I was craving "Cracker Barrel" food. But Cracker Barrel sucks now. Soooo…read moreHam BONZ Soul food is comforting home cooking for hungry people. Can't write more. Food is here. Mm Nom nom mmmm

A few things were excellent: collard greens, peach cobbler and the "southern smoothered" gravy…read more I'll come again to try the yams as a side. And they only provide one small cornbread muffin, but it's very tastey. The pork chop was prepared well, but it's hard to remove gristly edges when it's all buried under the gravy. It could have been a better cut of meat, and that would have helped. There are certainly nicer porkchops available for purchase at Costco (and even HEB) if they want to upgrade the quality of ingredients. There are limited beverage options. They were out of coffee so I had unsweet tea, which was nice. The staff seemed to have something unusual going on. Maybe someone hadn't shown up for their shift or maybe they were training someone. But from greeting to seating to taking my order to checkout, it was just awkward. I don't expect it's normally that way. Lunch special was $12.99. Other meals were in the $20+ range. White meat chicken isn't available on the lunch menu, only dark. But even on the regular menu, it's dark meat only unless you pay a $4.95 upgrade. So basically, this creates a large (2X) price between different variations on a fried chicken meal, which fine, I guess, but for me, it's a strange pricing strategy that I haven't seen anywhere else. But mostly, to me, it feels like I'm eating in a city rec center with a staff of community volunteers. Friendly enough, and tasty enough, but not quite restauranty enough. I haven't given up on it, but I'm not quite sold yet. Wishing them well. I like having a soul food restaurant in town.

Some of the best soul food I have had!…read more Fried okra was crunchy and seasoned well. Yams were sticky, tender and perfect! fried fish and chicken were also seasoned well. I love that they don't cook with pork. being someone that does not eat pork. I had to get every side. Mac and cheese solid. Greens great had a little sweet bite to it. beans and rice were my favorite. The service super friendly and helpful. There was really no wait after ordering. Very clean and self seating. All the flavor kool aid. 10/10

My husband and I found this place online and stopped by for takeout on our way back from San…read moreAntonio to Dallas on Sunday, 6/14. We got 2 x 3 Wings & 3 Tender w/fries and 4 Shrimp & 2 Chicken Wings w/fries. In addition, we ordered 2 Cheezy Mac & Shrimp Egg Rolls and 2 Oxtail Egg Rolls. All of the food was great! Very tasty! The letdown was the Caramel Cake slice that was soooooo looking forward to eating warm with some vanilla bean ice cream! Unfortunately, it was very DRY! I ate 1/2 and gave the other 1/2 to my husband. I was so disappointed!

I was on the hunt for good soul food in Austin, and The Rolling Rooster absolutely delivered…read more The collard greens were some of the best I've had in a while. They were perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of vinegar and cooked to that ideal tender texture without being mushy. The fried chicken and catfish were outstanding. Both were well seasoned, incredibly crispy, and tasted like they were fried in fresh grease. Every bite was hot, fresh, and full of flavor. The baked macaroni and cheese was good, but it leaned a little more toward a Velveeta-style cheese sauce than my personal preference. Still a solid 9/10. I also ordered the Peach Passion Fruit Hennessy margarita, and it was superb. Smooth, flavorful, and easily one of the highlights of the meal. The staff was friendly and welcoming, the prices were very reasonable, and the portions were generous. If you're looking for authentic soul food in Austin, The Rolling Rooster is absolutely worth the stop. I'll definitely be back.

Would you pick a fried chicken spot for a Father's Day brunch? Probably not...but that's exactly…read morewhat my husband chose for his special day. I don't eat a lot of fried food, but sometimes you just go with the flow. Every year, we go through the same routine. Two weeks out: "Have you picked a restaurant yet?" Not yet. One week out: "Any ideas?" Still no. Then, three days before Father's Day...bam...the decision is made! Luckily, this last-minute pick didn't require reservations. This year's winner? Drum roll...The Rolling Rooster. Honestly, you've got to love the name. The Rolling Rooster is located in a strip center at the corner of Mopac and Wells Branch Parkway. It looks small from the outside, but once you step in, it opens up into a surprisingly spacious dining area. It's not fancy, but it has a warm, homey feel. We were greeted right away by Edna, who handled both hosting and serving. She was friendly and welcoming, embodying that classic Texas Southern hospitality. The atmosphere was cozy, with a smooth R&B playlist spinning in the background. As you'd expect, the restaurant focuses on Southern comfort food...think fried chicken, wings, and waffles. The standout for me was the catfish: crispy, flavorful, and coated with a slightly heavier cornmeal crust than usual, which added a nice texture. We both went with the 2 | 2 combo...two meats and two sides...choosing fried chicken wings and catfish. For sides, we had yams, fries, Mac n cheese and my favorite...grits. The food tasted like something straight out of a family kitchen...comforting, hearty, and satisfying. Portions were generous and reasonably priced, so much so that we didn't have room for dessert on the spot. We did, however, grab some banana pudding to go and I'm glad we did. It was absolutely delicious and the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The hubby and I got to enjoy some quality time while he enjoyed one of his favorite meals...a win-win! Happy Father's Day!

Any time I visit Austin. Aside from BBQ, Gus's will always be on my list. Who's gonna hate well…read moreexecuted fried crispy chicken and quality sides. How many places can you say that both main dish and sides are good? Also, for it to be reasonably priced? Ordered the 1/2 chicken plate. Comes with (1)breast, wing, thigh, and leg. Sides were beans and Cole slaw. Ordered a small order of Mac and cheese. Total was ~$26. Whenever my wife and I travel, we usually share plates so we have more room to try other things. 100% enough food for two people to hold you over for a solid meal with out making you take a nap. If you're hungry, that plate it self will absolutely keep you full for the 50% of the day. Staff has always been friendly. Service is generally quick but there can be a line depending upon when you arrive. Pro tip is to order to go if you have a nearby hotel or to door dash. If you eat inside, inside has plenty of tables and chairs. Cafeteria style more or less where you sit what's available. Plenty of staff to lend assistance. Generally people are chill

The other day, I passed by Gus's World Famous Chicken and today I am dining in. Rustic looking…read moreinterior with photos, signs, two tvs, and very crowded at lunch time. I was warmly greeted at the entrance by the gentleman manning the cash register and takeout orders. My server was Hannah C. and she took great care of me and her other customers. She was pleasant, thoughtful, attentive, and had a great personality. She told me about their Saturday special (today only) on fried chicken wings. She was thoughtful in bringing one of those fly fans to my table because I sat in the corner where they seem to congregate. She was a joy (10/10)! I ordered the starter of Fried Green Tomatoes, served with ranch dressing (4/5). I finally got a chance to try it. It had a nice seasoned coating on them. The tomato itself was firm and slightly bitter but I liked them. I ordered the Snacks 2 piece Dark, which includes the chicken & white bread (4/5). The chicken was crunchy, juicy, and had a little heat. YUM! Come check them out. Support your local business.

The soul food Café is amazing. I've been here many times over several years and they have changed…read morethe place quite a bit. It is still inviting and Family run and the food is wonderful. It is obvious that many people are regulars at this establishment and are known to the staff well. This makes it feel friendly and welcoming. You order at the counter and go get your food when it is ready. My only suggestion would be that they have their iced tea ready more regularly.

If you're in the mood for some tasty soul food, this is your spot! Y'all's is located in a strip…read moremall with ample parking so you don't have to stress about that. We arrived around 4pm on a Saturday and to my surprise, there wasn't a wait! We were greeted by the friendly host and seated promptly. This restaurant is decorated beautifully with New Orleans decor but make sure to bring your jacket as it is a bit chilly inside. Also, be prepared to scan a QR code for your menu. I used to love the fried ribs but it appears this was no longer a menu item so instead, I settle for the fried chicken with cabbage and yams. Each entrée is served with two sides and cornbread of which is more than enough. I have to say, this meal tasted like grandma's dinner on a Sunday evening! Hats off to the chef.

Please be advised their prices aren't transparent. There is tape over the prices on the menu so you…read moredon't know how much you're paying until you order. I was shocked when my order came up $27 plus change. It was a fried fish/shrimp combo with a cup of Gumbo. I anticipated paying maybe $20 max for lunch. The food did turn out good, would recommend the fried shrimp but ask for the price before you order.

I'd heard this was the best burger in town, and it certainly lives up to the hype. It's pretty no…read morefrills; just a really delicious and well-made burger with fresh toppings and ingredients. The crinkle fries were the perfect companion, and the whole meal was tied together with their homemade sweet tea. I also enjoyed the brisket plate, but I felt that the brisket was too thinly sliced and the portion was small. It had good flavor and melted in your mouth, partly because it was sliced so thinly. Service was friendly and quick, but I was confused by the pricing because it's not listed at the truck. I have no idea how much I paid for each item, but I did think it was a little pricey. I'll definitely be back for the burger and am curious to try some of their other items.

10 STARS! Down South…read moreCajun Eats absolutely blew us away! The food was freaking AMAZING! We ordered the Swamp Grits, Cajun Chicken Wings, and the Fried Cajun Chicken Wing Platter, and let me tell you--we left NO crumbs! Every bite was packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to perfection. What made the experience even better was our server, Jeramika. She is a true gem! From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, her customer service was impeccable. She was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel right at home. As if the food and service weren't enough, we also had the pleasure of meeting the owners and their mom. They were warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about their food. Mom even shared the story behind her famous Swamp Grits recipe and recommended that we come back and try her gumbo. Needless to say, we'll be back this weekend to try both the gumbo and the Swamp Grits again--along with more crawfish! Hands down, Down South Cajun Eats is one of the best-kept culinary secrets just outside of Austin. If you're looking for authentic Cajun flavor, outstanding service, and a family atmosphere, do yourself a favor and stop by. You won't be disappointed!

Down South Cajun Eats brings bold Southeast Texas and Louisiana flavors with a lively, high-energy…read morevibe that feels more like a party than your typical seafood spot. As a family-owned restaurant, it has a welcoming, community feel and when the DJ gets going on weekends or R&B/Soul nights on Fridays, the place really comes alive. It's definitely a go-to for celebrations, birthdays, or a fun night out with friends. The seafood dishes deliver on that authentic Cajun flavor, seasoned well and satisfying for anyone craving Southern comfort food with a kick. That said, the atmosphere can be a bit much depending on what you're looking for. The music gets very loud - great for the vibe, but not ideal if you're trying to have a conversation across the table. Service can also be quite slow, especially during peak times, so patience is key. Overall, Down South Cajun Eats is perfect if you're in the mood for flavorful seafood and a party-like environment - but maybe not the best pick for a quiet dinner.

I always want to support food trucks and black owned businesses…read more Service: Outstanding customer service and made you feel like family. Asked about the special and they notified me to which days it was being offered. This later in the afternoon and they advised that they were running low on items which was helpful to choose from the menu. Food: Unfortunately, I would like to give them a better rating but I was not satisfied what was so-called soul food. Only thing that was good was the fried ribs. The mac-n-cheese, and greens were not well cooked. Soul food to me is oven baked mac-n-cheese and not stove top mac-n-cheese. The greens were missing a lot of flavor. Again, the fried ribs were okay but nothing to be too excited about. Overall: I would like to give them another chance but I hope other items will taste a lot better than what I was able to experience. Once again, Mrs. Tonya was wonderful with excellent customer service and made you feel like family. Unfortunately, the food was not as good as I was expecting.

I tried their banana pudding - vanilla pudding with banana slices and plenty of vanilla wafers. My…read moreideal banana pudding would have more banana slices and be topped with a little whipped cream, but I still enjoyed every bite of this sweet treat. It's definitely good for the soul. And the owners are super friendly! When you know your food is made with love, it tastes even better.