Food Worth a Drive in Mississippi: Delta to the Coast

Food worth a drive in Mississippi lies along two routes: one through the flat Delta, where tamales, catfish and plate lunches fill small towns, and one along the Gulf Coast, where shrimp, oysters and fish take over. Oxford and the hill country sit between, with brasseries and meat and three counters.

Many trips start in Memphis, which makes the Delta an easy day out. Drive south on Highway 61 and plan a route from the river to the sea.

Small-town cafes along both routes keep short hours. Call ahead before a long drive, and carry some cash, since most cafes take cards but not all.

Where is food worth a drive in Mississippi found first?

Many trips start in Memphis, which makes the Delta an easy day out. Drive south on Highway 61 toward Clarksdale, Cleveland, Greenwood and Greenville. The landscape is flat farmland, with grain bins and cotton fields, and every town has a cafe that has been serving the same dishes for decades.

A Greenville restaurant is known for tamales. Allow a full day, and bring cash for small places. Towns in the Delta are far apart, so build the route around lunch, not the other way round. Many of the cafes are in plain buildings with no sign you would notice from the road.

What are Mississippi tamales?

Delta tamales are small and made with cornmeal and seasoned meat, then simmered in a spiced broth. They are sold by the dozen at cafes and gas stations, and locals eat them with crackers and hot sauce.

If you only try one Delta food, try a tamale. Eat it hot, and try one at two different restaurants to see how they vary.

Where can you eat Oxford Mississippi restaurants?

Oxford, home of the University of Mississippi, sits in the hill country, and its food scene leans on meat-and-three restaurants and Southern brasseries around the square. A square-side lunch, an afternoon in a bookshop and an evening meal at a brasserie make an easy day.

The town square is the hub, with bookstores, bars and restaurants around it. A long-running restaurant a short drive south in the town of Taylor sits on the U.S. Catfish Trail. The fried catfish guide covers it in detail.

What is Gulf Coast Mississippi seafood like?

The coast is a different world. Biloxi and its neighbors serve shrimp, oysters, crab and fish in dining rooms and dockside cafes. Biloxi's long-running seafood dining rooms are a must-try, and a historic Biloxi mansion serves wood-grilled Gulf fish and Biloxi-style oysters.

Mississippi has a seafood trail, with partner restaurants across the state, from Tupelo to Vicksburg. Check the trail's website for a current list. Seafood here is seasonal, and the best choice depends on the month.

On the coast, ask for Gulf shrimp, Gulf fish and oysters. If you are driving in from the west, the contrast is striking: you leave cotton fields and arrive at a harbor, and the cooking changes with the landscape.

How long is a Mississippi drive from river to sea?

One itinerary starts on the banks of the Mississippi River in Vicksburg and ends in Biloxi on the Gulf Coast, a long drive. That makes a comfortable two-day trip with a stop in Natchez on the way. Add the Delta and Oxford, and you have a long weekend.

Plan for slower speeds on rural roads and for small towns that close early. Fill the tank before leaving a larger city.

What should you eat in a Mississippi cafe?

Look for the daily plate: a meat, two or three vegetables and cornbread. Fried chicken, catfish, smothered pork chops and chicken and dumplings are common. Banana pudding, pecan pie and cobblers close the meal.

Ask the server what the kitchen is known for. Mississippi hospitality means they will usually tell you, and sometimes bring you a sample. Plate lunches change by day, so a place that serves meatloaf on Tuesday may serve smothered chicken on Thursday.

When is the best time to go?

Spring and fall have the best weather. Summer is hot and humid, and the Delta can be punishing. The Gulf Coast can be busy on summer weekends. Football season fills Oxford, so book rooms early.

Hours in small towns are limited, so check before you drive. Some restaurants close one or two days a week.

What to read next

For a neighboring state, read the Alabama food worth a drive guide and the Arkansas food worth a drive guide. The Memphis fried chicken guide covers the city many Delta trips start from. The US guides page lists more.

Tags in the Mosey app record what a visit was like, a quick lunch or a long dinner with the family, for instance. Add one when you rate a meal in Mississippi, and the people you follow can find the same kind of meal later.

A long drive makes a good list. In the Mosey app you can rate each meal along the road, note the town and the dish and build a Mississippi route for friends. A list with a section for the Delta and a section for the coast turns a long drive into a plan, and a note on the hours saves the next driver a disappointment.