Hyper Local Spots in Paducah & Murray, Kentucky
On the list below are the super-secret, deeply loved favorites that aren’t discovered on a first or even a second trip to Western Kentucky. These are spots only a local will know. Don’t expect insta-worthy photos or fancy plates. Do expect damn good food and interesting experiences.
In Paducah:
Family owned since 1955. Fresh daily. Fairly priced. Exposed brick and fluorescent lighting. This is not a trendy donut shop with lavender-earl-grey-bacon creations and $7 price tags. This is Red's. They've been doing it right for nearly 70 years and they're not about to get weird now. Kentucky's best donut shop, 2016. Kentucky's best-kept secret for the 61 years before that.
Bread pudding waffles. Scotch eggs. A mac and cheese called the Forty-Niner. Gold Rush doesn't make breakfast—they make breakfast worth canceling your morning plans for. Voted Paducah's best breakfast multiple times, loved by locals and tourists who wandered in and immediately understood the hype. Off-menu specials keep regulars guessing. Locally owned. Come for the Monte Cristo, stay because you physically cannot move after the Monte Cristo.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. What is on the inside, or better yet, what is on the pizza, is more important here. Famous for the “8lb. Pizza,” this local joint is tucked away, like a secret treasure. The honey dough is made fresh daily…yes, we said honey dough. There’s really nothing else like it.
It's not hoarding if it's organized into 200+ booths. The Shed is where your grandmother's attic had a baby with a flea market and that baby grew up to have excellent taste. Antiques, furniture, décor, tools, toys, and things you didn't know you needed until you saw them. Come find the vintage tchotchke that will finally complete you as a person.
In Murray:
If your Dad wears Hawaiian shirts or socks with sandals, then B-shack is the vibe for you! Endless pineapple salsa and Caribbean combos are the must eats in this quintessential fav of the MKY (students and locals alike).
What’s not to love about gas station food? The love is strong with the famous Sammons’ Bakery donuts. Nestled into the corner of the Pockets gas station are daily-made donuts, bakery items and flat-top grilled burgers. The top choice for a sugar-loaded morning: the Barnyard.
Looks can be deceiving, as you pull into the vintage-style diner just off the court square. To become a true southerner, a stack of the beloved pancakes, with a fried tenderloin biscuit is the only option to order. Then take a piece of homemade pie to-go, just to be extra.
Enter the vast warehouse arranged like a labyrinth, with hundreds of booths winding into one another. Each space overflows with vintage and antique items from furniture and dishes to collectibles and forgotten treasures.
