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    Carolina Kitchen

    3.1 (575 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Carolina Kitchen Photos

    CAROLINA KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Jasmine J.

    This visit gets one star. Not because of the food but because the cashier's attitude was so grotesquely unpleasant. I witnessed her toxicity with the customer in front of me so I did my very best to overcompensate with the pleasantries to no avail. I urgently implore the managers to address such obviously inhospitable behavior.

    Good size chicken & portions in general.  All was tasty
    Leigh D.

    Introduction to Carolina Kitchen & background of November 18, 2023: In honor of my 495th review, I'm writing a review of a business off 495. I was at a Yelp event in January in DC close to Rhode Island Metro. One of the people at my table said she lived right by here, and I mentioned that I went to an event at Carolina Kitchen by the Metro one time maybe 10 years ago, and she said that location closed. I said that was unfortunate. So, this is topical to this year, but I went here one time on Saturday, November 18, 2023. It was a strange day, where I was kind of winging it. Prior to my girlfriend, who we became a couple in February 2024, I was kind of a free agent on a Saturday. That Saturday I had a 1st date in Greenbelt for coffee (and didn't have anything set in stone after that since I was being flexible on the time), which had ended going well. After coffee, we got lunch over there, and then I suggested a walk. I didn't know as she was from online, but she didn't have a car and got rideshare to Greenbelt from Lanham area. I had said we could get a walk at Watkins Mill Park & could take you back. After dropping her off around 4:30, I looked on my phone at various options of stuff to do. I opted for a movie on my AMC A-List at neighboring AMC Magic Johnson. I knew there was a birthday party in Dupont Circle area of DC (of someone I hadn't really talked to or seen in years), which I was considering especially considering I was right at 495 in Largo and quite a bit closer than from home. It would've been doubtful I would've gone to the birthday party from home, 10 miles to 495, 12.5 miles to my nearest Metro (Greenbelt). After my movie, I was weighing options of food to eat, en route to the birthday party in DC, which I was leaning to going, or on the way to another possibility or two (including simply driving home). But I decided I would just try this Carolina Kitchen right next door to AMC movie theater. Experience with Carolina Kitchen: I walked in here, and it was a cafeteria style, basically a meat & three (or technically meat & two in this case; still plenty of food). The line was kind of long a little after 7:30, but I was patient. They have a good variety of various Southern cuisine from fried chicken, catfish, fried whiting, etc. I wanted to go less unhealthy with not getting one of their fried options. I got the rotisserie chicken. I opted for a healthy green side, green beans, and my favorite "vegetable" mac & cheese. Staff was cordial. As for the food itself, it was tasty. Chicken was a good size and tasty, but I've had some better ones. Mac n cheese was solid. I feel like I should try their fried chicken, catfish, or other food at some point. If I'm ever at AMC Magic Johnson or other reason over here, or other location in Hyattsville or elsewhere, I'd definitely consider this a good option. After this, I ended up driving to the birthday party, parking was terrible, but I walked to the Dupont Circle bar and was fun seeing a couple of people I hadn't seen in many years.

    North Carolina Bbq
    Cassie M.

    I stopped here on the way home from a work trip. It was not the quick satisfying lunch break I was hoping for. I came in about 2:30, & there was quite a line. I ordered the BBQ sandwich, macaroni, & fries. It took over 30 minutes to receive my sandwich. They only included the macaroni, when I asked about the fries they said it'd take 15 minutes to make them. This was after I already waited for the sandwich, so I fully declined. They did not offer an alternative or refund. The BBQ was terrible, I've had better frozen bbq from Costco than this, and it wasn't cheap either. I would not describe it as Carolina style either as it was completely sweet, no vinegar or tang.

    Collard Greens

    I tried reaching Mr. Lance London, the CEO of the Carolina chain but was unable to leave a message due to him only accepting specific messages. My issue is that on 11-28-25, at approximately 4:00 pm, I went to Carolina kitchen's Largo location to purchase collard greens and sweet potatoes, although, I believe the collard greens was the item that caused severe illness to my family members! I was the only one that did not eat the greens, although, the ill family members did. This is a call for action! I would like this claim investigated. F.Y.I.: The health department has already been contacted. I can be reached on: rejji2000@aol.com Thank you.....

    This is the Jerk Chicken White with mac and cheese and greens .

    I love the Largo Carolina Kitchen . My favorite food from there is the jerk chicken with mac and cheese and greens . The service is Great and I loved, loved the Uplifting Gospel Music .

    Mama stew chicken (dark meat)
    Shalonte M.

    Large food portions, music and lots of seating is a huge reason I come here. Also very nice staff. The only thing I would change is to decrease the price that you're charging for your bags because a dollar is more than any other establishment charges for bags and to take a second look at how much you're charging for these meals.

    Brittany W.

    Food was good! Service was fast and no issues. The place was empty for mid afternoon during the week. There was a guy out front opening the door asking for money which was a turn off because he was asking when you walk in and out.

    Whiting Fish Platter
    Harold J.

    Daughter's Meal: $22 for a Barbecue Chicken Dinner White Meat with 2 sides only to get 1 Breast with a wing attached is ridiculous! Wife and I meal: 2 Whiting Fish Platters for $20 a meal only to get 1 good piece of fish broken into half!!! Not going to Carolina Kitchen (Largo) ever again! Sad that the price is higher but the food amount is much smaller!!! Back before Covid Fish Platters came with 2 whole pieces of fish SMH!!!‍

    Don't waste your time ordering nothing smothered here cause they want you to pay additional three dollars. If you want your gravy on the side I don't know what kind of sense that makes after you're already spending damn $25 on the fucking dinner.

    Peach cobbler

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    2 years ago

    I love this restaurant. Their locations are terrific, their food is great, BIG PORTIONS, and really good service!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Fabulous food, pleasant atmosphere and great people. Stop by or grab takeout. Either way you win!

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    2 years ago

    The ribs are amazing and the Mac and cheese awesome employees too I also heard the fish is delicious.

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    3 years ago

    Since when does soul food = canned greens and canned yams? That's an abomination to all of our nana's and my pockets. Smh

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    Spiced Black - Grilled chicken, mango salsa, kale, spinach, red bell peppers, bbq chick peas, plantains

    Spiced Black

    4.7(237 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    If Chipotle had a soulful, culturally rich cousin... it would be Spice Black. Period…read more I've been seeing this place all over social media, so when I found myself in the area, I had to see what the hype was about. First off, parking is easy. It's in a shopping center, so nothing stressful there, and the restaurant itself is easy to spot. Walking in, the first thing I noticed was how clean, polished, and classy everything looked. Even though it was busy, it didn't feel chaotic. The staff immediately greeted me and asked if it was my first time which I appreciated. They didn't just rush me through the line; they actually took time to explain the menu, how the bowls are built, and offered samples. That alone made the experience feel welcoming and intentional. Now let's get into the FOOD. Everything looked fresh. They have about four rice options (which is already a win), and I went with the pineapple coconut rice. For my protein, I chose grilled chicken, but they also offer shrimp, salmon, and even a mushroom option for vegetarians and honestly, the mushrooms looked so good I almost switched. For my added sides, I kept it simple because I really wanted to taste everything. Collard greens and sweet potatoes. But they also had plantains, and okra....real deal soul food options. Then you get into the fresh toppings. Slaws, carrots, pickled veggies. I kept it light. I finished my bowl with collard green pesto (which intrigued me, and I'm glad I tried it) and added an étouffée sauce over my rice... and listen!!!!! That combo? Chef's kiss. I grabbed a tropical punch juice, and just like everything else, it tasted fresh and well-made. Let me say this clearly: the food is a 10/10. If you're someone who will give Chipotle chance after chance, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to try Spice Black. 10/10. Worth your money. Worth the hype. Worth the experience.

    This is a small restaurant that has minimal seating. But its cozy and allows you to pop in and…read moreenjoy your meal by yourself or with a few friends. The restaurant is nicely decorated with vibrant colors and very clean. The service is friendly and welcoming. The food was okay. Not bad and just good in my opinion. Its not rave worthy but its still good. I would come back and try other options. This is still a good healthier option oppose to the many of terrible choices we have to choose from, this beats most unhealthy fast foods restaurants. For that reason I would return to try other food options. If you like chickpeas then this is your meal, Im not so it threw off the salad to me. I would have preferred chicken. Honestly, everything came together nicely as one salad, nothing was over powering. I'm just not a fan of chickpeas. They do have an option for shrimp but dont eat bottom feeders so that wasn't an option for me. My tastebuds are much different from yours so I would still give it a try. You might like it a little more than me. Its still a fairly good meal.

    Photos
    Spiced Black
    Spiced Black
    Spiced Black

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    Vibes Southern Cuisine - Collard Greens

    Vibes Southern Cuisine

    4.5(160 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $$

    At last, after years of seeing them place in the local top places to eat, I finally paid them a…read morevisit. They're usually closed the days that I'm in the Upper Marlboro area, but not this time! It's in the same Plaza as the Amish market, so there's plenty of parking. I stepped inside and there were a couple of chairs for waiting along the window. Otherwise, it's a small open space and there are desserts on display, I'm in you to read, and very polite staff behind the counter. I decided to get the blackened salmon and shrimp entree with collard greens and mac and cheese. I got their salts at caramel banana pudding for dessert. I decided to use my insulated bag and wait until I got to my friend's house to eat. I love the shrimp and the salmon. They were seasoned well, but not to a point of tasting too salty, which can happen at a lot of soul food restaurants for me. Unfortunately, despite the good flavor, this was the case with the collard greens, whew. Also, there is turkey in there, so don't get it as a vegetarian option! The mac and cheese was good... Not sure where I would put it in my rankings, but I enjoyed it. That banana pudding.... Whoa. It was the perfect dessert, and I would happily get it again. The salted caramel and banana balance surprisingly well. Their top rankings are well deserved, and I am looking forward to trying their wings and other items next time!

    Spent this afternoon at one of the local wineries and was in the mood for some fried fish…read moreafterwards and stopped here on my way home. The fish was seasoned very well...my fried shrimp were tooooo salty...the mashed sweet potatoes were ok...greens bland, Mac & cheese-eehhh & the potato salad disgusting. Smh...this place has definitely fallen off since I remember...WHAT HAPPENED?! lol Isn't the saying: "things get better with time" ??? Not in this case... Oh & my hush puppies were ok...& that caramel banana pudding was tooooo freaking sweet for me... I was disappointed... was rooting for this spot! I remember when the owners were first beginning... not too many good local soul food spots that have good potato around here... & the customer service needs help! Happy Yelping!

    Photos
    Vibes Southern Cuisine - Wall of Affirmations and Encouragement

    Wall of Affirmations and Encouragement

    Vibes Southern Cuisine
    Vibes Southern Cuisine - Good food going back for more DOPENESS

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    Good food going back for more DOPENESS

    Carolina Kitchen - Meatloaf Mac and cheese collard greens

    Carolina Kitchen

    3.4(79 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    When I tell you this was the best meal I had all month, I mean it. Look, I'm from Dallas and there…read moreare some good soul food restaurants around, but it's been a minute since I've gone to any of them because you just get stuck in a rut when going out to eat sometimes. Coming back to MD for work however means I get to Uber eats on the company dime. No, I don't want McDonalds or Chipotle. Oh, look! Carolina Kitchen! My favorite item to get at any southern/soul food restaurant is always smothered pork chops with greens and mac and cheese. I was a little surprised at how expensive the plate was here but after ONE bite of the mac and cheese, I realized that it was well worth it. Best mac and cheese I've had. First, when my delivery driver dropped off my plate I was thinking to myself, Dang, this is heavy! I only ordered one plate but it felt like 2lbs of food. When I opened the container I was pleasantly surprised that it was packed! Two pork chops (sauce on side, thank you), huge servings of mac and cheese and greens and a cornbread. All fantastic. I can't speak on the other items, but I know what I ordered was straight fire. It was so good that I told a co-worker to check it out when I returned back to my home office so they can experience the awesomeness.

    It was good. I would bring my family here for some soul food but it wouldn't be the best I've ever…read morehad by any means. Staff was nice and helpful but couldn't explain why there were no menus, nameplates for the items, or prices listed anywhere. The line was so long because the staff has to answer the same questions over and over. A simple sign would help expedite things. I got the BBQ chicken, greens, and Mac and cheese. Everything was good but MUCH sweeter than you'd make at home. Sugar in the chicken. Sugar in the greens. Mac didn't have sugar but it was so thick and rich that you really can't finish it. Sweet tea was great, that had an appropriate amount of sugar for a southern-style tea, but I personally could still stand to have 25% less sugar in that. The price was about $25 for my food and drink which was okay, but I think if you're coming as a couple or family with kids, the smart way to order cheaply would be to get 1-3 small $7 sides, and then order the meats separately and split it with your people. Bring your own water. You'd probably spend $40 to feed 4 people that way instead of $100 for 4 plates. The sides are so rich that you may eat 10 bites before getting full, but the amount of meat you get is not enough for the sides. I ate all the chicken but I didn't make a dent in the sides on my plate, two other people could've eaten my left overs and been more than full.

    Photos
    Carolina Kitchen - Dining room

    Dining room

    Carolina Kitchen - Creole Grilled Salmon

    Creole Grilled Salmon

    Carolina Kitchen - Interior photos

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    Interior photos

    Auntie’s Eats - My Lord, my Lorddddd! Best green beans ever!

    Auntie’s Eats

    5.0(4 reviews)
    7.7 mi

    I had the pleasure of stumbling across this business looking for Caribbean spots that were close…read more I'll try anything once! I'm so happy I did because if I could describe the overall taste and quality, it's "the cousin who cooks family dinner with the flavor of our Auntie's, but the technique and health-consciousness of a well trained chef" kind of deal lol. Everything was so delicious! I had the green beans , mashed potato, candied yams, and jerk lamb meatloaf. So you're aware, the food is made to order so it's perfect when you're planning ahead for lunch or dinner. They also deliver! (Ask for details dep. on your area). The chef was so, so nice! It's an honor to support her business! All of the vegetables tasted like they were farm-fresh--nothing was frozen! The green beans were expertly cooked with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions. The best green beans ever! I would love to get these again! The mashed potatoes were so creamy and the yams were nice and sweet, but not too, too sweet. They were perfectly balanced and had the best texture! The meatloaf was made with all of the love in the world! Now, since it has lamb, the flavor is very, very prominent. I'm not really a big meat person but this was a cool touch, and I'll try anything once! If you're a huge fan of lamb, I recommend it. I loved how there was gravy at the bottom and the traditional tomato based topping on top! I shared with my brother when he came to visit, he tore it all up! Lol. I would definitely order from Auntie's again. I saw that a friend follows the chef on social media and she absolutely loves Auntie's, too! Shame on me for putting this delicious food on a paper plate, but last night I had come home from dance class and had to eat immediately lol.

    Where do I start?! The oxtails were beyond delicious. The flavors were everything. I have also had…read morethe shrimp pasta!!! OMG! I was mad when I finished my plate. For the amount of food you receive it is worth penny spent. Auntie puts her whole foot in these dishes!

    Photos
    Auntie’s Eats - The jerk lamb/beef meatloaf!

    The jerk lamb/beef meatloaf!

    Auntie’s Eats - Jerk meatloaf (made of lamb and beef), mashed potatoes, yams, and green beans.

    Jerk meatloaf (made of lamb and beef), mashed potatoes, yams, and green beans.

    Auntie’s Eats - Trini Oxtail Dinner

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    Trini Oxtail Dinner

    KitchenCray Cafe - Upside Down Banana Cake (6/5 NOMs)

    KitchenCray Cafe

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    MangoPassion Refresher - 10/10 Mumbo Shrimp Deviled Eggs -…read more9/10 French Toast - 10/10 (get the half order - it's filling) Showtime Omelette - 10/10 Every single thing I ate was amazing. This is the quieter location and it definitely comes correct with taste. I am officially a loyal customer. Service: We had Ylicia and she was very good. Super attentive and even sat us (no host was at the front). We appreciate her.

    This my second time at this location and it's been an enjoyable experience…read more Parking: parking lot with plenty of parking spots. Wait: we came in a sunday around 12:30 and there was no wait for a party of 2. We were seated quickly. Vibe: I love the old school R&B being played by the dj. It's a fun vibe. It's also great that the music isn't so loud that it's hard to hear, Food: we for the shrimp deviled eggs and they were delicious. The shrimp was a nice size and well seasoned. We got a side of the lemon pepper honey lamb chops and they were cooked well and the sauce was addictive. I ordered the shrimp and crab omelette and I thought it was ok. I asked for light cheese but it was still a good amount of cheese. The omelette was topped with the crab and shrimp. It was a decent omelet but not the best. My fiancée got the french toast and he said it was good but tasted more like cap'n crunch than french toast. He felt his eggs had way too much cheese. The tater tots were perfect.

    Photos
    KitchenCray Cafe - BBQ Salmon (4/5 NOMs)

    BBQ Salmon (4/5 NOMs)

    KitchenCray Cafe - Attending Kitchen Cray kitchen take over during Secret Suppers DC event

    Attending Kitchen Cray kitchen take over during Secret Suppers DC event

    KitchenCray Cafe - Pan Seared Chicken (5/5 NOMs)

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    Pan Seared Chicken (5/5 NOMs)

    Carolina Kitchen - southern - Updated June 2026

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