Good food, nice people! A little pricey for take out, but I'd go there again. Easy parking for grab…read moreand go!

Let me tell you about Lew's BBQ. Or as my husband and I now call it BBQ from the Loo. And before…read moreyou ask yes. It earned that name. Every single letter of it. This place had every opportunity to be the holy grail of down-home BBQ. The kind of spot you drag yourself to when you're too lazy to fire up your own grill but still want to feel like a person with standards. Instead it delivered something far more memorable: profound disappointment wrapped in a paper napkin. The potential was there. The execution? Somewhere between 'bless their heart' and 'what in the actual hell.' We drove from Sultan for this. SULTAN. On a Wednesday. Like optimistic idiots with functioning taste buds and unreasonable hope. We walked in at 3pm to a dining room so empty it felt like a crime scene missing the chalk outline. Not 'peaceful Wednesday afternoon' empty. Not 'hidden gem that hasn't been discovered yet' empty. More like 'did someone die here' empty. The kind of empty that should've been a sign. It was a sign. We ignored it. Now. The meat. OH. THE MEAT. Buried under sauce and not in a 'this is so fire we had to' way. More of a 'if we cover it completely maybe God won't see what we did' situation. Spoiler: God saw. WE saw. The meat was dry lifeless and deeply confused about what year it was. That BBQ had the energy of someone who already put their coat on to leave the party an hour ago but somehow ended up on your plate anyway. The whole meal arrived in to-go containers with plastic forks. Plastic. Forks. The kind that bend before the meat does. I mentioned I'd take leftovers to go. I did not mean 'serve my entire dine-in experience like a sad airport meal.' Nothing says 'welcome to our restaurant' like eating off disposable everything while sitting in an actual building with actual chairs. Now here's where it gets spiritual. A mystery cup of mac and cheese appeared at our table. Uninvited. Unannounced. Like an uninvited relative at Thanksgiving. We thought how sweet! A little gesture! A sample! The universe providing! Narrator: The universe was charging $3.95. That mac and cheese which based on its journey to our table had clearly seen some things. Wasn't terrible but wasn't exceptional. Showed up on the bill. For four bites of mediocre mac that nobody ordered. A complimentary charge. And THEN like the plot needed one more twist when you go to pay on the counter there's a handwritten sign informing you of a $2 per plate/platter upcharge for 'product costs.' No prices on the menu. None. This isn't a scavenger hunt Lew. We're not on a BBQ treasure map. We're hungry people who would like to know what things cost before we eat them. The bill: $95. NINETY. FIVE. DOLLARS. For reheated meat, collard greens and a mac and cheese I did not order but apparently spiritually owed. I still tipped $10. Not out of satisfaction. Out of the deep social paralysis that will haunt me until I die. Look I want Black-owned soul food spots to WIN. Full stop. I am ROOTING for you Lew. But you cannot hide dry confused reheated meat under enough sauce to drown a brisket charge $95 for the experience. You cannot. BBQ from the Loo. I drove from Sultan for this. I will not be back. But I WILL be telling everybody.

Another review said that five stars wasn't enough and they are RIGHT. If you've been thinking about…read moregoing, think no more and just do it. Food: (5/5) I always drive 164th so I've been eyeing this spot for a long time. My partner and I decided to finally stop by last week and our minds were blown!! We got the fried catfish, collard greens, black eyed peas, corn bread, and sweet potato pie. Everything was AMAZING. The catfish was crunchy on the outside and perfectly succulent on the inside. The black eyed peas and collard greens were both delicious savory additions to the meal with great texture. The cornbread had additions of cheese and peppers, and was a yummy mix of sweet and salty. The sweet potato pie, which we learned Andre's wife makes, was beyond addicting. If we hadn't had a snack before coming, we would've cleared everything immediately. We plan to try everything on the menu, especially the fried okra! Service: (5/5) This was probably the most memorable food experience I have ever had. Andre, the owner, is extremely passionate about his work and it shows in everything that he does. We ended up chatting for quite awhile and our conversation reminded me of everything that's important in my personal life, in the best way. Please come by! You won't regret it for a second.

By far the best cornbread I have ever had. Would come back for that alone. The fried chicken was…read morefreshly fried when I picked it up and the oil dripping was clean it did not taste old. The guy at the front was super nice and told me how to reheat the cornbread but honestly it didn't even need to be. Best soul food up north of Seattle!

Can't go wrong whatever you order. My son is partial to the fried chicken and Mac and cheese. This…read moreis his favorite chicken place. The grits in the shrimp and grits are to die for.

In the heart of Seattle's historic Black Americans Central District sits Simply Soulful, a black-…read moreand woman- owned restaurant. I tell my non-Asian friends that they should leave an Asian restaurant if you don't see any Asians inside. I am happy to say we were the odd ducks in this place! Love me some legit soul food. The menu is straightforward. We ordered at the counter. The food is brought to our table. The food took quite a while with big crowds coming in after us. I suspect they cook in batches as multiple groups received food at the same time. It was mostly self-service (utensils, water) until the restaurant quieted down, then we saw servers cleaning tables, etc. The Food: Combo Dinner with two sides, $26 - 5 Stars The combo plat offers two meat choices. I chose the wings and catfish. The wings are sizable and plump. Highly recommend. The catfish was a thinner cut and a bit dryer. I liked the very thin breading on the catfish, not greasy, and it tasted good with Tabasco. For sides, both the collard greens and fried okra are excellent. In fact, I say the okra is perfection! The little corn bread is just right for me. I thought the corn bread has good flavor while hubby said it was too dry. Catfish Dinner with two sides, $24 - 3.5 Stars Hubby complained the catfish was too thin. He's not a Tabasco person, so that doesn't help. I gave him two wings to calm him down. Lol. He loved the hush puppies the best. They are huge with a wonderful crisp. I agree with him! He thought the yams are too sweet; they do look sweet in the liquids but isn't that want yams are intended to be? I think he just needs to order differently in the future. Note they have a 3.5% service charge for credit card purchases. See line on the menu photo.

My cousin was visiting from Scottsdale, Arizona, and since we're both huge foodies, I wanted to…read morefind something memorable before she flew out of Paine Field. I'm not super familiar with the Everett restaurant scene, so I sent her a handful of options--and we landed on the most delightful little find: a beautiful African restaurant just minutes from the airport. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. The ambience was perfect--modern and clean with stunning African art that made the space feel both welcoming and special. It even felt a little upscale, but still family-friendly (they had a couple of high chairs, which was perfect since I had my kids with me). I instantly thought, I'm coming back here with my husband for date night. We ordered the peri chicken thighs and the oxtail stew, and I'm telling you--both dishes were above and beyond anything I've ever had. The chicken was unbelievably juicy with layers of bold, rich flavor. The oxtail? Fall-off-the-bone tender, deeply savory, and so comforting I practically melted into my seat. To top it off, they surprised us with cinnamon-seared pineapple--sweet, warm, and just the right hint of spice. Every bite we had was truly out-of-this-world delicious. I honestly cannot wait to come back. This place is a gem, whether you're catching a flight, on a date night, or just craving food that will absolutely wow you.

They gave a decent piece of picanha. I thought the sides were overpriced for the amount that was…read moregiven. It held up well for a to go order l.

Nana's Kitchen earns 5 stars not only for the incredible food, but for the atmosphere and the…read morepeople who make it special. It's family-owned and operated, and you can truly feel that sense of legacy and love the moment you walk in. The food is absolutely amazing. My husband and I were visiting Washington for the weekend and ended up eating here twice--that's how good it is. The first time, we had the catfish nuggets, fried shrimp, and fried pork chops with collard greens, mac & cheese, and candied yams. Every single bite was on point. The second time, we made it just in time for the oxtail stew--and it was fire. You can genuinely taste the soul in the food. This place is something special. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!

this is a family owned southern restaurant. That is absolutely wonderful. The catfish is to die for…read morein the pork chops are wonderful. The greens are amazing and the cornbread hit your taste buds. If you want southern cooking and you're away from the south this is the place to go wonderful employees with a smile on their face clean restaurant great music, wonderful sweet tea you name it come here for southern cooking. they have numerous places to park, they are located in a safe neighborhood .You won't regret it. You got 5 stars from That review lady on yelp this is shut my mouth delicious. I'll be returning back over and over again and by the way, your waitress was absolutely wonderful.

Hot Fish House feels like I stepped back into my childhood walking into the many small family owned…read morefish markets in Augusta, GA with my parents. Hot Fish House provides a place for all to come eat really good food, in a very welcoming atmosphere, and receive excellent family oriented service while being reminded while you're there, your family too. Every order is prepared fresh making the fish and shrimp crispy and hot. My husband and son devoured their order within minutes. We will definitely return, and highly recommend Hot Fish House!

Had a catfish and shrimp plate and the catfish was amazing. Some of the best I have had in a long…read moretime. The staff was great and helpful. Good overall atmosphere. Next time im staying in the area will definitely swing back by.

One of the best soul food I ever had! Hands down! Chefs in the kitchen thank you…read more The biscuit here... oh lord, prepare yourself for some mouth watering experience, bussssin! Everything was so good here, chicken juicy, mac to the catfish... delicious, this place makes you feel like home, service fantastic, these plates makes you full before you walk out that door, coming in they got some very cool photos and decoration, feeling like the 90s. Mama in here always knows best when you don't know what to eat cause she never disappoints!

First time at this establishment I was excited. It's been on my list of places to try in Seattle…read more I was really looking forward to supporting a community that is part of the LGBTQIA+ they are also a family business well-known in the community and of color. The restaurant is very clean, was greeted by two servers working, friendly atmosphere, noise level was average and it's a smaller establishment, please keep that in mind. We ordered the french fries which are shoestring fries, side of catfish, a side of red beans and rice, and a side plate of fried green tomatoes, which comes with four bite-size pieces. Being from the south born and raised, I'm a particular about my catfish and even though the breading had flavor, the catfish to me did not taste very clean plus there was a hair stuck to the breading of the catfish. It wasn't a small hair. The mystery hair either fell in the oil or it was in the batter is my guess. Because when I went to break the catfish apart, that is when it sprung the rest of it out, there was a small curl tip sticking out of the top of the fish. Unfortunately, the green tomatoes had absolutely no flavor. I will say the red beans and rice had the most flavor. I could taste the seasoning and the spice with a little bit of heat. I also really appreciate that there was some veggies mixed in with some meat as well. The shoestring fries it's either a hit for some or a miss and for me it was a miss, but I've had lots of different kinds of shoestring fries from multiple locations, and different states. It's a hard one to make. They were fried crispy and excellent. I would say it's more of the seasoning that was a dislike. The decor throughout the restaurant was beautiful to view. There are photos of the owners their family and friends. Not only could I see the love and commitment put into this restaurant, but also I could feel it as soon as I walked in. My takeaway is for the cooks to wear hairnets and if they have beards, to also put nets on their beards to further prevent hairs falling into people's food. Fried green tomatoes are not an item that can be found at most restaurants. It's easy to make but definitely the seasoning on it could be improved. Also, possibly just going simple with the seasoning like salt and a little pepper on the shoestring fries, sometimes keeping it simple is the best. A topic I want to touch on, not because I got it, but because going through the reviews prior to coming not too many people were discussing the waffles and this was a direct witness of what I could see. I did not taste it so I can't describe how the waffles tasted, but they look like they were cooked golden brown, which was nice but they are I would say more on the thinner side than what I usually see at places that serve chicken and waffles. If you are reading this review and you are looking for a place that serves you a nice thick waffle please do not come here because you will be disappointed, and I do not want people being disappointed when they are looking for something in particular and they end up ordering something that they did not want. Besides my recommendations, as I mentioned, this is a place that is full of love and commitment and I appreciate the community that has supported this establishment. It is not easy keeping a restaurant open and it's even harder these days being a person of color to even have your own establishment. As always, my friends be safe out there. Thank you for reading this review and I'll see you at my next bite *=*

First and foremost, the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo was amazing. I love gumbo, so finding this place…read morewas such a treat. When we were there in February 2026, we met Reginald. While we were talking, he learned where I work and what we were going through. Without hesitation, he wanted to help. I connected him with the right person, and he generously donated approximately 70 gallons of his Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, along with rice and spoons, for all three shifts. He is truly an amazing person, and his food is just as incredible. Thank you, Reginald--my coworkers and I are so grateful for your kindness and support!

One of my favorite stops. I have gone here for years to get the best red beans, seasons and meats…read morefor various dishes. Today of course bought beans, seasons and meats. Walked out spending over $100. Will be returning of course. I bought the gumbo today for the second time. They make it themselves and OMG delicious. You get a side of rice and crackers. I did add my own crackers in this picture. Portion size is perfect. The customer service is always great and love all the hints of them on the walls. A must when you are in Kent or looking to try something new.

I lucked out at the Anacortes art festival and found their food truck. They had a couple different…read moreplate options and since I've never been there before and I love barbecue, I went for the whole plate. They gave me three meat options and three sides. I ordered pulled pork and brisket, with extra of those since I didn't want hot links. For the sides, I ordered green beans with potatoes, baked beans and jambalaya. All of it was so delicious! The meat was moist and not overly smoked. The sides were all delicious. The people working in the food truck were really nice and helpful. next time we are in Oak Harbor I will definitely go there to eat.

We have wanted to go here for years and I was so disappointed. It was 1:30 on a Saturday. No…read morecatfish, collard greens, wings or tea. The chicken was dry and so was the cornbread. When I asked for butter for my cornbread all they had was the oily melt they brush on the top. The kielbasa was ok and the bbq sauce was good. The service was fine and it was clean.

I haven't had much West African food in the past so when we were looking for some new food to try…read moreout over the weekend, we came across Bantaba. As other reviews state, this is kind of a strange restaurant that seems more like it's for regulars rather than new customers. There's no actual printed menu other than hints of a menu on the signboard above the register (and we confirmed this with the cashier). I guess this is to save on cost, which coincidentally also allows them to adjust pricing on the fly? There are photos posted of the menu from 2024, but my guess is those are of an old pre-COVID menu, given that the prices increased over 50% at this point. Per other reviews, dine-in orders are also packaged in takeout boxes and can take a variable amount of time to cook. We don't usually get takeout much, but decided to call in an order for this visit. This was at around 5PM on Saturday and we were promised a 30 minute wait. We arrived 30 minutes later, paid for the order, and it ended up taking about another 10 minutes. Not too bad. Benechin Beef ($18.99) - As I learned, benechin is essentially a different term for the more commonly known (at least in the US) jollof rice. In this case, the rice has a deep tomato and spiced umami that combines a pleasant saltiness with a heat level that builds and builds. It's topped with a small side of cabbage that seems to be stewed in the same spices as the rice. There's then a piece of yucca root, stewed but still rather toothsome with fiber strands all in one direction like muscle grains. For the beef, they include four pieces of thinly sliced barbecued meat. The meat is extremely flavorful with what seems to be a black pepper and allium based spice mixture. In terms of texture, it's quite tough and chewy, almost to the level of beef jerky. (4/5) Afra Lamb ($20.99) - This dish comes with a choice of rice or salad, not both as the older menu states. We went with the rice which comes in a smaller container and is a long grain rice cooked until perfectly fluffy. It's cooked with salt, which is something that I'm not used to. The larger container includes a mound of bone-in lamb meat doused in a savory and tangy mustard based sauce. The meat is a very interesting mixture of off-cuts, a combination of cross-cut ribs, shanks, lamb chops, and some random other cuts. The lamb is mostly bone in and there are tons of small bone shards all over the meat, making it a bit of a pain to eat. The meat isn't very gamey and all and is much more tender as compared to the beef jerky in the benechin. On top of the lamb, they include mustard infused softened onions and whole quick-charred onion rings, resulting in a still crunchy texture. They include some powdered dried chilis is a small pile hidden under the onions. Be careful - it's starts out smoky like paprika to start and the heat only starts to build after a couple of seconds. (4/5) Bantaba is a great place to try some new food. While it's not the most beginner friendly restaurant, it offers some flavors and dishes that are hard to find around Seattle. Bathrooms - Single unisex room

Just updated with pictures of food and front of the restaurant for pictures of some ambiance. The…read moreowners and staff are fantastic. You hear lots of French here from staff and customers interacting.