Discover the best spots to savor this beloved southern bread
Written by Daniel Dubuisson
Everybody and their mama has their own idea of the perfect Southern cornbread. Some like it crispy and fresh out of a cast-iron skillet. Others prefer it fluffy and baked in a pan. Some like to enjoy it as an essential side dish, and some like to let it soak up the flavor of their favorite soups and stews. And don’t even get folks started on the different forms of cornbread. The debate over which is best—conventional slices, corn muffins, corn pone, hoecakes, or hush puppies— rages on with no end in sight. For us, we’ll take it any way we can get it, so we’re happy to be spoiled with choices from these seven incredible restaurants from all around the region.
The Porch in Dallas, Texas, adds an irresistible heat from south of the border with its jalapeño honey butter-topped cornbread, while the mini cast-iron skilletfuls at Husk are a mouthwatering take on a scrumptious tradition. The famous Creole cuisine at Jacques-Imo’s speaks for itself, but the warm, buttery corn muffins that hit your table when you arrive are reason enough to stop in.
Fans of hot water cornbread in Louisville, Kentucky, should save room for the famous recipe from Shirley Mae’s Café, and the story is the same for the cooked-to- order muffins at Arnold’s Country Kitchen, premier meat-and-three joint of Nashville, Tennessee. West Virginia’s own Good Road Bakehouse is another stop for crisp, skillet-fresh cornbread made with locally sourced cornmeal, while the house-made, golden-brown zucchini cornbread at Corner is a comforting start to your meal that you can share with the table.
In our eyes (and stomachs), nothing beats hot, buttery cornbread no matter the shape or texture it takes. Whether you’re baking a batch at home or stopping by one of these spots for a fix, it’s a perfectly Southern addition to any meal. We picked some of our must-haves, but did yours make the list?
Husk
Locations in South Carolina, Georgia & Tennessee
huskrestaurant.com
The Porch
2912 N. Henderson Ave.
Dallas, Texas
theporchrestaurant.com
Jacques-Imo’s
8324 Oak St.
New Orleans, Louisiana
jacques-imos.com
Shirley Mae’s Café
802 S. Clay St.
Louisville, Kentucky
shirleymaescafe.com
Arnold’s Country Kitchen
605 8th Avenue S.
Nashville, Tennessee
arnoldscountrykitchen.com
Good Roads Bakehouse
131 Lewis Ln.
Frankford, West Virginia
facebook.com/goodroadsbakehouse
Corner
110 E. 2nd St.
Austin, Texas
cornerrestaurantaustin.com
