Chef Char Seafood N Soul

I read about a new soul food spot located inside Parkway Plaza's food court.  Chef Char had won a contest to occupy a spot rent free for 3 months.  I visited during the soft opening and not all their items were available.   I tried to order some fried whiting but they didn't have any.  Maybe next week the cashier said.  Sometime in October they are suppose to have their grand opening and oxtails should be available.  They did not have fries either.I ordered fried catfish with candied yams.  Yam had a bit of sweetness and a light cinnamon flavor.  Catfish filets were big and thick.  I was impressed by how juicy they were as usually I get little pieces that have dry parts where the fish is very thin.  Cornmeal batter was crunchy and had a nice salty flavor.  I loved the fried catfish here.2nd visit I tried the small plates.  They are $10 and you get 1 side.  You get 1 big piece of catfish.  Catfish had a crunchy corn meal batter and tender juicy catfish.  Delicious.  I also got 2 chicken wings.  Wings featured crispy skin with seasoning. I liked the flavor and the chicken was tender and moist.4% surcharge if you use a credit card.I remember visiting Parkway Plaza many years ago when the kids were young enough to play on the coin operated machines.  Loved this place in the summer as it's enclosed with really good AC..  Also your car didn't get hot in the parking structure.

I spoke to chef Char and explained my concerns from my last visit. Just to clarify I kept 10 wings and greens. I returned 10 wings & 2 orders of Mac & cheese untouched!! The gentleman working refunded me for some of my order. I'm willing to try again , the man was nice, it was just half my under was not right. Service was great , Ambiance was good , food I'll have to try again. Chef char listen to my concerns and offered if I ever returned she would be willing to complete my order, that would be very nice and I'd love to re-try!

The only thing good was the catfish I had because it was cooked to order ,thick fillet, and good batter . . The greens were mushy , and the Cajun corn is just literally corn on the cobb and the some Tony's seasoning sprinkled on top . And we waiting about 25 mins for our food . For how much it cost it's not worth it . Me and my husband bill was 60 dollars for 2 plates that were not amazing .

I had the pleasure of ordering at Chef Char in Parkway Plaza Mall, and I must say, it was a soul-satisfying experience! My entire family and I were treated to an absolute feast of deliciousness. We ordered the fried chicken plate, Mac n cheese, collard greens, and gumbo, and each dish was a flavor explosion.The food was clearly made with care and attention to detail. The fried chicken was crispy and succulent, the Mac n cheese was creamy and cheesy, the collard greens were seasoned to perfection, and the gumbo was a delightful blend of spices and flavors.We couldn't stop raving about how this was some of the best soul food we've had in a very long time. The authenticity of the flavors really stood out, and it felt like a home-cooked meal with a gourmet twist.I wholeheartedly recommend Chef Char to anyone in search of authentic, mouthwatering soul food. It's a must-visit spot for those looking to satisfy their soul food cravings. We can't wait to return for more!

Liked this place very much! Had the collard greens (tbh I'm not an expert but it tasted much better than the ones I've made or have had others made). It was nice, smoky, bitter, and not too sweet. I also had the pasta with shrimp--that I liked very much. The cream sauce was impossibly shrimpy (I don't know how people get shrimp sauces to taste so shrimpy--when I put in a ton of shrimp in my sauces it isn't as shrimpy for some reason) and unctuous. It also had a nice other flavor in it, I'm guessing some sort of liqueur to flavor it maybe? Whatever it was, it was really good. I also *really really really* appreciate that the shrimp was good quality and, most importantly, the shrimp was cooked perfectly. 95% of the time, restaurants usually overcook shrimp to varying degrees. Here it was legit perfectly cooked where it just bursts in your mouth. I'll be back to try some of their other dishes next time! :)

The food is amazing. My son and I tried the sides then immediately ordered wings and catfish once we saw it was THAT good. I don't think I've ever seen my son leave a plate of wings to the absolute bone, until now. The macaroni is what you'd expect at Thanksgiving if Jesus kissed the pan himself. The catfish itself is what the French call, "Se Manufique."Don't think twice. Just go and throw a dart at their menu. You'll leave happy.

Okay y'all. Heard so much about this place. Was super excited to try it out. San Diego needs more soul food spots!! Coming from the south myself. North Carolina I was excited about having a go to spot for soul food in east county. I was sooooooo disappointed. I walked up. I originally picked the whiting plate however she said they did not have. Only had catfish so I thought I would try it. I think they breaded it in the same breading as fried chicken. Definitely was NOT fish breading and boy was it salty!! I couldn't eat it at all. Tasted like they dipped it in all salt. The Mac n Cheese was dry. The greens sour! Which did not have any pieces of meat at all and had no other flavoring but sourness. I can't explain how sad I was. Not to mention the wait. I waited almost 30 min for my one plate. I ended up throwing it all away in the trash. Totally inedible. Waste of money and waste of time.

Eek. Don't do it. I usually like to see for myself how good or bad the food is. This spot has been talked about but not in a good way and I shoulda listened. I was told the wing plate came with 3 or 4 wings but I was only given 2. Wasn't to concerned after my first bite. This plate couldn't wait to hit the trash. Food was sooo bland and did not smell appetizing. Very very disappointed.

This is not a review but an announcement. They have high-tailed it out of El Cajon after failing to create a loyal customer base. Unfortunately, They did not research the demographics of El Cajon. Their prices were way too high for mall food. El Cajon has a high percentage of folks getting EBT. Spending close to $40 on mall food just isn't gonna happen in El Cajon. Secondly, the food would appeal more to the African Americans and El Cajon does not have a strong African American presence. From what I see it's the Asian foods that succeed in Parkway Plaza. It's a shame as they did win 3mth of free rent.. We go to the mall often and I've never seen anyone buy from them when we are there. Growing up in Chicago I've had my share of soul and love it but not at these prices.

Good service and good ole, down-home, hospitality lead this good experience. It was my first time here, and I drove 30 minutes to get here. I came on a Thursday to take advantage of the wing special. Wings were fire. I got the candied yam flavored wings, and they hit. Got the two-piece catfish dinner, yams, and mac and cheese. It was a 4 out of 5. Solid spot for soul food.