I've been following Southern Zen for awhile ever since I heard they were doing pop ups at the Lab…read moreBar and Grill. They have recently been added to the Secret Trail Brewing Company's food pop up rotations on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. I wanted to try all the meats but settled with the pulled pork sandwich topped with pig candy coleslaw and a side of German potato salad. + The sandwich's flavor was great. The pulled pork, coleslaw, and house made bbq sauce married perfectly. I struggled for a bit to find the bits of "pig candy" but when you do, it just adds another layer of texture and porkiness to the sandwich. + The German potato salad was not what I expected. Instead of mayonnaise, it's mixed with vinegar making it a welcomed, acidic accompaniment to the sandwich. - They were a bit slow to start off. I arrived around 4; they needed another 30 minutes. - I don't think they are fully equipped to handle the weather outside for a food stand as my pulled pork could've been warmer. I'm rooting for y'all! All in all the food was delicious, the issues are minor and could be improved over time.

Great pulled pork, the chicken wings were awesome, the corn casserole was delicious.the coleslaw…read morewas very tasty. I would recommend searching this place out and trying them.

I ordered oxtails, and wow!!! My meal was absolutely perfect and incredibly delicious. It was my…read morefirst time trying food from here, and I was thoroughly impressed. The service was fantastic as well. The staff mentioned they might be opening up at Drinx in Lakeport how exciting! Highly recommended!

It is a great option for soul food! I enjoy the food there when I go. Today may be an option for me…read moreto go there after church services.

Went there Sunday. All four of us enjoyed our meals. The food was delicious. My daughter, sister…read moreand I came from the Bay Area to bring my 91 year old sister from Elk Grove there. I want to give a shout out to our server JC. She is fantastic! She reminded us of our cousin in Texas. Whenever we return we would love to sit at her table. Service with a smile and genuine laughter!

A warm, welcoming spot with flavorful comfort food that keeps you coming back…read more Finally made it back to Sacramento for a post-op visit and had to stop here. I hadn't been since last summer and was happy to return. Parking can be a bit hectic, but once you're inside, the atmosphere makes up for it. It's a family-owned spot, and you can feel it right away -- everyone is kind, welcoming, and takes the time to check in on you. We came for breakfast, but they also offer lunch and barbecue options, so there's plenty to choose from depending on when you go. They've also expanded and now have a location in Elk Grove. I ordered the French toast plate, which came with thick-cut slices of bread, eggs, and bacon. The French toast was soft on the inside with a nice golden finish, full of flavor without being overly sweet. The eggs were well seasoned, and the bacon was cooked just right. BB ordered the cheeseburger with fries and a side of grits. The burger was juicy with grilled onions and melted cheese, and the fries had that crispy, beer-battered texture. Everything came out hot and satisfying. Overall, a great spot for comfort food with genuinely friendly service. Definitely planning to come back -- especially for the biscuits and gravy next time.

Went for breakfast with family. We got chicken and waffles with the breast. Kids chocolate chip…read morepancake. Eggs. Mashed potatoes. Chicken and waffles. Chicken was perfect. Moist. Seasoned perfectly. Comes with 2 waffles. They're thinner but it was great because it didn't over power the chicken. Chicken breast was big enough that we were able to split it and still be full asf. Kids chocolate chip pancakes was good too. Fresh and crispy edges. The fruit it comes with was a good amount. Nothing was wasted. Mashed potatoes were moist buttery and didn't need any gravy! Mac n cheese was good. Great option for kids.

On our recent visit we stopped in to order takeout and got a family size gumbo, riblets, a side of…read moremac and cheese, a side of dressing, buttered hot water cornbread, and their version of an Arnold Palmer. We learned on our very first visit how good the gumbo is and it's become a must ever since. The people who work here are friendly and you can tell they have a lot of regulars who stop in for food. There's a gravel lot right next to the building and you can take your food to go or enjoy it there. Our food took about 15-20 minutes and then we took it home to enjoy. The portions are definitely fair for the price. They also pack everything well for the ride home. The gumbo is our favorite, it's flavorful and packed with protein like their sausage, chicken, and shrimp and has just a hint of spice. We tried their riblets for the first time and it was a generous portion and we really enjoyed the bbq sauce they used. The mac and cheese is good, but I like mine creamier. It does have a little spice which was nice. The dressing was packed with flavor and we were excited they offered this side because you don't see it everywhere. Their hot water cornbread is definitely something they're known for and is really good on its own or dipped into the gumbo. The Palmer here tastes like Brisk raspberry tea mixed with lemonade, and we really enjoy this twist on it. Overall this spot is a local gem and we love visiting.

​Wednesday, January 21, 2026, @ 11:54 AM: I walked into a restaurant called Tori's Place. One…read morecustomer was sitting at a table waiting for her order. ​It's a small, very interesting place! (I found this restaurant by accident on Google.) I decided to stand there and review the very clear appetizing menu, taking a moment to soak in this unusual eating spot. I enjoyed the uniqueness and creativity of the layout--you have to be here to understand it. Anyway, as I was standing there, I heard a very pleasant voice ask, "May I help you?" I reached up and turned up my "pretend" hearing aid to make sure I heard that voice coming from a professional Young Queen. It made me forget I was at a soul food establishment! Usually, I am greeted with rolling eyes, laziness, and--most of all--attitude. ​(See one of my old podcasts link below regarding my opinion on soul food restaurants on iHeartRadio): https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-david-mack-show-105280474/episode/lena-s-soul-food-in-oakland-ca-119449772/?cmp=android_share&sc=android_social_share&pr=false ​Back to my review: Her name is Victoria... like the Queen! ​I told Victoria I was looking at the menu, which has a very nice variety of soul food selections. Victoria asked me if I would like to sample the gumbo. ​Sure! ​Victoria came back with a small, teasing sample, and after tasting it, I told her, "SOLD!" Just from the taste of that gumbo, I knew my Mother's Spirit was back there doing the cooking. ​It was a very cold day, and I would have eaten there, but because of the layout, I ordered the family size to-go. The gumbo also comes with hot water cornbread. Victoria took my order, my payment, and advised me it would be ready in five minutes. I waited in my car. ​I came back in four minutes, and my order was already bagged and ready for pickup. I "suffered" during the hour-long drive home, smelling the aroma of that meal the whole way! ​Finally home, I opened the secure bag, filled to the top container, and took out the prize. The food presentation was excellent! I put the gumbo in a bowl, and it was still very hot. ​I then proceeded to taste my meal: ​Rice: Nice and fluffy! ​Chicken: Flavored perfectly. Soup ​Juice: Perfect. ​Prawns: Excellent. ​Sausage: Plump and sliced perfectly. ​All many other ingredients: Very tasty with a hint of spice. Note: ​There were no crab legs to make a mess (which I did NOT miss) and no slimy okra (which was great)! ​The sweet hot water cornbread was very buttery and looked like a thick pancake. I put mine in the toaster oven to warm it up and get it a little crisp. It was amazing! That gumbo not only warmed me up, but it also put me to sleep like a big baby! ​If this restaurant continues with the trajectory of this review (professional attitude, unique layout, and great menu items), they will be the "go-to" soul food spot on the 80! I wouldn't change a thing! ​I will return because I want to report on another food item I had my eye on before the gumbo sample! ​Go check out this spot and see the Young Queen Victoria! Make sure you tip her for great service (No Tax On Tips), just like I did! ​David Mack (Reviewer-in-Chief)

I ordered smothered pork, gumbo, & oxtails to go. These were the specials for the day which cost…read more$70 total for all 3 entrees. Food rating 1- 10 (1 needs work 10 bomb) oxtails 10 smothered pork chops 9 gumbo 6.5 (too salty for my taste) candy yams 7 greens 6 (too much vinegar for my taste) The restaurant has a tasteful decor. The meals took about 20-25 minutes to get out to me.

Food was great just what my taste buds have been missing and I didn't know until I was eating lol…read moreChris(the owner) was so nice and down to earth I can't wait to go back and try more food thank you

Im not really a review person but this place is super awesome and i cant recommend it enough. ive…read morebeen here twice and the service has been nothing short of amazing and the food is always super good.

Bear West is one of those local BBQ spots that keeps it simple and does it really well…read more No frills, no trying too hard... just solid BBQ that delivers. The ribs were the standout for me. Fall-off-the-bone tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Tried both the mild BBQ and the spicy, both were great, but the spicy had chili flakes that gave it a really nice kick without overpowering the meat. Sides absolutely delivered too. The mac and cheese was super cheesy and rich in the best way. Candied yams were honestly perfect, sweet, balanced, and not overloaded with spice or syrup like some places do. Finished everything off with the peach cobbler and it was the right move. Rex tip: Go once they open because by the afternoon they have usually run out of a lot of favorites. I did at least grab a few pictures of the inside before full T-Rex mode activated and the food disappeared. The giant bear painting inside is a fun touch and really fits the vibe of the place. 5 ROARS from Focusaurus Rex

I highly recommend Candies Kitchen! We had their food truck at an event and it was a big hit. Then,…read morewe experienced their catering for a NYE dinner and everything was well done and served with intentional excellence. If you want a successful event, Try Candies Kitchen!

*this was a Father's Day special and is not a regular menu item…read more This bbq rib special reinvented BBQ for me. I yoinked the first rib out of the box and to my surprise the meat flew right off the bone and I caught it in my mouth in one bite because it was so tender. We also got the fried shrimp and loved the dipping sauce (almost seemed like a sriracha / aioli / tarter sauce (but didn't see any dill so maybe just sriracha aioli) which was perfect for the shrimp and the fries. The food was amazing. I got talked into doing the BBQ special instead of the catfish, but very glad I did because again.. this reinvented my definition of BBQ! Service was great and definitely set the bar high in the food truck game.

Food is awesome. This is definitely will be my go-to place when I'm craving…read moresoul food. Also, the Chef is just as wonderful.

From the owner: We are so uniqueIt from the fusion of comfort and creativity. We take Southern-inspired seafood and…read moregive it a fresh, modern twist, with culinary art. And we serve 3 different entrées every week so you will never get the same thing from last week and we like to keep you guessing and looking forward to next week menu. Whether you’re here for brunch, lunch, or a quick bite, you’ll get food that’s not just delicious but downright finger-licking good.