CHAR Restaurant is a steakhouse restaurant in Jackson.
Editorially verified June 26, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Prime bone-in ribeye with double-baked potato, or the blue plate lunch specials
Tip: Blue plate lunch specials Tuesday through Friday are the best deal at this address.
Address: 4500 Interstate 55 North Frontage Road, Jackson, MS 39211
Mayflower Cafe, open since 1935, is Jackson's oldest restaurant. The Greek-owned counter invented comeback sauce and serves fried shrimp and broiled trout.
Order: Fried shrimp with comeback sauce and coleslaw, or the broiled red snapper
Tip: The lunch trade peaks between 11:30 and 13:00; arrive early or late to avoid the counter queue.
Estelle Southern Table at the Westin Jackson serves Southern cuisine across breakfast, brunch, and dinner seven days a week in a hotel dining room.
Order: Communal Southern feast for the table, or the seasonal catfish preparation
Tip: Daily dinner from 16:00 is the most accessible time to try this kitchen without a long wait.
Bully's is Jackson's James Beard-winning soul food institution, with steam-table oxtails, neckbones, catfish, and homemade cobblers from a morning start.
Order: Oxtails with greens, mac and cheese, and a slice of sweet potato cobbler
Tip: The steam table closes when the food runs out, usually by 15:00; arrive at opening for the full selection.
Big Apple Inn on Farish Street has served pig ear sandwiches and Delta hot tamales in a civil-rights landmark since 1939, for under $3 each.
Order: Pig ear sandwich and a smoke, under $6 total
Tip: The tamales here connect directly to the Delta tradition; order a dozen to go.
Brent's Drugs is a 1946 Fondren pharmacy-turned-diner, serving classic lunch plates and counter-stool meals in a perfectly preserved American setting.
Order: Brent's Burger with onion rings, or a classic milkshake from the soda fountain
Tip: The Apothecary speakeasy bar in the back opens at 17:00 Monday through Saturday; no sign on the door.
The Pig and Pint in Fondren pairs eclectic BBQ - brisket, ribs, and fried green tomato tacos - with Mississippi's largest craft beer selections.
Order: Brisket plate with fried green tomato tacos and a rotating Mississippi craft beer
Tip: The rotating craft beer selection is genuinely excellent; ask the bartender what's new on tap.
