Boston, MA
For Southern in Boston, the local food press points to Comfort Kitchen, Hunter's Kitchen and Bar, and Buttermilk & Bourbon - Back Bay. Picks from Boston Magazine, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Boston Magazine. Updated July 2026.
Comfort Kitchen · Dorchester
Housed in a 1912 Upham's Corner building that once served as a streetcar riders' comfort station, this Black-, immigrant-, and woman-owned kitchen traces the flavors of the African diaspora across the Americas and Asia. It runs as a cafe by day and a full-service restaurant with bar by night, with weekend brunch a neighborhood draw.
Hunter's Kitchen and Bar · South Boston
A newer entry to Boston's Southern-inspired scene in South Boston, built out like an Appalachian hunting lodge. Apple butter-accented hushpuppies, family-style slabs of brisket, and fried chicken with cheddar waffles and habanero-lavender-honey headline a menu backed by a serious cocktail list.
Buttermilk & Bourbon - Back Bay
Chef Jason Santos takes New Orleans-inspired cooking in colorful directions here, with rum-and-fruit Hurricanes on draft and fried chicken served Nashville-hot or with Alabama-style white barbecue sauce. Honey-glazed biscuits with pimento cheese spread are the sleeper hit, at the Back Bay flagship.
Bootleg Special Kitchen & Bar · South End
A South End spot built around Cajun-style seafood boils, bowls of lobster, shrimp, and spicy sausage slathered in garlic butter and meant to be shared by hand. Southern-leaning brunch dishes, including bananas foster souffle pancakes and crab avocado toast, round out a menu built for groups.
Highland Kitchen · Somerville
A high-energy Somerville favorite where Southern dishes sit alongside region-agnostic comfort food. Blackened catfish po' boys, spicy jambalaya with duck confit, and pulled pork sandwiches finished with North Carolina-style vinegar sauce are the draw, backed by strong classic cocktails and a late-night crowd that keeps the room humming.
What’s your #1 Southern in Boston?
Rank your top five and be the first to set Boston's local ranking.