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.

love food good customer service soul food so good there remind me of back home every time I go…read morethere I get greeted with respect very family oriented restaurant. You have to go there and try to pull for yourself.

Highly recommended if you want very well made soul/comfort food. The Mac n Cheese is excellent some…read moreof the best we have had. The fried catfish was very good with large portions. The meatloaf was hearty and fills you up. The owner is extremely nice and is very conscious about the food she is making. We would come back if in the area for sure.

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 *=*

Communion was, without a doubt, the best restaurant we visited during our Seattle trip. Located in…read morethe Central District, the food beautifully reflects the culture and creativity of the neighborhood. I was so excited to see Lao sausage on the menu, I knew we had to get that. The clams and mussels with Lao sausage were hands down my favorite dish - so savory, unique, and packed with flavor. I know it would be something my mom would have loved to try! The collard greens with neck bone meat were another standout. Every bite was unforgettable. The wait here is no joke, so I highly recommend making a reservation. I think we waited an hour and half to get seats for two, but worth it! We were fortunate enough to be seated after closing, and despite the long wait, the staff remained incredibly kind, welcoming, and accommodating. Their hospitality made the experience even more special. So shoutout to the staff! The only dish that didn't wow me was the trout - it was a little mild and could've used a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavors. But honestly, everything else was some of the best food I've had in a long time! And I am a real foodie. If you appreciate cultural fusion, Communion is an absolute must visit in Seattle!

We chose Communion because of the positive reviews. My family of four went to Communion on…read moreThursday 8/13 at 5pm as this was the latest reservation available on Wednesday 8/12. There were people waiting outside when we got there and only a few tables were seated. They seemed to space out the seatings to give the kitchen time to prepare food for the tables. We had high hopes as we love Southern food. We ordered the Sweet Potatoes Hoe Cakes, Mac N' Cheese, Classic Greens, UNC's Wings, Pork Chops, and the Grilled Berbere Steak. The Hoe Cakes were the best 4/5 but tasted like buttery cornbread, good, but nothing special. The Mac N' Cheese was 3.5/5 and were tasty and very cheesy. The classic greens were tasty but came in a small ramekin 3/5. The UNC's wings were okay, tasty and crunchy, but we've had better wings at dozens of restaurants 3/5. The pork chops were decent but dry 2.5/5. The steak was a bit fatty, gristly and bland 2.5/5. A three rating being average. Service was attentive but nobody bothered asking how the food was or we would have openly told them. For the price, there are much better options elsewhere. Don't waste your time, money or stomach on Communion.

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.

The food here is absolutely top notch. I ordered the BBQ wings with a side of fries, and both were…read moreoutstanding. The wings were perfectly cooked and packed with flavor, and the fries were seasoned just right. You can really tell the people in the kitchen care about what they're serving. I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend

Our big group of 9 came in right before closing time and it was a one man show for the staff on…read moreMarch 27, 2025. I can't remember his name but he was so patient and kind to us from the beginning to end. We even asked him to take a photo with us. We loved everything we ordered and we didn't have to wait too long for our food. A few things on the menu were not available such as fried oysters. Small space and beautiful Black Galley display. Free street parking. Family owned business so stop by to support them whenever you come to the area or near by.

Went to this food truck when we were passing through North Bend and felt SO lucky…read more This is straight soul food from the source. We got red beans and rice, a shrimp po boy, corn bread, gumbo and beignets. WOW. Go here yall and enjoy.

I saw their truck in Redmond at a private event when I was getting off work, they would not take my…read moremoney or my tip and the best experience was the food . I got the andouille with the side of beans and rice. It was so delicious! Now I have to find them again.

We arrived around 5pm on a weekday and was maybe the only other party in the restaurant. There's an…read moreunderground garage below the restaurant. There's a sign that says parking for Island Soul. We mistakenly went to the adjacent underground parking garage. You tell the waiter your license plate to validate parking. The chickpea curry was a bit bland. The tostones were good garlicky and crispy. The coconut cake could have been moister and less sweet.

Island Soul is AWESOME! Island Soul bought/replaced Arleana's in downtown Kirkland. I have always…read morewanted to dine at the Island Soul in Columbia City, but it was always crowded requiring some planning. We made a reservation the day before easily. The interior is superb. This place would be great for date-night or get a drink or have a family meal. Our server was attentive and helpful, making a change for us last minute with a 'I gotcha ya' attitude - LOVE! Thank you! The food is so, so good! The Seattle area doesn't have enough 'soul', southern, creole, 'island' type of foods. This place fills the perfect niche. I have the urge to say 'hmmm, hmmm' dining here! Yum! Parking is free under the building, and nearby street parking tends to be available, too. The Food: Blackened Salmon, $33 - 5 Stars Menu: Salmon, corn soubise, fried plantains, fried okra We both wanted this as our main dish, so this is a 2X. The salmon is perfectly seasoned and grilled. You can SEE the seasoning on the fish. So glad they included pieces of okra. The frying/searing gives it the perfect chew. Fried Green Tomatoes, $15 - 5 Stars Menu: Green tomatoes, panko, egg, onion, Buddha's belly seasoning This dish is known as their must order. I have no clue what Buddha's belly seasoning is, but I can tell you it is tasty. Fried green tomatoes is a perfect southern dish (and I will always think about the movie). Wings, Jerk seasoning, $18 - 5 Stars Like many, we're suckers for wings. Even better if the seasoning is different. Jerk wings is rightfully popular, here. The sauce is generously applied, and every bit is delicious. The flavorful foods will have me returning for sure!

This place is one of a kind and so delicious for Carribean and Jamaican cuisine! If you have not…read moretried -- you must! We were celebrating my colleagues birthday the day before and were going to see a show at the Royal Room! We got drinks and I had the caprihlana and the Carribean Star! The Carribean Star is a MUST- TRY, the flavors of that drink were amazing! Both the tostones and shrimp ceviche for appetizers was out of this world! The fried catfish was breaded and crisped perfectly and their sides, especially the collard greens are tasty, a bit tangy and phenomenal! I was able to sample my coworkers dishes (they offered of course and I did too) and the goat curry -- try this too if you like curry! Such amazing flavor and tender goat! They do not take reservations but it's peak around dinner time and weekends! We got lucky with the last big table! The menu is creative and colorful. Staff is amazing! They actually had a location in Kirkland but had to close it and this location remains and is a HIT!

Decided to try Island Soul with my Cousin today located in South Seattle on Rainier Avenue. Also…read moreknow to many as Columbia City. We decided to sit in the Bar Area. The atmosphere was quiet with really good music playing. I order the Chicken and Waffles 7/10. My Cousin ordered the Jamacian Rundown with Shrimp and Rice and a side of Greens. Her dish is listed as a Vegan meal. It has broccoli, cauliflower, onions and Brussels sprouts and a sweet sauce. 9/10. I also had a Mexican Coke. The Customer Service was ok. He almost forgot my Coke. I understand there were other Patrons but we told him it was our First time. We had to keep calling him over to explain the actual dishes. Parking is only street parking. I would come again to try some of the other dishes they have to offer but I will sit in a Booth.

The fried chicken and sides were good. 7.9/10…read more The problem I had was I ordered a bunch of food, the Door Dash guy delivered the food expeditiously, but the order was wrong. How hard is it to notice that I specified only DARK? And why not throw in some napkins? And ketchup? And freakin' UTENSILS?!? So, you mean we can order $60 worth of food/delivery but we have to ASK for "extras" like utensils and ketchup? Decent food, horrible service.

I'd never ordered from Ezell's until last night, when I had a fried chicken craving. So I sent my…read moreboo out to pick up a 3-piece meal with 2 sides and 2 rolls. Overall I thought the sides were delicious with generous portions - I've never had a roll like theirs and it was puffy and perfect; the potato salad was fresh and spiced nicely, and the baked beans were also fresh, warm, and not mushy. My issue came with the chicken. While the fry quality and crisp was great, there was absolutely no spice, not even salt on the pieces. I wonder if they just forgot, or maybe it's expected that customers salt their own chicken at the counter, or maybe they looked at my white husband and assumed he couldn't handle spice beyond ketchup. Either way, there was absolutely no flavor to the chicken. I don't even care for KFC but my mind immediately went to the 11 herbs and spices my mouth was missing out on and wept. I might give them a try again or take my ass next time to the closest Popeyes in West Seattle - at least their version of plain still has that something something on it!