Jackson, Mississippi is deservedly famous for its wide variety of local, family-owned restaurants. The city’s culinary legacy, a unique blend of cultural influences, is a large reason Jackson earned the nickname “city with soul.”
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Local hot spots from Washington Addition and Farish Street to Midtown and Fondren provide more than enough choice for every palate. Simply put, if one is in search of authentic southern fare in Jackson, Miss., it isn’t hard to find.

That said, however, County Line road and I-55 is certainly not the place most people would think to look. The area is packed full of strip center shops and national chain restaurants, which—along with the shopping mall—draw enough of a daily crowd to make the traffic nearly unbearable by Jackson standards.

So it may come as a surprise to learn that one of the city’s best hidden gems lies nestled amongst the trees just off of the interstate on the west side of this busy intersection as you approach Tougaloo College.

​If you’re looking for the coolest location for a smokehouse restaurant, Chimneyville Smokehouse probably has it. The building, across from the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, used to be the old train depot, and it still retains a lot of its rustic charm and ambiance. Chimneyville’s checkered tablecloths, framed vinyl records, and old Jackson memorabilia fit the space so well one could easily assume the restaurant had always been in this location.

​Surprisingly, that’s not the case. Chimneyville actually got its start over 20 years ago as a humble 12×40 trailer with a single serving window and a few outdoor folding tables. While they’ve seamlessly adapted to their upgraded location, they’ve kept in touch with their roots: their mobile smoker and grill are popular accessories for parties and gatherings all over the Jackson area.