Definitely Delicious: Southern Comfort Food in the Heart of Columbia

What Definitely Delicious serves and where to find it

Definitely Delicious is a casual counter-service restaurant in Columbia that specializes in Southern comfort food—fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and other dishes rooted in Lowcountry and traditional Southern cooking. The restaurant operates as a no-frills spot where you order at the counter and eat in a simple dining room or take your meal to go. It sits on a busy street in a working neighborhood, not in a polished downtown district, which shapes both its prices and its atmosphere.

The menu rotates daily specials alongside permanent offerings, so what you find on a Tuesday may differ from what's available on a Friday. Fried chicken is the signature item—bone-in pieces fried to order, crispy outside and juicy inside. Sides change but typically include versions of collard greens cooked with smoked meat, mac and cheese made with real cheese rather than powder, cornbread, and sometimes okra or green beans. Portions are generous, and prices stay low enough that a full meal with a drink rarely exceeds what you would pay at a chain restaurant.

Key Takeaways

• Definitely Delicious serves authentic Southern comfort food made fresh to order, with fried chicken as the main draw and rotating daily sides.
• The restaurant is a counter-service spot in a residential neighborhood, not a sit-down establishment with table service.
• Prices are modest—a full meal typically costs less than $15—and portions are large enough for two people to share.
• The menu changes daily, so calling ahead or checking what sides are available that day helps you plan what to order.

The fried chicken and why it matters locally

Fried chicken is woven into Columbia's food culture and South Carolina's broader culinary identity. Definitely Delicious makes theirs the traditional way: bone-in pieces, hand-breaded, fried in cast iron or commercial fryers until the coating cracks when you bite into it. The chicken itself stays moist because it's fried to order rather than held under heat lamps, which is the difference between a chicken that tastes like chicken and one that tastes like it's been sitting since lunch.

What sets the restaurant apart from chain fried chicken is the lack of industrial processing. The breading is simple—flour, salt, pepper, and spices mixed fresh—and the frying happens in small batches. You may wait 10 to 15 minutes for your order, but that wait is the cost of food cooked when you order it, not assembled from a warming case. For people raised on this style of cooking or curious about how it differs from fast-food versions, Definitely Delicious delivers the real thing at a price that makes it a regular stop rather than a special occasion.

Sides that complete the meal

The sides at Definitely Delicious are not afterthoughts. Collard greens are cooked low and slow with smoked meat—ham hock or bacon—until they're tender and the pot liquor (the cooking liquid) is rich enough to soak into cornbread. Mac and cheese is made with a cheese sauce, not a baked casserole, which means it stays creamy and warm even if you take it home. Cornbread comes as a square or wedge, slightly sweet, with a crispy edge where it touched the pan.

Because the menu rotates, you might find okra one day, green beans another, or sometimes a starch like rice and gravy or sweet potato. This rotation keeps regulars coming back to see what's available and gives the kitchen flexibility to use what's fresh or what they've prepared that morning. Most people order two or three sides with their protein, and the portions are large enough that sharing makes sense if you're eating with someone else.

When to go and what to expect

Lunch is the busiest time, typically between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., when people from nearby offices and neighborhoods stop in. The line moves quickly because the staff knows the menu by heart and the ordering process is straightforward—you point at what you want, say your sides, and pay. Dinner is quieter, and weekend hours vary, so calling ahead or checking their posted hours prevents a wasted trip.

The dining room is basic: a few tables, a counter, and walls that have seen decades of use. There's no tablecloth, no background music, and no attempt at ambiance beyond cleanliness and function. This is not a destination restaurant where you linger over a meal; it's a place to eat good food quickly and affordably. Takeout is just as common as eating in, and the containers hold heat well enough that food stays warm on a short drive home.

Price and value

A two-piece fried chicken meal with two sides and cornbread costs significantly less than the same meal would at a sit-down restaurant or a chain. Individual sides are also priced low, so you can build a meal to your appetite and budget. A single person might spend $8 to $12; a family of four might spend $40 to $50 for a full meal with drinks. These prices have held relatively steady because the restaurant operates with low overhead and doesn't charge for atmosphere or table service.

The value is in the portion size and the quality of the ingredients. You're not paying for a brand or a location; you're paying for food made fresh that day. For people on a tight budget or looking for authentic Southern cooking without the markup of a trendy restaurant, Definitely Delicious delivers both.

How Definitely Delicious fits into Columbia's food scene

Columbia has a growing food culture that includes upscale restaurants, food halls, and farm-to-table spots, but Definitely Delicious represents an older, steadier tradition: the neighborhood lunch counter where working people eat. It's the kind of place that has been in the same location for years, run by people who know their customers by name, and serves food that tastes like home to anyone raised on Southern cooking.

The restaurant sits alongside other independent spots in its neighborhood—barbecue joints, soul food cafes, and small diners—that collectively form the backbone of Columbia's actual food culture rather than its Instagram-friendly version. These places matter because they keep traditional cooking alive, employ people from the community, and offer meals at prices that don't require a special occasion or a second job to afford.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to call ahead or can I just walk in?

You can walk in, but calling ahead is smart if you want a specific side or if you're coming during lunch rush. The kitchen can tell you what's available that day and give you an estimate of how long your order will take. During peak hours, a wait of 10 to 15 minutes is normal.

Is the food spicy?

The fried chicken and most sides are seasoned but not hot. If you prefer extra spice, ask the staff—they may have hot sauce available or can tell you which items have more seasoning. The collard greens have a savory depth from the smoked meat but aren't spicy on their own.

Can I order just sides without chicken?

Yes. Many people order sides only, especially if they want to try multiple dishes or are feeding a group with different preferences. Sides are priced individually, so you can mix and match.

What are the hours and is it open on weekends?

Hours vary by day and may change seasonally. Call ahead or check their posted hours to confirm they're open when you plan to visit. Many neighborhood restaurants close on Sundays or have limited weekend hours.

Is there a kids menu?

Most counter-service Southern restaurants don't have a formal kids menu, but portions are large and can be split. Ask the staff what they recommend for children—they can usually suggest a smaller portion or a combination that works for younger eaters.