Shrimp and grits is the ultimate Southern comfort food. Tender shrimp simmered in a rich, creamy sauce served over creamy grits is a match made in heaven. This classic duo has become popular across America, but it’s not always easy to find great shrimp and grits nearby.
This guide will help you locate the best shrimp and grits restaurants and takeout options closest to you. Keep reading to learn where you can get mouthwatering shrimp and grits prepared just right in your area.
What Makes for Great Shrimp and Grits?
Before diving into where to find it, here are some tips on what sets apart high-quality shrimp and grits
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Flavorful Sauce – A great sauce ties everything together. Look for sauces with depth from ingredients like Tasso ham, tomato Cajun spices garlic, and cream.
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Perfectly Cooked Shrimp – The shrimp should be juicy and tender, not rubbery. They should soak up flavor from the sauce.
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Creamy Grits – The grits should be thick and creamy but not pasty. Well-cooked stone ground grits are ideal.
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Balance of Shrimp to Grits – There should be a good amount of shrimp proportional to the grits.
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Fresh Ingredients – Real butter, quality cheese, fresh shrimp make a difference.
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Cajun Flair – Authentic New Orleans-style shrimp and grits have bold Cajun seasoning.
Once you know what to look for, finding great shrimp and grits nearby is easy.
Check Local Southern and Cajun Restaurants
Restaurants specializing in Southern cooking and Cajun cuisines are very likely to serve shrimp and grits. Check menus of these types of local restaurants to see if they offer it.
Some restaurant categories where shrimp and grits may be featured include:
- Southern homestyle restaurants
- Cajun seafood restaurants
- Upscale Southern restaurants and brasseries
- New American restaurants with Southern influences
- Farm-to-table restaurants with grits on the menu
- Regional seafood restaurants along the Gulf Coast or East Coast
- Southern-inspired gastropubs and bistros
- Restaurants with “Low Country cuisine”
- Soul food restaurants and diners
If you see cheese grits, garlic grits, or just plain grits on a menu, chances are you can request them to add shrimp for an appetizer, entrée, or side dish substitution.
Search Restaurant Review Sites
Reading reviews is a fast way to find restaurants reputed to make amazing shrimp and grits. Search your city or town on sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google Maps, and look for top rated restaurants specifically mentioned for shrimp and grits.
Pay attention to reviews that describe:
- Rich, flavorful sauce
- Quality of the shrimp
- Creamy, well-cooked grits
- Generous portion sizes
- How the dish compares to others locally
User photos can also help you spot plump shrimp, gooey cheese, billowing grits, and thick sauce. Choose places with consistent 4-5 star ratings.
Check Menus Online for Shrimp and Grits
Don’t just rely on reviews. Restaurants frequently update menus, so go straight to the source. A quick online menu scan can reveal if a restaurant serves shrimp and grits.
Search “[city name] menus” to find sites compiling local restaurant menus you can browse. Or check individual restaurant websites and social media where many post their latest menu.
If shrimp and grits aren’t listed, you can still call and ask if it’s available as an off-menu special. Some places will prepare it upon request.
Look for Takeout and Delivery Options
Can’t dine in? No problem finding shrimp and grits. Expand your search to include takeout and delivery options.
Search sites like UberEats, DoorDash and GrubHub for “shrimp and grits near me.” Filter by restaurants offering takeout and delivery in your area.
Southern and Cajun spots are still good bets for quality takeout shrimp and grits. But diners, comfort food restaurants and even some fast casual chains like Waffle House also have takeout shrimp and grits.
Track Down Food Trucks and Pop-Ups
Keep an eye out for traveling food trucks and temporary restaurant pop-ups serving shrimp and grits.
Follow local food trucks on social media to see if their changing menus list shrimp and grits. Often they’ll promote specials like “Shrimp and Grits Friday.”
Also check sites like Off the Grid and Street Food Finder for schedules of outdoor food truck events where you can browse and sample shrimp and grits from multiple vendors.
Temporary restaurant pop-ups in your area are also worth monitoring. They may offer unique shrimp and grits dishes for a limited time.
Make It at Home
When all else fails and you have a shrimp and grits craving, you can always make it at home!
Look for easy instant pot or slow cooker recipes for quick weeknight shrimp and grits. Or go classic with this Traditional Shrimp and Grits Recipe on Food Network.
Just cook up some quick grits, season shrimp in Cajun spices, simmer in a garlic cream sauce, and enjoy restaurant-quality shrimp and grits in the comfort of home.
Find the Best Shrimp and Grits Around the Country
Craving an outstanding shrimp and grits experience? Here are some top places to get amazing shrimp and grits in major cities from coast to coast:
New Orleans, LA
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Commander’s Palace – A New Orleans institution since 1880. Their shrimp and grits come with New Orleans barbecue shrimp sauce.
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Brennan’s – Elegant Creole restaurant open since 1946 serving their signature “Breakfast Shrimp & Grits.”
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SoBou – Trendy spot with Mississippi Gulf shrimp over gooey aged cheddar grits.
Charleston, SC
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Husk – Chef Sean Brock’s shrimp and grits with tomatoes, bacon and roasted mushrooms is a signature dish.
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167 Raw – Creative shrimp and organic grits bowls in many flavor combos like chorizo and manchego cheese.
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Poogan’s Smokehouse – Smoked Gouda cheese grits topped with Creole shrimp and andouille sausage.
Nashville, TN
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Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant– A Nashville favorite with jumbo shrimp over cheesy grits with tomato gravy.
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Henrietta Red – Elevated shrimp and Anson Mills grits meet with smoky pork, tomatoes and herbs.
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Margot Cafe & Bar – Shrimp with Benton’s country ham and redeye gravy over goat cheese grits.
Washington, DC
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Pearl Dive Oyster Palace – Spicy shrimp over creamy cheddar grits with scallions.
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The Hamilton – Luxe restaurant featuring jumbo spot prawns and mascarpone stone-ground grits.
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The Pig – Smoked shrimp with Roasted pork and aged cheddar stone-ground grits.
Chicago, IL
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Yolk – Cajun shrimp and cheese grits served for brunch with creole tomato sauce.
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The Hampton Social – Brunch shrimp and grits in a berry bourbon sauce with candied bacon.
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Leghorn Chicken – Leftover chicken leg quarters become the protein in their shrimp and grits.
Houston, TX
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Brennan’s of Houston – One of the city’s best versions with peppery Creole sauce over cheese grits.
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Eunice – Cajun spot with jumbo Gulf shrimp, tasso ham and goat cheese grits.
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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse – Upscale steakhouse serving Texas wild shrimp over creamy grits.
No matter where you live, follow this guide to find satisfying shrimp and grits nearby to fulfill all your Southern comfort food cravings. Just get ready for that irresistible combo of plump shrimp and creamy cheddar grits in every perfect savory bite.
Shrimp and Grits: a Lowcountry classic turned restaurant staple
There is a connection between food and memories. We tend to remember dishes that remind us of a time or place in our lives or of someone we ate with. This is especially true for those meals tied to our childhood.
For me, that is shrimp and grits.
It was created to be simple and filling, like many southern dishes, using sustainable, low-cost, and local ingredients. Grits were a must-have in every southern home because they were easy to make at home by grinding corn, and they kept well after being stored. If you put out a simple cast net in any of Charleston’s creeks or harbors, you could easily catch shrimp. Smaller shrimp were often used because they were “less desirable,” even though they made for a better bite. Keep in mind that any large shrimp would have sold at market. All of this would be thrown into a single cast iron pot and boiled with seawater until done. People from all walks of life could enjoy this dish, but the working class really liked it the most.
As someone who was born and raised in Charleston, SC and whose family worked in commercial fishing, this dish is both very Charleston (South Carolina has a legislative area just for grits) and reminds me of my childhood spent on the waters of the Lowcountry. It is a dish that is important to my family history and one of the first things I learned how to make. Our shrimp and grits are a little different, but they are still simple and rich.
Now, you can find shrimp and grits in restaurants all over the world, even in many high-end restaurants. It’s usually served for breakfast, but it’s also been added to many brunch and dinner menus. I’ve spent the last few months looking for good shrimp and grits in Huntsville. But before I tell you what I’ve found, here’s what I look for in a dish of this Lowcountry classic:
- The grits have to be the foundation. Get grits from your area. It doesn’t matter if they are yellow or white; I get mine at Alabama Goods in Jones Valley. When they’re done, they should be full and have some grain in them for texture. This can only be achieved through time and care. I put mine in a crock pot on low heat with butter, cream, water, and a lot of salt. Just like with potatoes or pasta, you HAVE to salt grits before you cook them. Use a good amount of salt. There are many places that don’t do enough with their shrimp and grits (or grits in general). Grind corn slowly so it gets plump, and only an experienced cook can know how much salt to add during the boil. Adding salt to grits at the table doesn’t work, like adding sugar to unsweet tea after it’s been brewed.
- The shrimp must be the right size and cooked the right way. Medium-sized shrimp (I tend to use “26-30” shrimp, which is the number of shrimp sold per pound) Even though jumbo shrimp are pretty, they don’t offer the best bite because there isn’t enough shrimp on each spoonful. Also, shrimp are hard to cut when they’re in a bowl or on top of grits.
- The sauce. Brown gravy that is usually lighter and made in the same pan as the bacon and shrimp. It is made with butter, a little cream, and flour. It should be just enough to tie the dish together without being too much.
- Most people put a little crumbled bacon on top, but I always added diced tomatoes or green onion to make it look better.
- Finally, the ingredient ratio is critical. 50% grits, 30% shrimp, 20% gravy. Simple and easy.
Because the dish is so popular and because many restaurants in town serve brunch, you can find shrimp and grits at a lot of places around town. I encourage you all to go out and find them. I still need to visit more of them, but here are some places I found around town that you might want to check out:
300 Franklin Street Southeastthecommercekitchen.com One of my favorite brunch spots, but honestly, the shrimp and grits from their dinner menu is my preferred over their brunch offering. Straight forward and true to the dish’s heritage, with a minor twist in the form of their parmesan cream sauce which worked nicely with the grits.
109 North Side SquareGobeezr.com A different interpretation on the traditional shrimp and grits, they use blackened colossal shrimp and a spicy chorizo sauce on their interpretation. I loved the sauce and the shrimp were good, but them being so big kind of took away from being able to enjoy them throughout the bowl of grits. I loved the addition of the fried okra julienne though, and overall, appreciated the dish.
Von Braun CenterVonbrauncenter.com Only offered on their brunch menu, their use of gouda to build the flavoring in the grits adds a nice richness to the dish, especially when paired with the andouille sausage and creole cream sauce. Sweet city micro greens across the top also add a bit of freshness.