Sharp cheddar grated and combined with mayonnaise, pimento peppers, hot sauce, garlic and Worcestershire to a thick spread. Served on crackers, in sandwiches, or as a Derby Day appetiser.
Pimento cheese is the Southern condiment-spread tradition, with documented recipes from the early 20th century. The Kentucky version emphasises sharper cheddar, more black pepper and a dash of bourbon-aged hot sauce. Pimento cheese sandwiches have been served at the Masters golf tournament since 1933, and at the Kentucky Derby for over a century. Louisville restaurants like Garage Bar, Jack Fry's and J. Graham's Cafe at the Brown Hotel plate the canonical pimento-cheese-and-cracker board.
4 editor picks for Kentucky pimento cheese in Louisville, ranked by editorial score. All Louisville signature dishes · Kentucky pimento cheese across every city.
Jack Fry's ★ 4.6
highlands · 1007 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
Jack Fry's has run on Bardstown Road in Louisville since 1933, the Highlands dining bar where the counter takes walk-ins for the full menu. Priced at $$$.
Garage Bar ★ 4.2
nulu · 700 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Garage Bar on East Market in Louisville turned a former auto-service shop into a wood-fired pizza pub with a courtyard ping-pong table and a Kentucky bourbon.
Mark's Feed Store Bar-B-Q ★ 4.0
saint-matthews · 11422 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40243
Mark's Feed Store on Shelbyville Road in Louisville has hickory-smoked Kentucky BBQ since 1988, the Saint Matthews counter for pulled pork, brisket.
Heitzman Traditional Bakery and Deli ★ 4.0
9426 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40222
Heitzman Traditional Bakery on Shelbyville Road has baked Louisville cakes since 1891, four generations of Butter Kuchen and the Strawberry Whipped Cream.