50 Best Southern Restaurants near Long Island City

“I went to ‘Sweet Chick’ today with my family. It was pretty random. We left the ‘Blend LLC’ since they wanted us to wait an additional 20 minutes. Keep in mind, we RSVP’ed in advance. So, we ended up waiting two more blocks here. It was completely empty. We were the only people at first.

The food was excellent. I got a Nashville Chicken Sandwich with French Fries. The hot sensation wasn’t unbearable. The atmosphere, aesthetic, and music were impeccable. My family and I plan to revisit this location. Highly recommend it👏🏾!“

“Went 1st time today for my Birthday - it was GREAT!💙👍“

“you think your grandma is in the kitchen. you really won't believe hiw good all the food is.“

“The food is delicious and the serve is amazing so friendly and kind“

“What can I say about this amazing restaurant, Bird Dog. Not only was the food absolutely amazing, tasty and presented perfectly, the staff was kind, attentive and extremely friendly. Bird Dog gives very New York vibes with a soft Southern hospitality touch. I’m not only saying this because I’ve known the owner/operator for over 15 years but because the food and experience was great! Recommend to any/all foodies local and visitors to the area.“

“Good little spot ❤️ Enjoyed ourselves“

“I was there for takeout for the first time last week ~ All I can say is Yum and will order from them again Even spoke with the man who makes the food himself! Thank you!“

“Everything was so delicious the first time I ate there. I recommend going there all the time“

“Caleb, Caleb, Caleb — the best man I’ve ever had the pleasure of being served by. He made us feel so welcomed and even joined in on the fun that pursued. He made our night many times better. The service was absolutely incredible, and the food to match.“

“The food and the presentations are wonderful. The atmosphere is beautiful not only with the waiters, but the patrons as well, took someone there today and they are coming back. And they are bringing back a family member“

“This place was very small and intimate but they good amount of seating plus bar seating. The service was great (we sat at the bar). The FOOD!!! Was amazing we had the shoreline breakfast, hush puppies, and the hen house(photo below) the portions are big. The star of the show was that molasses butter that came on top of the pancake SO GOOD.definitely coming back to get the crawfish dish“

“Someone who’s from Texas and been here for work it’s really hard to find some true southern flare and this place answers the calling when it comes to that and glad that I’d gotten to make the trip over here to try it out. Also will most definitely will be back again.“

“I love this place and I love the food and the service is amazing. I have a fav hostess she’s really kind always. She’s soft spoken and wears a trucker cap. I can’t recall her name but she’s the best. I recommend them to all who love great eats and a relaxed environment. It has an ol school feel which I enjoy.“

“After the compulsory ID check with the doorman we snagged the last two seats at the bar. The place was humming with energy. It was a Friday night & all the patrons were gearing up for the weekend. The decibel level is fairly high. The DJ was actually spinning some of our favourite tunes.

We ordered a couple beers & surveyed the menu. We selected the shrimp po boy (very tasty), fish tacos (nicely spiced) & the wedge salad (maybe a touch over dressed with blue cheese dressing). Heck it was Friday night: we enjoyed our fairly basic selections.

The bartenders took good care of us. Always making sure we had enough beverages, replenishing napkins (it was a messy meal) & refilling our water.

If you find yourself in the East Village craving some tiki inspired drinks & simple cooking this place will satisfy.“

“Maybe it’s the pregnancy speaking but this was DELICIOUS. I got the hot honey chicken biscuit and fried Oreos. Yum!! Portion was huge, could probably have split it and still been full, even pregnant. Got a hibiscus lemonade at the Time Out bar nearby and that was also excellent.“

“Excellent, friendly restaurant in the heart of NYC West Village. Thank you for a PERFECT graduation dinner experience for our family.“

“💕 great, great, great!!!“

“The popcorn soft serve is actually so good. I thought at first it was going to taste like pure butter, they’re is actually a nice balance of butter, salt, and a flavor that can only be described as butterscotch I suppose. They also stack this ice cream super high, so for the price you really get your money’s worth. I also got the bag of biscuits. They were buttery and tasted really homemade. I honestly ate the whole bag in a day because they were so good. The butter they came with was also really good. I can’t wait to come back here so I can try more!“

“Deliciousness! I’m going to stop there as soon as I arrive into nyc on my next visit 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾“

“The food and service was amazing!“

“Food is amaziing!!! Service is great and friendly. Try it out you will not be disappointed!!👍“

“We were not rushed and the waitress was very polite and we had to wait for her to free up to request a few things: like ketchup and the calamari was good, not the best and not the worse I ever had. It was a nice dinner. My wife had the black rice and mushroom with an egg. She liked it, again good food.“

“I didn’t expect to like this place as much as I did, but honestly everything we had was delicious. The fried chicken was incredible, but what really surprised me was the chicken and waffle combo — I had no idea that would work so well together, but it absolutely does.

We ordered the Rev. Al Sharpton and the President Obama, plus collard greens and black eyed peas on the side. Both sides were really good, but the black eyed peas stood out for me — super flavorful and comforting. The collard greens were also great and tasted very authentic.

On top of that, the price was more than reasonable for the amount and quality of food we got. Definitely not expensive for what it is.

I’d 100% come back.“

“Was in Printers Alley this weekend with my parents for the first time staying in a hotel nearby and found this place really nice and chill with good food, loads of TVs for games with a big NFL game on while we were in - We sat at the bar as a lot of the tables were reserved but Thomas was so nice and took great care of us while checking in regularly with us to make sure we were okay while also giving my parents a laugh and recommendations on what to do around the city. Can't fault this bar at all and will definitely be back next time in NYC!“

“I'm a regular at Amy Ruth's restaurant in Harlem and I'm always down to grab some Soul Food on my days off with my friends when I have the time. Quite recently, I found out that Amy Ruth's had a second location closer to where I work downtown. It was almost perfect because now I can pick up some food either on the way to work, or order some during my lunch break.

One of my friends and I decided to check this location out on Saturday and I have to say, it was really beyond our expectations. We were greeted by Jayda who took our orders and also informed us that Tim would be our Chef for the day.

To start, my friend ordered a half and half lemonade / iced tea and I ordered a regular lemonade. My lemonade tasted like it was freshly squeezed and made me feel like a kid again. Wait time for our food was no longer than a few minutes since we were the first ones in the store. We both ordered three fried chicken wings on a waffle, homemade macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and candied yams. My friend and I devoured our meals and even saved some for later. The last thing we ordered was their signature red velvet cake and creamy banana pudding. Absolute perfection.

If I'm being honest, I've eaten at a few other Soul Food restaurants in the city, and in my opinion, Amy Ruth's is number one on my list. Amy Ruth's Downtown is definitely worth checking out whether you're in the area for a quick bite, or just have a craving for some authentic southern cuisine.“

“a really great place. love the food. the picture service is nice, but i wish they warned you what was going to happen. it seemed like it was just a promotion for the restaurant, so we let them take the pictures. later we felt guilted into buying a $20 picture, which has never happened to me at a restaurant before. i was also bothered because if we were going to buy the picture, i would want it to be with the food. i even asked the photographer this but she didn't take my suggestion. if i had known we would later be pushed to buy pictures, i would have at least insisted on the timing to get a picture i wanted.“

“The spicy chicken biscuit omg toooooo die for so my husband and I saw many people entering this spot plus it was our first time. We heard mac and cheese, greens, and fried chicken. So we got a bucket of mixed chicken, two sides of Mac and cheese, and some collard greens (they make them with black eyed peas and tomatoes; totally different from any kind of greens I ever had and I definitely was left craving more. Nice little spot and such friendly people. Heading back very soon“

“Met a few friends for Sunday brunch here! They do have a bottomless brunch option if you’re into that. We didn’t get it, but their mimosas were so good.

All of us loveedddd our meals. I got the stacked brisket enchilada and it was soooo good. The brisket was cooked perfectly and the rice and beans on the side were yum too. I’d deff come back again for some Tex Mex goodness!“

“I've been looking forward to trying this restaurants menu items. yesterday was only the 1st, for sure. I had a shrimp po boy, perfect, packed with shrimp, just the right sauces, really good. I took home a container of their vegan lentil soup which is better than my lentil soup. that's not a small thing. beautifully balanced flavor, really delicious. I can't wait to go back and try everything else.“

“The atmosphere was amazing , staff was polite an courtesy, The hot wings are AMAZING!!Perfect Date night atmosphere! Management was polite an on point with every customer! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I’ll be back !“

“Food was great. I'd definitely eat that chili chicken sandwich again. The fries are a huge portion and good for sharing (between my partner and I, we didn't even finish them, there were that many!) Ordering the sandwich + prices came out to be $26.

Their fried chickens have a great marinades, which make it messy to eat. I wish they had some wipes or something other than the paper towel/napkin option. This is ideal for dining-in; I don't recommend eating on the go. There's very limited seating, but somehow we snagged a seat. The party who ate before us didn't clean up after themselves... which wasn't very considerate. I ended up throwing up their trash. The staff seemed very busy behind the counter, and never came around to clean the tables. this is very much a takeout-forward place.“

“I had the pleasure of dining at Vera's, and it truly exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the warm, inviting atmosphere made me feel right at home. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring every detail of our experience was perfect. The highlight was the food. The barbecue chicken and sweet ribs were savory on the outside and juicy on the inside—mouthwatering. The collard greens and cabbage were seasoned to perfection. What I appreciated most was the authentic soul food flavor that reminded me of home. Great care and tradition are poured into every dish. Whether you're a longtime fan of soul food or trying it for the first time, Vera's is a must-visit. I’ll be returning soon! I highly recommend it for anyone craving hearty, flavorful soul food in a cozy setting.“

“A very special evening with my 93 yr old Godmother. Food was excellent. Pasta was cooked perfectly. Service was impeccable Special honor to have Chef Sal stop at our table Our favorite place in the city“

“Grew up with one of the owners. He’s been passionate about cooking good food since his teen years. Fantastic food, fantastic restaurant staff, fantastic atmosphere. Proposed to my now wife at Peaches!“

“Chicken was delicious and facility clean“

“I love coming to this food hall and Bob White greets you as the first choice of food. Although they are mostly fast food and fried, I see why they are still in business. The hand cut fries 🍟 are my go to item, and their tenders are well paired to taste. Not overly seasoned however packing flavor, mistress, because its bribed, and this is real chicken, not processed. So the tenders are also on the menu made into a sandwich or a wrap. I haven't explored that yet, but may try when I am not counting calories. The kale salad with added almonds and quinoa as a side is befitting as a healthier dish with my fries and tenders. I will be returning again because they have so many other sauces to try. They were fast with service although 1 person ordered ahead of me, and 2 were called before I received mine, I was pleased. Oh and even more pleased to know as an MTA worker I received a discount and by taking the receipt I noticed I can get a free Sweet Tea just for making this review. I will update and let everyone know how that goes and after I get a fork for my salad. Later for now!

Update! I got my free sweet tea!! Its refreshing, not to sweet which is great for me, its sweet enough . We don't need liquid diabetes people!!! if you do, then McDonald's has some for you.“

“Great place, mini diner, fantastic breakfast.
Atmosphere? Lol, Google doesn't understand how humans value space, it has the Atmosphere of a traditional lunch counter, which is fantastic for a lunch counter. Come here for food, it's great!“

“we ordered 2 orders of fried catfish, 1 with sweet potatoe fries and 1 with Mac&cheese, and also a side of collards. everything was made FRESH. crispy and delicious fish & fries, super cheesey Mac and the collards we're great! not the first or the last time I will order from here. reasonably priced for fish around here.“

“Came with my partner for taco Tuesday, everything was just amazingly delicious. Wish I was able to get a picture of everything before my partner devoured the food. Would comeback absolutely. The atmosphere was amazing , gave a bit of a rustic feel mixed with calmness and our server Micheal was so sweet , he went above and beyond for us“

“Enter through the Red Rooster restaurant walk down the stairs that’s the location of the club . Great music 🎶, food 🥘 and cocktails 🍸. You will enjoy listening to great jazz and I believe it becomes a club on the late hours of the night. Around minding . Elegant decor“

“I found this restaurant on Tik Tok and I’m sooo glad I did! I had the best oxtail I’ve probably ever had!!! Thoroughly satisfied with my experience and will be sure to go again whenever I’m in the area!! 🤌🏾“

“The food is AMAZING!!! I love the tortilla soup ❤️“

“love this best kept secret“

“10's across the board. I loved everything I ordered. My only complaint is I wish I had a cornbread instead of a dinner roll. Nonetheless I enjoyed it with my catfish. Please send me the recipe for your Mac it was sooooo good. I would definitely say this is true authentic soul food. Yummy!“

“Typical local Mexican restaurant & bar operated by a dominican staff. The bar service was great. The food was average at best. I ordered the steak tostadas, wings, and fries. The wings were fried too hard. The tostadas needed seasoning. Overall, I had a great time watching the Canelo fight.“

“The hospitality is always on point when I dine there. The food is delicious. A nice small intimate setting. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.“

“Chicken is good! Seasoned & flavorful! Fries good too! Mac & Cheese needs to go back to the basics.“

“This is one of our favorite places to PLAY MUSIC in the city, and we love it so much... we go there on our off nights, too, just to hang out. There's always a friendly scene and the food, drink, and atmosphere are unbeatable. Top 1 place in NYC.“

“Chicken is good! Seasoned & flavorful! Fries good too! Mac & Cheese needs to go back to the basics.“