The Best Soul Food in Houston

Viola & Agnes' Neo Soul Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (885) • $$

"Fellow yelper Derek Y. highly recommended we come here on our Houston trip in September. We planned to check out Galveston for one day so this place was on our route. Great recommendation!Short but sweet review is that this spot is delicious. Important things to note- if you're very hungry and need food sooner than later, order an appetizer. There is literally a sign on the door that asks for patience for food to be prepared. Our order did take a while and I kept seeing other tables get food, they ordered a first course before the main entree. I was just getting hangry lol. Once the food came it was so delicious. The sticky chicken meal is unbelievably good. The chicken is full of flavor and sticky glaze. Really tender and soft meat. Also very enjoyable was the fried catfish sandwich. The only thing I didn't really like was the fried okra. I had wished I ordered a different side. It was a bit dried out. Otherwise everything else was really great. Order a tea if you want to drink it our if the largest ball jar with refills. I drank so much iced tea haha."

Mikki's Soulfood Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (596) • $$

"On New Year's Day I visited Mickey soul food in Pearland. So I happen to be in the Southwest today and I figured let me try Mickey's on the southwest side the OG location that I was used to.Food: I went with my kind of favorite Sol food dish, which is smothered chicken. It was simply amazing. The pieces of chicken were really big as well. They do not skimp your hair. You could probably feed two people maybe even three with the portion size here. Unless you're very hungry, I think it'll be pretty hard to finish this mill. Back to the food, this mother chicken was top-notch. Also, the mac & cheese was simply amazing. The broccoli, rice casserole was some of the best you will ever have. The white rice and gravy was really good as well. I will notice though the cornbread didn't taste too sweet and good is the one from Pearland. It was really good don't get me wrong, but the one in Pearland was exceptional for the cornbread.I'll definitely keep coming to this location and the one in Pearland.five star all the way. This is probably the best soul food in Houston Texas."

Esther's Cajun Café & Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (559) • $$

"I'm updating my review of Esther's 1) Because they have a new location & 2) Because I'm grown.The new(ish) spot is waaaay more spacious & accommodating to Esther's crowd. They're no secret at this point, so it's nice to be able to see them better cater to people who come from all over the city. The food/menu is virtually the same...which I love, because why change? It was perfect before, so you'll enjoy it even better now. The added bar space w/signature cocktails was an unexpected addition. I popped in to grab & go with my order, but I plan on going back to see what that's all about. They also now have a patio area with live bands/music. Hope you like to slow groove & zydeco! Esther's did not. come. to. play. They plan to feed you & feed you well, & make sure you have a good time; the whole time. Literally can't ask for much more! Highly recommend."

Fargo's Pit BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (371) • $$

"First time in Bryan, Texas as an adult here to visit my dad's side of the Family and go to the Texas A&M game against Auburn. It was Friday around 5pm and we were starving and wanted the best BBQ. So went on Yelp, and they said this is the spot. I like that the spot is Black owned, so we were all excited to try it out. When we walked in, we were the only ones in there at 8 people. But soon after more people came so we definitely beat the rush. The ambiance is pretty chill, they have a tv but wasn't really loud at all. The Pit master Co-owner Alan welcomed us and was super nice. Asked where we were from, took our order, recommended dishes, and gave us our own mix of lemonade and sweet tea to start which was so good. We order the family special which feeds 5-7 people for $100 including 1lb pork ribs, 1lb sausage, 1lb brisket, a whole chicken chicken and two sides. We got the mac n cheese and greens. We thought we would probably want more food so we ordered extra mac and cheese, potato salad, 1lb brisket, and 1lb ribs. They also gave us an entire loaf of white bread. So my absolute faves were the greens, I wish I got more! They were sooo good! Then I liked the ribs, then the brisket. The sausage was a little too hard for me, I like more juicy. Mac was too mushy, potatoes ok, and chicken was dry to me, but my brother's piece looked juicy and he liked it so I think I just got a dry wing. All in all I would definitely come back and I highly recommend. We left with leftovers and had a great time eating this delicious food with the great staff. Thank you guys for welcoming us into your town, I will be back!"

Houston's This Is It Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.6 (488) • $$

"Stopped by for some tea cookies x for my mom and catfish. I enjoyed that there was not wait and the staff was very kind.The tea cookies were fresh and the catfish was hot and fresh also.I enjoyed that I was able to buy fish alone and that the restaurant was open past 7:30pm.I will return again,"

OMG Baked Potatoes

★★★★★ 4.5 (297) • $$

"*Black owned food truck*We were going for something new and different, and we attempted another spot like theirs, but they weren't serving certain things and were out of other things, and I suggested we try them instead! I'm so glad I did, too. The owner was there taking orders, and he was the friendliest man ever. He gave suggestions of his menu faves, and he gave us advice on our new business endeavors out in Houston. He was really a nice man! We got 3 different options 2 baked potatoes and 1 pasta dish. OMG, IT WAS GOOD!!!! They didn't skrimp on items, and everything was hot, fresh, and seasoned well. He has a pretty extensive menu for a food truck. I would definitely return!"

Micheaux's Southern Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (302) • $$

"Micheaux's is special. A truly delightful soul food experience. The entire staff is always nice and friendly. I've had meals to go and dine in.My favorite dishes:Fried catfish is hands down some of the best I've ever had. It's always fried golden brown, well seasoned with their signature batter and they don't skimp on the portion size.Jalapeno cornbread is definitely extra delicious. I think they use red jalapenos in it which gives it a signature taste. It's always baked just right.Fried shrimp is delicious. They are always colossal in size and have excellent flavor. The only feedback I would suggest is finding a way to make the batter adhere to the shrimp better. Whenever I bite into one, the batter always separates from it. But it still gets eaten. Lol.The fried chicken is succulent, juicy, crunchy and crispy. I would really love to know their frying technique because I can't get fried chicken like that at home. Unique and delicious flavor.Blackened salmon is 10/10. Unbelievably flavorful all while holding in the juices to keep it moist. Excellent choice of seasonings and spices. Highly recommend.I've had other items such as the candied yams, mac n cheese, and greens which are also good. They also have a good selection of desserts!All in all, from the customer service, the delicious soul food and the fair pricing, this is a family owned business that is sure to please just about everyone who visits."

The Greasy Spoon

★★★★☆ 3.9 (323) • $$

"So glad we came here to eat! So good in fact we are taking our leftovers 6hrs back home to OKC. This place is located next to a gas station. There is a small area to dine in for about 15 ppl or so. It s cute decor. We were greeted enthusiastically when we walked through the door. The gentleman was polite as well as the cashier when we asked questions about how to order. There are items that are ready on the hot line. There are things that are cooked to order. You better have your butt in line by 6:53 so you can be sure to get your cooked to order in before 7pm! We made it by the skin of our teeth, by time we made it to the counter it was 7:01 but the gentleman said since we were in line by 7 we could still order. We all had to know what we wanted so he could quickly call it back to the cook before they shut the kitchen down. It must be pretty serious cuz a guy behind us was getting loud with the staff about them not letting him order cook to order all week for walking in at 7pm! I was like uh oh . I got Cajun fried chicken with Mac and cheese and yams. Mom got fried catfish and shrimp with greens. The meals came with cornbread. The chicken was fried hard like it should be and was crispy and delicious . I ordered 2 of these and requested all flats. The honored the request a best they could, so one plate was all flats, and the other was 2 flats and 3 drums , no big deal! The yams...bussin, the macaroni and cheese...bussin. The cornbread was soft and sweet. The shrimp was good! I didn't taste the greens or fried catfish;that was mom's order. I also ordered a jerk lamb chop al la cart. Since we got the right before they stopped with cook to order the grill was already off so I was refunded my $11 for that. We were given complementary dessert just because. We opted for peach cobbler and cheesecake. That cobbler was so freaking good! It had lots of crust like it like it, and it was just the right amount of sweet! The cheesecake was covered with strawberry topping. It was good. The cheesecake can stand alone with out the topping. Again the service and food was amazing. Definitely recommend."

Soul Food Vegan

★★★★☆ 3.5 (380) • $$

"This place always serves really fresh & warm food. It stays busy but the wait time isn't outrageous. Ample parking in their lot and across the street. The restaurant is right across from Emancipation Park. Their food definitely makes your soul feel good and guilt free. Lots of options to choose from. Some of my favorite dishes are their BBQ mushrooms, boudain balls, mac, & collard greens. You really can't go wrong with anything here. They also have desserts sometimes as well as smoothies and juices. Kids meals available for the little ones. Staff is always friendly and helpful. There is space to sit indoors as well as outside when it's warmer but it is a small intimate space. Great place overall. 1000 out of 10 recommend if you're in Houston and looking for some quality vegan comfort food."

Larry and Laney's Soul Food

★★★★☆ 4.2 (187) • $

"I can see why people go here. Not often times do you find exceptional service in the food industry, but I'll definitely give them this accolade. You can't help but to buy goods from the energetic and loud lady that proudly exclaims that most foods and desserts are homemade. She's really friendly, and most certainly adds to the experience. This is a small place and they are very COVID 19 conscience. Wear a mask to enter, put on gloves they provide at the entrance, don't touch their counter, take a clean pen to sign your receipt, e.t.c! I will not worry about food poisoning with this restaurant. The food itself is doable. You can bring every family member here because they don't over season the food. You get the soul food flavor without the worries about health declining with every delicious bite. I had the wing sampler and truly the honey glazed wings stood out the most. Make certain to get those. The desserts are homemade as well. I need to go back for the 7up cake, but the banana pudding made me wish I had more. I recommend giving them a try."

Mikki's Soulfood Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (224) • $$

"Came in just for their greens this time. As you can see, I do love them and bought a whole tub. I do think they charge a little too much though. It was $20 for this size. It contained about 6-7 servings. It was nice that the man threw in a couple pieces of cornbread."

Jamaica Pon Di Road

★★★★☆ 4.4 (133) • $$

"Absolutely amazing!!!The jerk chicken was smoked and seasoned omggg to perfection!! I could taste the food in my mouth hours later!!!The oxtail eggrolls were bussssin as well but not as hard as the jerk chicken.And that lil cake they had, bussssin!"

Nyammings Fusion Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (166) • $$

"The food is AMAZING! I was craving soul food/oxtails when I searched on yelp. I came across a few spots but something about this one stood out. When I arrived it was quiet yet welcoming. I was immediately hungry just reading off the menu! The chef truly knows what he's doing, and you can taste the passion within the food. I ordered the Chicken & Beef Gumbo, Oxtails (it came with rice and cabbage), an extra side of cabbage, Mac and cheese and candied yams with the Homemade Lemonade Caribbean Dream to drink. DELICIOUS! My friend ordered the Rasta Pasta with Oxtails and it was also delicious (I tried some lol). I cannot get enough of this place. Will be coming back to order some more Gumbo, try a new dish and come check out the Jazz lounge next door. The ambiance is very intimate yet welcoming to couples or even large groups. I would so cater this establishment for an event or party!"

The Greasy Spoon Soulfood Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.6 (177) • $$

"Today I decided to have an early dinner with my mother and youngest daughter. We all have a varied food choice. The Greasy Spoon has a nice variety of souls food menu. The atmosphere is lovely, they play music, have faux wall fire place and the staff are awesome. We will return!"

Granny Dee's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (118)

"Granny Dees kitchen is an outstanding soul food restaurant, a short distance from old town Spring. It's not very large, but the minute you walk through the doors the smells reassure you that you've made a wise decision. Most restaurants, even the best of restaurants do some dishes well and maybe lacking a few others. However, after ordering two meals for my wife and myself, and then ordering another meal to go, I didn't fine a single entrée or side dish that I didn't think was outstanding. The prices are reasonable there's seating available and of course takeout."

Frenchy’s Chicken

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (165) • $$

"I'm in Houston and I had to try the popular Frenchy's Chicken! It is all what I heard about! And Beyoncé bragged about it highly in her recent renaissance film, so I had to try it. The food is so delicious made fresh and fried to perfection. Just very good! It's good to try other fried chicken and how they are prepared. This place has a variety of fried foods like shrimp, chicken, and fish. The service is good and they will tell you what's good and what to order from the menu. They are pleasant and patient while ordering. They call your name and order number when you order is ready. I recommend the chicken for sure and to try the shrimp and fish. I may have to go back before I leave to try it! The chicken was that good! And the prices were reasonable for combos. It's very nice inside and updated. It's plenty of seating outside and indoor. Very spacious and clean. The downside however, is that they do not give out hot sauce, only peppers , which will increase the spicy level. The greens were bland but cooked well just needed salt or hot sauce added to it :)Overall, it's a lot of parking in the lot and gets very busy with long lines. I recommend here and will come back again. The food pleased me, no complaints! I see why this is a popular gem in Houston since 1969. -Marshay D."

ReMo's Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (87)

"food is delicious. service is friendly. tastes authentic. would highly recommend the fried chicken plate."

Just Oxtails Soul Food

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (177) • $$

"This is one of my favorite soul food spots in Houston. The food rarely disappoints (I only get disappointed by them 5% of the time). I say this because sometimes the meat isn't always tender or maybe the sides aren't as good as they usually make it. The workers are fast and friendly, but the owner seems to be passive. The establishment has it's off days, but all and all it's pretty damn good.The last time I visited, I got Oxtails, Mac & Cheese, Cabbage, and Yams. Everything was deliciously on point. The meat was very tender. The mac & cheese was rich. The cabbage had just enough salt. And the yams (my favorite) was so sweet. I love coming here, but there's room for improvement as far as consistency."

Southern Soul Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (79)

"In the mood for some good catfish, tried to go to another restaurant, which was closed, and I'm glad it was because it made me look up another place which turned out to be delicious! The catfish was seasoned well and fried hard, just the way I like it! The okra and tomatoes are a must try...also very tasty and flavorful!Servicers were on point; very attentive, friendly, and awesome.This cute spot is high up on my regular rotation list. Yum!!"

Best Soul Food In Town

★★★★☆ 3.6 (102) • $

"This is one of those places I would call "A diamond in a haystack" The service was top tier. They seemed to be short staffed but was very pleasant and apologetic. I don't mind having to wait especially telling me whats going on. You can call in a order, eat in or take out. I was going to eat in, but it was late so I decided to take out. They were out of short ribs at the time, so I ordered a wing dinner. 6 whole wings with fries or two size; I opted to take the two sides which was greens and sweet potatoes. $12.98Best chicken wings I've had in Houston so far. The greens and the sweet potatoes were seasoned perfectly. Great service and great food!"

SoulGood Food Truck

★★★★☆ 3.7 (85) • $$

"Did not disappoint AT ALL! I've visited this food truck park a couple times considering it's conveniently located from my place of residence. It's an okay park. Due to COVID (I assume)...there's no where to actually sit and enjoy your meal, so everything is purchase and leave. I had been planning to visit SoulGood for a while and I finally got to them during their business hours. Everything on my plate was delicious. From the fried lobster and catfish to the mac and cheese and fried okra. Nothing was over seasoned or under seasoned. Served hot and fresh too! I will definitely return for more!"

Comfort Foodies

★★★★☆ 4.2 (65) • $$

"The food is always flavorful and delicious. Great, fast service and the restaurant is always clean. I always order online and it's ready quickly. I LOVE that they pack the sides separately so the juices don't mix."

Nyammings Fusion Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.4 (57)

"I don't know WHY I keep trying to give these people a second chance. At this time, it is a 4th or 5th chance. I actually saw the owner of the restaurant in HEB one day buying out all the oxtail and chicken. I wanted to go up to him and give him some constructive criticism but he was talking to another customer who recognized him so I just left. Let me just point out the positives............when you ask them to do what they should ALREADY do, they do it. For example, I love thier yams! They are so good but for $5.99 they give you like 4 pieces drowned in syrup. So I have to tell them to fill it up to the top. I'm paying more than what a can of yams cost!!!!. You should be raking in the dough.So anyways, I was craving curry chicken and I remember I used to love this place and thought maybe they had gotten better. I thought this because they have received a lot of criticism on thier food. Also, it's hard for me to cook for myself. Even though I am a classically trained chef before I became a nurse leader I can cook something today and not want it tomorrow, also with weight loss surgery I can only eat a few bites. So I end up feeding the feral cats in our community, wrapping it up and giving to a friend or coworker ot putting it into the freezer until I want it again so I eat out a lot but mostly soup or a couple of breadsticks. Okay, back to the review. I ordered the curry chicken that comes with rice and beans, fried plantain (two small pieces, they should be ashamed of themselves) and cabbage. All of the food was unbearable salty and tasted old like reheated from the previous day. There was no potatoes in the curry chicken like the description said. They filled the yams with more of the syrup. I threw it all away and thought of something else to eat and just decided on cereal. While I was eating cereal I decided to call the restaurant. I let them know thier food was nothing but a salt lick. Aren't deers the animals who need salt kicks, lol. I could find a deer who would eat that salty mess. The rice barely had beans, and the passionfruit lemonade i love yasted really stale. They offered for me to come in for a refund. I refused. Use that money to buy Caribbean spices besides salt. Salt is a flavor enhancer. In the culinary world we don't call it seasoning. If it was undersalted it would be better because I could add a little salt. Sigh, as a Caribbean woman it really does suck to eat terrible Caribbean food. There is actually no good Caribbean food in Houston. No more chances."

Houston's This Is It Soul Food

★★★★☆ 4 (65)

"I went twice to be sure! My first visit was on an Easter Sunday & my second visit was on 2 Sundays later. It's a great after church service spot to me. I've never been a fan of cafeteria style food but I highly accept this restaurant. The 2 times I've been, everything looked clean and fresh. I remember during Easter that it was a long line but I constantly saw fresh pans of food being brought to the food line. I saw servers in hair nets and gloves which I wholeheartedly appreciated. They have meal specials throughout the week and events as well. I can admit that I didn't enjoy the food at their original/first location on the Southside. But this location has redeemed the business. You seat yourself, and the staff, like Ontario, speaks to you and makes sure everyone is good. You can tell the onboarding and training was on point. Both times I got their Mac & cheese, collard greens, yams and red koolaid. My first visit I did get the fried catfish and that was good and crispy. This time I wanted more sides so I opted for the 4 veggie plate and tried their tomato & okra. I never had it before and it looked good, but it was ok. I don't have to have it again. I probably should have tried it with their rice vs alone. Each plate comes with 1 meat, 2 sides, rice & cornbread. Both times I opted out of the rice. For a veggie plate you can choose 3 or 4 veggies. The mac is nice and cheesy. I get full off of that quickly. The collard greens seem like canned greens with no meat. Im ok with it thanks to the sweet cornbread but im looking to try the cabbage next time. The yams are delicious and I believe are homemade. It's a good meal for a good price and portion. They have plenty of meat options to choose from. It definitely gets the job done for me."

Da SeaFood Connect

★★★★☆ 4.1 (61)

"If your not from the area, and your gps directs you to pull into a gas station. Do not expect to hear from your gps, recalculating. You are at the right spot, Da Seafood Connect is inside the gas station's convenience store to the left. They have a menu posted, but I found it so much easier to preorder using Doordash. Well worth giving this place a try. Mardi Gras Pasta- This entree was well flavored and had a very creamy Alfredo sauce. There was plenty of Shrimp, Crawfish, and sausage throughout the entree. Loaded Mac & cheese Turkey leg (not shown)- Imagine a big piece of juicy turkey leg in your plate. Looks good right.. Now imagine that same turkey leg, but stuffed with creamy shrimp and crawfish Mac and cheese. It's a total game changer.."

Big Mammas Home Cooking

★★★★☆ 3.6 (67)

"I ordered the fried chicken wings and they were fried to crispy perfection. I'm sorry I didn't give this place a chance earlier. I have ordered delivery and have eaten in as well, the fried chicken was delish on both occasions. This spot is very roomy and nicely furnished, etc. If you haven't guessed it by my comments, this place is definitely on my regular rotation list. I want to try other items, but it'll be very difficult to not get that yummy fried chicken!"

Soul Food By Catherine

★★★☆☆ 3 (91) • $$

"I've passed by many times. I looked them up on Yelp. I stopped by Sunday afternoon and it was busy, that's a good sign. Well, so many decisions...SO, I ordered two fried pork chop dinners. One reason I ordered the pork chop dinners was because at least 5 or 6 customers ordered them. Must be good! They were. My husband had no complaints. He enjoyed his dinner. One dinner had fresh green beans with Mac and cheese. The other had cabbage with yams. Came with rice and gravy with corn bread. Great customer service. Serving areas looked neat and clean. I will return to try other items."

Gilbert & Co.

★★★★☆ 4.3 (43)

"My husband and I love to support local business. I ordered the turkey leg which is huge (see photo) and he ordered a 2 meat plate. He loved his and absolutely loved the beans. I enjoyed the potato salad and even stole his. My only complaint is the green beans. They tasted like pure tomatoes which I didn't like at all. However, everything else was great and would love to come back."

3 Sistas Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.8 (33) • $$

"When I lived in Huntsville there were a very few places to go for a good smothered pork chop and before I left Huntsville, a smothered pork chop was nowhere to found but I was in Huntsville last weekend for an event and met Henry and Shay and little did I know that I would be sitting in their restaurant for a lite afternoon snack that was beyond measure.I chose the smothered pork chops, cabbage, and black eyed peas. The 3 Sistas are good reason for me to increase my visit to Huntsville not only because I enjoyed my meal immensely today but I also eyeballed some items on the menu like the oxtails, Shay's lasagna, and the fried fish and shrimp. Y'all are gonna see me sooner that you think."

The Shack

★★★★☆ 3.7 (52)

"I'm not sure who made the boudin with brisket like concoction but they were a genius. Smoked Boudain with an actual Smokey oaky taste. With cheese, brisket and sour cream (optional). Different taste, try it. Breakfast is served here as well. They've upped their bbq game and added other things to the menu such as burgers, nachos and breakfast. Pros: This new Boudain brisket delicacy of deliciousness Black owned business Natural cut French fries BBQ Other food options They Cater Rentable outside event space Large parking lotCons: May be an extra 10min wait of you call during peak times Not for people who like bland food"

Yo Mama's Soul Food

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (63) • $$

"A drive down Antoine lead me to stop here for lunch. I didn't expect the place to be as large as it was based on the exterior. The menu is pretty straight forward and there are plenary of options. I settled on the meatloaf with yams and green beans. The food was great I must say and for $12 I couldn't complain. The next time I'm in the area I will def stop in for a plate."

Love’s Cajun Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (30)

R&B Soul Food & Cajun Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (37)

"1st time going to R &B's after church. There were some young ladies on the serve Team talking about where to eat and the deactivation caught my eye. It was 5 minutes from the church Time: 12:30Foot Traffic : Not busyPrice: good. Not over pricedFood: Fresh. Well seasoned. Recommendation:Smothered beef tips and rice, Yams, collard greens, chicken wings (made to order 10 min), baked chicken, Mac n cheese. Parking:Private Parking lot"

Soul Y Mex Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (16)

"I decided to grab a fish basket from the good people @ Soul Y Mex! While I was waiting for the freshly battered and fried fish to come up, that peach cobbler was whispering (take me with you) softly! So I responded and got it for dessert! to my soul! Whewwww it was amazing!!"

Colwell's BBQ/Soul Food and More

★★★★☆ 3.8 (15)

"Mmm mmm good! I found out about Colwell's after a friend had some of their bbq and catfish at a party. He insisted that we check them out at the source, so we headed up 59 to Colwell's. Located in a strip center, we were greeted warmly when we walked in. I got a one meat platter and my friend got the two meat platter, both of which came with three sides. The brisket was juicy and tender, the catfish flaky and delicious, and the sausage was divine! And the bbq sauce pulled everything together with it's sweet tangy goodness. My friend was even dipping his catfish into it! Talking to the owners, we found out that it was a family business, with sisters making the sides and bakery goods, brother handling the bbq, and sons and daughters lending a hand. Since we'd each gotten a platter, they threw in two chopped beef sandwiches to go! We're coming back soon to check out their soul food, which was sold out by the time we got there.(And photogs will like it's location - right across the street is the cool historic Granada theater.)"