Ajax Diner

Ajax Diner is a restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi. The establishment specializes in hearty, scratch-made Southern comfort food and serves the local community with Mississippi favorites including fried catfish, chicken and dumplings, Mississippi pot roast, meatloaf, and country-fried steaks. Their menu also features burgers, po'boys, and various salads.

Serving the area since 1997, the diner was originally founded by Randy Yates and was named after his grandfather, A.J. Ajax. The business recently entered a new chapter in April 2024 when it was purchased by local hospitality expert Clay Scruggs. The diner's decor, including its awnings and Christmas tree lights, is inspired by the family's fair cabin.

Located on Courthouse Square, the diner sits in a bright yellow building on the west side of the historic Oxford Square. It is situated extremely close to the Lafayette County Courthouse and the William Faulkner statue, and is a short walk from the Lafayette County Chancery Building, the United States District Court, The Lyric Oxford, and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

The diner has earned a reputation for excellence, having been voted Oxford’s Best Plate Lunch every year since its opening. It has also been recognized as the Best Restaurant in Oxford multiple times and has received two Best of the Best awards. Furthermore, Mississippi Magazine readers have named it the Best Plate Lunch in Mississippi three times, and the establishment has been featured on Southern Living’s list of The South’s Most Legendary Restaurants.

Ajax Diner continues to provide authentic Mississippi hospitality through its celebrated Southern comfort food in the heart of Oxford.