Soul Food in Phoenix

Blue Agave Mexican Cantina

7000 E. Mayo Blvd. North Phoenix

480-419-6375

American, Mexican, Soul Food, Southern, Bars and Clubs, Sponsor

2 articles

Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles

3133 N. Scottsdale Rd. South Scottsdale

480-945-1920

Fried Chicken, Soul Food, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Sponsor, Menu, Readers' Choice

One of Phoenix's best soul food restaurants, Lo Lo's Chicken and Waffles is bound to make everyone happy (except maybe vegetarians). The Southern-style fried chicken is extra crispy and served with cinnamon-kissed golden brown waffles. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. If the signature combo seems too strange for you, Lo Lo's also has a waffle breakfast sandwich with choice of meat, chorizo and eggs, shrimp and grits, chicken gizzards and rice, and some of the best hot wings in town. Other soul food favorites include the PHAT AZZ Samich (chicken of catfish with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and dressing), old-fashioned chili served with cornbread, and side dishes like fried okra and collard greens. This is definitely not a diet-friendly place, especially when you spot the irresistible red velvet cake slathered in buttery cream cheese icing. Complete the picture with a glass or two of Red Kool Aid Drank and you'll think you're in the Deep South, not Phoenix or Scottsdale.

31 articles

AZ Fry Guy

13048 W. Ranch Santa Fe Blvd. Avondale

623-374-7230

Southern, Soul Food

1 article

Bobby C's Lounge & Grille

1140 E. Washington St. Central Phoenix

602-252-2273

Soul Food, Southern, Bars and Clubs, Music Venues, Recommended, Menu

Small, slightly upscale bar and restaurant specializing in soul food, and especially catfish. Great place to hang, and enjoy a cocktail or even just a glass of grape Kool-Aid with your catfish nuggets or smothered pork chops. There are superb desserts such as red velvet cake, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. The clientele, mostly African-American businessmen and women winding down after work with a cocktail, are often found swaying to the smooth beats of live jazz or soul artists performing at the restaurant throughout the week. Local DJs also spin R&B and Motown hits from every decade on Fridays and Saturdays. Downtown holds so many undiscovered treasures, and BC's is definitely one.

5 articles

Boston's The Gourmet Pizza

1026 S. Gilbert Rd. Gilbert

480-813-9223

American, Barbecue, Burgers, Dessert, Italian, Pizza, Soul Food, Southern, Wine Bar, Music Venues, Menu

Cafe Eleven Forty

1140 E. Washington St. Central Phoenix

602-252-1228

Cajun, Salads, Sandwiches, Soul Food

CC's on Central

2800 N. Central Ave. Central Phoenix

602-253-9220

Soul Food, Southern, Best Of, Essentials

Don’t spend too much time trying to categorize CC’s on Central. Whether you call it Southern, Creole or soul food (or, more accurately, all three) matters a whole lot less than the fact that it tastes really, really good. Mother and son Sharon and Devan Cunningham have roots in Louisiana and Mississippi, and it shows in dishes such as the gloriously light and bright shrimp étouffée, informed by tradition but not beholden to it. The duo's beef debris — stewed until tender and rich with just a touch of sourness — is outstanding when ladled over smooth, creamy grits. Excellent renditions of breakfast basics share menu space with wild concoctions such as Hong Kong-style praline French toast spiced with cardamom and fennel. You can get some knockout fried catfish on Fridays, Devan’s bizarre and wildly delicious wings on Wednesdays and Sharon’s soul food on the first Sunday of the month, not to mention whatever they feel like featuring on any given day. But whatever you get, it’s guaranteed to be good.

1 article

Downtown Sports Grill

3 S. 2nd St. Central Phoenix

602-307-5825

American, Burgers, Grill, New American, Soul Food, Southern, Bars and Clubs, Menu

We think baseball paraphernalia and cheap burgers when someone mentions "sports bar," but not at this fun and classy place. Dark wood paneling, leather booths, soft lighting and comfort-food menu items like grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato-basil soup make us forget every dive we've ever eaten in, whenever we visit the former Stoudemire's Downtown. Weekly dance parties blow with hip-hop tunes and celeb deejays spinning cool new mixes, but we go for the tasty potato skins and the impressive wine list. Score!

Ezekiel's Restaurant

4825 E. Warner Rd. Ahwatukee

480-785-4886

Soul Food, Southern, American, Recommended, Slideshow

Ezekiel’s Restaurant is a small, mom-and-pop restaurant in Ahwatukee that specializes in traditional, Southern-style soul food. Fried chicken is always on the menu here, and it’s excellent: crispy, craggy, and moist, delivered hot and fresh out of the fryer. Fried seafood options include a tilapia dinner, the two large filets fried in a light, sandy crust, the crispy exterior giving way to the sweet, fleshy fish inside. Most lunch and dinner options come with sides, which include collard greens, seasoned cabbage, baked beans, and a winning homemade mac ‘n' cheese.

4 articles

French Grocery

5345 N. 7th Ave. Central Phoenix

602-277-0101

Bakery, Creole, French, Soul Food, Southern, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

This market/café comes to the Valley courtesy of Kevin Lentz, a Phoenix transplant who grew up in the South and learned to cook in New Orleans. The restaurant's name was inspired by the small neighborhood groceries and cafés that served homemade food around where Lentz grew up. French Grocery offers a variety of baked goods and sweets including croissants, beignets, brioche, cinnamon rolls, baguettes, Southern cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, madeleines, French macarons, crème brûlée and pot de crème as well as French press coffee and espresso. Read our review.

27 articles

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

341 W. Van Buren St. Downtown Phoenix

602-601-4901

Fried Chicken, Soul Food, Best Of

2 articles

Honey Bear's Bar-B-Q

5012 E. Van Buren St. East Phoenix

602-273-9148

Barbecue, Soul Food, Best Of

Childhood friends and business partners Mark Smith and Gary Clark grew up together in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but brought their beautiful barbecue skills to lucky Arizonans. A catering business that started with a van and portable barbecue pit has blossomed over the last quarter-century into a local tradition, at least among people who can't get enough really great barbecue. During that time, the guys have perfected not only their sauce, but the sides, besides. Well known for their secret Tennessee barbecue flavors, Honey Bear's is a local institution.

8 articles

Honey Bear's Bar-B-Q

7670 S. Priest Dr. Tempe

480-222-2782

Barbecue, Soul Food, Best Of, Menu

Childhood friends and business partners Mark Smith and Gary Clark grew up together in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but brought their beautiful barbecue skills to lucky Arizonans. A catering business that started with a van and portable barbecue pit has blossomed over the last quarter-century into a local tradition, at least among people who can't get enough really great barbecue. During that time, the guys have perfected not only their sauce, but the sides, besides. Well known for their secret Tennessee barbecue flavors, Honey Bear's is a local institution.

2 articles

Karim's Cobbler Shop & Deli

333 E. Jefferson St. Central Phoenix

602-257-1801

Deli, Dessert, Soul Food, Southern, Recommended, Menu

It's a cheap thrill - we can't spend more than $8, and that for a three-piece catfish plate with jumbo slabs served moist and mild in crisp cornmeal, along with plump fries and wheat toast. There's great fried chicken, gumbo, red beans and rice, and decadent homemade fruit cobbler, too.

2 articles

Lo Lo's Chicken & Waffles

10 W. Yuma St. Central Phoenix

602-340-1304

Breakfast/Brunch, Soul Food, Southern, Critics' Pick, Menu

Fried chicken simply doesn't get any better than this, unless it's paired with waffles. Everything on the soul food menu is homemade and completely addictive, with luscious catfish, red snapper, omelets, greens, mac 'n' cheese, and red velvet cake. Leave the diet at the door.

28 articles

Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles

1220 S. Central Ave. Central Phoenix

602-340-1304

Soul Food, Fried Chicken, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

One of Phoenix's best soul food restaurants, Lo Lo's Chicken and Waffles is bound to make everyone happy (except maybe vegetarians). The Southern-style fried chicken is extra crispy and served with cinnamon-kissed golden brown waffles. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. If the signature combo seems too strange for you, Lo Lo's also has a waffle breakfast sandwich with choice of meat, chorizo and eggs, shrimp and grits, chicken gizzards and rice, and some of the best hot wings in town. Other soul food favorites include the PHAT AZZ Samich (chicken of catfish with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and dressing), old-fashioned chili served with cornbread, and side dishes like fried okra and collard greens. This is definitely not a diet-friendly place, especially when you spot the irresistible red velvet cake slathered in buttery cream cheese icing. Complete the picture with a glass or two of Red Kool Aid Drank and you'll think you're in the Deep South, not Phoenix or Scottsdale.

33 articles

Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe

808 E. Jefferson St. Downtown Phoenix

602-262-9256

Southern, Soul Food, American, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow

Walking up to Mrs. White's Golden Rule Café, you can't, for a second, tell if you're in present-day Phoenix or the first act of a decades-old film. Inside and outside, this place is a throwback, from the painted-on sign to the tight wooden booths and lunch counter. The fantasy extends to the menu; Mrs. White's (named for founder Elizabeth White) serves utterly timeless Southern food. The writing on the wall — literally — informs you this 58-year-old restaurant is where you'll find one of Phoenix's most famous Southern dishes: the golden brown Southern fried chicken (with suggested sides of cabbage and black-eyed peas). You'll find other homestyle staples here that are relatively rare in Arizona, like fried catfish (tartar sauce not needed), red beans, and cobblers. No worries if you live or work nowhere near the little yellow luncheonette. Mrs. White has spinoffs everywhere, including her grandson, Larry "Lo-Lo" White's spot, Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles. Seating is limited inside. Takeout is available, as is delivery via DoorDash.

46 articles

Rhema Soul Cuisine

1153 E. Jefferson St., #1 Central Phoenix

480-987-1460

Soul Food, Southern, Barbecue, Best Of, Menu

Rhema Soul Cuisine is a Queen Creek original: a soul food café with an eclectic menu of Southern-style specialties like chicken and waffle, barbecue, Southern sides, and house originals like the “Brorito,” which is a sort of soul food take on the burrito. Mostly, you’ll want to come for the barbecue, which is first-rate, especially the St. Louis-style ribs and chopped pork, which are cooked slowly all morning over pecan wood. Still, it’s almost impossible to leave without trying the chicken and Red Velvet waffle special, featuring an exceptionally juicy serving of boneless chicken. The classic Southern pairing achieves something close to peak perfection in the Rhema Soul Cuisine kitchen.

2 articles

Smoke Dem Bones BBQ

1650 E. Indian School Rd. East Phoenix

602-595-3302

American, Barbecue, Soul Food, Southern, Best Of

8 articles

So Full Soul Food

3001 W. Indian School Rd., Suite 40 West Phoenix

928-450-1957

Soul Food

Stacy's Off Da Hook BBQ and Soul Food

1804 W. Glendale Ave. West Phoenix

602-242-1922

Soul Food, Barbecue, Best Of, Menu

7 articles

SugarJam The Southern Kitchen

15111 N. Hayden Road, #170 North Scottsdale

480-948-6210

Brunch, Southern, Soul Food, Best Of, Essentials

If this were a list of the best brunch spots in the Valley, SugarJam A Southern Kitchen would be at the very top. On weekends, this place is a party complete with brunch cocktails and a DJ. But our favorite time to enjoy chef Dana Dumas’ exceptional cooking is during the week. The cafe is a little quieter, and there’s a shorter wait for a table, but the brunch experience is no less delicious. One outstanding dish is the SugarJam French toast. Sure, many brunch spots serve this classic, but none do it like this. Dumas soaks thick slices of challah bread in Grand Marnier, which when cooked, creates a crisp shell almost like a creme brulee. Top the bread with vanilla butter and drizzle on warm rum pecan maple syrup for a decadent bite. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Don’t worry. There are plenty of savory options that will satisfy. Pick from catfish and grits, buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, or applewood smoked pulled pork hash. Make sure to grab a homemade pie on the way out to save for later.

4 articles

Tuck Shop

2245 N. 12th St. Central Phoenix

602-354-2980

American, Comfort Foods, Soul Food, Southern, Wine Bar, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Situated in the residential heart of the Coronado District, you won't readily stumble on low-key little Tuck Shop like you would some of the restaurants along Seventh Street, but this place is worth the detour. Owner DJ Fernandes, an architect, revamped the 1950s-era building into a relaxing hideaway that's one part sleek tapas bar and two parts cozy living room. Dig into shareable plates of Southern-influenced fare, like fried chicken, red beans and rice, and mac and cheese with prosciutto, and be sure to order a cocktail -- housemade tonic water, ginger ale, and lemonade go perfectly with top-shelf spirits. Read our review.

39 articles

Windows on the Green

6000 E. Camelback Rd. Central Scottsdale

480-423-2530

American, Mexican, Soul Food, Southern, Southwestern

4 articles

Soul Food in Phoenix

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