We have been talking about my favorite places to eat., so, obviously, this is a very subjective story. I have been writing about food in the South for ten years, and I have logged a lot of miles, and hundreds of restaurants. I may not be “an authority,” but I do have a lot of experience.
The idea here is to tell you about a few places you may not have visited, and every place I list I have found to be very good. This week we are going to talk about ethnic restaurants, yes, I know that covers a lot of ground, but it is a valid and exciting category.
Let’s start with Nanna J’s Soulful Kitchen in Ocean Springs. Whether you want to call this wonderful place soul food or country cooking, it doesn’t really matter. The food is made with a lot of love, it is hearty, very traditional, and absolutely delicious. Check out the catfish platter, pork chops, wings, and a whole lot more. Absolutely everything I have had here has been perfect.
Henry’s Café and Bakery in D’Iberville is my favorite Vietnamese place on the Coast, and that is a difficult call to make, considering how many good Vietnamese places there are. Of course, the pho, the national dish of Vietnam is stellar, made from scratch, and perhaps the best comfort food in the world. No kidding. The beef stew is extremely good, and of course, the Bánh mì, a Vietnamese style sandwich, heavily influenced by the French, are wonderful.
Mr. Greek in Biloxi is on my list as well. Great food, cranky chef, and good prices. I usually get the gyro, and it is very good. This is a place to explore the menu, but don’t ignore the classics, like the Greek salad, stuffed pork loin, and lamb.
La Norteña is a Mexican place in Biloxi, not far from where I live. It is authentic Mexican, not Tex-Mex, and so when you walk in and see grandma cooking, you know it is going to be very, very good. The tacos are great, but you have got to try the loco burrito. It is huge and delicious. In the summertime, they have fresh fruit juices that are delicious.
R& C Restaurant is a Korean place that is wonderful. Make sure to make friends when you visit here, eat family style, that way to get to taste a little bit of everything. Absolutely love all of the kimchi, especially the cucumber. This is another place to explore, especially if you are like me, and don’t know a lot about Korean food. Ask the server what the top three selling dishes are, it’s an easy way to find the good stuff.
Sophi’s Mediterranean Café is the last one we will talk about today. It is on Pass Road in Biloxi and is another favorite of mine. Check out the Falafel Pita Plate, Gyro Lamb, and Beef Plate and the grilled chicken gyro. I think you will like almost anything on the menu.
There are many more ethnic places out there that I am sure you will enjoy, but these six are my favorites. Get out there and explore a little bit, the Coast has a rich culinary scene.
