From Burgoo To Bourbon Balls, These 11 Kentucky Restaurants Serve Up The Best Iconic Bluegrass Dishes
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Sarah McCosham
Author
Kentucky is known far and wide for its amazing cuisine. From hot browns to burgoo stew, fried chicken to bourbon balls, Kentucky is a culinary force to be reckoned with! We searched far and wide to compile the following list of 11 restaurant serving up the best iconic Kentucky dishes. Take a look, and get ready for a culinary tour de force in the Bluegrass State!
Rudy's on the Square, 104 S 5th St, Murray, KY 42071, USA
For the best biscuits and gravy in Kentucky, look no further than Rudy's on the Square. It's of the most popular things on the menu -- and something you absolutely must try. Made from scratch, this savory classic ranks up there with the best of the best, along with the rest of their morning offerings.
The Brown Hotel, 335 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
This is where the humble hot brown all began, and it remains Kentucky's most beloved hot brown to this day. The Brown Hotel is basically Kentucky royalty, and their iconic dish is perfection.
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Wallace Station Deli and Bakery, 3854 Old Frankfort Pike, Versailles, KY 40383, USA
Soup beans are southern staple, and Wallace Station Deli and Bakery does them right! When you have the sniffles or feel like you're "coming down with something," there's no better cure than a hot, steaming bowl of soup beans. They're just what the doctor ordered!
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Moonlite Bar-b-q Inn, 2840 W Parrish Ave, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
Burgoo is a Kentucky favorite; this stew is made with a tasty combination of pork, beef, chicken, corn, carrots, onion, celery, and lima beans. And hungry folks in the Bluegrass know to head to Owensboro when the craving strikes. Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn is known far and wide for its amazing burgoo stew, served with two cornbread muffins and crackers. This is a hug in a bowl!
Freight House, 330 S 3rd St Suite 102, Paducah, KY 42003, USA
Cornbread is a staple here in Kentucky, and The Freight House does it best. Their skillet cornbread is about as perfect as it gets: crispy on the edges, moist and light in the middle, and absolute bliss topped with butter and honey.
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Sanders Cafe, 688 US-25W, Corbin, KY 40701, USA
For the best fried chicken in Kentucky, you'll want to head straight to where it all began: Sanders Cafe! This restaurant is a Bluegrass bucket-list must; visit and indulge in some Original Recipe or Extra Crispy fried chicken, along with the eatery's famous mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and biscuits. Dining where it all started is a true and timeless Kentucky tradition.
Starnes Barbecue, 1008 Joe Clifton Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, USA
If it's finger-lickin' barbecue you're seeking, head on down to Paducha's Starnes Bar-B-Q. This Kentucky institution has long been known for its delicious barbecue and slow-smoked meats, all of which come smothered in its signature, sticky, spicy-sweet sauce.
Freight House, 330 S 3rd St Suite 102, Paducah, KY 42003, USA
The Freight House's Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is a true work of culinary art. Perfectly crispy fried chicken, topped with tangy pickles, smothered with a finger-lickin' sauce and served on a thick slab of toast... it doesn't get any better!
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The Eagle, 1314 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204, USA
The Eagle's mac & cheese is crave-worthy cuisine at its best. Made with five cheeses and topped with garlic breadcrumbs, dig in to a skillet of deliciousness at this Louisville restaurant!
Rebecca Ruth Candy Tours & Museum, 116 E 2nd St, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
Bourbon balls are a Kentucky delicacy, and Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory makes the best in the Bluegrass! This confectioner is best-known for their Bourbon Balls, a Kentucky delicacy invented by Miss Ruth Booe herself in 1938. Today, folks come from far and wide to try this chocolatier's iconic treat: a truffle with a creamy bourbon center (with the kick of real bourbon!), covered in dark chocolate, and topped with a Southern pecan.
Shirley Maes Cafe, South Clay Street, Louisville, KY, USA
Banana pudding is a Kentucky delicacy that's the sweetest ending to a meal. And Shirley Mae's Café does it best. Creamy, smooth, and topped with vanilla wafers, you'll be in a happy food coma after this sweet dessert!
What’s your favorite only-in-Kentucky dish? We’d love to hear about it! And if you have a restaurant you’d like to see featured here on Only In Kentucky, be sure to nominate them and tell us why!
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