Sweet potato pie has a way of turning a quick lunch stop into the best part of a Florida road trip. The seven restaurants on this list stretch from Jacksonville to Tampa, with Orlando and the little river town of Dunnellon in between.
Most of them are soul food kitchens or barbecue joints, so you can count on collard greens, smoked ribs, fried chicken, and mac and cheese to come before dessert. Each one serves sweet potato pie, and a few are known for making it from scratch.
Some open only a few days a week, while others keep long hours for hungry travelers. I put the practical details right up front, so you know when to show up and what else to order.
Save this list for your next drive, and pass it along to the friend who always asks if there is room for pie.
1. Sweet Mama’s, Jacksonville, FL
Plenty of soul food kitchens claim a signature dish, but Sweet Mama’s on Cesery Boulevard has two: baked mac and cheese and tender oxtails. That is a strong opening act for a dessert as beloved as sweet potato pie.
The food here is made from scratch, and the menu reads like a Sunday dinner table. Think smothered pork chops, fried shrimp, chicken wings, and a fried ribs plate with mac and cheese and cabbage.
Sides include yams, collard greens, green beans, potato salad, and cornbread. Vegetarians get a real shot here too, since the restaurant offers a full vegetarian menu.
For dessert, the sweet potato pie shares the case with red velvet cake. I would order the pie first and argue about the cake later.
Plan around a few details. The restaurant is closed Tuesdays, opens at 11 AM the rest of the week, and closes at 6 PM on Sundays.
Reservations are not accepted and a wait is common, especially Sunday afternoons and Saturdays. Weekday mornings right after opening tend to be calmer, and parking is usually easy to find.
2. Krazy Good Food, Orlando, FL
Seafood boil first, sweet potato pie second. That is a solid game plan at Krazy Good Food, a casual spot on Millenia Boulevard in southwest Orlando.
The menu mixes Southern cooking with seafood trays and Caribbean specials. Popular orders include the Shrimp and Wing Boil, crab trays, fried chicken, and the Fisherman’s Favorite Fish Sandwich.
There is also an Ultimate Smash Burger and a Chopped Cheese for anyone who skips seafood. Sides like Cajun fries, fried okra, collard greens, and mac and cheese round things out.
The sweet potato pie is homemade, and it pairs naturally with a cup of sweet tea. It is a nice, mellow finish after a spicy boil.
Road trippers will appreciate the free Wi-Fi, on-site parking, and the fact that reservations are accepted. Hours run noon to 8 PM Monday through Thursday, until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 PM on Sundays.
Saturday evenings are the busiest. A weekday afternoon visit is usually the quieter move.
3. Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que and Soul Food, Tampa, FL
Look for the colorful bungalow on East 7th Avenue in Ybor City. Inside, Al’s serves Tennessee-style barbecue dinners from a counter, and the sides come with family names attached.
Menu items include Maze’s Serve-It-Up Yellow Rice and Chicken, Jean Ann’s Lip-Smacking Baked Beans, Ericka’s Spicy Collard Greens, and Aunt Nita’s Black Eyed Peas. Joanna’s Rise and Shine Cornbread is there too, along with Aunt Mary’s Triple Play Combo.
Ribs, chicken, and rice make a classic plate here. The homemade sweet potato pie is the natural way to end it.
Al’s has a broader dessert lineup than most barbecue stops. Homemade banana pudding and mini pumpkin pies sit alongside the sweet potato pie, which makes picking just one a real challenge.
Check the schedule before you go. Al’s is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, open 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM Wednesday and Thursday, until 7 PM Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 PM Sunday.
Outdoor seating is available, and reservations are accepted for groups.
4. Southern Palate, Dunnellon, FL
Dunnellon is a small river town near the Rainbow and Withlacoochee rivers, and plenty of travelers pass through on their way to the water. Southern Palate gives them a reason to stop and eat.
Timing matters most at this stop. The restaurant is open only Thursday through Saturday, from 11 AM to 4 PM.
The kitchen leans hard into soul food classics. Fried chicken, oxtails, baked ham, baked chicken, fried pork chops, and chitlins all appear on the menu.
Homemade baked mac and cheese, collard greens, and rice fill out the plate. Sweet tea is a popular pick to go with it.
Dessert is where this small kitchen really shows off. Sweet potato pie leads the list, with apple pie and pound cake close behind.
I would save this one for a river day, grabbing lunch before or after time on the water. Takeout and a few outdoor seats are available, but there is no delivery and no reservations.
5. Shut Em Down Authentic Southern Restaurant, Jacksonville, FL
A name like Shut Em Down sets high expectations, and the dessert counter at this Jacksonville spot on San Juan Avenue tries hard to meet them. Sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, banana pudding, homemade cakes, and cookies all make appearances.
The main menu covers traditional Southern cooking. Chicken and waffles, ribs, smothered pork chops, oxtail, and fried fish are among the favorites.
There is also a Fish N’ Grits snack for a lighter bite. Sides include candied yams, baked beans, cabbage, cornbread, and collard greens with rice.
The restaurant has a clean, family-oriented setup with a kids’ menu and high chairs. The staff are known for being friendly and helpful at the counter.
Hours run 11 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Mondays are closed.
Sunday afternoons draw the biggest crowds. If pie is the main goal, a weekday lunch gives you the best shot at a full dessert selection.
6. Oley’s Kitchen & Bar B Que, Orlando, FL
Early risers, this one is for you. Oley’s opens at 10 AM every day, which makes it one of the easiest pie stops on the list to fit into a travel schedule.
The menu blends Southern cooking with Jamaican dishes. Jerk chicken shares space with fried or smothered pork chops, chicken and waffles, pulled pork sandwiches, and a slab of ribs family meal.
Portions run large. Sides like fried okra, home fries, and collard greens keep the plates full.
The sweet potato pie is the must-order slice. Pair it with the homemade fruit punch or a lemonade.
Breakfast and brunch are on offer too, and reservations are accepted. Hours run until 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 8 PM on Sunday.
Sunday afternoons and evenings get busy here. Tuesday and Friday mornings are usually the quietest windows.
7. BJ’s Alabama BBQ!, Tampa, FL
Mini sweet potato pies are the move at BJ’s Alabama BBQ on South Dale Mabry Highway. They are just the right size after a heaping barbecue platter.
The sauce gets a lot of attention here. It balances sweet and heat with a tangy finish, and it goes on everything from ribs to chicken.
Big appetites can order the Full Slab with 14 bones or the Everything Platter. Classic sides include collards, baked beans, potato salad, and moist cornbread.
The setup is fast-food simple, with counter service and quick, friendly staff. It shares that welcoming style with the original Big John’s on 40th Street.
Hours are limited, so plan ahead. BJ’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and closed Sundays and Mondays.
Friday and Saturday afternoons get busy. A Tuesday visit is usually smoother, and parking is free.
That wraps up the route. Seven kitchens, three big cities, one small river town, and plenty of pie waiting at every stop.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.