Craving Southern food?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Southern restaurants around Cleveland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to find brisket, hush puppies, pulled pork and more.
1. Soho Chicken + Whiskey
Topping the list is Soho Chicken + Whiskey, which is serving comfort food with a Southern twist. Located at 1889 W. 25th St. in Ohio City, this spot is the highest rated Southern restaurant in Cleveland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 347 reviews on Yelp.
As the name suggests, chicken takes center stage here with a variety of dinners like the Sunrise with brined, breaded and fried chicken served with fried rice, bacon, sausage, sweet potatoes and a sunny-side egg. The menu also includes Southern staples like hush puppies, shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes.
2. Mabel's BBQ
Downtown's Mabel's BBQ, which comes courtesy of celebrity chef Michael Symon, is located at 2050 E. Fourth St. Yelpers give the barbecue-heavy bar and restaurant four stars out of 645 reviews.
The menu features house-smoked meats that are raised humanely with no antibiotics or hormones, per the restaurant's website. Expect to find pork, lamb and beef ribs along with sandwiches, pig ears, greens and more.
3. Boney Fingers BBQ
Also downtown is Boney Fingers BBQ, another much-loved go-to with five stars out of 44 Yelp reviews.
This eatery's signature meats are pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken and baby back ribs, all smoked for 16 hours. There are also pork belly tacos, Polish sausage, barbecue baked beans and cornbread. Head over to 401 Euclid Ave. to try it for yourself.
4. Hatfield's Goode Grub
Over in Kamm's Corners, check out Hatfield's Goode Grub, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 70 reviews on Yelp.
Chef Ken Hatfield serves up Southern comfort food, like Brother Andy's Pulled Pork Dinner with coleslaw, potato salad and corn fritters, along with brisket and corned beef dinners, brown sugar bacon mac and cheese and more. You can find the Southern spot at 16700 Lorain Ave. The business also operates a food truck and an express eatery downtown.
5. XYZ The Tavern
And then there's XYZ the Tavern, a Detroit Shoreway favorite with four stars out of 194 reviews.
Expect to find smoked brisket, pulled pork and chicken platters, served with fries, coleslaw and XYZ's original barbecue sauce. Stop by 6419 Detroit Ave. to hit up the New American spot, which offers barbecue and pizza, next time the urge strikes.
