47 Best Southern Restaurants near Jersey City

“I've been looking forward to trying this restaurants menu items. yesterday was only the 1st, for sure. I had a shrimp po boy, perfect, packed with shrimp, just the right sauces, really good. I took home a container of their vegan lentil soup which is better than my lentil soup. that's not a small thing. beautifully balanced flavor, really delicious. I can't wait to go back and try everything else.“

“Chicken was delicious and facility clean“

“The brisket fries were top shelf! Highly recommended. Good beer selection and overall fantastic atmosphere. I did not have a cocktail but the ones that came out looked great. The collard greens were done really well with plenty of pork fat and nice and acidity. The Brisket on my mac and cheese was well smoked. The only part of the dish that didn't wow was the mac itself - just a little too heavy on the cheese, still great flavor but pretty thick. Probably not an issue for anyone, but if the sauce had been a little thinner I think it would have been perfect for me. Well done, will definitely be back.“

“We’ve had Cadence on our list of places to try for a while now, and once we knew we’d be back in the city, we had to make it happen.For starters, the restaurant is intimate without being intimidating, and the staff are all beautiful people who seem joyful and genuinely happy to celebrate their food. We started with the potato salad w pickles and the fried green tomatoes. Ordering potato salad doesn’t usually scream excitement, unless you’re my wife, then it’s basically sexy talk. Cadence’s potato salad was super creamy, deliciously tangy with the pickles, and was the night’s favorite for both of us (A+).The fried green tomatoes come with a savory romesco sauce that really rounds out the dish. I wouldn’t say it was an all-timer, but we definitely enjoyed it (B).Next, we had the buffalo oyster mushroom sandwich, which looks amazing on the plate. It’s a tower of a sandwich that’s not easy to eat without getting a little messy. The buffalo sauce and avocado set it apart (B). We followed up the buffalo sandwich with the maple buttermilk cornbread. This dish, a frequent flyer on their Instagram, is everything you want in a cornbread. Crumbly, sweet, savory, and served with a generous dollop of vegan butter that makes it waaaaay too hard stop. This was a perfect dish (A+), only drawback was we were already getting too full to eat it all. Would have preferred to have it earlier in the meal.Last, we had the lemonberry cake for dessert. Delightful. Lemony, sweet, but not overly so. A beautiful dish. The candied lemon rind was definitely a favorite for me (A).“

“Food and drinks were amazing. Only complaint is waited too long, over 30 min, for our food. Watched as people who sat after us finished their food and left.“

“Kawana and Natorie provided outstanding service and was very welcoming when entering the restaurant. Kawana made sure that my food was fresh. I would come here again.“

“Great food. Great service. And I knew the good was good because it was late and all the older folks was there. Amazing flavor. A lil wait if they're busy but they're very efficient and welcoming.I had catfish, mac n cheese, apple cobbler, and collards. The corn is bomb too .. well be back!!!“

“As per most of my other recent reviews, I went to this Southern spot several months back. We went here after they had unexpectedly gone on the best new restaurants list having barely heard about the restaurant otherwise. The lighting was nice here and the staff was friendly giving good recommendations. They have ample space as well. The spot has a fun creative cocktail menu which are reasonably priced with some drinks having rather humorous names. I went with the A Complex Cocktail For Bitter People for $15 which is their take on a Negroni with roots of ruin gin, saffron liqueur, and vermouth di torino bianco which was excellent. The cocktail had a nice presentation with the vivid off yellow and the flower and it had a nice balance of bitterness, citrus, and herbal flavors. This was excellent though not on the current drink menu. They also had the opposite named A Bitter Cocktail For Complex People which was their take on a Manhattan along with plenty of other choices. As per usual for food, we split a lot of dishes. For smaller plates, my favorite was the Country Fried Baby Back Ribs for $16 with dill & vinegar and jezebel sauce. This sauce in question contains fruit jelly and combined with the dill and vinegar; it was a nice mix of sour and sweet with very tender ribs which weren't too heavily fried. Excellent. Also tasty was the Hush Puppies for $10 with jalapeno, cheddar, popcorn, and remoulade. They were lighter than expected with a little kick and the popcorn was fun for presentation. I think the remoulade should be on this side and not presented on top but I guess it's more artful that way. OK was the Crab Cake for $24 listed as corn flake crusted with whole grain mustard, radish, and herb salad. It was a bit pricey and the flavors didn't pop as much as the other appetizers. The mustard was a fun spin but perhaps don't order this as this is probably one of the only overpriced things on the menu outside of perhaps the steak. We ordered two main dishes; the Roasted Rib Cap and the Crispy 1/2 Chicken which were both fine. The former for $42 with bourbon worcestershire caramel consisted of a very tender steak though maybe a bit small. The sauce indeed had some sweetness but there was a bit of salt on the steak so it was pretty well balanced. The latter dish for $26 with`bama white sauce and herbs was solid. Tender fried chicken with a fun presentation. No real major complaints though I am not exactly sure if it is half a chicken (probably is though.) The restaurant is also known for it's desserts so we got both to share which are both $12. Of the two, my preference was the Key Lime Tart with toasted coconut and candied lime zest. I haven't had many good key lime tarts in the city and this was excellent as it wasn't too sour or sweet. The candied lime zest on top as well as the coconut just added extra pizzazz. I almost found the latter Banana Pudding Tart with caramel and vanilla wafers to be a bit worse. It was well presented as per the other dessert and it was plenty rich but it was perhaps a bit too sweet with the amount of caramel they put on top. This is a fun spin on Southern food which isn't exactly a cuisine you find commonly enhanced. The desserts and appetizers were definitely better than the entrees but the entrees weren't too shabby either. Upper 3/low 4.“

“Thai and Italian are my favourite cuisines. We called in to Ray Mee Thai on a Friday night - without a reservation. The service was snappy, and the food was superb. We're in the LES for 5 nights. We'll be back before we leave. Sweet, sour, salty & bitter. Yum!Edit. It was so good, we went back on the next night (Sat April 27th).“

“Excellent example of Cajun/Creole cuisine. Highly recommended.“

“This was soooo delicious it was not a disappointment at all and the drinks were great“

“Ok ok so this places looks beautiful service is lack luster for sure you can wear what you want no dress code. Cocktails disgusting can’t lie but I only tried 2 of them the food was good I had short ribs with the collard green pesto it was sooooo good an rib was tender for 30$ it definitely should be atleast 2 ribs on the plate potatoes were good as well 10/10 also oxtail pasta I thought it was disgusting 6/10 the person eating it thought it was delicious so it’s tbd all in all I wouldn’t recommend eating here“

“Great service and good food. Initially I was told I could only order food to go because someone was having a private party and they were prepping but then the man behind the counter walked me through the menu. He then suggested I have a seat and could eat in if I wanted. I chose to dine in and the food was fabulous. I got the bacon egg and cheese biscuit. They did not have the cheddar jalapeño biscuit I asked for but they added extra cheese to my sandwich to compensate. The biscuit was crunchy in the outside and soft on the inside. I'll definitely be coming back to try the chicken biscuit and all the different compound butters.“

“My sister and I went to Urban Vegan Kitchen for the first time this week. We both absolutely loved it. The food, the service, the vibe…all great. I had the “chicken” and waffles and my sister had an empanada and chips, salsa and guacamole. All delicious. Can’t wait to go back and try everything on the menu.“

“What can I say about this amazing restaurant, Bird Dog. Not only was the food absolutely amazing, tasty and presented perfectly, the staff was kind, attentive and extremely friendly. Bird Dog gives very New York vibes with a soft Southern hospitality touch. I’m not only saying this because I’ve known the owner/operator for over 15 years but because the food and experience was great! Recommend to any/all foodies local and visitors to the area.“

“The spicy chicken biscuit omg toooooo die for so my husband and I saw many people entering this spot plus it was our first time. We heard mac and cheese, greens, and fried chicken. So we got a bucket of mixed chicken, two sides of Mac and cheese, and some collard greens (they make them with black eyed peas and tomatoes; totally different from any kind of greens I ever had and I definitely was left craving more. Nice little spot and such friendly people. Heading back very soon“

“What an amazing place!!! The chef definitely knows how to keep you satisfied. The food was delicious!!! The drinks were fun and tasty. I truly enjoyed the steak and the crab cakes as well as the chicken sandwich. I'm definitely going back.“

“The place is quaint. So if you go at peak time on a weekend, expect a long wait. For a party of 3, we had to wait about 45 mins for a table. And when were sat down, our server, Demoy came right away. But we had to wait long for the food because we ordered the escovitch red snapper. Probably almost another 45 min wait.All the servers are hospitable. Very good vibes and energy from them. Demoy is the best so if you get him, you're in good hands.I would definitely go back again. Even though the wait was very long, the food was definitely worth it. Everything was amazing. We also had the berry baby French toast with turkey bacon and the jerk chicken with festival. 100/10. Next time, I will come early and plan out my time better knowing what I know now.“

“Amazing food. Everything was delicious. 10 out of 10“

“Super endroit !! Service très efficace et très sympa“

“Food and service were great!“

“I was there for takeout for the first time last week ~ All I can say is Yum and will order from them again Even spoke with the man who makes the food himself! Thank you!“

“I wish I had opened Popina myself. It is a perfect restaurant. The spicy chicken milanese and carolina arancini are sublime-- the service is good and I feel a little like I'm in a different city when I go to Popina. One that is hospitable, a little slower, that allows you to savor every moment, sip and bite.“

“Good little spot ❤️ Enjoyed ourselves“

“I moved to the city from Tennessee a few months ago and I have been craving some good biscuits and gravy! LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING: My Southern heart wept with joy after one bite. THANK Y'ALL!“

“Delicious food and more than generous helpings.“

“I had a great time celebrating my birthday with family. The food was delicious and the portions were good. The banana pudding is to die for. The service was excellent. If you want authentic SoulFood, I recommend you go there.Wheelchair accessibility: They have a accessible front door and the layout is spacious.“

“The food and the presentations are wonderful. The atmosphere is beautiful not only with the waiters, but the patrons as well, took someone there today and they are coming back. And they are bringing back a family member“

“Great food, tap selection and awesome staff. Dark, chill, fun and respectful vibe. Service industry anywhere can be brutal so being courteous to the staff, as one always should will leave you happy every time.Pat LaFrieda's beef is a bonus. Fulfills that burger craving and then some.“

“The food was absolutely delicious, highly recommend“

“The food and service is SO GOOD but the prices are kinda ridiculous. I can usually get 3 meals out of $30 worth of takeout but I spent $40 here and only got one. Guess it'll have to be a special treat instead of a regular thing. Daryl was super friendly and gave me a bunch of samples - I think they (re?)opened recently.“

“Great food! Great service! Great location on Forest Ave! Everything was delish, apps, food, drinks… The kids also loved their food. Atmosphere and decor was so nice too. We will definitely be going back soon!“

“Look No Further For Your Tex Mex Fix than Javelina . Frozen Margaritas , Lone Star , Yellow Queso , Fajitas and the list goes on . Everything hit the mark for us . The tortilla chips are pure perfection . Just the right thickness & not greasy . Our only suggestion would be to put some Texas sports or any kind of sports for that matter on the TV . Having Bob Ross on the set didn’t fit the atmosphere . When we asked we were told they weren’t aloud to put on sports ; Nevertheless , Service was good & there are a few tables outside too . Btw there’s another location on 18th if you are down that way . Ya’ll enjoy them both .“

“Great fried chicken. Not greasy, with a nice crunchy batter that was not too thick. Oil used was fresh and chicken seemed also fresh and was good quality. I didn’t give 5 stars only because I would have liked more seasonings but this restaurant will still be my go to when I’m looking for fried chicken. Service was also fast.“

“Excellent location, trendy vibes, great music, atmosphere picturesque! I would definitely go again and next time don't forget my BYOB!Wheelchair accessibility: One floor restaurant with tables that are perfect for anyone or a baby stroller.“

“This family owned small business in the east village is truly one of a kind. Try the rotisserie roasted chicken with potatoes! It’s a twist on French cuisine with all the ambience of a curated art gallery and botanical garden in one place. Come for the food, stay for the incredible vibe!“

“I absolutely love Lite & Soul. Great quality!Their food is delicious and fresh, and the portions are generous, in my opinion. I've tried a few different entrées. You really can't go wrong with whatever you decide. My husband loves it too! This allows me a night off in my kitchen. lol“

“I was introduced to Jacob's Pickles recently when meeting a friend at the Moynihan Trail Hall. He insisted on finding food as soon as he arrived from Washington, D.C., refusing to venture outside the building. So, we headed to the food court and stumbled upon Jacob's Pickles. The enticing aroma from the kitchen beckoned us, especially with its unique southern-inspired menu, which particularly resonated with me being from the south. I opted for the barbecue chicken-loaded fries as a starter, which turned out to be a substantial meal in itself. The portion size was exceptionally generous, prompting me to take some home. It's rare to find such generous portions in New York City without breaking the bank. Additionally, I indulged in biscuits and gravy and mac-and-cheese with two friends. I recommend treating these dishes as a family-style dining experience due to their size. Although Jacob's Pickles in the train hall lacks a dedicated dining area, the hall provides a pleasant space to enjoy your meal, provided it's not too crowded. While the food was served in a reasonable amount of time, it did take a bit longer for the barbecue chicken-loaded fries. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Jacob's Pickles and look forward to returning when my friend visits again and inevitably demands immediate dining. It's safe to say where we'll be dining next time!“

“A very special evening with my 93 yr old Godmother. Food was excellent. Pasta was cooked perfectly. Service was impeccable Special honor to have Chef Sal stop at our table Our favorite place in the city“

“The employees were fantastic, friendly and very knowledgeable about the food.I had the mushroom sauce Chicken sandwich with Mac n cheese... I highly recommend this dish.My wide had the spicy honey chicken sandwich and that also was delicious.“

“Had the catfish poboy at uptown night Market! They told me 15 minutes was done in 15 minutes. It was a large fried catfish filet and it was perfectly crispy. I think the tartar sauce may have needed a little more salt but overall great experience. Reminded me of Louisiana“

“food is fantastic. service is suburb“

“For Breakfast, I bought French Toast and an Omelet.Most bodegas in the area don't make French Toast (a few don't know what French Toast is), so I was fortunate to discover that this place makes French Toast.There isn't much room to eat inside the place, so I think it's mostly take out orders.My food was ready relatively quickly. Approximately 5 minutes and the food itself was fine in a basic way.“

“This is one of our favorite places to PLAY MUSIC in the city, and we love it so much... we go there on our off nights, too, just to hang out. There's always a friendly scene and the food, drink, and atmosphere are unbeatable. Top 1 place in NYC.“

“Ordered from Peaches after seeing someone did a post on Instagram. The food looked so good, I had to try so i ordered for delivery. I've been wanting to for a while but never got around to it. The food was very good. I had the crab spaghetti (needed more seasoning). The red velvet cake was off the f-ing chain. I will be getting that again. The chips and spinach dip was also so damn good. I will be eating here again.“

“The hospitality is always on point when I dine there. The food is delicious. A nice small intimate setting. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.“

“Stopped by today to order a chicken Caesar wrap. Megan (not sure if I spelled it right) was very funny and personable. She told me she would “make my wrap with love” and it tasted awesome. Will probably visit the other location when I want some mac and cheese but this location was good as well. Nice filling lunch before I went back to work.“