Texas-style Bbq$$nuluMon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Feast BBQ on East Market in Louisville runs a counter-service NuLu pit, slicing brisket and pulled pork until the smoker runs dry for the day.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Pulled pork
Order: A brisket plate with two sides and a side of pickles.
Tip: Get in before 14:00 on weekends. The brisket sells out fastest.
Nashville-style Hot Chicken$$nuluTue 11:30-14:00, Tue 17:00-21:00, Wed 11:30-14:00, Wed 17:00-21:00, Thu 11:30-14:00, Thu 17:00-21:00, Fri 11:30-14:00, Fri 17:00-22:00, Sat 11:30-22:00
Royals Hot Chicken on East Market in Louisville has fried Nashville-style hot chicken from Ryan Rogers's Eternal Optimist group since 2015, the NuLu counter.
Signature: Hot chicken sandwich, Tachos
Order: The hot chicken sandwich at medium heat, with a side of tachos.
Tip: Order at the counter. Heat levels run from southern to plain-clucking insane.
Kentucky Bbq$$saint-matthews
Mark's Feed Store on Shelbyville Road in Louisville has hickory-smoked Kentucky BBQ since 1988, the Saint Matthews counter for pulled pork, ribs and a hearty.
Signature: Hickory-smoked pulled pork, Burgoo
Order: A pulled-pork plate with two sides and a cup of burgoo on the side.
Tip: Order ahead by phone for catering trays. Burgoo runs heartier in cooler months.
Nashville-style Hot Chicken$$frankfort-avenue
Joella's Hot Chicken on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville cooks Nashville-style hot chicken across six heat levels with hormone-free birds, a family-friendly.
Signature: Hot chicken tenders, Pimento mac and cheese
Order: The hot chicken tenders at Southern style, plus pimento mac and cheese.
Tip: Order at the counter for the dining room or call ahead for pickup.
Burgers$$downtown
Mussel and Burger Bar in Louisville pours pots of steamed mussels and grills smashed burgers at a casual American bistro counter on South 7th Street downtown.
Signature: Steamed mussels, Burgers
Order: A pot of mussels in white wine and garlic, plus the house burger.
Tip: Book on OpenTable for the dining room. The bar runs walk-in and pours craft beer.
Soul food$$germantown
North of Bourbon on Goss Avenue in Louisville cooks Louisiana-rooted Southern plates with over 300 bourbons in a Germantown room named to The New York Times.
Signature: Gumbo, Cornmeal-fried catfish
Order: Cornmeal-fried catfish and gumbo, with a bourbon flight from the 300-bottle wall.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Happy hour runs 15:30-17:00 Tuesday to Saturday; kitchen stops at 22:00.