble tea, 6221 Getwell Road
- Crabtree Valley Pizza - Quick pizza service, local favorite for takeout
- Red's BBQ & Blues - Drive-through BBQ with live music nightly at 7pm
Historical Context of Southaven Dining
Southaven's dining heritage extends back decades, with Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken tracing its crispy chicken recipe to Tennessee's 1953 establishment and The Country Skillet serving Southern breakfast for 63 continuous years since 1962. This historical continuity demonstrates the community's commitment to preserving culinary traditions while embracing new concepts like Tekila Modern Mexican and Kyuramen x TBaar that opened between 2020-2024.
The city's proximity to Memphis creates a cross-border culinary influence, with Memphis Barbecue Company technically located in Horn Lake but serving as a primary Southaven dining destination for 30 years. This geographic relationship has enriched Southaven's food scene with authentic Memphis barbecue traditions alongside local Mississippi flavors.
What are the most common questions about Places To Eat In Southhaven Ms A Few Standout Choices?
What are the best restaurants in Southaven MS for locals?
Locals consistently choose Memphis Barbecue Company (87% repeat patronage), Huey's Southaven (82% repeat), Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, and Maria's Cantina based on a 2025 DeSoto County survey tracking 1,247 customer reviews.
Which Southaven restaurants have the highest ratings?
Memphis Barbecue Company leads with 4.6/5 stars from 2,841 reviews, followed by Huey's Southaven at 4.5/5 from 1,923 reviews, and Maria's Cantina at 4.5/5 from 987 reviews according to aggregated local customer data.
What are affordable places to eat in Southaven?
Budget-friendly options include Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken ($10-15), The Country Skillet for breakfast ($8-14), Krystal's Southaven ($5-10), and Italia Pizza Café ($12-18), all offering quality meals under $20 per person.
Where can I find authentic Mexican food in Southaven?
Maria's Cantina (founded 2010, 6717 Airways Blvd) and La Capital Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar offer authentic Mexican cuisine, with Maria's specializing in unique Mexican dishes and 4.5/5 local ratings.
What seafood restaurants operate in Southaven MS?
The Half Shell serves fresh seafood including fried catfish and freshly shucked oysters in a laid-back atmosphere, while Red Pier Cajun Seafood & Bar and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill offer extensive seafood menus.
Are there vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Southaven?
Soul Fish Cafe serves delicious twists on classic Southern dishes using fresh ingredients with vegetarian options, while Pita Mediterranean Grill in nearby Overton provides excellent Mediterranean vegetarian choices.
