What Restaurants Actually Serve The Best Cornbread: 9 Chains To Order From

Cornbread is a beloved Southern staple that goes with just about everything, from barbecued meats to saucy chilis, crispy fried chicken, and even just a cold glass of milk. At its essence, it's a simple dish that only requires a few ingredients like cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and butter. Depending on where you go, you might find versions that are sweetened with sugar or cooked in a cast-iron skillet to give it a crispy crust. While many argue that the best cornbread is homemade, there are a few chain restaurants that are actually crushing this tasty side dish.

Cornbread is a popular offering at chain restaurants that specialize in Southern dishes like barbecue and soul food. That's because a slice of cornbread is perfect for sopping up sauces and balancing out smoky, spicy, or tangy flavors, but not all cornbread is created equal. Some versions end up dry, bland, or forgettable. The restaurants that get it right go above and beyond by creating cornbread that is moist and ultra-flavorful, whether they go with the Southern, savory style, or embrace the sweeter, cake-like versions favored up North.

To narrow down the chain restaurants that serve the absolute best cornbread, we pored over countless customer reviews to see which spots consistently get called out for serving top-notch versions (you can find more details about our methodology at the end of the article). While taste is always subjective, it was easy to see that there were a few clear winners among the many contenders. These are the chains serving stellar cornbread that diners can't stop raving about.

If you're obsessed with barbecue, then there's a good chance you've heard of Rodney Scott. He learned the art of whole hog barbecue at a young age working at his family's barbecue joint in Hemingway, South Carolina. He eventually took over the restaurant, and went on to open his own spot called Rodney Scott's BBQ in Charleston in 2016. Since then, Scott has received a prestigious James Beard Award and been featured on numerous television shows. The restaurant has also expanded to multiple locations in South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.

There's no denying that the Carolina-style pork is the star at Rodney Scott's restaurants. You can get it piled into a sandwich or on a plate along with two classic sides and cornbread. While you might think that the cornbread sounds like somewhat of an afterthought compared to sides like mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans, many say that's not actually the case. As one Google reviewer said, "The cornbread alone is worth a visit."

Rodney Scott's cornbread is based on a recipe that was passed down to him by his grandmother. He told It's a Southern Thing that he makes it a little bit sweet because that's how he grew up eating it and how he likes it. Reviewers comment on how dense and tender the cornbread is and how it's so good that you don't even need butter. However, many say it goes down a treat with a drizzle of Scott's honey butter.

Cornbread Farm to Soul is a small fast-casual chain with locations in New York and New Jersey that focus on soul food dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. The menus feature enticing eats like fried chicken and fish, oxtail, baked turkey wings, and barbecue pork ribs. Most dishes come with cornbread, and you can also order it on its own in servings of two, six, or 12 pieces. With cornbread right in the name, you would hope that the chain would make a killer version, and according to many diners, it truly does.

You won't find any box mixes at Cornbread Farm to Soul's restaurants. Instead, the cooks make everything from scratch in-house, including the cornbread. The batter gets poured into special cast-iron pans that are sectioned into wedges, so when it comes out of the oven, you get thick, golden slices that have a bit of crust on the outside and are soft inside. It's also slightly sweet and cake-like, which is great for those who prefer Northern-style cornbread.

Most diners seem to agree that Cornbread Farm to Soul definitely lives up to its name. As one Google reviewer said, "The cornbread itself is a standout (as it should be): warm, buttery, and just the right balance of sweet and savory." Others comment on how moist it is, and some say it's on par with versions their mothers and grandmothers make. Some even say that it's the best cornbread they've ever had.

Founded in South Beach, Miami, in 2011, Yardbird is a Southern-style chain that now has seven locations in the United States and one in Singapore. The menus vary slightly between locations, but you can expect staples like the chain's famous fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and lobster mac and cheese. Before you tuck into those mains though, many diners recommend starting with the skillet cornbread. It's even managed to convert diners who aren't typically fans of cornbread, which is a testament to just how good it is.

Yardbird is one of several restaurants that elevates cornbread with creative ingredients like sharp cheddar, bacon, and jalapeños. The mixture gets cooked in a cast-iron skillet, and it's topped with a healthy spoonful of honey butter right when it comes out of the oven. This allows the butter to melt directly into the hot cornbread. With every bite, you get that luscious sweet butter, melted cheddar for tang, and a salty, spicy kick from the bacon and chiles.

To say that diners love Yardbird's cornbread would be an understatement. Many gush about how it comes out piping hot and offers a range of tasty flavors. As one Google reviewer said, "It was a harmonious blend of sweet and savory, with the subtle heat of jalapeños and the sweetness of corn kernels adding depth and texture." Some say they'd be happy to eat it as a meal on its own.

Moe's Original BBQ was created in 1988 by three friends who met at the University of Alabama and shared a love of barbecue. Mike Fernandez, Ben Gilbert, and Jeff Kennedy studied the best way to smoke meats using different woods and how to create sauces that would bring out the best in the meats. Today, there are over 50 locations across multiple states where you can grab Moe's Alabama-style barbecue dishes like succulent pulled pork, St. Louis-style spare ribs, and smoked chicken wings. Every platter comes with a serving of Moe's signature cornbread.

Moe's is another spot that uses flavorful add-ins to amp up its cornbread. The batter features onions and jalapeños, as well as whole milk and eggs. That gets poured into a pan that's generously coated in cooking spray, and then it's baked until golden. The final step is to cut the cornbread into slices, brush those slices with butter, and then griddle them to bring out the sweetness and add a crunchy texture. It may not be conventional, but many say that's what makes it great.

Some of the adjectives that people use to describe the cornbread at Moe's include "on-point," "chef's kiss" and "fire." People love that it's slightly sweet, which helps to offset some of the salty, smoky flavors of the meat, and that it's grilled, but manages to stay moist. One Yelp reviewer said the corn bread was "to-die-for," so much so that they debated asking for a whole pan to take home with them.

With just 10 locations in Minnesota, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Illinois, Redstone American Grill is on the smaller side compared to many other chains, but it goes big on flavor. The menu is all about upscale comfort food. Think creative flatbreads, vibrant salads, succulent steaks, and indulgent pastas. If you want to start your meal off on a high note, Redstone's cornbread gets overwhelmingly great reviews.

Like many restaurants, Redstone cooks its cornbread in a cast-iron skillet. That skillet helps to give the bread a beautiful crust on the outside while distributing the heat evenly throughout the center. This ensures that it's cooked through, but not dried out. In addition, the skillet helps keep the cornbread warm while it's on your table. You can order an entire skillet of cornbread to share at the table or opt to have it by the wedge.

"Probably the best cornbread I have ever had," said one Yelp reviewer of Redstone's rendition of the dish. "Warm and flavorful with a touch of sweetness that, when eaten with butter, got raves from everyone at the table." Diners also comment on the nice textural contrast between the crispy outside and cake-like interior and how well the house maple butter adds richness and extra flavor to the dish. The generous portion size is also much appreciated. Numerous diners say that the cornbread is an absolute must for any visit to Redstone.

Andy Husbands has dedicated most of his life to live-fire cooking. He spent over 20 years traveling the country to compete in barbecue competitions, he has authored numerous barbecue cookbooks, and he has appeared on several television shows devoted to cooking over flames. The Smoke Shop BBQ is his restaurant chain where he offers up a range of regional barbecue styles. You can sample tasty eats like chicken wings, pulled pork, Texas-style brisket, and burnt ends with an array of sides like pit beans and pimento mac and cheese. One side that diners say you shouldn't sleep on is the cornbread, which a reviewer claimed is "like crack."

While many of the dishes on the menu at The Smoke Shop BBQ are truly Southern, the cornbread pays homage to the style you find more often in New England, meaning it's slightly sweet and cakey. Sugar goes into the batter mix, along with cornmeal, flour, eggs, milk, buttermilk, and melted butter. The mixture gets baked in a pan, and then the warm cornbread is sliced into squares and topped with sea salt honey butter.

It's the combinations of sweet, salty, and buttery flavors that makes The Smoke Shop's cornbread stand out from its competitors. Diners also love the large portions and texture. One Google reviewer said, "The cornbread was much closer to corn cake, which I loved. Dense and delicious." Even folks from the South have conceded that it's pretty darn delicious. For example, a Google reviewer from Georgia said, "You can't get no cornbread better than that!!"

It's all about barbecue, beers, and fun cocktails at Smokey Bones, a casual-dining chain with over 50 locations across the United States. The chain was founded in 1999 by Darden Restaurants Inc. and is now a part of FAT Brands (which is an acronym for fresh, authentic, and tasty). Menu offerings include meats that are smoked and grilled in-house like baby back ribs, barbecue chicken, and Texas-style brisket. There are also tons of sides to go with the barbecued meats, including buttery cornbread that diners can't get enough of.

Smokey Bones used to serve its cornbread in a skillet, which people absolutely loved. However, the chain switched up the style a bit and now you get two pieces of cornbread per order. What hasn't changed is the addictively good pecan butter that comes with it. According to reviews, many people don't seem to mind the different format — the cornbread is still soft, warm, and just sweet enough to complement the smoky meats. Pair that with the nutty, slightly caramelized pecan butter, and it's easy yo see why it's still a fan favorite.

Several diners point out that Smokey Bones gets the texture of the cornbread just right, stating that its pleasantly soft and moist. It's great on its own, but many say that it's the pecan butter that makes it. The butter adds richness and a bit of crunch, which takes the cornbread to the next level. One Google reviewer summed it succinctly, calling it "fluffy, golden, and buttery." They said, "I'd fight a bear for another bite ... but luckily, I can just order more."

Dave Anderson developed a passion for barbecue at a young age after his father introduced him to Southern-style slow-smoked spare ribs. The younger Anderson made it his mission to uncover the secrets of great barbecue, so when he got older, he traveled the country learning the craft. In 1994, he opened the first Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que in Hayward, Wisconsin and it was an instant success. Despite the fact that there are now over 100 locations across the country, the chain still makes its food from scratch and sticks to its mantra of cooking low and slow.

Most people go to Famous Dave's for the barbecued meats like the St. Louis-style spare ribs, smoked pork, and roast chicken. However, you may just find that the cornbread muffins are what keep you coming back for more. In fact, people love them so much that Famous Dave's made box mixes of its cornbread that you can buy in several big box stores like Walmart and Costco. Both the cornbread muffins served in the restaurants and the box mixes get great reviews.

It's not uncommon to see reviews claiming Famous Dave's cornbread muffins were the best part of the meal. Take for example, one Google reviewer who said, "Let me tell you, those cornbread muffins were the real stars: soft, sweet, and with just a touch of heat." Diners say they have just the right amount of sweetness without going overboard and that they perfectly complement the meats.

When John Rivers offered to host a barbecue fundraiser for a local family in need, he never imagined that the event would lead to him establishing a wildly successful Florida barbecue chain. However, his Texas-style brisket was such a hit that it prompted him to open the first 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park in 2009. Now there are numerous locations scattered across the state with more in the works. The smoked meats are the main draw, but many say the Texas cornbread is also worth a visit on its own.

Unlike the sugary, cake-like versions you'll find at some chains, 4 Rivers' Texas Cornbread is savory with a bold, Southern twist. It's made the traditional way, but amped up with cheddar cheese and jalapeños, which add richness and just the right amount of heat. The result is a tender, flavorful square that pairs perfectly with the chain's smoky brisket or pulled pork. Many fans say it's the best cornbread they've ever tasted.

While purists might argue that traditional cornbread doesn't need add-ins like cheese or jalapeños, diners at 4 Rivers tend to disagree. Many love the kick of heat that the chiles give and the consistency of the cheesy cornbread. One Google reviewer said, "The jalapeño cornbread was a big hit, dense yet still fluffy with the hint of jalapeño flavor coming through. It does have actual jalapeño slices in certain pieces." The only complaint that people have is that they wish the cornbread came with every meal.

To determine which chain restaurants serve the best cornbread in the country, we analyzed Yelp and Google reviews, along with customer comments on platforms like Reddit and TripAdvisor. We focused on chains that have multiple locations and consistent menu offerings.

The main criteria we looked at was great flavor, whether that was sweet, savory, or spicy. Texture, portion size, and how well the cornbread paired with other dishes on the menu were also key factors. Restaurants that consistently earned praise for their cornbread and had loyal followings across multiple locations made the final list.