Missouri sits right on the edge of the South, and its kitchens prove it one golden basket at a time. Fried green tomatoes and hush puppies are two small side dishes that say a lot about a restaurant, because they are easy to make and hard to make well.
The seven spots below, from Branson to Lee’s Summit, treat these Southern staples like the main event. Save this list for your next road trip, or send it to the friend who always orders an extra basket.
1. Local Flavor Branson, Branson, MO
Live music and chicken fried steak make a pretty good pairing on Branson’s 76 Country Boulevard. Local Flavor Branson is a relaxed, family-friendly spot where home-style cooking shares the room with entertainment.
The fried green tomatoes are the appetizer to grab first. They show up on plenty of tables, and they set the tone for a menu built around comfort food.
Hush puppies come with the fish dinners, along with creamed corn. They are crispy outside and moist inside, with real flavor packed into each one.
The menu is limited on purpose, which keeps the focus on favorites like Our Famous Chicken Fried Steak, the Chicken Fried Chicken Club, Cream Cheese Corn, and even Calf Fries for the curious.
Most meals land in the $10 to $20 range. Hours run 11 AM to 8:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 11 AM to 2 PM on Sunday, with Mondays closed.
Weekend evenings get busy, so a weekday lunch is the calmer bet.
2. Big Easy Grill Restaurant, Springfield, MO
Springfield does not sit anywhere near the bayou, but Big Easy Grill makes a strong case that it could. The unassuming building on East Sunshine Street serves Cajun-Creole favorites like po’ boys, gumbo, and jambalaya.
The fried green tomatoes here use fresh tomatoes in a light batter. That thin coating lets the tart tomato flavor come through instead of hiding under breading.
Hush puppies arrive with the fish platters, usually next to sweet potato fries and coleslaw. The catfish dinner is a natural order if you want all three on one plate.
I would also save room for boudin balls, shrimp and grits, or bread pudding. Portions are generous for the price, which typically stays between $10 and $20.
Service is quick and friendly. Big Easy is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Friday evening draws the biggest crowd.
3. Billy Gail’s – Ozark, MO, Ozark, MO
Hush puppies about the size of a small mandarin orange are reason enough to pull off James River Road. Billy Gail’s in Ozark is a cheerful all-day eatery with vintage decor and a big appetite for Southern comfort food.
Breakfast is a serious business here, with pancake combos, French toast, loaded hash browns, and the Billion Dollar Bacon.
Later in the day, fried catfish and those oversized hush puppies take over. They stay moist inside instead of turning dry and crumbly.
The fried green tomatoes are a smart order too.
Sweet tea comes Southern style, and a small store inside sells hot sauce to take home. Kids have their own menu, including a shrimp basket.
Billy Gail’s opens at 7 AM daily and closes at 3 PM most days, staying open until 9 PM on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are not taken, and weekend mornings fill up fast.
4. Peacemaker Lobster & Crab, St. Louis, MO
Lobster gets top billing at Peacemaker, yet the humble hush puppy might be the sneakiest star on the menu. This rustic seafood spot on Sidney Street in St. Louis decorates with fishermen photos and retro touches.
The hush puppies are light, fluffy, and crispy without any greasy feel, and they come with a house dipping sauce. Fried green tomatoes are well seasoned and served in nice portions.
From there, the menu leans coastal. Think Connecticut lobster rolls with house chips, lobster bisque, whole lobster and shrimp boils, oysters, and lobster mac and cheese.
Southern sides like smothered collard greens and a catfish po’ boy keep things grounded. Vanilla soft serve with a house-made magic shell is a fun finish.
Expect $20 to $70 per person. Street parking can be tricky, and dinner reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
A patio offers outdoor seating in warm weather.
5. Ozark Mountain Biscuit & Bar, Columbia, MO
College towns run on biscuits more than you might guess. Ozark Mountain Biscuit and Bar on Hinkson Avenue in Columbia proves it with a big menu of biscuit dishes served morning to night.
The fried green tomatoes are a standout, and here they are listed as vegan. That matters, since this kitchen offers full vegan and vegetarian menus alongside classics like Fried Chicken on a Biscuit.
Hush puppies are crispy outside and soft inside, served with a sauce. Fried okra, Cajun catfish, Wavy Gravy Fries, and a half order of biscuits and gravy round out the Southern side of things.
Patio seating welcomes dogs, which makes it a handy stop on a nice day.
Hours run 8 AM to 9 PM on Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM on weekends, and it is closed Tuesday. No reservations, and parking can take a minute to find.
6. Jumpin’ Catfish Restaurant, Lee’s Summit, MO
Free hush puppies before you even order is a tradition worth driving across the Kansas City metro for. At Jumpin’ Catfish in Lee’s Summit, tables get bowls of hush puppies, coleslaw, and ham and beans right after sitting down.
Those hush puppies are crispy outside and moist in the middle. If one bowl is not enough, there is a Hushpuppy Basket on the menu.
The Jumpin’ Catfish Dinner Platter is the signature move. All-you-can-eat crab legs, fried mushrooms, and a salad bar give groups plenty of choices.
The hunter-themed decor keeps things casual. Prices usually fall between $10 and $20, and the free lot has plenty of parking.
Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 11 AM to 8 PM Sunday, closed Monday. Reservations are accepted for busy weekend nights.
7. McFarlain’s Family Restaurant, Branson, MO
A few tables here slowly rise to chin height as a joke, so keep an eye on your plate. McFarlain’s Family Restaurant on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway serves home cooking in a room filled with antiques.
Fried green tomatoes are a featured item, and complimentary honey cornbread comes to the table too. That combo alone makes it an easy pick for this list.
Big platters follow. Chicken Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, Pioneer Pot Roast, and Ma’ Hewlett’s Meatloaf all lean classic, and catfish is on hand as well.
Breakfast brings Ozark Omelettes on weekends, and coconut cream pie makes a sweet ending. The restaurant shares a shopping center with a theater, which helps with show-night planning.
McFarlain’s opens at 11 AM weekdays and 9 AM on weekends, closing at 9 or 10 PM. Parking is free, and reservations are accepted.
Whichever side wins your vote, these seven kitchens make the debate a tasty one to settle in person.
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