Lydia Waters
The South is known for its hearty, comforting cuisine. Many University of Mississippi students grow up on home-cooked meals, whether that be Southern food, other American cuisine or dishes from their families’ home countries outside of the United States.
Oxford has a wide range of restaurants to cater to these different palates. Besides traditional Southern-American cuisine, restaurants in town include Japanese joints, an Indian eatery, Mexican mainstays, Greek grills and more.
Mexican cuisine, for example, has taken over the town. There are 20 Mexican restaurants in Oxford. Some of these, such as El Agave and El Charro Cocina and Cantina are sit-down options, while others, like food truck El Colibri and The Taco Shop, serve up street-style tacos.
On the Square, there are dining options abound. For example, Bouré, McEwen’s and City Grocery have an elevated ambiance. Ajax Diner serves Southern fare in a down-home atmosphere, while Proud Larry’s offers casual dining and live music.
“The food culture in Oxford is fun,” Emily Metcalf, a sophomore Arabic and exercise science double major from Jackson, Miss., said. “There’s plenty of options of places to have dinner with friends and walk around the Square or hang out. It’s really good in the social aspect.”
Owner of Maharaja Indian Cuisine Madhu Ankisetty, from India, shared what he believes his restaurant gives to Oxford.
“We bring a rich and diverse culinary experience to the local food scene,” Ankisetty said. “We offer a unique blend of flavors, spices and dishes that enrich the community’s dining options.”
“The college population makes the food scene lean more towards casual dining, fast food, Door Dash and other takeout options,” Brown said.
Although there are plenty of restaurant options throughout Oxford, an important factor to consider is whether they meet all of the dietary requirements of the student and Oxford resident population.
“I’ve noticed there are no nutrition facts for most restaurants,” Metcalf said. “I think that’s pretty much anywhere you go, but it is still a struggle here. Even for some of the health-conscious restaurants, I can’t find them.”
Sophomore international studies and Chinese major Kendall Brown from Ocean Springs, Miss. indicated that some dietary restrictions are accommodated in Oxford.
“The food scene in Oxford caters to me as a vegetarian, especially at Mexican and Asian places because the food lends itself to being less centered around the meat as the focus of the dish,” Brown said. “On the other hand, we don’t really have restaurants that cater to stricter dietary restrictions like allergies or religion.”
Metcalf shared her favorite restaurants in Oxford.
“One of my favorites is Luv Shak,” Metcalf said. “It is pretty hidden but when you find it, they have the best chicken parmesan. It’s a really cool spot. I also love Kabuki because sushi is my favorite food.”
Brown also shared her personal favorite restaurant in Oxford.
“One of my favorite restaurants is Zaap Thai because the tofu they add to their dishes is really nicely cooked, and they have a ton of options that are all super flavorful,” Brown said.
Whether you like a home-cooked meal, a quick bite to eat or food from a different culture, there is a good chance that Oxford has it.
