50 Best Southern Restaurants near Long Island City

“Shocking amount of vegan/vegetarian options. They allow you to substitute pretty much any meat option with a vegan chicken!
As a vegetarian, I’ve never had Kentucky fried chicken or traditionally more southern comfort food like this so it was great to try it!

Staff was super friendly, we came in <30 min before closing by accident and they were very understanding and let us eat comfortably without rushing us.

Ambiance - standard “fast food” vibe“

“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.“

“Awesome food and like the most of their dishes“

“Randomly on a Saturday ended up at Hollybrook Lane. And so glad I did the food was exceptional the fried okra was top tier! And the drinks chef kiss. If you like classic throwback tunes paired with comfort food and good drinks. This is the place! Can’t wait to return.“

“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.“

“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“

“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“

“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.“

“We were incredibly impressed at C as in Charlie. Every single dish we had was very good - 3 of them were exceptional. The mozzarella/green pepper with soy balsamic was insanely good, the ribs were melt in your mouth and the prawn roll delicious too. Service was excellent and the restaurant had a real buzz/warmth to it. Absolutely shouldn’t be missed. Surprisingly reasonably priced too.“

“Good little spot ❤️ Enjoyed ourselves“

“Fresh oysters, original drinks and great vibes! Loved sitting at the bar Miles and Marisa where super attentive while still totally chill. What a nice reprieve after walking through Brooklyn. If you happen to walk by here I highly recommend stopping by and grabbing a drink.“

“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.“

“First of all, this location with all the restaurants is awesome. So many options and easy to order from anywhere.

Second, Jacobs Pickles is unreal. Sandwich is enormous so you may even want to share one with someone. Honey Hot Sandwich was so flavorful and delicious. Little spicy but not bad. Great meal.“

“This came across my social media feed and since it's in our neighborhood, we decided to give it a try. From the outside, you can't really tell anything about the place. However, when you get inside it is a charming nautical theme. We were greeted by Simone, a lovely woman tending the bar. She explained that we can sit anywhere we like and we order at the bar. For cocktails, I had the Commodore and my boyfriend had a Guinness. Drinks were perfect. I had the brisket sandwich and my boyfriend had the fried chicken platter. They were hearty portions and absolutely delicious! We went kind of early and as it started to fill up, the crowd was friendly and the atmosphere was really nice. Ordering at the bar was bit different for us and
Simone really made the experience very enjoyable, as she helped us navigate the simple process. Would definitely recommend!“

“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!“

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the cornbread was so good coming from a place called “Cornbread Brooklyn “

But there I was being assailed by the flavors and softness of their cornbread. I spent a few years living down South, and I can’t get southern food this good down there.

Their fried chicken was flavorful and crispy.

The Mac and cheese was maybe a little drier than ya mom’s mac on Thanksgiving, but if she brought this out you’d still have seconds.

And that Southern Twang was the Twangiest.

Will definitely drop by again“

“Excellent example of Cajun/Creole cuisine. Highly recommended.“

“The food and service was amazing!“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“I had such a wonderful experience. From the moment I walked in, the staff was welcoming and attentive. The atmosphere felt cozy yet vibrant, perfect for both a casual meal or a special night out. The food was absolutely delicious—fresh ingredients, beautifully presented, and full of flavor.

Overall, this place exceeded my expectations. Great service, fantastic food, and a warm vibe—I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“The atmosphere is lacking, but the food is good. It used to be great, and now lack consistency. The service leaves something to be desired.
I come for the smothered chicken, but I don't go as often due to the increased prices and decreased service.“

“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.“

“Our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant in NYC closed about 9 months ago. Since then, we have been searching for a replacement with no success. Last night we found a great one, Javelina. The chips were very crisp, and the salsa was spicy and delicious. My skinny margarita(s) were full of flavor and not too sweet. The guacamole was excellent. Nachos were way better than you normally find. Chicken and beef tacos were both great. Even the rice and beans were far above average. The only minor issue was that the tables are small and a bit cramped. But the very reasonable price offset the minor seating discomfort. The room was crowded and a little noisy, but totally to be expected on a Saturday night when the food is excellent and the price is low. We will definitely go back to Javelina, but probably not on Saturday night, A total Tex-Mex find!“

“Super endroit !! Service très efficace et très sympa“

“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 !“

“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“

“TLDR: fried chicken here is awesome, I prefer the salted egg yolk but all of it is good

I got the two legs of chicken with salted egg yolk and I got to enjoy the salted egg yolk flavor on fried chicken with very crispy skin and juicy meat. I do miss the size of the brooklyn location but the food still hit the spot“

“Had a wonderful experience. Food was delicious. So happy to know I have such a great place just 6 mins away from my house. Totally recommend Concettina!“

“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“

“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 staff is amazingly friendly! Such a clean & happy environment! The food is great! Love it💕“

“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!“

“Chicken was delicious and facility clean“

“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“

“First time here and it was delicious. The BBQ was tasty and servings were a good size and portion. I highly recommend the 24 hour brisket and platter. The staff was attentive and the group had fun and really enjoyed everything that was ordered.“

“Excellent spot food service Very friendly Beautiful blonde waitress had to throw that in“

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

“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.“

“I finally made it to Katie O’s Soul Food, and everything I ordered was amazing. I had two pieces of fried catfish — crispy, seasoned perfectly, and fried just right.

My sides were all full of flavor and tasted homemade. My plate had:
• Fried catfish
• Candied yams
• Collard greens
• Mac & cheese
• Potato salad
• Cornbread

For dessert, I had their banana pudding, and it was absolutely delicious. I washed everything down with a strawberry lemonade that was refreshing and sweet.

When I say I came home, made my plate, ate, took a shower, and went straight to sleep? That’s how you know the food was GOOD — seasoned to perfection, fresh, and made with love.

To make the experience even sweeter, I later found out the owner is actually my good friend’s niece. The hospitality and courtesy were on point from the moment I walked in.

Everything was absolutely delicious. I’ll definitely be back!“

“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.“

“I ordered a Caesar salad with buffalo chicken tenders and might I say that was a very tasty salad. Haven’t had a salad like that in a while. It was pleasantly simple but full of bold flavor. I did get an additional sauce, the chimichurri sauce it added the bold flavor. Will go again“

“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.“

“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.“