Our Top Restaurants of 2023

Our New Restaurants 2024 issue hits the stands this week, and we couldn’t be more excited to guide you through our tried and true, new and noteworthy, and absolute favorite restaurants from each state in the South. From Japanese comfort food to elevated African fusion, find our top restaurants of 2023 here and the must-order menu items at each. For the full picture of our top bites, grab the latest off the newsstand and subscribe to The Local Palate.

The Top Restaurants from Each State

Maryland | Ammoora

Ammoora is a Baltimore fine-dining restaurant showcasing foods from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and other regions in the Levant.

Virgina | Joon

The never-ending parade of food and the relaxed service at Joon work in lockstep to establish a familial tone at this Virginia restaurant.

Washington DC | Bronze

Inspired by afrofuturism and a fictional character called Alonzo Bronze’s 700 year journey, Bronze is an experience unlike any other.

Tennessee | Kisser

Kisser is a 40-seat Japanese comfort food restaurant in East Nashville specializing in onigiri, chicken katsu, and spicy miso bowls.

Kentucky | Ensō

Ensō draws inspiration from traditional Japanese cuisine with an infusion of Southern ingredients in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood.

West Virginia | Eureka Café

With vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, Eureka Café aims to cater to everyone, reflecting its community-centric roots.

Louisiana | MaMou

MaMou is a New Orleans gem, drawing fine-dining enthusiasts and wine devotees alike to this new bastion of modern French cuisine.

Arkansas | Flora Jean’s

Flora Jean’s offers wellness-centered, plant-focused, nutrient-dense dining in a quaint setting in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Texas | Leche de Tigre

The Oliva brothers opened Leche de Tigre in San Antonio hoping to provide the community with authentic, Peruvian cebiche and pisco.

Mississippi | Eudora’s Mississippi Brasserie

Eudora’s Mississippi Brasserie opened in 2023 offering a modern interpretation of a classic French-style restaurant with Mississippi flavor.

Florida | Tâm Tâm

Tâm Tâm’s menu celebrates quán nhậu, a term for places in Vietnam where people go to drink and eat, located in Miami, Florida.

Alabama | Frenchie’s

Frenchie’s is bringing Montgomery its first French-focused eatery with French classics and nods to Deep South favorites like mac et cheese.

South Carolina | Sum Bar

Sum Bar is Greenville’s first dim sum restaurant with a baijiu bar fills a niche in the city’s growing culinary scene.

North Carolina | Ekhaya

Ekhaya is an elevated African-fusion dining experience in Durham, North Carolina with a curated menu that encompasses flavors from a variety of African countries.

Georgia | Verdure Kitchen

Flavors of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Ghana align at Verdure Kitchen in Atlanta, serving dishes and drinks brimming with vibrant color.

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