Mouthwatering Soul Food in Philadelphia

Corinne's Place

★★★★☆ 4.3 (170) • $$

"To my mind, this is the only valid soul food place in Philly... and it's in Jersey. But I tried and tried and tried to find someplace in the city and nothing met the standards. So over the bridge I had to go. Corinne's is basically a "meat and two" type place. All of the mains that I've had have been great, except for the salmon croquettes, which were just okay. All of the sides are delicious. Standouts include the greens, yams, and mac. Cornbread used to be included, but now it's an add on (maybe $1.50). The cake slices are most definitely made from box mix, but they put that jello pudding in there, so they're moist and delicious. The peach cobbler is just alright. Closed on Mondays. And closed a little to early almost every day. Definitely call before you come if you're taking out -- the wait can be up to 45 minutes if they're busy."

Saudia Shuler's Country Cookin'

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (196) • $$

"Came here on a recommendation from a friend who follows Saudia on IG. Because of Covid, the restaurant was take out only. There was security at the door limiting and monitoring the amount of people inside. I knew it must have been a good spot because there were at least a dozen people outside waiting to either place an order or pick up an order. That's usually a good sign! I ordered the uzi shrimp with yams and cabbage. I was a little disappointed because they had sold out of macaroni and cheese. I'm a sucker for southern macaroni and cheese. My friend ordered the bbq chicken bits but was really sad because they were already out of the smoked turkey wings. As disappointed as I was, that has to be a good sign that they were selling out of things and it was only 7:30P. My uzi shrimp were colossal size. YAY! The uzi sauce (sweet thai chili to the 5th power spicy level) was just the right kick. The yams good. Slightly sweeter than I like but not unbearable. The sweet balanced out the spice of my shrimp. The cabbage was very overcooked and salty. Reminds me of old southern country cooking. It was a miss for me. I didn't love it that way as a kid and I don't love it that way now. My friend felt the salt was heavy in her plate as well. Country cooking is salty cooking. So I get it. Its a once in a blue moon treat. I cant knock Saudia for that. She is cooking the style correctly, my body simply cant' handle it all the time. I look forward to checking her out again after the holidays. I really want to try these smoked turkey wings and mac! Always on my support Black-owned/Minority-owned/Women-owned/Small businesses!"

Rochester's Barbecue & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (151)

"Great food - everything our party had was loved by everyone, even my picky nephew. The family running were great too!"

The Nile Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (92) • $$

"This place is so incredibly interesting....and delish! Jamaican influenced vegan soul food? Count me in! Stopped by for a takeout lunch while I was in the area. I may make a habit of being close by more often after tasting what Nile has to offer!I walked through tons of lush greenery after I entered the open yet welcoming, uber casual space. Half of it is designated for various items for sale including oils, clothing and percussion instruments. What a nice surprise it was to be treated to a drumming sesh while waiting for my food to be served up. Awesome! There's a pretty small menu and platter deals such as 1 main and two sides or 1 main and three sides and so on. I went with the first option. Torn between the BBQ "chicken" and the Jerk "chicken", the kind gentleman who has been vegan since 1980 and provided amazing conversation steered me towards the jerk. It was amazing!! Full of flavor, a hint of spice and an awesome meaty texture!! Definitely give it a try! *They offer both wheat and soy proteins and list them clearly on the menu board for anyone curious. I was originally a tad disappointment they were out of cornbread as a side option later in the afternoon by the time I visited. Because hello, vegan cornbread! I went for brown rice and collard greens instead. Boy was I wrong thinking the brown rice would be a boring side. It was topped it with the most insanely flavorful gravy!!! Wow! The collards were perfect as well! Intrigued by everything this gem had to offer, I took some chickpea salad, black bean soup and snickerdoodle cake to go also. I just wanted to taste it all! The chickpea salad was an awesome pure protein substitute for a potato salad, but had the same consistency and a similar taste. It was filled with diced crunchy veggies too! The black bean soup had a little heat to it and was filled with big chunky stewed veggies. Delish! The girls gobbled up the cake. It was a nice thick slice and was moist. The vanilla frosting was super creamy and it was drizzled in a delicious sweet, sticky caramel like sauce. Yes, I had a taste! I HAD to! My girls did mention the icing tasted like butter. After tasting I will have to agree while it is delicious, if you're used to the vegan butter Earth Balance, you may just say the same. I don't know for sure that's what they used but I would be extremely surprised if they didn't. All and all, it was an awesome first visit and I look forward to many more! From great convo and hanging out with "my people", to incredibly tasty food, and free entertainment too...there wasn't much not to love from this simple pay at the counter joint with some funky flare. There was an awesome sense of community here and I love being around other people with such a love and passion for animals and Mother Earth. It's a definitely a feel good kind of place vibrating with pure positivity. *They use all filtered water for their cooking and have a filling station. If you have bottles, bring 'em. **Check out the table with flyers for local business and events!*** There's a small parking lot in the back with no line markers, but it's safe to park there, or so I was told by the staff at the restaurant. I had no issues."

Victoria's Kitchen & Catering

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (227) • $$

"I gotta say, I really liked the food from this place. It was served at an event I attended, so I didn't actually visit their restaurant, also why there are no pictures to accompany this review. Victoria's provided pastries and (I believe?) the coffee in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. Had a piece of the chocolate muffin which was so yummy! I don't usually eat muffins but this was really tasty. The chocolate chips they used were some kind of milky smooth or something, idk, but definitely left an impression. An 8 on the yum factor. I had their fish for dinner and the batter they use, they way they cook, the meat was delicious-- no sauce needed-- and moist. A very enjoyable meal. I feel like theirs is the type of cooking that's delicious coz it's made with love, you know?Also learned that they are a local, small, woman-owned business, which made me super happy-- I''m proud to have been part of something that supports the community and helps women-owned businesses to be successful."

Delaney's Soul Food

★★★★★ 4.7 (46) • $$

"I was in the mood for this food today. The great Yelp reviews brought me here. Look, I'm not going to say that I'm an expert on soul food. I've had my share in my life. But I won't tell you what makes this better than others. I'm not that qualified.But the bottom line is this. As I ate it, I felt like I was eating something special made with love. I'd drive back here just for the whiting fish and mac and cheese alone. The wings had the perfect crisp. Just look at the food on my plate in this picture. Then drove yourself into Yeadon right by the Septa station and get yourself some of this. Don't argue with me. Just do it!"

Ol Boys Soul Food

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (78)

"I am eating cabbage, short ribs. Sweet potatoes, green beans. Chicken wings. I am enjoying all six and loving each bite."

Carletta's Hideaway

★★★★☆ 4.1 (48)

"Love the servers and the drinks. Love this spot because it's an older crowd and it's safe. Food is good. Always a party."

Butter's Soul Food

★★★☆☆ 3 (89)

"Omg!!! I threw all caution to the wind! My daughter came home with leftovers from this place. After getting just a taste of the mashed sweet potatoes and Mac and cheese, that made me a bit jealous(because I throw down on my own Mac and cheese), I knew I had to visit here. (And even though my daughter loves me dearly, she would not allow me even a wing tip of that delicious, golden fried chicken she had leftover.) So being an independent woman, I asked her to drive me there one day.Though the area is going through gentrification,some older neighborhood establishments remain. And this is one. It's a small restaurant with seating for maybe 10-15. There are a numerous amount of clicks on the wall, in various styles. It's very clean and orderly. The kitchen is customer facing and the grill was the cleanest grill I've ever seen. The woman who was the cook and the cashier was very friendly and hospitable. I ordered the wings,Mac and cheese and yams. They were out of okra and Lima beans because I'd have surely ordered those.She put the piping hot food in a to go container but I plopped my butt down and got to eating because the smell of the food wouldn't allow me to wait. (Of course I shared with my daughter because she's my child.) It's a wonder I didn't burn myself. It was piping hot. Everything EVERYTHING was cooked to perfection. The crispiness of the chicken was amazing The yams the yams!!! And the Mac and cheese once again made me a bit jealous. No extra seasoning needed for any of the food. Hog heaven. Oh and there was also cornbread, which I did take to go and is waiting for me for breakfast."

CrayTaste

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (53)

"A great local spot with delicious soul food - we really enjoyed meeting the chef too! I came in with my husband on a Friday evening. IT was on the earlier side, so the restaurant was more on the quieter end. Atmosphere: There was a lot of space inside. It has a more casual feel, but also nice ambiance / could be a great date spot too. Our food came out relatively quickly (probably because there were less people). Food: We loved the chicken wings (especially the sauce!) and the po'boy we ordered. I thought the sauce was particularly flavorful and different from what I usually eat. Overall: 5/5 - I still need to come back! We loved the experience and recommend anybody looking to try something new!"

TyeMeka's Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (41)

"I had the chance to try TyeMeka's and I was not disappointed. Due to COVID-19 I placed my order over the phone and took it to go. The person who took that my call was very friendly when taking my order.Upon arrival the staff greeted me and told me my they would be with me shortly. I had a short wait as two other customers were a head of me and they make the orders fresh. The food smelled amazing (even through my mask).We had the large fried whiting and wing platters with, collard greens and baked mac and cheese. Everything was delicious! Perfectly seasoned and cooked well. Not too salt or greasy. I got off the turn pike and went out of my way just try this and I am happy I did. It was worth it! I will defiantly be back to try some other menu options."

Bleu B Soul

★★★★☆ 3.5 (42)

"Great food. Good service. I've only had the mini chicken cheesesteaks and max and cheese and potato salad but so far so good. The place looks lovely inside."

Food From The Heart

★★★★☆ 3.8 (34)

"I was in Philly and wanted some real food and support a Black Owned business. I goes straight to YELP to check out what was near me, and this spot came up and had decent reviews, so off I go to try it out. I ordered the fried fish and shrimp platter with cabbage and greens, a catfish sandwich, and corn on the cob. I'm so disappointed that I spent $42.66 and the food was TRASH!!! The whiting was old and dried out, the shrimp were fried hard on the outside and chewy on the inside, corn was overcooked and very difficult to bite into. My guy sad the catfish wasn't bad but the greens , tasteless and same for the cabbage. My biggest regret is that I didn't take pictures before trashing it!"

Soul Boat

★★★★☆ 3.5 (39)

"Okay, I went 1:30PM and got 3 pieces Whiting fish and 3 fried chicken Wings w/ two sides macaroni and cheese, potatoe salad and cornbread. It must have been good because I went back at 7:45PM and got the Whiting Fish and Catfish with sweet potatoes, greens and cornbread.Yes, if I went out and bought this and brought it home and you ate it you would not think this was not a black man, he is Chinese."

Supreme Oasis Bakery & Deli-Philly

★★★★☆ 4.2 (27) • $$

"So this place is amazing! I had the fish nuggets, Mac n cheese and string beans! I also had the pineapple upside down cake and bought a bean pie for good measure! Everything was good!! Everything! Here's the thing though, it isn't a restaurant. It's like a stop in and pickup spot! Probably cuts down the overhead for the owner but you just order and grab food and leave. It is really cold, so wear a jacket... and they have great veggie and vegan options from cheese to non-meat options of the meals they serve! It's pretty awesome, no pork products whatsoever so that's a plus too! I'll definitely return! Pretty good soul food and the staff is super friendly!!"

Jamillah Garden

★★★★☆ 3.5 (37)

"The fish fried rice from Garden of Bilal is legendary in these Uptown streets. They had a location that closed on Wadsworth Ave., so I'm happy they brought it back. Ion care whose name is on the awning..LOL. The review from JL Jupiter is worth ALL the hype: https://youtu.be/op00zFJ5-70?si=fsYfFYXsZUdN63DS"

Frannie Nicks

★★★☆☆ 3 (47)

"I've ordered delivery from Frannie Nick's twice since covid-19. Each time I felt like I was eating a good home cooked meal. The standout star both times was the cheesesteak eggrolls. They are delicious. As good as you will find anywhere in the city. That's the only dish that reminds you that you have ordered from a restaurant. The fried chicken, macaroni & cheese, and string beans have that homemade taste that makes you feel like you made yourself the plate of food at a family dinner. In this era of covid-19, when a lot of sould food family dinners have been canceled, Frannie Nick's really hits the spot when I'm craving soul food."

Tasties

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (71)

"So far I've ordered chicken wings thai wings butter roll & yams 5stars, fried tilapia & shrimp fried rice 4stars (they dont give u whole shrimp but cut them n half. Baked mac is 3stars. I've been there few times & only once was mac good. Every since then noodles boiled too long & cheap cheese I'm guessing bc it doesn't stick to noodles or maybe its too much butter idk. If they tighten up on wait time & professionalism they could be a better establishment. Called last night at 9pm was told they no longer are taking phone orders so we have to come on place order & wait which the wait time is 20-30min no joke. That annoyed me bc I live about half hour w/traffic drive away. Black businesses never make it bc they are so damn ghetto. Girl taking ur order on her cell phone. Talking to other ppl bout stuff that can wait till customers are goneSunday night they close at 10 but are turning ppl away at 945 complaining about how its time to go home. Thats unprofessional & no customer needs to hear ur complains"

Shugar Shack

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (44)

"I have been trying to check this place out for some time!The hours appear irregular and it's difficult to reach anyone by telephone..it rings and rings--no answer!Finally, a breakthrough and we decided to order online and that got the ball rolling!Pickup was smooth and once we got the food home...it was All Good!Turkey WingsYamsPotato SaladAll Legit! This is definitely some good soul food! I didn't take pics of the fried chicken; Mac and cheese and green beans..they were cool too!I would like to say I would try again..but kinda hit or miss...I like to feel if I am going to make a new business apart of my favs--they gotta have some consistency!Come on y'all...take a min and make a few changes..this can be a 4-5 star place...No Doubt!"

Julian's Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (26)

"While in Philly / NJ I wanted to support as many soul food establishments as I could. While the offerings here weren't my style, I could tell that the business is a valuable asset in the area and the owner is working hard. As a single female traveler, I can say don't be intimidated or hesitate about the area. Just park on the main drag, plug the meter, and walk over. It's a busy part of Olney shared by a diverse range of Hoomans."

Gigi & Big R

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (34)

"I have been searching recently for some delicious soul fried fish! I asked around and I heard try GiGi's more than once! I was on a mission for fish..but once I got there and smelled all the different yummy foods! Again--focus-so the order area is a small space,but it has approximately 5-7 chairs and one table! The menu items are listed and there were many options! I ordered the whiting fish; beans and rice with Mac and cheese! The Mac and Cheese was not cheesy and easily forgettable! The fish was exactly what I was seeking--seasoned well outer crunch and flaky inside!The prices were reasonable-I will be back for sure!"

Lagos Island Pizza & Grille

★★★☆☆ 3 (34)

"This was delicious! Absolutely delicious it could've been 5 stars if the wait wasn't so looong for the food but other than that..its divine!So far I ate at Lagos twice and I enjoyed both my dishes. Lagos is like a fusion between Caribbean and American food. The fist time I ordered over the phone and my food was already ready when I arrived. I ordered the chicken and shrimp alfredo pizza and it was the best pizza I had. The pizza was packed with flavor. It taste like it was made with love. I knew I would visit again.Then I returned and ordered a fish and shrimp platter and I ended up waiting almost an hour for my food to be ready! Womp womp! The platter was delicious tho...it had fried fish, mac and cheese and broccoli. Yum! The sauteed shrimp was on the side. I also ordered the banana pudding crumble and omg it tasted so good! It was like vanilla cake batter and cookies. Wow!Overall I would return when I have time to wait cause you never know with Lagos!"

Signatures Soul and Sea

★★★★☆ 4.4 (14)

"This place is so good, my wife and I started fighting over this food. Like she was taking it away from me saying I couldn't have anymore and it was all hers. This place is a hidden gem. Everything I tasted from the crab cake to the seafood chili and the mac and cheese was flat out phenomenal. But what my wife and I couldn't get enough of was that curry shrimp rice bowl. Thank God it had enough food for two people easily. Be good to this place. We need it to stay in business for a long time."

Blue Bay Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (35) • $

"Tried this place on a whim with a gf and we were very pleased. The woman at the counter was helpful and answered all of our questions. The food was also very tasty and there was no wait. I ordered the fried chicken, mac and cheese, greens and cornbread. The fried chicken was really good, nice and crispy like I like it, the mac and cheese was just alright, and surprisingly the greens tasted great ! They were very well seasoned and that can be a hit or miss with most places. The cornbread was also delicious too. Overall the food was very reasonably priced and tasty. I'll definitely be back."

Soul Kitchen 5935

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (28)

"I'm so happy that I stumbled on this place randomly while running an errand in the area! Ordered over the phone a 4 wing combo with Mac and cheese and broccoli and everything was excellent! Wings were seasoned well and fried to perfection, the Mac was really flavorful and the broccoli was cooked well (not mushy) with a nice garlicky/butter sauce on top. The food was presented well and came with a piece of cornbread that was moist with a nice outside crust. It is a takeout spot with counters and high chairs around the perimeter to sit at while you wait. Parking can be tight on the street but I was able to find a spot just around the corner. Will definitely be back if I'm in the mood for some good soul food!!"

Keeboom’s Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (11)

"After a long trip to Philly I didn't feel like cooking, found this little gem on Uber Eats and decided to give them a try. The portions were ample; the stuffed Salmon was amazing, and so was the broccoli. The Mac and Cheese was pretty good, a little different than I am used to but not in a bad way, I still enjoyed it. It's a little pricey but the quality of food was made it worth it. I also had the Berry juice (the blue one) which was delicious. I'll definitely be eating here again!"

Jamil’s Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (12)

"This is my go to place on a Friday after work. I like this place! They don't stay open late compared to other restaurants. They close around 6pm on a Friday couple of times I made it just in time and couple of times they served me after telling me they were closed. They saved me from having to fix dinner for myself after 10 hour work day. I'm a fan of the banana pudding,potato salad and the fried shrimp (it taste like mine).They seem to always have a smile on there faces.What I'm not a fan of is the string beans,collar greens to me they taste like they are out the can vegetable,for the people that eat can food I guess it's fine for you but I have a thing against can food. Fried Chicken is pretty good as well. The fried Whiting has a great taste even tho it's not fresh whiting I believe it's the whiting in a bag.This place isn't expensive."

Kesha's K

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (35)

"This is a really great establishment. Quite small yet very welcoming. The staff is very nice and attentive to anything you are interested in. The staff was also nice enough to let me and my friends eat our food in the restaurant while also watching a Sixers game. I felt really welcomed and I felt like I didn't want to leave. I can't wait to see where this establishment goes within the coming years. I can't wait to visit again! Thank you."

Sheba's Soul Plate

★★★★★ 4.9 (9)

"One of the google review's starts off "Lord have Mercy," and I must agree. What a phenomenal food experience. It is the epitome of hole in the wall. I thought I was accidentally going into the kitchen but it was the very small waiting room. We ordered our food ahead on the phone - easy to order, people were nice on the phone. Food was ready in 25min. Menu isn't huge which I always see as a good sign. We got the mac and cheese. Fantastic. Nice and toasted on the top which gave it a crispness and delicious and not overly salty or fatty throughout. We had the jerked chicken soul plate. Amazing. The chicken, the rice, the yams, the collards...all just perfect. The chicken had a great kick too it and lots of nice charred bits but also lots of juicy tender bits. Yams were naturally sweet and complemented the chicken great. I don't usually like collards because of the bitterness but these were great. Price was beyond reasonable for the quality and quantity of food (2 of us ordered one soul plate and one side of mac and cheese and it lasted for dinner for both of us and lunch for one person). Our friend got the jerked chicken cheesesteak and gave it 10/10. They also cater. Check em out immediately."

Pleasure Platters

★★★★☆ 4.2 (12)

"2nd time patronizing this store for some reason it did not taste the same , I bought the clam chowder this time , kind of disappointed , it didn't really taste that great , too thick and not seasoned good , but I always enjoy the pita bread that comes with it . The colossal shrimp are so good and the veggies are done right , not soggy but the sauce tasted , like tomatoes to me , was not a old bay seafood type of buttery goodness this time . They messed my order up this time and forgot items I had paid for , didn't realize till I received it at home , they did give me a refund , store is small only at the window with stools type seating . . Otherwise it's a good reasonable place to grab seafood and the quality is awesome"

BBQ Town

★★★☆☆ 3 (21) • $$

"The service is great! The food was super affordable within the area and especially for those of us who are pescatarians."

Barkley's BBQ

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (24)

"Wow! Delicious food and friendly staff. The best Mac n cheese at 30th Street Station (the challenge is on!). I enjoyed the greens, bbq brisket baked beans (I'd the three veg platter). There was nothing stoic about this choice, it was pure decadence!Work bestie had the pulled pork sammy and two sides - it was delicious and the sammy was HUGE!We both enjoyed our meals. One criticism? They need to offer extra napkins, BBQ is messy - c'mon now ;)I'm not sure how business is going but I think they need to post photos of their delicious options and try giving free samples to get people hyped, it's delicious but eye and taste teasers are needed."

Vernie's Soul Food

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (32)

"I ordered my food before I read these reviews so I was nervous. A lot of the reviews were bad. I haven't had Vernie's in quite a few years so I was hoping the quality of the food hadn't changed.The turkey wings were tender and seasoned well. The yams were ok. They just needed a little more brown sugar and the potato salad was tasty. I'll order again."

Deborah's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (13) • $$

"I tried this place off of TooGoodToGo since it wasn't too far off the beaten the track for me and the timing fit my schedule. I wouldn't typically walk into a place so local but not my neighborhood but it certainly doesn't mean that I shouldn't. Thank god for online reviews I can read and/or a modern, relevant, sustainable app. I can go in w a more open mind or take a chance on a places that might not normally get my attention because I am not in that particular neighborhood or with local, homey places, it can be hit or miss. This was definitely a hit for me. What I randomly got today is just like their background pic on the TooGoodToGo app. The fried catfish? might've been a tad salty, but not overly so. Staff is friendly but I definitely stuck out as a nerd. You know just by me entering the restaurant that I am either not local to the neighborhood or I just moved in. This neighborhood has become more diverse, but does Deborah's get the chance it deserves from its own residents' diversity rather than just on cliques or niches?My random platter is a typical soul food offering and I somehow just "know" even though I am by no means an expert on soul food. This classic meal was also well done. I would go back."

Tay's Soul Food

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (20)

"I love how hard working Tay is to get her orders out to people. The waiting time sometimes is a little long but it's worth it. I usually get the chicken and broccoli Alfredo or the salmon over rice with a side of yams and Mac (they give good portions on everything). I got the chicken wings one time and it made my stomach hurt it might not of been cooked all the way. Tay's is one of my favorite soul food spots in Philly. I will be back!"