If this year’s Best of Jackson picks are any indication, Jacksonians are never afraid to expand their palates when the moment calls for it, but they certainly can have their tried-and-true fan favorites, too. Of this year’s 33 pre-existing categories, nearly two-thirds of the winners successfully defended a title from 2021 Best of Jackson, with some restaurants’ winning streaks stretching even further back.
Longtime contender Mama Hamil’s Southern Soul Food took its usual nods for “Best Fried Chicken” and “Best Soul Food” back to its massive homefront in Madison, and Babalu’s margarita selection extended its three-year streak into a fourth year. Babalu’s fellow Fondren-dweller, The Pig and Pint, once again flaunted its dominance at the pit and the spit, winning the “Best Barbecue” title for many years running.
The Pig and Pint wasn’t Babalu’s only neighbor to put in a solid showing at the Best of Jackson polls, though, as the pair of restaurants joined Cups Espresso Cafe, Campbell’s Bakery, Aladdin Mediterranean Grill, Rooster’s, Saltine Restaurant, Green Ghost Tacos and Walker’s Drive-In to bring a combined 11 awards home to the Fondren district.
Former Fondren resident Sal and Mookie’s New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint proved that its cross-interstate move was a good one, as Jacksonians decided that the pizza parlor deserved the “Best Outdoor Dining” nod for its new digs at the District at Eastover, making it the only restaurant at the District to take home a 2022 Winner certificate in the food section.
Sal and Mookie’s wasn’t the only surprise this year, as Walker’s Drive-In’s “Best Restaurant” win broke Char’s three-year streak in the category. Koestler Prime also unseated the longtime Jackson staple for “Best Steak,” a title it had held for the last two years. Stamps Super Burgers also dislodged former favorites to prove that its burgers live up to its name in the eyes of Jacksonians, as the restaurant won both “Best Hamburger” and “Best Veggie Burger.”
New blood in old categories keeps things interesting, though, as Tuk Tuk Boom took home the accolate for “Best New Restaurant,” closing out its first year of business in grand style. The Thai restaurant joined its adjacent eatery, Aplos Simple Mediterranean (winner of “Best French Fries”), on the Best of Jackson list, making the duo the only two Highland Village staples to take home Best of Jackson titles this year. Tuk Tuk Boom’s menu is vast and varied, offering traditional favorites like spring rolls and pad thai in addition to more unique offerings, such as “tuk tuk bowls” and poke. Patrons interested in trying the latest addition to the Best of Jackson slate can dine on-site either indoors or outdoors, order takeout, or even try the new restaurant’s catering selection for their next party.
Best Place for Healthy Food, Best Place for Hummus, Best Vegetarian Options: Aladdin Mediterranean Grill
Best Place for Healthy Food Finalists
Cultivation Food Hall / Fit Chef / Mama Nature’s / Nissan Cafe by Nick Wallace Culinary
Best Place for Hummus Finalists
Aplos Simple Mediterranean / Keifer's / Krilakis / Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint
Best Vegetarian Options Finalists
Aplos Simple Mediterranean / BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar / Meals that Heal / Oops All Vegan / Thailicious Restaurant
Best Breakfast, Best Plate Lunch: Primos Cafe
Best Breakfast Finalists
The Bean / Brent's Drugs / Broad Street Baking Company & Cafe / Elvie's / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen
Best Plate Lunch Finalists
Corner Market / Logan Farms Honey Glazed Ham & Market Cafe / Mama Hamil's Southern Soul Food / Martin's Downtown / The Trace Grill
Best Burger, Best Veggie Burger: Stamps Super Burgers
Best Burger Finalists
Brent's Drugs / Bulldog Burger Co. / Burgers Blues Barbecue / Rooster's
Best Veggie Burger Finalists
Aladdin Mediterranean Grill / Babalu / BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar / Burgers Blues Barbecue
Best Fried Chicken, Best Soul Food: Mama Hamil’s Southern Soul Food
Best Fried Chicken Finalists
Fannin Mart Restaurant / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen / Primos Cafe / Rooster’s
Best Soul Food Finalists
Bully's Soul Food Restaurant / Mama’s Kitchen / Nissan Cafe by Nick Wallace Culinary / Primos Cafe / Sweetie Pies
Best Italian Food, Best Place for Dessert: Amerigo Italian Restaurant
Best Italian Food Finalists
BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar / Cerami's Italian Restaurant / Fratesi’s
Best Place for Dessert Finalists
Char Restaurant / Elvie’s / La Brioche / Saltine Restaurant / Urban Foxes
Best Bakery: Campbell’s Bakery
Finalists: Broad Street Baking Company & Cafe / The Prickly Hippie / Sugar Magnolia Takery / Urban Foxes
Best Barbecue: The Pig & Pint
Finalists: Eddie Wright BBQ / Hickory Pit / Jefferson's Grill Restaurant & Catering / Sylvester's Mississippi Style BBQ / Triple A's Barbecue
Best Beer Selection (Restaurant): The Bulldog
Finalists: Barrelhouse / Fondren Public / Martin's Downtown / The Pig & Pint / Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint / Saltine Restaurant
Best Restaurant (Overall): Walker’s Drive-In
Finalists: BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar / Elvie's / Koestler Prime / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen
Best Brunch: The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen
Finalists: BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar / Elvie's / The Iron Horse Grill / Saltine Restaurant
Best Chicken Sandwich: Rooster’s
Finalists: Barrelhouse / Dumbo's on Duling / Elvie’s / Fine & Dandy / Saltine Restaurant
Best Chinese Food: Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese Restaurant
Finalists: Best Wok Chinese Restaurant / Ding How Asian Bistro / Hunan Wok Carry Out / Ichiban Asian Bistro & Go / Wok To Go
Best Crawfish: Crawdad Hole
Finalists: The Back Porch / The Crawfish Hut / Mudbugs / Sal and Phil's / T'Beaux's Crawfish and Catering
Best Doughnuts: Donut Palace
Finalists: Campbell’s Bakery / District Donuts. Sliders. Brew. / Monroe's Donuts & Bakery / Pillow Donuts / The Prickly Hippie
Best Food Truck/Mobile Vendor: One Guy Steak and Chicken
Finalists: Crooked Letter Kitchen / Eddie Wright BBQ / Green Ghost Tacos / Oops All Vegan
Best French Fries: Aplos Simple Mediterranean
Finalists: Aladdin Mediterranean Grill / Crooked Letter Kitchen / Elvie’s / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen / Rooster's / Saltine Restaurant
Best Greek/Mediterranean Food: Keifer’s
Finalists: Aladdin Mediterranean Grill / Aplos Simple Mediterranean / Kismet's Restaurant / Krilakis / Vasilios Greek Cuisine / YiaYia's Greek Kitchen / Zeek'z House of Gyros
Best Gumbo: Gumbo Girl
Finalists: Char Restaurant / Fat Tuesday's / Gumbo Pot / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen / Saltine Restaurant
Best Margarita: Babalu
Finalists: Green Ghost Tacos / Margaritas / Picante's Grill / Santa Fe Grill & Bar / Sombra Mexican Kitchen
Best Mexican/Latin Food: Green Ghost Tacos
Finalists: Babalu / Cinco De Mayo / El Charro / La Cazuela / Picante's Grill
Best New Restaurant: Tuk Tuk Boom
Finalists: Bulldog Burger Burgers / Blues Barbecue (Brandon) / Dogmud Tavern / Hattie's Chicken & Waffles / Kenova Smokehouse / Nissan Cafe by Nick Wallace Culinary
Best Outdoor Dining: Sal and Mookie’s New York Pizza and Ice Cream Joint
Finalists: Babalu / Elvie’s / Keifer's / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen / Saltine Restaurant
Best Pizza: The Pizza Shack
Finalists: Aplos Simple Mediterranean / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen / Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint / Soulshine Pizza Factory
Best Place for Coffee: Cups Espresso Cafe
Finalists: The Bean / Coffee Prose / Mocha Mugs / Native Coffee Co. / Urban Foxes
Best Sandwich Place: Basil’s
Finalists: Beagle Bagel / Broad Street Baking Company & Cafe / Crazy Cat Eat Up / Frisco Deli / Room Service
Best Seafood: Saltine Restaurant
Finalists: CAET / Elvie's / Sal & Phil’s / Walker's Drive-In
Best Steak: Koestler Prime
Finalists: Char Restaurant / Ely's Restaurant & Bar / Kathryn's / Tico's Steak House / Walker's Drive-In / Wynndale Steakhouse & Restaurant
Best Sushi/Japanese Food: Ichiban Hibachi and Sushi
Finalists: EDO Japanese Restaurant / Little Tokyo / Sakura Bana / Sushi Village
Best Thai Food: Thai Time - Thai and Sushi Restaurant
Finalists: Fusion Japanese & Thai Cuisine / Thai Tasty / Thailicious Restaurant / Tuk Tuk Boom
Best Wine List or Wine Selection (Restaurant): CAET
Finalists: BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar / Char Restaurant / Elvie’s / Koestler Prime / The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen
For a full list of winners and finalists for all sections, visit 2022.bestofjackson.com.