Pearl’s Diner

I'm not from the South but, y'all, this food is so good! I thoroughly enjoyed everything on my plate! I got the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and squash. The jalapeno cornbread was amazing! The chicken was crisp and the breading was light. Companion got the cabbage and rice with gravy. She said the cabbage wasn't cooked enough but some people like it that way. She really enjoyed the rice and gravy. After eating all that, there was no room left for dessert, unfortunately.
The people were nice and friendly and the food was served quickly.
I definitely recommend!

A fun place but if you don’t hit it at the right time, you will not get in or or have to stand in a very long line. The options are up on the wall and they ran out of them as we were waiting in line. They did add additional items as things ran out. The fried chicken was very tender and the sides were very yummy. The fried pork chop was pretty good, and Miss Pearl came around and greeted the customers and she was such a character.

It's all about home cooked comfort food, just like your grandma used to make. I enjoyed my first meal so much I went back the next day!

Incredible experience. The food was so delicious, we had eaten there on multiple days. The portions were large with simple plating because food was the star of the show. Employees were friendly and helpful. Bathrooms were clean. Red beans and rice with sausage was very tasty. Macaroni and cheese was gooey and so yummy. Jalapeños cornbread was spot on!!
Atmosphere inside was friendly and very nice. Met and spoke with Ms. Pearl, she is just as bubbly in real life.
Highly recommend when in Laurel.
Thank you Ms. Pearl ❤

Pearls Diner offers a delightful taste of old Southern charm with its cozy atmosphere and mouthwatering fried chicken. From the moment you step inside, you're transported to a bygone era with its rustic decor and warm hospitality. But it's the fried chicken that steals the show here. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, each bite is a symphony of flavors that'll have you coming back for more. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Pearls Diner is a must-visit for anyone craving a taste of authentic Southern cuisine and hospitality.

As a kid my grandparents had a small farm in Florida where they grew collard greens, black eyed peas, things the South is known for, but since that time growing up as a kid I have never had collard greens like my granny, until Pearl's! OMG! They were perfect, beyond perfection! There was a place in Charlotte, NC (Merts) who used to be my favorite, but Pearl's took collard greens to another level! And if that's no enough, her cornbread was to die for on so many different levels. Texture, taste, ingredients, again just like being back at my grannies house as a little kid. My only slight would be the black eyed peas, there were too salty, however the butter beans were to die for, so I'm glad my wife got those, because neither one of us were able to eat the black eyed peas. The sweet potato was a sweet potato, nothing remarkable with that. Now my wife said her fried chicken was the best she had ever had! She also got the Mac and Cheese which she said was the best ever! Over all the food, the service and being able to sit outside and enjoy Laurel was a real treat.
I'd play for free the rest of my life to eat her collard greens! I didn't get to meet Pearl, although my wife said she saw her in the kitchen, I'd have to say her song would be...More and More from my album, Better Than. I'd want More and More collard greens forever!

The food was perfect. I'm a good cook myself, so I'm picky about all the "down home cooking" claims, but this one lives up to it. Service was quick and friendly, prices were reasonable. Our party ordered ribs, chicken, Lima beans, baked sweet potato, Cole slaw, and banana pudding. Oh, and can't forget the jalapeno cornbread. I would have preferred more heat from the jalapenos, but that's a matter of individual taste and you just cannot please everyone, even when you're excellent. I will be returning.

Our wait was s little long, but we are retired and are patient. That being said, it was worth the wait! We had fried chicken. You can order white or dark meat. Chicken was moist and very tasty. My favorite part was the Mac and cheese....outstanding! The staff is lovely, very hard working and humble. MS. Pearl truly does appreciate her staff! Would return here again!

I love that the building is original and they kept so much of the woodwork from the previous jewelry store. Pearl herself is just a gem, perfect example of Southern Hospitality! The best jalapeño cornbread I've ever had, and I'm a southern lady. We will definitely be back. Our meal was $45 for lunch for 2, but we opted for "premium" sides.

The service was excellent. The person who took our order was friendly and helpful. The person who delivered the food and the person servicing the tables were the same. The facility was clean and neat, and the food was awesome.

Always love going to Pearls when we're in Laurel Mississippi. Great food and Pearls always there.

Omgosh! Absolute best chicken, greens, jalapeño cornbread, Banana pudding. I am parking out front and waiting until they open again for seconds!

Really great food and friendly staff. Wonderful place to eat for lunch

We made the trip to Laurel for my husband's birthday. After watching many episodes of HomeTown we wanted to eat at Pearl's. It was everything I hoped for.
The menu is small but it is everything Southern. They cook it just like my Mama did. I got the 3 veggie plate. Perfectly seasoned butterbeans, delicious gravy & the sweet potato melted in your mouth. Definitely get the cornbread. It was moist & not sweet.
The people there were super friendly &welcoming. It's a warm atmosphere & I felt like I was back home. Don't miss going here. You'll understand why so many people have come to Laurel.

Oh-em-gee! The food at Pearl's Diner was fantastic! I am a native of the area and have lived away for nearly 25 years. I consider myself a connoisseur of southern cooking and this was some of the best southern food I've had (except for my mother and mother-in law's food). The fried chicken was seasoned perfectly. Crispy on the outside. Juicy on the inside. My mom and I had a variety of sides. Everything was fresh and hot. We went for lunch on a Monday and the restaurant was not crowded at all. The service was great. One of the chefs came over to our table to chat!! That was the highlight of our visit.We will definitely be back!

Wonderful place and wonderful lady running it. Ms. Pearl came out before opening up and shared her story how God has blessed her and she uses her restaurant as an opportunity to tell people about Jesus. Food was delicious as well.

We were super stoked to go to Laurel, Mississippi on our way home to Northwest Arkansas from Florida this week. We wanted to go because of the show Hometown on HGTV, it really is such a cute little town, we enjoyed exploring for sure! Lots of shops and good places to eat it looked like. This was a well rated restaurant for the area so we couldn't wait to try it! It was worth going to!

This place was AMAZING!! Southern cooking at it's finest! The hospitality, the food and the atmosphere in downtown Laurel, Mississippi is exactly what I was expecting and so much more!

The food was DELICIOUS! Me and my daughter got the baked chicken and my husband and son got the fried chicken, all of it was flavored perfectly, just like grandma used to make! You could tell everything was homemade- the macaroni and cheese was SO GOOD!!! The mashed potatoes and gravy, the green beans, the rice... just so yummy!

Our son has special needs and is nonverbal, he was a little fussy and let out a yell. A man from behind the counter brought him a banana pudding and said that's what he was mad about and couldn't wait to eat it! It was so sweet of him and my son LOVES sweets so he was very excited! It was a special treat he thoroughly enjoyed. The staff at the desk and the girls bussing the tables, everyone was just very nice and welcoming!

Absolutely worth the visit! Yes, we are touristy folks who hit all the Hometown stops in Laurel. Pearl's was one of the best! The fried chicken was FANTASTIC, and the pork chops were great as well.

For my sides I got a delicious piece of jalapeño cornbread, rice with brown onion gravy that is TO DIE FOR, comforting mac & cheese, and the ONLY let down were the somewhat bland green beans. Thankfully there was plenty of Louisiana hot sauce to liven up the lazy legumes!

This was a FANTASTIC meal and the price was fair. Seriously... get the fried chicken. Do it now!

I would get there early. We showed up at about 10:35 am on a Thursday and we were 3rd in line when they opened at 11am. The line was down the street when they let us in. Enjoy!

Happened upon Pearl's while traveling 5 years ago. Routed this trip thru Laurel so we could eat here again. Fabulous food and people!

We visited on a Saturday for lunch. We got there early, but it was good that we did. By the time we finished eating, the line was out the door. The staff was awesome. They seemed to enjoy their jobs and were extremely pleasant to interact with.