The food was heavily seasoned and salted and the venue was not at all what I expected. I found this place via restaurants.com, as they were running a deal at the time. After reading the raving Yelp reviews, I was very excited to try this place. In my opinion, the food is a little overpriced and the atmosphere was meh. The staff was friendly at least. My boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles and it was okay. It had feathers in it, which was pretty gross to me. Didn't seem like the most clean, sanitized restaurant, but then again it's a smaller, family-owned chain. Overall, this place was decent, but I probably wouldn't come back or recommend it. read more

I went to Seattle bite last month and Simply Soulful had a stand there. Having moved here to Seattle from the South I was missing such southern cuisine. The catfish sandwich was delicious! Recently, I decided to give the cafè a try! As far as the food goes- it was amazing. The fried chicken wings were perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, the candied yams were on point and the collard greens tasted like home. The woman who took my order was very sweet! However, the set up seemed a little bit sloppy. For example one of the staff used the compost bin in the dining room to drain a bowl of raw chicken. read more

The food here is very delicious and has "home cooked meal" stamped all over it. I order the fried chicken wings and they are good. I've witnessed other customers commenting on how good the grits and shrimp are too. If you eat here, you cannot be in a hurry. Everything is done at a snail's pace because one staff member might be your order taker, server, cook and cashier and multi-tasking is not their strong point. I use that lag time as an opportunity to connect with those dining with me and just make sure when I go, I have enough time for that. For me, I choose to look at it as part of the experience, rather than a bad experience (like I normally would). The result of that wait is hot, fresh food, that tastes as if I made it myself. Nothing is coming to the table lukewarm or as if it's been under lights. It's fresh! I loved seeing scratch cakes being iced and peach cobbler being made while I was waiting. Good food! Nice staff! read more

Cute little spot off Madison in Seattle. Tiny parking lot but we got pretty lucky and found a spot right away. It was jam packed in there but we managed to find a table right away too right by the windows. So all that was great. Everything seemed to be made fresh to order which is a good thing foodwise - but it did take about an hour before our food was brought out to our tables. The shrimp grits were pretty good, nice amount of heat to them, a bit oil for my taste buds but the grits themselves were cooked to perfect, nice light and fluffy texture, the shrimp had a lot of seasoning and the perfect amount of heat as well. Definitely left my full. My wife had the chicken and waffles, couple of deep fried wings piled high on an extra fluffy waffle. All on point, perfectly cooked chicken, plenty of flavor, solid waffle though I prefer more of a cornbread waffle with crisp. We had a side of collard greens which were cooked perfectly as well and a side of mac and cheese, it was good but not amazing. The sweet tea however was on point, it was like drinking cool sugar water lol - just how sweet tea should taste! Overall - pretty solid joint with good food. Hard to want to come back simply due to how far it is from Renton, the small parking lot, and the time to get the food. But if you're in the area and want some solid home style soul food - this is the joint you HAVE to check out! read more

Excellent staff, really genuine people, and their sweet tea makes me drool! So good! Mmmmm! Very much just like momma used to make, y'all.

Amazing. Felt right at home! She made us some really good coffee and fed us amazing brunch. 11/10 would come back.

I stumbled across this lovely spot last Sunday morning. The view from the outside doesn't do the place justice. We were greeted by friendly staff and a nice environment. The food was STELLAR. Everything was fresh and perfectly seasoned from the catfish, to the biscuits to the grits. We waited a bit or our food, but it was worth every minute. You can tell that they take their time to make quality food read more

Another place that was out of the way for us, however, tackled on a bumbershoot one off road trip. It's comfort food southern style, therefore, expect and embrace the grease. If you're on some sort of healthy eating plan, don't come here for any sort of culinary redemption. I had to let all of this go at the door and with good reason. Firstly the prices are very reasonable. I explained that I didn't have much experience in the soul food department and the lady was super charming and friendly about it. I ended up with a mile high biscuit sandwich that got the most "likes" on my food Instagram Page that trip. Seriously this thing was huge and filling for me that I needed to take a breather break. read more

Some of the best southern food in Seattle! pecan pies, fried chicken., and (the best) Mac n cheese. Cute, friendly staff and delicious food

Hole in the wall vibe. Friendly service. Good solid southern fair. Excellent fried chicken. Good American-style waffles. Grits and shrimp had good flavor. Grits could have been a bit creamier. Good portion size. read more

Amazing home made food. Stopped for breakfast and the wife had the fritata and i had the catfish and grits with eggs. The grits were creamy and dreamy while the catfish wasn't over battered and juat the right amount of flaky and moist. The best thing were the personalities behind the counter, the banter and the charm was endless. Highlights, catfish, fresh baked corn bread and homemade biscuits. Took peach cobbler and bread pudding to go...i suspect they will be great, just like everything else. read more

Great food and quick seating even on a holiday. The chicken and waffles were great and the mac and cheese and yams were amazing!

Great food! The macaroni and cheese and fried catfish and fried chicken and potato salad were so tasty. I got delivery from Grub Hub. The food was hot and fresh when it arrived. I'll order from here again and again. read more

This is an excellent soul food restaurant in Seattle very tasteful and delicious. The shrimp and grits and chicken wing dinner with Green yummy..... If you love Southern food you will fall in love with this places........... Customer service is an 10++++++++ read more

My family stopped here Thursday evening after a day of flying in town to visit my sister. We ate like pigs and it was soooo good. Mac and cheese made fresh to order, the black eyed peas were to die for, the corn muffins, chicken wings, greens, candied yams. I don't think we ordered anything we didn't like. If you're craving some delish southern food in a relaxed setting, bring yourself, your family AND your friends! read more

Best fried chicken and biscuits and gravy that I've ever had! I can't wait to go back!

Their food is always great, love the greens I usually get their catfish, but this last time I got their banana pudding!!!!!!!! SOOOOOO GOOOOD! Got to try more of their deserts! read more

I have put Simple Soulful on heavy rotation. I come here once a week. It's black owned and run by black folks, which is rare in Seattle (thanks gentrification). What's good here? Well, I think the question is 'What isn't good here?' I am in love with their chicken and waffles. They serve a pretty hefty waffle with some of the most yummy chicken I've had (in a chicken/waffle combo). Their grits are pretty fantastic too. Never doughy and dry. Mac and cheese: on point. They bake their mac and cheese so it comes out piping hot and crusty on the edges. Ooh and their candied yams are really good too. You can taste the nutmeg and cinnamon. Don't get me started on the yummy strawberry cake served with a thick white frosting. Be ready to wait if you go during brunch hours. The location is small with 6-8 tables, but it's well worth the wait! read more

Best soul food in Seattle. There catfish is to die for. The food was so good I ordered some to go!

Ummm, delicious food. I had some difficultly finding this place, but I saw so many good reviews I was determined to find this place. The good: there is a very warm atmosphere of welcoming. I ordered catfish, grits, cornmeal waffle and candied yams. I was aware of the reviews of food taking time, so I was prepared for a wait. I was impressed with the hard working cook, who you could see preparing food. I was happy with seeing my food being made and delivered fairly promptly. The food was delicious. Catfish was on point and with a crispy cover. Cornbread muffin was light and sweet. Grits were good, but I favor savory rather than sweet grits. Sweet tea was delicious. Got greens to go, I enjoyed the flavor and softness. The bad: Served a glass of water, but water was warm. Catfish came with no tartar sauce. I read later they made their own and was sorry I didn't get any.My waiter must have forgot this. He also forgot my waffle until it was time to pay. He forgot to warm my muffin until my food came, but he quickly warmed and gave me my muffin. Since he seemed to be struggling, I didn't remind him about my waffle. It seemed the cook had to monitor the waiter to make sure people got their orders. He was nice, but may not be the best choice of a waiter. Loved the food and would come back for this alone. read more

Service is lame. Tables not cleaned. Staff lazy and inattentive. Management not engaged at all. Hot sauce bottles empty on tables. Probably my only visit. Counters need to be cleaned. A sour smell occurred after the table got eventually wiped down. Lots of clutter in and around work stations. A fly at the table was a constant companion even with no food being served. The restaurant is not even full and drink orders are not getting filled. Lame. read more

This is not the place to go. Staff frustrated, food took forever to come then was cold, greasy and missing items with no apology.

Amazing! Thank you Barbara and Mariah for serving us with 15 minutes till closing! The food was amazing!

The food was delicious. However, the proportions are not comparable to the menu prices. I ordered the chicken and catfish combo. The menu read 3 wings.........when my plate arrived it was 3 drumettes and a filet cut in half with 2 sides for $18.95. Excuse me, the menu said "wings." Very clean restaurant and the food is awesome. Would have earned a 5 but the food proportions killed their rating. read more

Place: The parking is tight but don't let that stop you I was blessed to find a parking spot inside the lot and pre called my order in 10 minutes prior to arrival. The restaurant is boutique few tables but if you wait 30minutes one will open even when it is packed. Service: After 3 minutes I was greeted by a waiter who told me it would be a minute after serving some hot food to prior customers. After about 10 minutes I was attended to by a waitress who was young and friendly, but since a new older white gentleman took my order she said I had to wait for him because she wasn't sure about the order and it was written down. The older gentleman was friendly but as confused as the other waitress but he was new. I had to wait another 25 minutes at least for the food so the food is on CPT time but worth the wait if you have time, but don't expect to get out of their quick. Food The food is the best soulful you can get in the city the catfish was seasoned the southern way, the red beans and rice was done just right, I would have liked it a bit spicy but understand everyone doesn't like spice. Overall : The Food is worth the wait, the service is decent, and the place is in the heart of the city read more

I went here for lunch today and Simply Soulful, was simply delicious! We had the Chicken Wing dinner with grits and greens and Fired Catfish with potato salad and greens. The wings give Ezell's a run for their money and the catfish was perfect...I won't be missing Catfish Corner anymore. It's a wonderful neighborhood place...comfortable and welcoming. Everything on the menu looked great so I'm going to have to keep coming back until I've tired it all. read more

An absolutely fantastic find! Brought back memories of all the outstanding soulfood I had growing up back in the 70s and this place didn't disappoint. That being said, the place is tucked away from the street and is very small, and the kitchen is right there, next to the tables. It appears there is one unofficial waitperson that takes orders. BUT just about everything is made to order and it is fabulous. Had the Chix and waffles for breakfast and my cup of coffee - probably some of the best coffee I have had throughout all of Seattle/Bellevue- and it is worth the 50 mile drive to get here. And the staff is super friendly! read more

Too bad I can't give more stars! I grew up on soul food, so I picked my son up at UW and headed to this little hole in the wall restaurant that you need to mapquest because it's tucked into the back of a building. When we walked in, I knew it was going to be good. I started with a cup of gumbo, which was a broth recipe with chicken, andouille, and shrimp. Perfect balance of heat and surprisingly good. Then came the chicken and waffle. The crust was a traditional cornflake with a hint of maple syrup. Absolutely perfect. Crispy and substantial, and with a side of homemade grits, I knew I was home. But the best part was the dessert, sweet potato pie, which was momma's recipe. Did I mention there is a picture of momma in the wall? Do not pass this place by! read more

Food was good. There's only a few tables so it might be a long wait if you want to dine in. Orders for chicken or catfish are usually longer (30+ minutes). Staff was friendly, good music, and decent prices. Will definitely go again. read more

Superb. One might say "egg-cellent", considering we received the wonderful veggie frittata. The dish was light and creamy with the perfect amount of vegetables mixed in. The biscuit that came along side it was delightful with the jam as well. Along side the frittata, we got the acclaimed chicken and waffles (which everyone in the restaurant ordered, exemplifying it's exquisiteness). The waffles were wonderful and the chicken, baked to perfection, was also delicious. Furthermore, the coffee was strong and remarkable. :) (review by my wonderful daughter, who has watched both "Chopped" and "Ratatouille" one too many times) read more

Omg the food here is amazing I had catfish dinner with yams n Mac n chesse n sweet tea n my boyfriend had catfish n grits n sweet tea. The place is small n cozy kinda of hiding behind buildings but we found it parking is a bit tight. Service is very slow it was are first time here n we were not immediately greeted or seated we waited for them to come take r orders which took a while after ordering cook time took about 35mins till we got r food. we waited more time for are drinks after we got are meals but like I said the food was the best I've ever had so the wait was so worth it. The place is very clean but no a/c so they have lots of fans but it was still pretty hot inside. But I have to say I will be back n I'll tell my family n friends about how good this food is here!!!! read more

Yummmm! I had the grits and catfish breakfast. Everything from the fried eggs, biscuit, grits and fish...everything was perfect and just the right amount. I ate every crumb. read more

OMG i went for brunch on a friday and had to the chicken and waffles, grits and shrimp and just a reg side of grits. The chicken was soooooooo good crispy and whatever they put in their waffle mix is tasty giving it a very buttery taste. I came back the next day for lunch and had the chicken meal and order a side of black beans and rice to go everything was deLISH! the GRITS ARE OFF THE HOOK. The young gentleman who was the server was a very hard worker. The environment is more of a home cook meal from your Grandma! HIGHLY recommend. cool peoples and good vibes read more

Delicious food, cooked with love and care by great people! Only wish they did whole piece chicken instead of just wings. Sides are scrumptious; corn muffins will make you swoon! read more

Just. Incredible. I often weep and whine about the lack of good, varied food in Seattle but Soulful is a living testament otherwise. The chicken and waffles is a must try, with juicy, crispy chicken and tender, billowing waffles. The other menu items are also delicious and filling as well. It's just hard to go wrong here. The interior is more modern than Southern (for better or worse) and the staff is just lovely and jovial. Get Soulful if you're looking for a nice change of pace from typical Seattle cuisine. read more

Love the food! Real family feel the local spot I love! The biscuits and gravy love love

I tryed the cat fish and grits this morning and it was amazing you can taste the love in the food I definite will be coming back more often. I look forward too seem them expand in the near future maybe even a food truck that's the best soul food by far in a long time. Great customer service nice ambience. Banana pudding is excellent the greens are amazing read more

Amazing food. The chicken and waffles melts in your mouth. Wonderful Mac 'n Cheese. Eat here - you won't regret it.

Stumbled across this gem on accident. I was headed to go find a pastry nearby and saw their sign. I decided it was worth taking a look at....and it definitely was. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with an egg on top. The biscuit was huge and fluffy....the gravy was flavorful..the people were friendly. I don't live near by , but I work in Madison Park and since I take the bus there is always the dreaded transfer time between routes....which, let's face it- I spend trying to find something delicious to eat. I will definitely be back whether I'm waiting for my bus or making a trip out specifically to eat here. Believe me, it's worth it. read more

It was yummy! My favorites were the red beans & rice and the chicken. Very fresh the beans had a Smokey creole flavor with bay leaf & sausage. The yams were boiled to perfection! The greens were yummy with red pepper flakes in them, very tender. Wonderful corn muffins, not overly sweet. The wings that topped my son's waffles were so fresh it tasted like they went in my back yard and butchered one of MY Organic chickens! No joke! The service was warm and personable l I felt like I was sitting in my sisters kitchen. Great prices!!! I will definitely be back and next time I'm bringing the whole family! read more