Travel Mississippi The 9 Best Restaurants In Tupelo, Mississippi By Kristin Luna Kristin Luna Kristin Luna is a travel writer and photographer with 20 years of magazine experience writing about food, travel, home design, and public art. The Tennessee native started her career in New York in the early 2000s at Newsweek, Time Inc., and Conde Nast; she has since written 15 guidebooks and contributed to more than 50 national titles, including Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Garden & Gun. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 24, 2024 Close Photo: Tupelo CVB Holding court in the northeast corner of Mississippi, Tupelo is located just off the Natchez Trace Parkway, an easy drive from Memphis. And though the town prides itself on its own Elvis history—Presley was born here, and countless fans from around the world make the pilgrimage to his birthplace—there are far more reasons to visit Tupelo than music heritage alone. A creative food and drink scene anchored by such innovators as Reward Meadery has helped Tupelo rise to prominence as one of the tastiest towns in Mississippi. Visiting the Magnolia State soon? Here are the best restaurants in Tupelo to add to your itinerary. 01 of 09 Amsterdam Deli & Grill Tupelo CVB The name “deli” is deceiving because this restaurant serves a whole lot more than just sandwiches (though it does that very well, too, of course). Fusing Middle Eastern delights with American bar bites, Amsterdam puts Baba Ghanoush and heaping piles of gyros nachos on the menu alongside buffalo chicken fries and bacon and Gouda mac and cheese bites. You can also tuck into various flatbreads, salads, specialty pita pizzas, and build-your-own pies. facebook.com/AmsterdamDeli; 128 Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804: 662-260-4423 02 of 09 Lost+Found Coffee Company Tupelo CVB A pop-up bar that quickly garnered a following, Lost + Found Coffee Co. is now a café that roasts its own coffee, which you can take home with you in 12-ounce bags. You can also grab a bite to accompany your cereal milk latte; the café serves thick sourdough bread dripping with locally made jam, Native Son bagels, and other light bites like cake truffles and savory quiches. In true coffee shop fashion, Lost+Found hosts singer-songwriter nights too. lostandfoundcoffee.co; 910 Robert E Lee Extended, Tupelo, MS 38801; 662-269-3675 03 of 09 Forklift Tupelo CVB One of Tupelo’s finest dining restaurants with the best cocktails to boot, Forklift offers a wide array of Southern and American staples making it a slam dunk for larger groups with varying tastes. Try the mussels with bacon, jalapeno, onion, and garlic, or opt for the Thai chicken wings. Dig into the blackened shrimp tacos or braised Angus short rib, and steal a bite of your dining partner’s Mississippi rabbit trio. The patio fire pit is particularly pleasant on cooler evenings. forkliftrestaurant.com; 1103 West Jackson Street, Tupelo, MS, 38804; 662-5100-7001 04 of 09 Neon Pig Tupelo CVB Don’t let the no-frills strip mall façade fool you: inside Neon Pig is a butcher shop worth writing home about, not to mention one of the best smash burgers you’ll ever taste. Offering charcuterie boards, bacon-forward sandwiches, healthy grain bowls, and lettuce wraps, the restaurant also sells fresh seafood that’s flown in from the Gulf three times a week. If you go, remember that you can add an egg to pretty much any dish offered, or transform it into a taco for a little something different. facebook.com/neon.pig; 1203 N Gloster St, Tupelo, MS 38804; 662-269-2533 05 of 09 Connie’s Chicken Tupelo CVB Named for founder Constantine Asters, who opened Connie's in 1979, this fast-casual Tupelo staple serves up chicken biscuits and a surprising staple: blueberry donuts. Connie’s Fried Chicken is also open for lunch, with chicken tenders, sandwiches, and pieces available by the wing, leg, thigh, or breast on the menu. Don’t leave without a donut, which often sell out midway through morning. connieschicken.com; 821 S Gloster St, Tupelo, MS 38801; 662-842-7260 06 of 09 Johnnie’s Drive-In Tupelo CVB Every meal doesn’t have to be a production; sometimes, you want an impromptu, low-key experience that requires no reservation and no planning. Johnnie’s Drive-In prides itself on being just that. A local institution since 1945, the oldest restaurant in Tupelo is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Saturday and only accepts cash. While the menu features plenty of sandwiches and Southern platters (think: BBQ, country-fried steak, chicken strips), the doughburgers—complete with fries or tots and a shake—are the stars of the show at this diner. Super Elvis fans can sit in the booth once frequented by the King in his younger years. facebook.com/p/Johnnies-Drive-In-100057602231147; 908 E Main St, Tupelo, MS 38804; 662-842-6748 07 of 09 Blue Canoe Tupelo CVB The funkiest joint in town, Blue Canoe is a Southern restaurant, bar, and live music venue with distinctly Cajun flavor. Must-try dishes include the pot roast, crack dip fries, and the donut bread pudding, which is made with the heavenly blueberry donuts from Connie’s. Boasting the largest tap list in North Mississippi, Blue Canoe’s rotating beers number more than 100—48 of which are available at any one time—making this spot a no-brainer for craft fans who want to wash down dinner with a sampling of the local water. bluecanoebar.com; 2006 N Gloster Street, Tupelo, MS 38804; 662-269-2642 08 of 09 Jobos Tupelo CVB Tupelo’s first boutique hotel brought more than just a top-notch lodging experience to downtown—it also added a taste of the Gulf with the introduction of Jobos. This surf-and-turf restaurant with high ceilings, massive windows, and a colorful, modern design is located on the hotel’s main level. The restaurant serves small bites like fried calamari and bao buns alongside grilled fish, shrimp baskets, and po’boys. The bar features craft beer, wine by the bottle, and a bevy of cocktails like lavender gin fizzes or bourbon sweet tea available in to-go cups (downtown Tupelo’s entertainment district has an open-container zone within specified hours). The weekend brunch is also not to be missed. jobostupelo.com; 314 E Main St., Tupelo, MS 38804; 662-362-6173 09 of 09 Crave Tupelo CVB Many nights in Tupelo end on a sweet note at Crave, the city’s original dessert café with its ever-popular skillet cookie and other decadent delights such as turtle cheesecake and s’mores pie. In addition to desserts, Crave serves lattes, hot cocoa, cider, frappes, and other specialty coffee drinks like the signature Priscilla, made with white chocolate, hazelnut, and vanilla. If you stop by during the morning, you’ll find the counters lined with breakfast-friendly homemade baked goods like scones, biscuits, and sausage balls. cravetupelo.com; 108 E Main St., Tupelo, MS 38804; 662-260-5024 Was this page helpful? 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