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    Southern Kitchen

    3.9 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateSouthern, Soul Food
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Southern Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Southern Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    SOUTHERN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Southern Kitchen

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    Chris V.

    Southern Kitchen remonds me of the great home cooking I enjoyed when living in Charleston South Carolina. Their southern fried chicken tastes just like I remembered it and the fried okra was just as good, too. The staff was welcpming and warm. The setup in the dining room worked well with my wheelchair both getting in and out of the restaurant and sitting at the table. It's an experience I plan on having again real soon. The parking wasn't set up for my van with a ramp but I found street parking that allowed me to deploy my ramp on the sidewalk and roll into the restaurant with ease. I look forward to my next trip.

    Laura H.

    Come to Southern Kitchen in Tacoma Washington to get your soul food cravings satisfied!! Both Kevin Hart and Guy Fieri have visited here!! We love their fried chicken, greens, catfish, corn cakes with butter and honey naturally, mango lemonade with whipped cream on top, and sweet potato pie. Great folks here who know how to cook and serve freshly made soul food. Southern Kitchen really satisfies leaving you questioning just how quickly you will come back.

    Mac & Cheese/ Corncake/Hush Puppies/ Cajun catfish filet/ chicken wings
    Kent J.

    Best soul food I have found on this side of Washington. Sweet tea reminds me back in Virginia #757!!! Service was A1 and was very welcoming. Everybody made you feel like you were at grandma's house again.

    Hush now
    Dana M.

    It's just like being invited to a family barbeque, with down home southern cooking! Been here a few times. Got the fried chicken plate. Chicken was piping hot out of the fryer with lightly seasoned crisp coating and juicy chicken. Collar greens were done very well and very mild. Not too much spice or vinegar. Mac and cheese was good, I liked the crunchy bread crumbs on top. Not a creamy Mac and cheese more of a hearty one. Came with a cornbread pancake which was a fun addition. We also got the hush puppies which were hot and done perfectly. Mango lemonade was sooo flavorful. Casual, small place and our server was very polite, friendly and checked in on us. Would go again!

    Sally L.

    Had the brisket at Southern Kitchen and absolutely enjoyed it! The brisket was tender, flavorful, and perfectly smoked, and the sides were delicious. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant is absolutely adorable. I will definitely be back to try the fried chicken and catfish!

    Sweet Tea
    Sidney P.

    Have never eaten here without having an outstanding experience. Food is fabulous and service is so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend over and over again!

    It WAS the catfish strips, collard greens and fried okra.
    Stephanie D.

    Everybody adding the menu and pictures of the food. I decided to do a little different. The WAS the catfish strips,collard greens and fried okra but you cannot tell 'cause I ate it all! Been coming here for years! Get yourself in there and have some great eats.

    Jerome T.

    From the moment we sat down, we felt right at home. We ordered the fried chicken, catfish, hush puppies, greens, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes with gravy--and every single bite was packed with flavor. The chicken was crispy and juicy, the catfish was fried to perfection, and the sides tasted homemade, like something straight from a Southern family kitchen. We also had the strawberry and mango lemonades topped with whipped cream, and they were the perfect sweet touch--refreshing, creamy, and delicious. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the vibe of the place just made us want to stay a little longer. Southern Kitchen is the kind of spot you recommend to everyone--and definitely a place we'll be coming back to.

    Jennica C.

    Such a delicious place. We ordered the chicken fried steak breakfast and the waffles with sausage. There was nothing left. Service was friendly. This place truly reminded me of down south as if I was eating in a diner down there! Small seating but not noisy at all when we went. Definitely want to go back for lunch or dinner.

    Blackberry Lemonade
    Kimberly S.

    This is my new favorite place for Southern food! While in Tacoma, friends and I decided to head to Southern Kitchen. We could not find parking at the restaurant, so we parked a block away and walked over - parking is sparse. We arrived shortly before Noon on a Saturday and it was still pretty crowded. Smaller establishment, clean and inviting. Our server was amazing - friendly and attentive. We ordered: The Fried Chicken Sandwich with mashed potatoes, a Fried Chicken Plate with greens and mac and cheese and Fried Chicken Wing dinner with mashed potatoes and corn. They start you off with corn cakes, which were really good. The chicken was perfectly fried and remained moist; the sides were all great - we all raved about the mashed potatoes. We also ordered the Blackberry Lemonade which was tasty. Side note: We initially wanted to try the Brisket as well, but by Noon they were already sold out, so if you want the Brisket, be sure to get there early. The portions are generous, but the dessert we ordered to go, which was the peach cobbler, could have fed us all! Great prices and service - we are already planning our next outing to Southern Kitchen! .

    OH EM GEEE! Y'all...ALL the food was scrumptious. The CORN BREAD...oh, the corn bread. Took all the power NOT to gobble it all up before the entree. The fried okra-just right, fried green tomatoes-to die for. The tea, served up in good ol' Mason Jars! Service was friendly, welcoming and attentive.

    Ms Gloria

    Southern Kitchen is Amazing! I'd driven by several times, but stopped in for the first time today. The ambiance is so colorful and inviting. While they were cooking my food (Gloria's Southern Fried Chicken Plate), I had the honor of meeting with and chatting with the Owner Ms Gloria. A bright and interesting woman who is always surveying everything, to ensure that all aspects of the dining room and staff attentiveness meet her high standards. The food was delicious. Great place to stop in for fresh comfort food and relaxation. Michelle W., Puyallup

    Front counter
    Tracie E.

    Charming cafe serving up comfort food in Tacoma! We came for brunch on a Tuesday and was greeted by the pleasant staff behind the counter as we sat ourselves. Menu was nice and easy, not overwhelming, one side was breakfast the other lunch. We ordered the Cajun catfish strips, which were soft fried, fried chicken was our table favorite and a bunch of sides. Corncake 7/10 Mac&Cheese 7/10 Yams 8/10 Greens 7/10 Red beans & rice 7/10 Hush puppies 8/10 Sweet potato pie 7/10 Overall the food was average but service welcoming and we think they're worth returning, we enjoyed ourselves!

    Not on the menu, but Ben suggested mixing the Mango and Strawberry Lemonade together.  Okay, YOU GOTTA TRY THIS!!!

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    I was doing UberEats delivery and I picked up a order from here and saw how good the food was presented and the scent got me!

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    Page 1 of 38

    Southern Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Southern Kitchen

    What kind of oil do you use?

    We use canola oil for frying. Thank you

    Are the beans and greens cooked with meat?

    The beans are not, but the greens contain turkey. We do not use pork products in our cooking. Thank you.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Nana's Southern Kitchen - Shrimp and collard greens

    Nana's Southern Kitchen

    4.3(643 reviews)
    14.5 mi
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    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.

    Photos
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    Front of the store

    Nana's Southern Kitchen - Catfish, Yams, Green Beans, Cornbread.  Catfish, Mac n Cheese, Greens, Cornbread.

    Catfish, Yams, Green Beans, Cornbread. Catfish, Mac n Cheese, Greens, Cornbread.

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    Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Strips and Fries

    Buddy's Chicken & Waffles

    4.7(383 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    How did I not know about this place??? A coworker came in to work with a plate of chicken and fries…read morethat looked amazing. So I googled Buddy's and found out they're less than a mile from my house. I had to try!! I was not disappointed. When I walked in, I was greeted by the server and she had a lovely smile. We ordered to go. The place smelled like a sweet waffle, it was very informal. They serve chicken, waffles and fries. Husband had Strawberry waffle and chicken and I had loaded fries. The chicken in my loaded fries was crispy and tender on the inside. Husband was so happy with his waffle and chicken too. Will I be back? Absolutely! There is nothing better than a locally owned business with a great product. Good job Buddy's!

    Oh yeah, let's get straight to it! My first introduction to Buddy's Chicken and Waffles was on YELP…read moreElite Badge Day back in January 2024. They were one of many vendors invited that day. Their spread included small bites of chicken and waffles, but because of my dietary preferences, I only sampled the waffles. I have to say I left that day feeling a bit disappointed, but I decided to give them another chance in the future. Fast-forward to this past spring for my college graduation party. For my food spread, I employed a mini "taste of the Tacoma-themed spread" with Buddy's as one of the options. I decided to order catering services from them. I have to say they really messed up. The order was placed and paid for three days in advance for pick-up (6 combos & 2 waffles). Their order wasn't ready; however, they made amends and comped us several items that we did not order for the inconvenience. More importantly, most of my guests from all across the U.S. spoke very highly of the chicken and waffles. That day I tried only the Strawberry Shortcake Waffle, and I once again felt unimpressed. But yesterday...yesterday was different. They say the third time is a charm. I arrived 30 minutes before closing, so I could only get carryout service. I was going to go with the options I've already tried: Blueberry and Strawberry Shortcake Waffles. While browsing the menu, I saw the Banana Cream Pie Waffle on the special board and decided to give it a try. This moment is where the story takes a significant turn. This is by far the best waffle I've had in the US. The waffle was amazingly fresh and crispy, coupled with a perfect blend of softness, a sprinkling of wafer crumbs, and bananas. This is by far my favorite waffle in all of Tacoma. In fact, anywhere in the world. I will give it a 20/10. If you are a vegetarian, I'd recommend ordering a serving of the crispy "Salt and Pepper Tofu" appetizer from Indo Asian Street Eatery to pair with these waffles. The pairing will get you close to or similar to the experience of the chicken strip pairing. I assure you there is no drop-off. My only complaint is paying $13 for a waffle. The waffle is a very nice size, and I do understand given current prices and the cost of doing business, but with $13 you can make several waffles in-house. But make no mistake. This is definitely worth it.

    Photos
    Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Seating area

    Seating area

    Buddy's Chicken & Waffles - Say no to spicy it's not even spicy but tasted like it was dipped in paprika and total over kill

    Say no to spicy it's not even spicy but tasted like it was dipped in paprika and total over kill

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    The Fish House Cafe - Fries and okra

    The Fish House Cafe

    4.3(359 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    This place is bomb! The fish sandwich is huge and I ate off of it twice. I just warmed it up in…read morethe air fryer and ate it the next day along with the fries back in air fryer!! Love this small BIPOC business!!

    This review is late but I want to say the food here is great! My family and I ordered the fish and…read moreshrimp combo with mac and cheese, fish and hot wings with fries, Philly cheesesteak, hush puppies and banana pudding. The food was amazing but definitely recommend eating it as soon as possible as the fries, fried fish, hot wings, and banana pudding was pretty soggy when we arrived home. But besides that, the food was good but as someone who hates soggy texture, definitely will be eating it right after I get it. This is also where I first tried a Faygo and I was hooked as it complimented the meal so well, I got the red pop flavor. The service here during when I arrived was friendly. They seemed to be busy too so they were trying to get orders going and out, not much conversation. Although understandably so as they seem to be a local favorite and have many regulars coming in. As for the ambiance, it is just a small restaurant that is primarily take out but they do have a small table and also a counter to put on hot sauce(s) or seasoning salt. They also have a bunch of community posters and pictures of current events and community people throughout the restaurant. It's clear that they love the community and the community loves them in return.

    Photos
    The Fish House Cafe - Interior menu

    Interior menu

    The Fish House Cafe - Fried okra, clam strips and banana pudding.

    Fried okra, clam strips and banana pudding.

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    Interior menu

    DND Soul Cuisine

    DND Soul Cuisine

    4.6(53 reviews)
    1.9 mi
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    Bestie and I stopped by DND Soul in the middle of running errands on a Saturday, and I have to say…read more from the moment we walked in, the vibe was there. First off, the playlist? Straight cuts back-to-back. Whoever had control of the music understood the assignment. The atmosphere was chill, welcoming, and just had that cool, laid-back energy. The customer service was amazing as well. The lady at the front greeted us with such great energy that it instantly set the tone for our visit. Now let's get to the food. I had the catfish with collard greens, black-eyed peas and rice, plus white bread. My best friend had cod with mac n yams, red beans and rice, and cornbread. The sides actually came out before the entrée, and we were so hungry that we completely forgot about taking pictures of everything. The food was definitely giving comfort-food energy and was top tier overall. The catfish? Whew, so bomb and full of flavor. Oh and let's not forget the homemade tartar sauce. If I had one small critique, some dishes leaned a little more on the salty side for our preference, but not enough to stop us from coming back. We were actually too full to even try dessert, and now it's officially on our to-do list for the next visit. Overall: good food, good vibes, good music, and great customer service. We'll definitely be back.

    I FINALLY found a restaurant that's southern! The classic taste of southern food made with care and…read morecomfort. This is a meal where you're immediately taking a nap after due to the experience. It's THAT good! The staff was welcoming and kind while serving with a smile. Let alone being so accommodating. Now, it isn't your "fine dining experience," which has become such a standard expectation for so many. This one feels like quality and care without the fluff. The space feels like home and the taste comforts the heart. 10/10

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    Dragon's Crawfish - Half combo with extra

    Dragon's Crawfish

    3.9(362 reviews)
    2.5 mi
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    Fried calamari, seasoned and crunchy. Garlic parmesan…read morefries... was expecting garlic pieces and freshly grated parmesan. I love fries so, it's okay but I've had better. I guess for $3.99 what should you expect. The crab boil was ok. Some parts were still cold. We asked for headless shrimp so I assumed that the shrimp would be deveined too. The garlic butter sauce didn't taste buttery and I think the garlic is jarred garlic. Don't get me wrong. I've used jarred garlic but you shouldn't be able to tell by taste. The sauce seems to have been thrown in after the seafood was warmed/steamed. I felt like all the flavors wasn't infused in anything in the pot (corn, potato, shrimp, clam etc.) I feel bad becauseThe service was great. High expectations after watching a IG video from ErikaTaste. My favorite part was the bread. It's basically the Vietnamese roll, so soft crunchy and fresh. I admit, Captain Crab is still my #1 place for an asian crab boil.

    One of my top 3 spots for seafood boil. Atmosphere and service was fine, but the food here was very…read moregood. Well seasoned, quality seafood. I feel like there was not as much sauce as other places, but all the food there was so flavorful, it's not a dealbreaker for me. I admit, I didn't care for the French fries, but others in my party did. They were hot and crispy. Anyway, we had a fantastic experience and I will be coming back!

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    Dragon's Crawfish
    Dragon's Crawfish - Garlic fries, no parmesan

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    Southern Kitchen - southern - Updated August 2026

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