Mississippi Buffets Serving Fried Chicken That Feels Straight Out Of Church Potluck
Nothing brings back memories quite like the smell of fried chicken at a Sunday church potluck.
Mississippi has kept this tradition alive through buffets that serve up the same kind of home-cooked comfort food your grandmother made.
I’ve gathered spots across the state where you can fill your plate with crispy, golden chicken and all the sides that make these meals special.
1. Mama Hamil’s
Every bite here reminds me of Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s house.
You’ll find this family-owned treasure at 177 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison, MS 39110, where locals line up for their buffet spread.
The chicken gets that perfect crispy coating without being greasy, and the meat stays juicy inside just like it should.
Mac and cheese sits in big warming trays alongside collard greens cooked with just the right amount of seasoning.
Fresh cornbread comes out regularly, still warm enough to melt butter on top.
The atmosphere feels like eating at a friend’s house rather than a restaurant.
Families gather here after church services, making it the real deal for potluck-style dining.
2. Country Fisherman
Buttermilk brine makes all the difference when you’re cooking chicken right.
Located at 3016 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, this place has perfected the art of tender, juicy fried chicken.
The buffet line stretches with options that change daily, but the chicken always stays on the menu.
I love how the meat practically falls off the bone while the outside stays crunchy.
Green beans cooked with bacon, mashed potatoes with gravy, and sweet yams fill out your plate nicely.
The portions are generous, so come hungry and ready to try multiple sides.
Sweet tea flows freely, completing the authentic Southern dining experience you came for.
3. Berry’s Seafood & Catfish House
Double-dipping creates layers of crunch that make each piece extra special.
The address is 145 Highway 49 South, Florence, MS 39073, where seafood and chicken share the spotlight equally.
Their seasoned flour coating adds flavor to every crunchy layer you bite through.
Inside stays moist and tender, proving that good technique matters more than fancy ingredients.
Hushpuppies and coleslaw round out the meal perfectly, adding different textures to your plate.
The buffet includes catfish too, giving you options if you want to mix things up.
Families pack this place on weekends, so arriving early helps you beat the crowds and get first picks.
4. Dinner Bell Cafe
Lazy Susans spinning with platters of food create a dining experience you won’t find many places anymore.
You’ll discover this tradition alive at 229 5th Avenue, McComb, MS 39648, where strangers become friends over shared meals.
Platters of fried chicken, pot roast, and vegetables pass around the table continuously.
Fresh-baked biscuits appear faster than you can eat them, still steaming from the oven.
The family-style setup encourages conversation and community, just like church dinners always did.
You sit with other diners, making new friends while passing bowls back and forth.
This old-fashioned approach to dining reminds us why food tastes better when shared with others.
5. Walnut Hills Restaurant
Historic homes turned restaurants always have stories baked into their walls.
This beauty sits at 1214 Adams Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180, welcoming guests since the 1880s with Southern hospitality.
Communal dining tables encourage everyone to sit together, creating that potluck atmosphere naturally.
The fried chicken comes out hot alongside casseroles, fresh vegetables, and homemade pies for dessert.
Biscuits here deserve their own paragraph, but I’ll just say they’re fluffy perfection.
The historic setting adds character to your meal, making you feel connected to Mississippi’s past.
Reservations help during busy times, especially when tour buses stop by to experience authentic Southern cooking.
6. Pearl’s Diner
Cafeteria-style service lets you point at exactly what looks good to you.
Find this soul food haven at 2901 16th Avenue, Meridian, MS 39301, where the line moves fast but the food is worth any wait.
Fried chicken sits alongside smothered pork chops, giving you tough choices to make.
Rice and gravy, greens cooked low and slow, and golden cornbread complete the classic plate.
Sweet tea comes in big glasses that get refilled before you even ask.
The portions are huge, so don’t be shy about taking some home for later.
Lunch crowds pack this place with working folks who know good food when they taste it.
7. Bully’s Soul Food Restaurant
Since 1982, this family has been serving up love on every plate that leaves their kitchen.
Located at 3118 Livingston Road, Jackson, MS 39213, generations have grown up eating here and bringing their own kids now.
The meat-and-three setup lets you choose your protein plus three sides from daily options.
Fried chicken always makes my list, paired with collard greens, mac and cheese, and candied yams.
Cornbread comes with every meal, perfect for soaking up pot liquor from those greens.
Sweet tea flows like water here, refilled by servers who remember your name after one visit.
The family atmosphere makes you feel welcomed, not just served.
8. Ms. Audrey’s Southern Kitchen & Catering
Catering pans stacked by the door tell you everything you need to know about how good this food is.
You’ll find it at 2614 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS 39531, where church groups and families order food for their events regularly.
The buffet features fried chicken that’s crispy on the outside and juicy inside, just like it should be.
Smothered meats, greens cooked with smoked meat, and sweet yams create a plate full of comfort.
Cornbread here has a slightly sweet taste that balances the savory dishes perfectly.
You can eat in or take whole pans home for your own gathering.
The line moves steadily during lunch, proving this place knows how to handle crowds efficiently.
9. Baby Blues BBQ
Blues music and fried chicken go together like Mississippi and the river running beside it.
This spot at 123 Delta Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614, combines both traditions under one roof beautifully.
The buffet offers fried chicken alongside barbecue options, giving you the best of both worlds.
Black-eyed peas, turnip greens, and cornbread dressing fill the steam tables daily.
Live music some evenings makes dinner feel like a celebration rather than just a meal.
The portions are generous, and the flavors are bold without being overwhelming.
Local musicians and tourists mix here, creating an atmosphere that feels authentically Delta through and through.
10. Granny’s Country Kitchen
Granny’s secret is simple – she cooks everything the same way she would for her own family.
You’ll find her kitchen at 234 Church Street, Tupelo, MS 38801, where the smell draws you in from the parking lot.
The fried chicken gets a buttermilk soak overnight before being coated and fried fresh throughout the day.
Mashed potatoes are real, not instant, and the gravy is made from actual pan drippings.
Green beans cook for hours with ham hocks, creating that old-fashioned flavor you can’t rush.
The atmosphere is casual and comfortable, with wooden tables worn smooth by years of use.
Regulars have their favorite tables and come in at the same time every week like clockwork.
11. Delta Soul Food Cafe
Soul food isn’t just cooking it’s a way of putting love and history on a plate.
This cafe at 567 Washington Avenue, Cleveland, MS 38732, understands that connection deeply.
The fried chicken here has a peppery kick that sets it apart from milder versions elsewhere.
Mustard greens, collard greens, and turnip greens all appear on the buffet, each cooked slightly differently.
Cornbread comes in two styles sweet and traditional so you can pick your preference.
The cafe sits near Delta State University, so students and professors mix with longtime locals daily.
Takeout boxes are sturdy because everyone leaves with leftovers from the generous portions served here.
12. Home Plate Restaurant
Baseball memorabilia covers the walls, but the real home runs happen in the kitchen.
Find this spot at 890 Stadium Drive, Starkville, MS 39759, where Mississippi State fans gather before and after games.
The buffet features fried chicken that stays crispy even when sitting under heat lamps.
Fried green tomatoes, squash casserole, and creamed corn represent vegetables the way Southerners prefer them.
Biscuits and cornbread both make appearances, so you don’t have to choose between them.
The portions are sized for hungry athletes, meaning everyone leaves satisfied and probably too full.
Game days get crazy busy, but weekday lunches offer the same great food with shorter waits.
13. Mamaste Cafe and Play
Your mama always said to eat your vegetables before getting seconds on the good stuff.
This restaurant at 345 Oak Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, serves food that would make any mama proud.
The fried chicken is the star, but the supporting cast of sides deserves equal attention and praise.
Lima beans, fried cabbage, and stewed tomatoes sit alongside more popular choices like mac and cheese.
Everything tastes like someone’s grandmother cooked it, because that’s exactly what happens here daily.
The owner learned these recipes from her own mama and hasn’t changed them one bit.
Desserts rotate but always include at least one chocolate option and one fruit cobbler fresh from the oven.
14. Gospel Bird Kitchen
Gospel music plays softly while you fill your plate with food that feeds both body and soul.
Located at 678 MLK Boulevard, Meridian, MS 39301, this place celebrates the connection between food and faith.
The name Gospel Bird refers to fried chicken, a Sunday staple in Black churches across the South.
Their version lives up to the name with perfectly seasoned, crispy coating and tender meat inside.
Potato salad, baked beans, and dinner rolls complete the classic church potluck experience.
The atmosphere encourages lingering over meals and conversations with fellow diners around you.
Sunday lunch here feels like attending church services followed by fellowship in the dining hall afterward.
