Southern cuisine is one of America’s most important traffic builders for restaurants. It’s the comfort food that not only is easy to sell, but keeps customers coming back for more.
According to Tastewise, southern cuisine menu items are on more menus than Mexican items in full-service restaurants. Nationwide, the number of restaurants identifying their brand as offering southern cuisine is surprising with California second only to Texas.
This heat map by Datassential identifies states with the highest number of restaurants identifying their cuisine as ‘southern’.
House Autry® has been helping restaurant operators make serving southern food easy and authentic since 1812. The North Carolina mill adds unique southern spices in its breadings and mixes that saves time and labor and never disappoints.
“We consult with hundreds of full-service restaurants on how to make their menus more profitable and of greater demand each year,” says Clay Mullins, Vice-President of Sales for House Autry. “For example, our chicken and seafood breaders adhere perfectly to the intended protein without a pre-wash, that is a time and labor saver.”
There are five important menu items that truly define southern flavor for a restaurant operator and can boost traffic and sales this year.
Southern Fried Chicken
No surprise here as a great fried chicken is the signature of so many successful restaurants. Fried chicken menu items also have legs according to Datassential. Using the company’s AI-driven Menucast, growth is projected to be strong through 2028.
Long-term growth in the menuing of fried chicken is projected to be strong through 2028 according to Datassential.
From bone-in to multiple cuts of chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches make House Autry’s Chicken Breader the most versatile and important ingredient in a restaurant’s kitchen short of fresh chicken.
“Many chain restaurants ask us to craft a special formula for their chicken breader that they can call their own as a signature menu item,” says Mullins.
One way to add cravability to your fried chicken is to double-bread
the chicken before frying for a delicious crunch with every bite.
Southern Biscuits
Another test of authenticity for southern flavor is serving a proper biscuit. House Autry crafts special blends of biscuit mix for a signature biscuit for both full-service and quick service restaurants. Fool proof prep using House Autry’s biscuit mix assures consistency day after day. Light and fluffy, House Autry biscuits offer dimples when broken open for nesting of gravy, or butter, then preserves or jelly.
Serving proper southern biscuits are easy with House Autry’s Biscuit Mix.
Chicken & Waffles
The origin of southern chicken and waffles dates back to a New York City restaurant serving fried chicken atop a waffle for black entertainers, like Nat King Cole late night after an evening of performances. No matter its origin, chicken and waffles grew 8% on menus in the past year*, and House Autry has the easy solution to authenticity. Its chicken breader and its pancake and waffle mix are easy to use and serve.
Corn Fritters
Trending the most among southern appetizers is corn fritters, up 31% in just the past year. Great as a side or dressed up as an appetizer with a sauce and jalapeno slices, corn fritters can be a top discovery this year, and House-Autry Corn Meal can make it easy and authentic.
Fried Pickles
Datassential says they were up 5% in the past year, and they are a great addition to an appetizer menu. The southern delicacy has taken the nation with states like Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota indexing highest according to Datassential’s Food & Flavors analytics.
Fried Shrimp
Fried shrimp is on the list as a badge of southern authenticity with 37% of southern menus including the entree. House Autry’s Seafood Breader is a must for a crunchy bite with a hint of seasoning for authenticity’s sake. The breader also works well with catfish or white fish.
Southern Flavor Made Easy
House Autry is convinced that adding more southern flavor to your menu that you will grow traffic and sales this year. So much so that it is offering free samples of its products to you! Or, contact a House Autry Southern Foods Specialist today. Be sure to download our free guide to southern flavor as well.
*Datassential, Feb. 2025