Southern Kitchen

Let me preface with I came in on a Sunday around 2:30 and the place was busy with a steady flow of diners. I was feeling so optimistic, now let's get real. The corncake and cornbread stuffing were most definitely the best things going. My original corncake came out with my meal and it was lukewarm and was still very good. They must have forgotten about my liver in the deep fryer or whatever they fried it up. The gravy made it worth it to keep working my way through. I wish I would have taken a picture of the washed out, canned, not buttered corn, mushy rice and cold gravy. I didn't even try to hide the fact I didn't eat it. Thinking that perhaps I ordered the wrong things, I ordered the 6th Ave Platter, to go, with Cajun catfish, fried chicken, collards and cornbread stuffing. Hmmm...the catfish was broken up into more like nuggets instead of strips, they were ok, lukewarm. The wing was cold and dry, the thigh was hot and moist, and the greens. The greens tasted like Glory Greens out of the can with some onions thrown in, same juice and everything. No amount of hot sauce or pickled pepper sauce was going to make them taste good or like anything other than Glory Greens. Maybe they ran out of they normally fix, but this was my first time there and I have nothing to compare them with. I don't know if I would have come on another day and when they first open, perhaps I'll have a different result. Not sure if I'll give them another try. The servers checked on the other diners profusely, and didn't inquire once about my meal. I think they knew they didn't serve me the best version of what the Southern Kitchen is supposed to be about.

I've eaten at Southern Kitchen before, and it was great in the past. Today I am sorely disappointed. I got a butterfish sandwich. The fish was dry as leather, almost like jerky. There were two pieces of tomato on it, both were the ends of a tomato, with stem. The lettuce was wilted. Food is too expensive these days to pay for something you can't eat at all. Very disappointed.

I wanted southern food and I got southern food here. A cute restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Limited free street parking here though there is a paid parking lot next to it. Service was excellent! There was only one server on duty when I was there but it didn't feel like service was slow or lacking. Kamila was great in making recommendations when she found out I never had grits before. She told me how it could be eaten (plain, sugar and butter or salt and pepper). I got the chicken fried steak breakfast plate as it came with grits. The chicken fried steak was one of the best I ever eaten due to the seasoning. So delicious! If it's the same seasoning for the fried chicken and other fried stuff, I can see them being equally yummy. The biscuit was nice with butter and jam. I had the grits with butter and sugar. More sugar the better. It had a porridge (oatmeal) texture which I didn't really like. But now I know what grits taste like. I'll be back for the other stuff in future. Fried chicken. Fried okras. Fried catfish fillet. I saw someone ordered a hot chocolate and it came in a huge mug (mason jar) with lots of whipped cream. This place does not stint on the good stuff.

This place is the best. Their soul food is absolutely delicious - cat fish, fried chicken, collard greens, grits. The menu is quite extensive and everything is scratch made, with generous portions. Interior is brightly decorated and very inviting. Some of the friendliest service I've ever had - super welcoming. This is truly a gem of a restaurant!

Great atmosphere, old skoolMom and pops feel. Positive vibes and great people that wrk there and serve. The food was cooked well but was under seasoned. Everything was presented well . It just was lacking flavor on the fried chicken and catfish and beans and rice and very disappointed in the collar greens. Y'all put some salt and pepper n that food then u definitely can get a 5star. I can't do bland. Thanks again for the great service .

My personal favorite restaurant in Tacoma. Everything is amazing but I especially recommend the Cajun catfish strips. Also, the cornbread stuffing is one of the best things I've ever tasted. Can't fail to mention the sweet tea as well, fantastic. Besides the amazing food, you will not find better service anywhere you look. The staff makes you feel like you're at a family gathering and never lets your drink get empty or fail to check on you. The vibe in this place is immaculate all around. A true gem.

Came here today for breakfast and was sorely disappointed. The corn cakes were inconsistent-- a few were really great and others were way too hard and burnt. The hush puppies were really hard and dry. The sausage had a strange texture, the catfish was surprisingly bland and there was grease in my coffee... to top it off the place looked like it hadn't been cleaned well in awhile.The icing on top was finding two hairs in my food at the end of my meal. Two stars bc the server was nice enough to take it off the tab, however. Won't be back

Great soul food spot in Tacoma!! The sweet tea tastes like your grandmother made it and it comes in a mason jar!!!I had the catfish with greens & yams!! Its was amazing!!! I will definitely be back!

Loved our time here. Generous proportions. the sweet tea and green tomatoes are not to be missed. Mac n cheese and rice n beans were ok. But DAMN THE SERVICE. Southern hospitality at its absolute finest. Our server-I believe his name was Ben. Just a sweetheart! Truly went above and beyond. The sweet tea is refillable, when he brought us our to-go boxes he automatically brought us a full sweet tea to go. We opted to not pack our rice n beans, he offered us another box which we politely declined. He leaves and come back with another box and said "since you didn't love the rice n beans I'm gonna throw this in your bag". When I checked the bag in the car it was a HUGE slice of sweet potato pie. Made my day.We're from seattle so it's a bit of a drive but 100% will be coming back!

Let me start by saying this rating is only a reflection of the food. So here goes. We ordered the following:Appetizer - Hush Puppies- came out with the meal and we wanted an appetizer meaning it comes out before the meal. 1) 1/2 chicken dinner with yams and dressing with gravy. So what was wrong with this order. The chicken was not hot it was room temperature. The 1/2 chicken was 1-wing, 1-thigh, and 3-legs. Not what I expected when ordering a 1/2 as I expected 1-wing, 1-Brest, 1-leg and 1-thigh. You know half of a chicken. Now to the dressing, stone cold and the gravy was just as cold and thick like glue. The saving part was the yams. 2) Mac and Cheese, corn, I forget the third. The corn was out of a can, the M&C was oily and flavorless and not creamy as Mac should be from a southern kitchen. All were lukewarm. 3) Peach cobbler. A plus was the serving size but ends there. Canned peaches and dough was not good. The sweet tea is good. The friendliest people and extremely welcoming. Service was lacking and when you ask why not bring up the issues, I would have if I could get the server to help. Look, I can see and taste that this place has good food but hot and better seasoned would help and if you say 1/2 chicken give a true 1/2 chicken or tell the guest hey that 1/2 chicken will be....... Make the Mac and Cheese creamy and not dried out and oily. Keep the great welcome and inviting atmosphere.