Kathryn A.

If you visit Jackson and don't eat at Hunter's, then you're missing something special. Miss Hunter makes the best fried chicken I have ever eaten in my life. The meat is so fresh, and so tender, and so savory, and the fried and breaded skin is so good that even someone who usually thinks fried chicken skin is gross (such as myself) will gobble it up and ask for more. The fried catfish is also delicious and so expertly prepared that you can crunch up the bones, fins, and tail like potato chips. I know this sounds savage, but if you embrace it you're in for a treat. The vegetable side dishes aren't vegetarian (they're cooked with bacon and pork fat), but don't let that deter you from digging into the best black eyed peas, turnip greens, collard greens, fried okra, and scalloped potatoes you will ever encounter in this world or the next. The cornbread is good, the hushpuppies are good, and the donuts (when they have them) are excellent. Miss Hunter's cooking is what all other soul food aspires to be. The only problem with eating here is that you will forever after be unable to eat self-proclaimed Southern food with knowing just how far it falls short of what it's supposed to taste like. These guys are super-busy on Sunday after church lets out, so heads up. If you don't want to eat in, the take-out is great. They'll also prepare large orders (like for a wake or for a family Thanksgiving meal) in advance if you call ahead. The to-go cups for sweet ice tea are enormous and probably shouldn't be placed in the hands of small children unless you're prepared to deal with the ensuing sugar high.