Mouthwatering Soul Food in Cincinnati

Daddy Vic's Soul Food

★★★★★ 4.8 (25)

"The bomb--you know it's good when they have that big fork, spoon, and knife on the wall!This place is a hidden gem! I came in for the KY derby as a visitor and left as family. The peach cobbler is AMAZING! The people are friendly and just good folks. Definitely a place to stop by when you are in town. Daddy Vic would be proud of his legacy."

Richie's Chicken & Soul

★★★★☆ 4.3 (66) • $

"I have driven past Richie's Chicken & Soul literally hundreds of times. NEVER again will I just drive by! Today, I was in the mood for some good fried chicken but wanted to find a place that would deliver to me without charging me double for delivery. I had heard good things about Richie's over the past 3 years living on the West Side of Cincinnati so I figured I would check to see if they would deliver. And they did!!The chicken was fried crisp, nice crunchy coating and the spicy was indeed spicy and very flavorful! The spice was infused throughout the chicken breast as well so you weren't left with bland chicken after the breading was gone. I will definitely stop in next time I drive by and it is nice to know there is a delivery option as well!"

Mi Mi's Southern Style Cooking

★★★★☆ 4.4 (163) • $$

"This place was mediocre at best. I wanted to love it, reminds me of the south with the set up hot bar. We stayed to eat. Order at the counter and seat yourself. There was no real menu, a guy behind us told us they had fish if you ask for it. They didn't give us hot sauce or silverware, we went back to the counter no one was there, so we just grabbed it ourselves. No one even came out lol."

Divine Appetite Cafe and Catering

★★★★★ 4.7 (43) • $$

"I found this place on yelp after we just finished our appointment nearby. The place look very unassuming from the outside and very easy to miss when you drive by. Starving, we ventured inside and opted for takeout. Even as a Seattleite where everything costs an arm and a leg, I thought the prices here are rather steep. I had to double-check by asking the girl behind the counter if the portion was meant to be a family-size for the price.Navigating the menu was a tad confusing, but I settled on the Curried Chicken Breast ($24 incl. tax), while he got the Jollof Rice with Fried Fish ($18 before tax). She told us that it would be about 35-minutes wait. When we got our food and ate them, everything started to make sense. Every dish is meticulously crafted from scratch and freshly made-to-order, resulting in a flavor explosion with every bite.I won't lie to you, the Curried Chicken Breast was one of the best dishes I've ever had in my life. With each bite, the flavors intensified on my tastebuds, creating an addictive culinary experience. I could tell that the coconut rice was made with all fresh ingredients, nothing pre-made and it was very fragrant. Even so, the entire time eating it, my brain really tried to justify the $24 price tag with the portion given. While my dish was a bit scant on chicken, the generous serving of rice left the both of us with enough leftovers for several meals. I thought he got more value out of his meal cause it came with side salad and veggies, but he said he wished for a more substantial fish portion. I didn't try the fish but he said it was good and not fishy. The jollof rice was delicious.Inside, you can also find authentic imported African items by the counter. He liked the pineapple ginger drink - he said it was very strong in spices like hwentia among the ingredients. We both noted the need for improved air circulation due to the lingering smell of frying oil.. Overall, it's undeniable that they do make really good food, 100% fresh and authentic. However, considering the wait time, I'd recommend placing an order ahead of time for a seamless pickup experience."

Aunty Dinners

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"5+++++ I recently placed a few orders from Aunty Dinners!! Was excited to try some lasagna from a New Yorker! And it was amazing!! I also got some of the BEST fried chicken wings that were so crispy but not greasy at all!! The chicken was served with shrimp fried rice! It was DELICIOUS...came with the nice LARGE shrimp and lots of veg & mushrooms....it was so full of flavor and so delicious!!! I'm a customer for life!"

Richies

★★★★☆ 3.9 (23)

"Between Ritchie's, Indy's, and Grimes, this place is part of a family of fast food restaurants. Or, should I say chicken wing specialty restaurants? That's exactly what they're all known for.This is the newest of the family of restaurants. It's located on New Circle Rd., across the street from the old bowling alley. The building itself was recently a short lived Wing Hut, and before that, it was Brooks BBQ 2. I will say that I prefer chicken tenders over wings, so I might be disqualified from being taken seriously here. I'll say, I've had much better chicken tenders at other places. Specifically, the ones from Lee's are much better. As my side, I got mashed potatoes and gravy. The brown gravy was gelatin like and the potatoes had obviously been sitting awhile and needed a good stir. There were lumps in the potatoes, but not like the lumps in real potatoes, but like flaky or flour like lumps, that made the texture odd. The taste was odd too.I'm not sure if I'd be back. Maybe I'll eventually try the wings and update my review. Until then, these three stars are generous."

Lucretia's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (61) • $$

"No one in restaurant when we arrived but perhaps it was due to being a Sunday. Seemed almost like a soft opening as the waitress didn't seem to know whether certain items were available. That being said, the chicken was great (5/5)! Very juicy and crisp. We also ordered the Mac and cheese (4/5), Cole slaw (4/5), and some greens (4/5). We did wait a bit for the food as it appeared everything was cooked to order. Definitely recommend and expect to wait for your food a bit but worth the wait."

De'Lish

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4)

"Had the Cajun pasta. Absolutely delicious. Multiple layers of spice and creamy but not heavy. Really good. Paired it with an IPA from the bar. Perfect!"

Chazzy's Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (19)

"Everything I've had from here has been great. I have gotten the fish, the The Chazzy Mega Burger, the Chef Darnell's Greens, and most importantly the Fried Pickles. These are the best fried pickles I've ever had. Support local business y'all, especially right now. Get down here!"

Blue Skillet

★★★★★ 4.8 (29)

"This place is soooooo good! Went to Blue Skillet with my family and tried the Salmon croquettes with macaroni and cheese and green beans. The mac and cheese was delicious!!! The croquettes were full of flavor. I will definitely be coming back to try more or take care of any cravings! The service was friendly and pretty fast for how busy they were. We came in at the lunch rush.Small parking lot but street parking is available."

Cottage Inn

★★★★☆ 4 (160) • $

"Decent food at a great price, good (but slow) service, and a nice ma and pop restaurant with a low key vibe. I enjoyed the fried chicken, the mashed potatoes were incredible, and the spinach was not great - very watery. Next to me, they ordered the Kentucky hot brown and were not pleased - so avoid that. We also each ordered a little different cake and tried them all. The carrot cake (if it's your thing) was the best, strawberry was also very good, and Carmel cake was fairly dry, and chocolate was not impressive. My biggest complaint is that the food took about 40 minutes after ordering to get to our table, and it was not overly busy. The severs were fantastic and friendly. I would consider returning, especially for the price and portions."

Josanne's Homestyle Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (80)

"This place has legit fried fish and shrimp. The greens were perfect. Mac and cheese satisfying. The cornmeal pancake topped everything off. The staff was friendly and all was super clean. Highly recommended."

Scott's Homestyle Cooking & Catering

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"I am not a pork or beef eater, so I decided to try the turkey ribs. I'm very picky when it comes to trying turkey ribs, but when I bit into theirs... OMG! It was fall-off-the-bone, finger lickin' good! The sauce was superb! I also tried their mac and cheese, yams and baked beans. All were really tasty. I will definitely be back again!"

Rasheedah's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (55) • $$

"There food is really good when dinning here it's like eating at home the customer service is great the only thing I didn't care for was the cabbage but everything else was PERFECT this restaurant gives you a down home feeling for more of my reviews please check out my old yelp pg Mrs Jackson D."

Ollie's Trolley

★★★★☆ 3.7 (59) • $

"There were once 100 Ollie's locations across the Southeastern United States, an idea born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1973 serving American takeout from an actual repurposed trolley car. This Cincinnati location is one of only three remaining in the U.S., and the only location still in its original trolley.It was the Knoxville, Tennessee, location that we frequented in the late '70s and early '80s, a memorable part of my coming of age. My father would transport us to Ollie's in downtown to eat their mediocre burgers and absolutely stellar french fries. Unlike all the other American joints in town with their plain fries, Ollie's loaded theirs with seasoning. We're talking dozens of spices, a very complex mixture indeed! And even though my last taste of those fries would happen in 1984, they never left my memory.Fast forward to 2024. It was 40 years later, and I was driving through an unsavory section of Cincinnati when I spotted that telltale red streetcar and Ollie's Trolley emblazoned in yellow lettering across the top. I nearly lost my mind! I had no idea they still existed anywhere! You can't miss the countless signs lining the fence touting all of the dishes they serve.While the neighborhood isn't as nice as the original takeout spot still standing in Louisville, it didn't matter. The curt greeting from the employee I couldn't see who took my order while remaining invisible behind tinted glass didn't discourage me either. All I needed were those fries. And they are still just as good as they were four decades ago, still thoroughly seasoned with such a level of complexity! That was all I ordered on my stop there, a simple flashback to my youth that I thought was lost forever."

Just Cookin BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.5 (17)

"I ordered the Whiting Meal with double cabbage. The food was tasty and the portion size was grand. I will continue to order my fried fish"

Mississippi Belle

★★★★☆ 4 (207) • $$

"Stopped in with my best friend for lunch before going down the street to look at cars. First CASH Only so plan ahead. We walked in and was greeted immediately, ask if take out or eat in. We sat down and was ask about drink as soon as we sat down. Drinks came then ordered food which came out super quick. Pretty sure the food was made ahead, but it doesn't matter because it tasted wonderful. I mean seriously I bet this place is packed during main meal times. This is basically a bunch of tables and chairs. I will gladly come back here again, I am hoping for Friday's because they have catfish nuggets. And I hope to try dessert next time as well."

Millie's Place

★★★★☆ 4.1 (30) • $$

"Decided to support a local black owned business today and Millies has the BEST fried chicken. It was juicy but not greasy. The portion was perfect and the sides were good as well. Especially the greens. Just like (grand) mom use to make! I had the yams and macaroni and fish too. It was one of those days where everything looked and sounded good. The order was called in for pick up and the service was good. I advise going during the week. I heard it is a zoo on Sundays with the church crowd.Not so humbly submitted,Michael C."

Huffies BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (6)

"Oh --- grandma huffie. You do bbq right. Ribs by the slabSweet potatah pie by the slice (and hell ya, there's lard in the crust)The employees and customers have always been very nice to me, even though I'm jus' a lil' white girl in the hood, looking for some good bbq. This place is a well kept secret that I've kept for 20 years...I figure it's about time to spread the gospel.p.s. the neighborhood is slightly on the sketchy side and I wouldn't recommend frequenting the joint at night (if it is even open at night)."

The Night Kap

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Love the salmon bites meal! With the honey hot sauce for dipping. I always enjoy getting my food they are all very nice and friendly. Very family oriented and I like the fact it's not overwhelming."

Shirley Mae's Café

★★★★☆ 4.3 (194) • $

"Good food, friendly staff, To go only and very slow service. This small family own and run business can earn a solid 4 or plus if the rating was solely based on the food. While it could earn a 1 if the review was based on quickness of service. Does the good food worth the wait? Not if you are on the go but if you are ordering from here for work, family or yourself, give it an hour or so before you plan to eat, including if you call an order a minute after they open. Good wings, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, Chicken N Dumpling, okay tilapia Bon appetit"

Sweets & Meats BBQ Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (15) • $$

"I just saw the announcement the Sweets and Meats is going to be featured in a Super Bowl ad this year!! Wow!! Congratulations! Hopefully this will bring a new wave of customers to your doorstep! Their new(ish) restaurant location is across Burnett from Children's Hospital. Tons of options for dine-in and carry-out, don't forget their catering too. This BBQ crew started waaay old-school with literally a smoker on the side of Clough Pike in Anderson Twp., opened up a spot (now their catering commissary in Mt. Washington), and finally this, a sit-down testament to all things meaty, and sweety! They have ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken.... This new location has burgers (I hear are fire). They have a fryer too, and their French fries are really good. I would be NEGLIGENT if I didn't mention the Mac & Cheese. You think you know, but you don't know until you've had theirs. Probably the best in town. That's high praise. You can make platters, sandwiches, buy by the pound, or order ahead for occasions like SUPER BOWL parties and catered events!!! Wow, Sweets and Meats on the Super Bowl! That's big time! Congrats!"

Franco's Restaurant and Catering

★★★★☆ 4.2 (82) • $$

"Fire!!! So good! Black owned and operated. Great hospitality and great food. Soul food with flavor and not salt. Grape kool-aid for that at home feel. Will be back! Side note: kids eat free!!"

Jewell Soul Food

★★★★☆ 4.3 (10)

"From the outside, I'd never give this place a chance. It's got a shotty mural of french fries and other random food and it just does not look the part but when I tell you the food is AMAZING.....lord be a fence. I went two days in a row to try different things. Jewell and her sister run the place and they can throw down! On top of that they are the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet. This is absolutely the best SOUL food in Cincinnati. Not comfort food...soul food. Just like mom and grand mom used to make. I felt at home. This is an order at the window type of place and no one can go inside to sit. You wait outside while your meal is made to order. There are daily specials and the servings are extremely generous. The first day I ordered rib tips and these are not those "tips" you get from the BBQ places. These were meat heavy with the most delicious smoked flavor and sauce. Without a side I was full! The yams and the greens are thanksgiving on a weekday and the roast beef?.... Melt in your mouth tendersucculous! If your are down with the soul train you owe it to yourself to go here. This place is off the chain!Not so humbly submitted,Michael C."

Alabama Que

★★★★☆ 3.7 (188) • $

"Recommended. This is a must-visit near UC campus for several reasons. First, the turkey tips were terrific. If you're like me, you probably go to a BBQ place to order brisket or pork. They've got it and I imagine it's good. But I hadn't had turkey tips, the healthier option, before. When I met the owner, he recommended them as a top seller. I see why. And the sauce has heat options; I found the MEDIUM sauce had the right heat for me. The Mac&Cheese was great, too. The icing on the cake was talking with the owner and staff; thoughtful people that I liked doing business with. I felt respected -- and full of delicious BBQ. I'll be back."

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

★★★★☆ 4.3 (133) • $$

"I know it sounds a bit out there but we had a gravy flight and was not disappointed. The food is great, but the prices are on the high end for Lexington."

The Dukesters Restaurant & Catering

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (17)

"Savoring some soul food? Swing on by The Dukester!Located in Summit Plaza, The Dukester serves up some homemade favorites, such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, collard greens, corn bread, baked beans... and more! The entree is certainly delectable, but the real stars of the meal are the side dishes. The Dukester cooks up some of the best sweet potatoes I've ever had. Actually, they served me the first sweet potatoes I ever liked! I wasn't a fan until I had them Dukester-style. The cornbread is also amazing: crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The Dukester has a walk-up window throughout the day, and in the evenings it is a jazz club, complete with dance floor and bar. It attracts an older African American crowd, but people from all over come to enjoy the food.There's a reason why they call it "soul food." The Dukester will make you feel all warm and welcome on the inside."

Goodies

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (141) • $$

"I love goodies. Rib tips are always nice and juicy. It was my first time trying the Mac and cheese and it was delicious nothing extra needed to make it better.They also have a rewards system through phone number and when you reorder from them your name pops up which makes the interaction more personable for customer and cashier."

Hook Fish & Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.8 (44) • $

"Great food, what ambiance? It is a carry out building. The catfish and wings were great. Like the slaw and the onion rings were good. Service was quick and friendly."

Big Momma's Soul Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (65) • $

"I have only been here once, but I am hoping to return soon! It's very good & the staff are friendly."

His Place Eatery

★★★★★ 4.5 (724) • $$

"So uh yeah. Just incredible food. I had the red velvet chicken and waffles and my goodness, they are incredible I wanna try so many things here."

A Lil Taste Of Soul

★★★★★ 4.7 (6)

"This food truck was at the Bearcats game and what a pleasant surprise. The food was hot with a large portion with lots of great flavor. You are out and about and see these guys serving you will not go wrong with stopping and trying the great food."

Al's SmokeHouse Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"Fairly delicious & clean. I was expecting the BBQ to be a lil more sweet & the bourbon chicken to taste a bit sweeter. However - it was not like any other bbq joint around here! It was yummy! U can taste the flavor of smoke! Whatever & how ever this is possible; Al did it. Very tasty & Fresh! We will be back. A lil on the expensive side however it's the price you must pay if you choose to eat this delicious food; nowadays. Thank you!"

1 Smokin Ash Hole

★★★★☆ 4.3 (12)

"Locally owned. Next to a gas station--DO NOTlet that stop you. Staff (owner and wife) are super nice. The place is clean and had fresh flowers on the table. It is right off 75 so easy in and out. It's counter service but places to sit and eat. They had a party of 20 coming in for a bday party. The fried cabbage will be in my dreams! everything is homemade and it shows! They have only been open about 6 weeks but are putting in a late night drive through. I wish I lived closer!!!!!"

Ike's Barbecue

★★★★☆ 3.5 (25) • $

"Old school neighborhood spot; but good good good! We had fried catfish which was sizable and fried crispy and hot. Just like yo granny on Friday. Baked beans need less brown sugar but the potato salad is delish! Sauce is house-made and good. Fries are crinkled nothing special but hot and savory with added salt making them a good accompaniment to the fish. The rib tips were off the chain good. Tasted brined and smokey. Tips were old school meaty with gristle and just enough fat for flavor. Atop old school white bread! Brought back memories of my Cleveland roots where there's a rib joint on every corner. No inside dining since COVID just take out and delivery, but you can order ahead online. Can't wait to go back on a Sunday and get those pork chops I saw on the menu. The other customers all concurred they are good!"