The service? Incomparable. The food? Incredible. The vibes? Immaculate. We have probably driven past a thousand times as it's tucked into a strip mall, but that's our mistake, and we hope you don't make the same one. I'm convinced that there is no problem too big that can't be solved by a Rich Boi. Get in there and see for yourself! read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Rich Boi - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Decided to check this place out because it had 5 star/great reviews. I was not prepared for how good this place is, everything I tried was amazing! I will definitely be back. Everyone that works there is so nice as well! I highly recommend!! read more

Absolutely phenomenal! We had the catfish dinner with collard greens and mac&cheese, and the fried chicken dinner with hush puppies and candied yams. Everything was delicious, and the fried chicken was hands-down the best fried chicken I have ever had. Will definitely be coming back. read more

This review is way overdue, but Cea-Lo has some of the best food I've had in LA! - The shrimp and fish: Perfectly fried. My staple. - The wings and chicken dinner: Super crispy and perfectly spiced. - Dirty rice: Incredible flavors. - The potato salad: This is the best potato salad I've had in my life. I'm not exaggerating - I would eat this every day if I could. - The collard greens, hush puppies, mac and cheese, crispy cauliflower, and fries: All 15/10. -Banana pudding: DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS. And that's just what I've tried to date! The staff is super kind, and you'll always have a good time when you stop by. I highly recommend trying asap if you haven't! read more

Not only was the food perfect but the staff treats you like family.. don't skip this one!!!!!! -Traci read more

Delicious!! We had the fried catfish and the fried chicken dinners- with black eyed peas, mac & cheese, hush puppies, and collared greens. Looking forward to trying the red rice and dirty rice next time :) *Yelp said they were closed but I called and they were open, so keep in mind. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Most of the way through dinner! But was so delicious wanted to share a pic to add to the review - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

I found this spot on Yelp but came to find out that this is the same restaurant that catered my coworker's baby shower recently! The food is super good; you can tell that they put heart in it. The spot is super lowkey and tucked away. It's counter service but the employees check on you all the way through. It took a minute for the food but they were transparent about the timing which we respected and it was worth the wait. I'm gonna be craving that dirty rice, thaaaat's for sure. Also, if you like crab cakes, their blue crab cake was 10/10. Coming back soon! read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Cea-Lo Crab Cake (1 pc) All Mac & Cheese Cea-Lo Dirty Rice - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

I experienced their food last summer at a cancer foundation event at Paramount Studios and the catfish was amazing! My mom was craving some friend fish, so I ordered takeout and we ate it right in the car lol. Our food was made to order and everything was hot! I got the salmon croquette , yams and yellow stone grits. My mom had the fried catfish, potato salad, plantains and black eye peas and everything was so delicious!!! The staff was welcoming and asked me how I found out about them. It was pretty chill there but it did started to get a little busy as it was close to closing and I will defiantly be back as a regular!!! They are located in a small plaza so there is parking! read more

See all

Oh my soul food bliss! If you want family southern comfort, Cea-Lo is your place. This Mac and cheese is to die for! Probably the best I've ever had! The chicken (even though I opted in for grilled) was super juicy, very flavorful. The yams were a perfect balance of sweet and cinnamon. When you are here, you feel like family. This is a small locally owned restaurant and there is so much love put into everything they do. Even the art on the walls supports local artists. Bonus is that there's some parking spots out front and street parking was a plenty. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

I had family in town and soul food was the request. I can say that I'm not sure soul food and the San Fernando valley are a perfect match but there are a few options. After some research I came across Cea-Lo LA and their great reviews. While I really wanted something more fancy for a sit down dinner. I have to say that I'm not sure that soul food and fancy sit down are a match either. All that aside, I enjoyed the fried catfish. It had a nice lightly breaded seasoning with a crisp fry. The sides were good because when it comes to the things you know and love it can be rare magic when everything hits on perfect. The greens were good not great. The yams were heavy on the nutmeg/cinnamon flavor and more mashed than I prefer. They did have vegan options which was needed and great for some of our party. Someone got the catfish and jumbo shrimp combo plate. It looked great but I don't think delivered to their expectations. The staff is super friendly and helpful with recommendations and you can tell they believe in their product. I would consider Cea-Lo more grab and go. read more

See all

We came here on a Sunday (late) afternoon. Parking was easy because they share a small lot with other businesses. The place is small with a few tables and chairs for indoor seating only. We were greeted and seated right away, but at the time, they were one chair short, so I ended up sitting on my hubby's lap for a good 25 minutes before a chair became available. We ordered wings, shrimp and grits, dirty rice, Mac n cheese, and collard greens. All were very delicious. I will definitely be back for the shrimp and grits. read more

See all

My favorite soul food restaurant the food is fantastic the restaurant is so cute and clean the vibes the entire staff and Chef Chris it is an amazing chef!! My favorite meal catfish yams macaroni and cheese and collard greens with Chef Chris homemade Kung Pao sauce and homemade tartar sauce. Oh my God I could eat it every month if you want good tasty fresh hot food and great service . Cealo is where you wanna eat! Tell Chef Chris MSROSI sent you. Trust me you will not be disappointed! read more

Service was quick. Lady on the counter took our order. Inside was clean and plenty seating. I am vegetarian so ordered a lot of sides to go. Cauliflower Grits Rice with black eyed peas Yams Plantains Hush puppies ( forgot to pack the honey dip) My fav are in the above mentioned order. Y'all should go check it out! read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Utensil mural wall inside - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

I've been sharing Cea-Lo as one of the hidden gems of the valley, and I knew this the moment I tasted their Catfish Dinner a while ago. In the first visit alone, I enjoyed their simple paintings along the wall and cozy atmosphere for dining. Fast forward a year later, and I'm back with a friend to reorder that and Cea-Lo's Dirty Rice to share. We also tried their House Punch. Service here has always been nothing short of amazing. Even on the unexpected day that they had a large event, they still remained open to accommodate a few guests with a condensed menu. The catfish was tasty, but the main standout for me is their mac and cheese. It's rare for me to compliment a mac and cheese, but somehow they've managed to turn a classic dish exciting. Plantains are a side I often avoid, and I wouldn't go out of my way for them. They were tasty nonetheless, almost feeling like nature's candy - sweet and chewy. Cea-Lo's dirty rice though? Oooh that did me had me running for my wallet... I almost wanted a second! Thankfully, those portions were large enough to feed two. Something about this just hits different... like their House Punch. At first, I was thinking of a plain fruit punch, but after hearing their description of it, I was blown away; I needed to try it. Sweet? It sure was, a good "cheat day" drink! Lord know how much sugar was in that, but I ask no questions and only enjoy how tasty every visit here is! read more

See all

The food is excellent and the taste is homemade.The portion size is huge. The customer service is warm and friendly and the restaurant is cozy. we have been there once before and decided to drive an hour to go back because we enjoyed the food. read more

See all

The food was really good and the customer service was excellent. They brought the food to our table and the manager came by to check if everything was good. Everything was excellent read more

Cea-Lo L.A - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Food 4/5 - Let me tell you something them Damn hush puppies was EVERYTHING!! I almost ate all of them before I got home (I know big backitivities) Now that's what I call a hush puppy ! I was being bougie lmao and got the fried whiting fish plate. The fish was good and flaky the batter was light and had great flavor! They gave me like 4 pieces too. Now candid yams were good but more like a soufflé, the Mac & cheese was just ok and the greens are a NO for me. Service 5/5 - I ordered a pick up which only took like 20min perfect timing. Chef I believe that's what he said he's called, he was cool in person and over the phone. He picked up the phone the first time I called iykyk! They had my order hot and ready. Ambiance 3/5 - regular, degular, shmegular! Definitely a take out spot. But clean and I believe there was a small seating area looks like so you can wait on your food while you're picking up. Overall a good spot to get some bougie soul food from in the valley! read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Fried Fish Dinner - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Stopped in on an early Sunday evening with the family for dinner. Low key empty, there were customers only at 2 tables. It is limited seating with about 6 booth tables of 4 for about 25 people very little noise level. Upon entering after we were greeted, the host ran down a list of food items that were no longer available. We were seated near the corner window. After reviewing the menu, I ordered the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were grilled well, the grits were buttery but the oyster based sauces is what made the dish. The Mac & Cheese was a hit with the family. There is free parking in the lot read more

See all

The food was amazing, the service was top tier. The ambiance was quaint. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the water I received tasted bad and at first I thought it was the entire parties water, but I tasted them and it was only mine. So just don't order tap water. But the food!!!!!! OMG the food!!!!! Uh-mazing! I ordered Mac and cheese, yams, catfish, and fried jumbo shrimp. And the House punch! Healing! It even had bits of ginger at the bottom after I drank it that gave it a nice crunch, so I know it was made with love. If you haven't tried this place, don't walk run!!! read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Fried Fish Dinner (catfish) with Macaroni and cheese and Yams with jumbo shrimp. - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Cea-lo will leave your jaw on the floor. An unassuming little restaurant off of Sepulveda that might make you think twice from the outside. All you need is one bite of their phenomenal food to know this is a restaurant you will visit again and again. The staff are poliete and the restaurant cared for well all hide the depth of flavor in their food and how it is so delicious. The seasoning on the chicken is fantastic and had me licking my fingers after every bite. They don't skimp on the chicken sandwich either. Their sandwich is big enough to serve for 2 meals. I loved their Mac and Cheese and the hush puppies were a delight! The food is made fresh so it can take a minute for it to arrive but the time waiting is well worth it! I highly recommend Cea-lo to anyone who has a desire to have a meal that will leave them wanting more. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Drumeetes with Fries and Mac and Cheese - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

See all

The food is easily a 10/10, but the service was closer to a 3/10. Unfortunately, the customer service didn't match the quality of the food. The employees came across as unprofessional, and the young person working the register did not know what he was doing, which made the ordering process a story of its own. My orders were all wrong so I had to wait another 40 minutes to get it remade. Let me keep it at that. That said, the food was excellent. The chicken wings were crispy and well-seasoned, and the catfish was flavorful and cooked just right. If you're ordering purely for the food, it's definitely worth trying just ordering online. I'm just not sure I'd return unless the service improves. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

See all

"Soul Food Done Right" Without the Food Coma Cea-Lo LA is hands down one of the best soul food spots I've found in the Valley. If you've been craving authentic, comforting soul food but don't want to battle traffic over the hill, this is the place. What I appreciate most is that they give you the option to have your protein fried or pan-seared. I went with the pan-seared catfish, and it was perfection beautifully seasoned, tender, flaky, and cooked just right. It had all the flavor you'd expect from soul food without being weighed down by excess grease. Now let's talk about the sides because they deserve their own spotlight. The baked mac & cheese is everything you want it to be: rich, creamy, cheesy, and baked until the top has that irresistible golden crust. It's the kind of mac and cheese that tastes homemade and keeps you going back for "just one more bite." The candied yams were equally impressive soft, buttery, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. They complemented the savory catfish beautifully without overpowering the meal. The ambiance is quaint, cozy, and inviting, making it a great place to dine in. Even if you order delivery, the presentation is still impressive. Every dish arrives looking thoughtfully prepared, and it's clear the kitchen takes pride in every plate they send out. Cea-Lo LA offers a fresh, elevated take on soul food that's packed with flavor while feeling lighter than the traditional, grease-heavy experience. It's comfort food that doesn't leave you feeling sluggish. This is a fantastic addition to Sherman Oaks and the Valley as a whole. I'll definitely be back to work my way through the rest of the menu. 10/10. Highly recommend read more

Cea-Lo L.A - Catfish Dinner with 2 sides. Catfish seasoned w/Cea-Lo's signature spices. Pan Seared * Mac & Cheese * Candied Yams. - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

See all

We ordered take out and we were quite happy. Great tasting shrimp, wings, mac and cheese. The only downfall was the grits, very soupy and not much flavor good luck. Otherwise, we are certain to order again. Easy parking. read more

This was a serendipitous stop on the way to a birthday party and I'm so glad we came! We met the owners and they were so kind and fun to talk to! We meant to get our food to go but we ended up eating there and chatting for a while. We shared the snapper and shrimp combo plate with fries and the vegan bowl. It was fresh and delicious! We kept trying to convince them to open a location in Inglewood or just live there lol The vibe inside is chill, great music and very clean. We will be back when we're in town! read more

See all

Food made by people who love food. Period. We got the catfish dinner and the six-wing dinner. The fried catfish was excellent-- tender, moist, and flavorful on the inside while perfectly crispy on the exterior. The sides were really good-- black-eyed peas and collard greens were really flavorful. The collards are probably the best I've ever had. Both plates came with pickles and pickled hot peppers which was a nice addition. The catfish and the wings were not greasy at all. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

See all

Was in the area and stopped based on Yelp reviews. The service was amazing. The food was fantastic. We will definitely be back.

Wow is all I can say, everything was delicious and seasoned to perfection, definitely check this place out. Service was awesome and food great! read more

Wonderful soul food, tucked away off sepulveda. There was attention to detail paid to every item I ordered; crispy, juicy wings, crunchy, chewy onion rings, thick and creamy mac n cheese, and carmelized, sweet plantains. Shoutout to Chef for the presentation and prompt service. I ordered to-go, but the environment is charming and worth dining in. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - 6 Pieces Chicken Winggets, Onion Rings, Macaroni and cheese, Sweet Plainains - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

We all already know that there is a lack of good soul food in the valley. When this place came up on my Yelp I immediately told my hubs we had to go try it. It's in a little strip mall, a small clean restaurant with about 10 tables. We were greeted by the owner, a kind, charismatic gentleman who helped us to make good choices about our meals. They make all the food fresh so it took about 15 to get our meal. I ordered the shrimp and Grits and it was delish the coating on the shrimp was so light and flavorful without being salty which has been an issue at other soul food places Ive tried. The grits tasted cheesy and delish. My hubs got the dirty rice and it came with shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage mixed it. The portion was big and he tore it up, he said it's really good! You can tell everything is fresh and made by a chef who truly cares about the food he's putting out. Chris, thank you for that great meal, see you next week. read more

See all

Best Sunday ever! My family and I decided to go on a walk for our weekend celebration. As I checked google maps, I typed in "food near me" and seen Cea-Lo L.A so we decided to take our boys on a walk to discover this place. What a great vibe to sit in especially on a Sunday! We love soul food so much and I am so happy that Van Nuys has this treasure for the neighborhood! Great service and absolutely delicious food thank you family so much for the pleasant experience! read more

See all

man I took a bomb photo of my Sandwich but I can't find the image rn lmao. This place is QUALITY AF! yes you're going to be waiting a hot second for your food but when you get it it's gonna hit so hard that you'll forget all about Cynthia not texting you back. The chicken sandwich is so good. The mac and cheese slaps. The HUSH PUPPIES. My god I need 10 more. Place is cute and always clean. Staff is super down to earth. I'll be back read more

My husband and I were craving wings and V had finished all the protein we had with our meal prep. So we decided to support this local b lack owned business. We ended up getting more than wings. We got fried catfish and chicken breasts. They were so friendly and answered all our questions. We'll definitely be back. read more

This place is amazing!! Ive gotten a few things on their menu, but I always make sure to get the fried cauliflower and Mac and cheese to pair with the fried fish or chicken or wings or whatever special they have that day. If you are lucky to come on a day they have ribs...get them! They are rare since the place gets their food fresh but whatever sweet sauce they put on is amazing! Best family owned place I frequent. I know ill always get a good laugh or at least a pick me up if im having a bad day. read more

Delicious food and great service! Definitely will be back for more! I'm going to try the whole menu!

I don't think we have a true Southern soul food spot in the SCV... so if you're looking for a solid recommendation, you've got to check out Cea-Lo's (Food for the Soul). We stumbled on this place while working in the Sherman Oaks area and decided to give it a try. The reviews were great, so we figured why not -- and wow, they were not lying! The food was amazing and left our bellies so happy. We started with the fried chicken wings and the fried jumbo shrimp, and both were on point. For the mains, we ordered the fried catfish dinner with black-eyed peas and greens, the 1/2 fried chicken dinner with mac and sweet potato mash, and our son went with the fried buffalo chicken sandwich. Everything we tried was delicious. He even makes his own dipping sauces and hot sauces, which just takes it to another level. We're definitely going back! read more

See all

We visited after church. We were looking for soul food and we got just that. The best dish was the mac and cheese. It tasted like someone's auntie made it. I also liked the crab cake. It was soft and well flavored. Maybe heavy on stuffing but well done otherwise. The greens were tasty. Non inventive but who wants that with greens? I respect keeping it simple and dependable. I liked the whiting option. Overall, it was a win and we will return. I'd like to see more drink options. Something original and connected to the food. Also the dirty rice could've been dirtier. The sweet potato was life. read more

See all

Had high hopes. No seasoning, not fresh and service was mediocre. The prices aren't accurate either.

First I found them on Yelp and I was sold at soul food. I was in town to see a customer and staying about 4 miles away. The place has a cool vibe, good music laid back. I ordered the fried catfish dinner with yams and red rice. The catfish may be the best I've had, two large flaky fillets cooked to perfection. The batter is light and perfectly seasoned, putting any tarter or other sauce is criminal. The yams amazing as good as the best I've had. The rice also very good. I will be here every trip to see this customer The owner is super friendly and knows what he's doing Honestly do your self a favor get in here. read more

See all

Food for the Soul is right!!! Had the Fried Whiting Dinner with Collards and Potato Salad! It was excellent! Very flavorful yet not heavy like most Soul Food. Batter on the fish was great; light delicate and lightly crisped. I believe the Collards and Potato Salad are both vegan which we appreciate; but don't get it twisted the food and flavors are on point! It's all about the food! Will definitely recommend this place! Looking forward to going back! Note the place itself isn't much to look at, it gets the job done. Service was cool and there was easy parking in their lot. Enjoy! read more

I saw a girl on TikTok say this was her favorite collard greens anywhere, so I went and can confirm, best collard greens I've ever had. But let me tell you about the wings! Extra crispy, seasoned for the gods, got chills just thinking about it. Chef was lovely, funny, personable and very attentive. Watching the regulars roll in you can tell his customers really love him & the staff. Will be coming back, obviously. Not sure what to try next I'm so stuck on those wings. read more

Cea-Lo L.A - I had already started eating bc those greens & yams were calling - New American Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California