Southern Restaurants in New York

When Guy Fieri brought his red Camaro to the streets of New York, he discovered that authentic Southern cooking thrives far north of the Mason-Dixon line. Between 2011 and 2021, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured five Southern restaurants across the city’s diverse boroughs, from Manhattan to Brooklyn to Queens. These spots earned an impressive average rating of 4.4 stars, proving that New York knows its way around comfort food.

Leading the pack is Mama’s Food Shop in Manhattan, earning a stellar 4.7-star rating with its soul-satisfying plates. Over in Queens, the aptly named Queen’s Comfort brought the warmth of a Southern kitchen to the borough at 4.5 stars, while Brooklyn’s beloved Pies ‘N’ Thighs served up exactly what its name promises. While two of these treasured spots have since closed their doors, three remain open, continuing to dish out crispy fried chicken, buttery biscuits, and all the fixings that make Southern cuisine an enduring favorite—even in America’s biggest city.