The Sun Herald staff’s must-try dishes from across the Mississippi Coast

The staff of the Sun Herald has hundreds of years of experience covering South Mississippi and even more experience dining across South Mississippi.

We’re not saying these are necessarily the best meals you can find on the Coast, but they are our favorites. Enjoy!

Casino buffets

Because my family, visitors and Sun Herald readers like casino buffets, I tend to visit and write about them often. We don’t have one favorite, but a favorite feature at each buffet. The breakfast buffet at the Beau Rivage has so many choices and the crème brûlée really impresses. Treasure Bay always has crab legs for lunch and dinner and free lobster some nights, too. Palace Casino’s wok-to-order and fried clams are something you don’t find much in South Mississippi. Island View has big, tasty shrimp. Hollywood and Boomtown put out lots of desserts, including their peanut butter pie. Silver Slipper is a drive from our house, but the scenery and the freshness of the food on the buffet make it worth the trip. Hard Rock Casino puts out a buffet for special occasions, featuring seasonal favorites and a view out to Deer Island. — Mary Perez

Shrimp and grits & Southern cooking

I’ve sampled the shrimp and grits at numerous Coast restaurants. My favorite version is served by Half Shell Oyster House. The cheddar cheese grit cakes and Gulf shrimp are smothered in a scrumptious bacon cream sauce topped with Parmesan, chopped bacon, and green onions. I’m always willing to change my mind and often try shrimp and grits when I find them on a menu, but Half Shell remains my go-to for this Southern favorite. And Audrey’s Southern Kitchen in Gulfport can’t be beat for a Southern meal like the ones my grandmother used to make. Her fried chicken and vegetables are always delicious, with many other items served up cafeteria-style in what was once a school cafeteria. Audrey has moved to West Gulfport and I’m over in Biloxi, but I just have to take a long lunch break now and then for one of her meals. And dessert is a must! —Anita Lee

Wings & a hidden gem

I sound like a broken record as often as I mention it, but the meal I’ve had more than any other on the Coast is a six-piece wings cooked naked and rubbed in Cajun Country from Big Roosta’s BBQ in Gulfport. These are the best wings down here. Argue with a wall, not me. I am extending my range with my runner-up, but I haven’t had a better sandwich in Mississippi than the Evil Twin at T-Bones Records Shop in Hattiesburg. I’ve been gatekeeping this one, so consider yourself lucky. —Scott Watkins

Grilled blackened shrimp tacos

These tacos come from Sea Level, a tiny blue truck in the Pass Christian Harbor. They’re simple — just shrimp, tortillas, pico de gallo and sauce. They’re also less than $5. All of which is why they are the easiest, best summer lunch on the Mississippi Coast. —Martha Sanchez

Crab rangoon oysters & a po’boy

The crab rangoon oysters at Evergreen’s in Ocean Springs are to die for. I love crab. I love oysters. I love sweet and spicy things. Put those three things together, on possibly the biggest oysters I’ve ever eaten, and I’m in heaven. And speaking of heaven, there are incredible restaurants across the Coast that have been in business for decades. There are award-winning eateries nearly everywhere you look. There are dining spots with awe-inspiring views. And yet here I am, extolling the virtues of the shrimp-and-oyster po’boy at … a gas station. How can Fayard’s in Ocean Springs have a meal so good? When did I become a man who looks forward to such a meal? All I know is now I’m going to be stopping there on my way home after writing this. And my wife will be happy. —Tim Thorsen

Enchiladas Bandera

At El Rincon in D’Iberville, they make their own tortillas, have a great selection on the menu, and the atmosphere and service are good. My favorite dish is the Enchiladas Bandera, a combination dinner that has one beef, one chicken, and one cheese enchilada slathered in a red sauce, white cheese, and a spicy green salsa. I usually get a side order of grilled, diced jalapenos to spice up the dish even more. I highly recommend it. — Margaret Baker

Specialty bagel & Sisters of the Sea

I have two favorite meals from my 30-plus years on the Coast. The first is the lox and bagel sandwich from Lil Market Deli & Bagelry in Ocean Springs. I am in heaven every time I have it. My second favorite meal is the Sisters of Sea entree at Biloxi’s Mary Mahoney’s, which is crabmeat au gratin paired with shrimp au gratin. That’s my standard order at Mahoney’s. I’m sure they have other good stuff there, but Sisters of the Sea is just too good to find out. — Blake Kaplan

Pho

I think when asked about what the best Mississippi Coast meal is, one might expect to get something like crawfish, po’boys or even barbecue as an answer, but I think the best meal on the Mississippi Coast is an underrated one — pho. The fact that we have so many amazing Vietnamese restaurants here on the Mississippi Coast is really a blessing not enough people take advantage of. When I lived in Ohio, it was rare to have one Vietnamese restaurant, let alone the several we have here, which I think speaks to the strength of our Vietnamese community. Some of my favorite places for pho are Vung Tau in Biloxi, Kien Giang in D’Iberville and Fresh Bistro also in D’Iberville. I always order either rare beef pho or brisket pho, depending on the restaurant. — Hannah Ruhoff

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.