If you live in Hawaii and you're missing soul food, this is absolutely spot to find it. Dude is cooking in his kitchen for you. Like sit down chat with him while he's cooking all that delicious food and I'm telling you the catfish is on point, the grits are on point, the biscuits - man! you won't find any better anywhere in Hawaii. Tiny little very busy place. After you've been there twice your friends. Chill ambience and be prepared to wait for that food so like he says on his Instagram post, settle back and chill out and have a great vacation if you're traveling. Could never post photos. Forget before you eat it all. read more

Food is good be prepared for the wait. Parking is limited and so is seating. Friendly and fast pace atmosphere read more

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I had read about Southern Love in an issue of Honolulu magazine. I had wanted to try them for a while, and since I was flying solo, I thought, why not give myself a little southern love....LOL! Finding them can be a little tricky. But once you do, there are four parking spots right in front. If you can't get one of those, it's street parking. The owners are really nice! The wife told me to sit wherever I wanted and I chose outside on the patio. I ordered Da Meat Combo plate. A well-seasoned pork chop. An old school fried chicken leg you'd think your grandma made for you, so good! And two tender delicious barbecue ribs! The cornbread was great! They were out of collard greens, so I opted for the mac n cheese. Me: Which one, potato salad or barbecue beans? She: The potato salad is more tangy, we add a little mustard, and the beans are more on the sweet side... Me: I'll take both, please. This rounded out my meal! I also had the fresh squeezed lemonade. And for dessert, a real hard choice, the peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. This was a great way to end my meal. Such a wonder place to come to! Looking forward to returning! Mahalo Southern Love! read more

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Catfish was cooked to perfection! Fast friendly service. I sat at the bar and had a catfish po' boy sandwich served with chips and a sweet tea. I wanted to try dessert but was too full. Will I return? Yes! Next time for the dinner menu and peach cobbler. Mahalo! read more

Southern Love - Catfish Po' Boy Sandwich and sweet tea - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Was told this place was the move for southern food and it did not disappoint! Parking is a challenge as there isn't much of it...but we got lucky and found a spot up front! Ordered the catfish and grits, the bacon, egg, and cheese, and the chicken and biscuits with gravy. Everything hit! The biscuits are some of the better ones on island and the grits were solid! The chicken was seasoned well and the catfish had the perfect fry on it! Only wish was the sweet tea was served with refills in a bigger glass as the little mason jar didn't last long! Will definitely be back! read more

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We came to dine here party of 9 at 630p. Nephew suggested it for a family dinner. This is a small restaurant and we should've probably gone earlier, but work schedules did not permit, therefore 7 of us sat at the bar and 2 at a countertop table. There are 3 patio tables outside that seat 4 or 5 if you squeeze together. There is no AC available and its probably 'cooler' outside to dine, because the stove and oven are constantly running. There are fans which help, but luckily it wasn't a hotter day. I don't know the owners name, he is the only one cooking. He has a cashier, server, hostess all of 1. Just the 2 of them serving everyone who seems to have come at once. He did a great job and it was nice to be able to see the food being cooked, plated and served. They pretty much stay on top of things. Food does take a little longer to be served, but it was certainly worth the wait. Everything was delicious and hot. All the bones were left on the empty plates. My personal favorite is the pork chop. Collards and cornbread were available and they do sellout. Cornbread was very moist. I also liked the Mac daddy...I think i might try to replicate that at home. They do alot of takeout orders as well. If im in the area again, I may do takeout or come when they first open. Forgot to mention the desserts. Blueberry cheesecake, banana pudding and peach cobbler. All delicious, but my favorite is the pudding. Yum read more

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We had such a good brunch today! Been wanting to try Southern Love for a couple years but one thing about me is if parking isn't easy, I'm not going. They only have 5 parking spots and not much else around for parking. We were looking for a place to eat after the farmers market so I thought I'd do a drive by. Got super lucky and got the last parking spot. I did hear the owner tell someone they could double park or pay to park at the gym next door. The restaurant is very small. Two tables inside, 7 seats at the bar and 3 tables outside. We sat at the bar so we could watch the chef (Cory) cook. He is a one man show! We got sweet tea which you have to get in a southern restaurant. So sweet......as it should be. I got the fried chicken and gravy. My honey had the biscuits and gravy with an egg and we got a side of catfish. Everything was SO delicious! My chicken was so tender, the breading was very well seasoned, my biscuit was just right and I loved the gravy. He brings the catfish in from the mainland and it was yummy too. The only critique we had is the catfish needed some salt but other than that we loved everything. We will definitely be back (parking be damned), especially to try dinner. I bet the fried chicken is fantastic and they have collard greens. Definitely the best brunch we've ever had here. read more

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The food wasn't bad at all but the wait is very very long. I called in an order and was told it will be ready in 30 minutes. Got there and had to wait another 40 minutes for it. If you are prepared to wait for a long time then the place is worth it. I just wish they would have told me on the phone it was going to be an hour wait. Again, the food was good, I just don't like waiting that long. read more

I don't know how I haven't heard of this place, yet after trying it out for the first time, my expectations seem to have changed a lot after the visit. It was a pretty good first time visit despite the very small seating in the restaurant. And now the food... I had to pick between the BBQ sliders and the Chicken biscuits and gravy. And, for the price, they definitely gave me a good amount of chicken in correlation to the biscuit. The bites I got from the chicken and the southern gravy were really delicious. Eating the chicken with the biscuit and the gravy, a lot more pleasant there. I didn't really need the Louisiana style hot sauce. Chicken, spot on and crispy...the biscuit, light, delicate and soft... There's not really much I can find a complaint on, and the presentation looked so inviting to eat. I can definitely tell they put so much heart and soul into their food, and it comes out presented well. Next time, maybe I can try the BBQ sliders if I ever come across this place again. Thanks, Southern Love, you really made my day. read more

Southern Love - Fried chicken biscuits and gravy. YUM! - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For a slow and quality meal - this is your place to be. And I don't mean slow in a bad way, but slow in the sense that you get to sit, enjoy your conversation with your companion, and see the kitchen in action carefully assembling all components of your meal. This is the furthest from fast food, and you cannot come here with the expectation of fast food. I enjoyed the best fried chicken in my life here. Freshly battered and fried. Accompanied by a beautiful potato salad, collard greens, and a tasty piece of cornbread. I would order an entire pan of that cornbread if I could. And you should definitely get a side of that potato salad. My boyfriend enjoyed their mixed plate which had rib ribs and a few other items, but I was too concentrated on my food to care about what he was eating. We came around 6 PM on a Saturday night and were served our food just after 7 PM. We were incredibly lucky because while we were sitting at the counter, we saw numerous parties try to come in to dine in, and there was no space available. Takeout is always an option, but you still need to wait for your takeout so be patient, walk around to the Sake shop down the street and come back in an hour to pick up your piping hot food. Parking is extremely limited so pray to the parking gods that you score a stall in front of the restaurant or try your luck on the street and take a short walk down. read more

Southern Love - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great food and love supporting family owned and operated small businesses!!! Not pictured was fried chicken with biscuits and gravy... my husband said it was the best gravy he has ever had. Can't wait to go back and try something else. read more

Southern Love - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Take out for office lunch. I was torn between the grits and the chickn/biscuit/gravy... settled on the Chicken and B&G. Pretty good. A little salty for me...not sure if was the Chicken or Gravy...maybe both. I'm not a huge biscuit person but I liked that it had a little chew versus being super crumbly. I got stuffed and could finish barely a 3rd of it...hubs polished off the rest no problem. Heard the Chicken and Waffles were good. Was told the Salmon and Grits was good...that's what I'm getting next time! read more

He was talking about chicken and waffles a couple of days ago. So yesterday morning, I looked up a few places and I'm glad I found this one. He didn't know where we were going, just drove him here and he was super excited when we parked and saw southern breakfast. The moment we walked in, we were greeted by the friendly owner. Very clean and nice inside. We were the only ones in there and they have an open kitchen concept as we sat at the bar. It was almost like we had a private chef as we watched him cooked our meals. Everything fresh. He got the chicken and waffles with a side of cheesy grits. I got the biscuits and gravy. He said automatic 5 star! Lol. He said everything tasted amazing. He loves how the cheese was made in the grits, not just sprinkled on top. Chicken was lovely fried and still moist inside. I really liked the flavor with the country style gravy. Soooo delicious! This is definitely one of our favorite places we ate during our week vacation here in Oahu. read more

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The food was excellent. Had it DoorDashed to the hotel and the food was prepared and packaged with no expense spared. Ribs tender and lots of meat. The Mac and cheese was melty and cheesy and the best I've ever had. Baked beans were flavorful and the corn bread was tasty. Finished with peach cobbler was a treat. Excellent crust. Everything about this meal was fantastic. Do not skip this restaurant when in Honolulu read more

Really enjoyed dinner here this Monday night. I want to come back for brunch and try the shrimp and grits. Parking is limited in front, we were lucky to score a spot. It was full when we arrived but luckily there was a table open for us. The food is really flavorful and piping hot so careful on the first bite. read more

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Unassuming spot in the busy side streets of Kakaako. Parking is a bit limited with only six spots in the front, but it's worth it if you park a little further and walk over. The owners are very sweet and very attentive and offer amazing service. The brunch menu varies from the dinner menu, so I'll definitely have to return and try the mac & cheese, and some of the other classics i've heard they have. I got the catfish and grits which was surprisingly light. The breading for the catfish was so well seasoned although I did wish that the catfish was a little bit more substantial. The grits was different from grits i've had before and it balanced really well with the catfish. The sweet tea was phenomenal, and they offered a refill, which I thought was very generous. My friend thoroughly enjoyed the catfish po boy and you can pair it with a side salad or chips. There were consistently people coming through so that's how you know the food is good. The outdoor area is cute and the indoor area allows some bar seating which I liked. Will definitely return to try their dessert menu, which include a banana pudding/cheesecake, or crusted cobbler. And the dinner menu is going to be a must! read more

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The seating fills up quickly so make sure you get here before the place opens up. There are a few tables outside, another couple of tables inside and some seats at the bar but that's it. Parking can be a little tricky due to its location so keep that in mind as well. This food is homemade so don't expect to get it two minutes after you order it, but it is worth it. I haven't had good southern food since I came back from Georgia and this is exactly what Hawaii needed. I thought the cornbread was the best I've ever had on island and the ribs were pretty decent too. We also tried the fried chicken which was lightly battered instead of a heavier crispy batter, but the taste was amazing. I could've gone for a little more vinegar in the greens but the banana pudding made up for it at the end. I definitely recommend this place due to its authenticity and quality of food. read more

Have been meaning to check this place out for awhile. Glad we finally did. The chef owner and the woman who served were so friendly and kind. The place is simple and clean. Nice bathroom available to customers. Parking can be a challenge but that's how it is with lots of places in town. They played really good music. Like real music. We arrived a little after the lunch rush so missed out on grits and biscuits which we were told are their popular items. Darn it. What we did have (fried chicken and catfish po boy) was really yummy. We will definitely come back for dinner and to get some of those biscuits and grits ! read more

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Food was absolutely amazing to perfection!! Excellent owner and it was a great vibe as a whole. Definitely a must try and we will be back every time we come to Hawaii!! read more

Southern Love - Shrimp N' Grits, Cajun Salmon N' Grits - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Soul Food Worth Sharing at Southern Love Rare to find Southern food in Hawaii, but Southern Love hits all the right notes. They do not call it soul food for nothing. We ordered the fried catfish with grits, fried chicken with biscuits and gravy, and a side of fried shrimp. The batter on everything was perfectly seasoned and crisp without being oily. Get there early because they can run out of biscuits or grits toward closing. We enjoyed every bite. Be sure to get the sweet tea to wash it all down. Free refills. It is a small operation with counter seating where you can watch the chef cook, along with a few umbrella-covered tables outside. Everything is made to order, so a little patience goes a long way. Ask to confirm, but it looks like it is BYOB since they do not serve alcohol. Located near the corner of Queen and Cooke Street, there are a few parking stalls in front or metered street parking within a short walk. Final bite: Southern Love doesn't just feed your hunger. It feeds your soul and your cravings, one crispy bite at a time. read more

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Located on Queen Street. Nearing the corner of Cooke Street and Queen Street. The restaurant is next to Anytime Fitness. Parking is limited right in front of the restaurant. I parked near the park on Cooke Street and walked over. Lots of street parking along Cooke Street. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. The interior of the restaurant was very nice, and modern. The service was great. They don't give tap water but you can purchase bottle water so you may want to bring your flask. The food was excellent! I initially thought the portion size was on the smaller size but it was perfect. I was full. Everything I ate was good. The potato salad was yummy, the best part was the fried chicken. read more

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You must eat here!!! The food is banging. We enjoyed this little spot so much. Everything was awesome especially the cornbread. The staff were very friendly. Everything is homemade and cooked to order. We had the Mac & cheese and collared greens, they were outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Been wanting to try this spot for a while and today we had the opportunity to go for brunch. Honestly, the BEST breakfast we've had in a while! Arrived a little after 9am expecting a wait since it's peak breakfast time, but we got lucky and were seated almost immediately. I didn't catch the waitress's name but she was very personable and asked us if it was our first time there. We ordered Chicken Biscuits n Gravy, Garlic Chicken n Waffles, and a side of Cheese Grits because I'm ashamed to say that I've never ever tried grits in my life lol. The 2 main dishes were bursting with flavor. The chef does not skimp on seasoning! You can tell that a lot of love went into preparing these dishes. And the grits were cheesy and creamy and exceeded my expectations, will definitely have to try the shrimp & grits next time. We both mopped everything on our plates and washed it down with their refreshing sweet tea. No leftovers to take home lol. read more

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Southern Love in Kakaʻako has a lot of charm, and the biscuits are absolutely the standout. They are legendary for a reason. Warm, buttery, flavorful, and easily the best part of the meal. That said, the rest of the food was just mediocre. I really wanted to love everything because the biscuits set such a high expectation, but the main dishes did not quite live up to them. Nothing was terrible, but nothing besides the biscuits felt especially memorable either. I would definitely go back for the biscuits alone, but I hope the rest of the menu catches up to them. There is clearly something special there, but the overall meal needs more consistency and flavor to match the hype. read more

Southern Love is a nice small southern spot with that southern hospitality. It reminds you of your grandmas cooking. We were actually there 2 days in a row. The first time for lunch and the second time for breakfast. Both visits were great, service can be slow if you come at their busy time. I haven't had home made ice tea in years and their ice tea was really good and it wasn't too sweet. I ordered the fried catfish and a side of fried shrimp. Very good choices as I am a picky eater. Nicely seasoned, crispy and you can taste the freshness. For breakfast I had the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit and a side of cheesy grits. The sandwich was really good but the grits were a little too cheesy. The grits reminded me of how you eat spaghetti where you have to use a spoon and a fork, cheese was everywhere. The wait staff is very friendly and I believe it's a Family owned business. It was a good experience. read more

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Southern Love in Kakaako is a hidden gem! I ordered the chicken biscuits and gravy and my girlfriend went with the chicken and waffles -- both were absolutely delicious. The chicken was seasoned perfectly, fried to golden perfection, juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Honestly, 10/10. The place itself is modest and small, but the Southern love is felt the second you walk in. Corey, the owner, is a cool dude who makes you feel right at home, and you can tell he puts his heart into the food. It's tucked away at the corner of Queen and Cook, easy to miss if you don't know where to look -- but worth seeking out. If you're in Kakaako and craving some real Southern comfort food, this is the spot. Best fried chicken in Honolulu, hands down read more

Southern Love - Chicken, biscuits and gravy - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I came for the sweet tea and fell in love. If you are craving a sweet tea and a good yap session the outdoor seating was the place to be. From the food to the vibes it felt like being in your mommas back yard eating some good food with family. The service was amazing, they were so kind, it was only 3 people and they were awesome. The ribs were juicy and the yams were cinnamony goodness. The mac and cheese had an insane cheese pull that had me shoveling it in. The corn bread wasn't my personal jam but I know thats my fault because I am into dry and crumbly cornbread but this was exactly what my friend had been looking for in cornbread. I also had to try the cat fish and it was crispy with a good little kick. This lovely place will for sure be seeing me again and probably soon. read more

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The food was awesome! A word to the wise...it may not be ideal to come on a Saturday night around 5, unless you don't mind waiting and waiting. There's only 1 chef and 1 sous chef with tons of takeout and dining in orders so we waited 2 hours to be served. (Versus a 45 minute wait for takeout). Had their fried okra, collard greens, catfish plate and mac daddy bowl. Great crispy but moist okra and catfish! But the star for me was the mac daddy bowl...creamy macaroni and cheese topped with shredded tender pork and beans. read more

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Food was amazing. Had the Po Boys Catfish sandwich with a salad. It was outstanding! Service was quite pleasant. We ate inside but they also have outdoor seating as well. Homelike atmosphere. read more

Southern Love - Catfish sandwich - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Let me just start this review by saying I know southern food, and this is pure southern goodness. I had the Mac daddy bowl, pulled pork with the tangy barbecue sauce was fantastic. The cheese pull on the superduper thick melted cheese was out of this world. I loved their cornbread dipped in the bbq and baked beans. The service was amazing. They were so kind and so quick. I had a lovely yap session outside but inside looked really cute too. Sweet tea and Arnold Palmer were heavenly! Will be back so soon! read more

Southern Love - Da Combo Plate Combo B - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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4.5 stars Food: We got the Friday Special Chicken Mac attack, Catfish Plate, and Combo A. Everything came out hot and fresh. The portions were perfect and everything was well seasoned. I had a bite of everything and my favorites were the chicken (flavorful and juicy!!!), collard greens, and the catfish. We also got the peach cobbler with ice cream, which was delicious but pretty small. Service: The owners are super sweet and nice. Only one guy making the food so be nice! Ambiance: We sat outside for the breeze since inside seemed pretty stuffy since it's also an open kitchen. Pretty simple set up but gets the job done. Parking: They have a few spots right outside the restaurant. Was able to snag one on a Friday evening. read more

Southern Love - Da Combo Plate Combo A, candied yams, Catfish Plate, chicken Mac attack - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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1/7/26 1st time here n it won't be the last Sat at the counter Best seats cause you can talk w friendly Chef n Hostess/server while watching yours' n others' dishes being made Friend said Catfish was Good Wife liked the Chicken n Waffles and we all agreed the Fried Chicken Thighs was Crispy Juicy Goodness! My Shrimp n Grits w lots of Cheesy Peppery Gravy was the best I ever had Kept on dipping my Side Fried Chicken in that delicious gravy... wife couldn't resist either LOL SUPPORT LOCALS read more

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If you haven't been to Southern Love yet, you must put this place on your list to try! I had the Chicken Biscuits and Gravy - mmm mmm! This is fried buttermilk chicken on a house made buttery biscuit covered with country gravy. You can taste the love that Chef puts in every dish he serves! That gravy has so much flavor right there with that perfectly crispy fried chicken and buttery biscuit. I was happily full and just completely satisfied with my meal - my plate was totally cleaned off! Chef checks on you to make sure your meal is to your liking, and the hospitable service ties your experience all in. Thank you so much, Southern Love! Keep the love going! read more

Southern Love - Catfish po'boy with salad to go - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This night I was not a Yelper I was a Grubber let this not so photogenic pic below of 3 half eaten plates be my proof. LOL The Love Family have done it again. I absolutely adore this place. They have delicious food in a home environment, from the soul in their food to the soul in their service, you just feel taken care of here. In the pic below I document a rare moment when our cups of their, DELICIOUS, might I add, jars of Arnold Palmer Thanks to The Mama of this kitchen who kept our glasses full. (Shoutout to Mama E Love) Now the food, deserves its whole own moment of recognition, everything was well seasoned, clearly cooked to order, and totally satisfying, so much so that I who is not a "sweets" type of gyal couldn't choose between so I was fortunate enough to be able to get both desserts to go thanks to my host. (Also Shout out to Chef Corey for pouring love into the food) This is the kind of place you come and really experience a homey environment, The "Love Keiki" (their children) even colored pictures for me and my group to take home with us I guess we can call that a GWP (gift with purchase) this is something you can't get just anywhere. read more

Southern Love - Catfish Plate(s) with baked beans, cabbage, Mac n cheese, and hush puppies plus 3 nearly empty jars of their delicious Arnold Palmers. - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Was not disappointed. So I was wanting to try brunch and baby !! Did not disappoint . The shrimp rue was full of flavor. Don't change the recipe take it as ordered. Let the chef do his thang!!!! Small area limited space. I danced and savored every single bite !!!! read more

Southern Love - Shrimp salmon & grits !!!! - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best place for southern food feels like at grandma house for Sunday dinner every day, dinner, lunch and breakfast amazing 10 out of 10. Shrimp and grits Catfish with cornbread, Mac and cheese, collard greens. So delicious. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu everything amazing here also it's BYOB read more

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The food is NOT AUTHENTIC SOUL !!!!!! The mac and cheese is nasty and IT TASTE LIKE VOMIT!!!! Everything was nasty. The catfish tasted like grease with absolutely no seasoning. The greens were made like a soup and way too spicy. They need to seek advice on how to cook soul food. It was a complete disappointment. read more

This is not a strange restaurant, this is someone's house you're eating in. That's the vibe you get as soon as you walk in because you're welcomed like a returning friend, cooked for, served, and chatted with that is the perfect balance of comfort without feeling obligated. Be ready to kanak!!! Portions initially look small but they are delicious and very filling!! I had the chicken biscuit and gravy. The biscuit was big fluffy and dense. The chicken super thinly crisped on the outside but moist and tender in the inside. They don't use crappy oil too. The chicken did not have any oily residue or weird aftertaste. The gravy was good... I could have used a little bit more to smother my biscuits in but that's my preference. BYOB!!! So will have to try dinner one night. read more

Southern Love - Chicken Biscuit & Gravy - Southern Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My friend and I initially had our hearts set on brunch, but post-work hunger called the shots instead. I'm no Southern food connoisseur, but after plenty of soulful bites in New Orleans, nothing on the menu felt completely foreign. (Spotting po' boys brought me a little culinary deja vu.) Location: Near Queen and Cooke Sts, next to Anytime Fitness. Blink and you might miss it, but the light blue building with its protruding sign is your beacon. Parking: Unless you win the lot lotto, stalls are slim pickings and vanish quickly. We arrived 30 min after dinner service began, and the lot was already full. Street parking will up your odds. Atmosphere: Cozy and compact, with a handful of tables inside and out. Indoors, you can pull up a front row seat to witness the chef in action. Food: We were all-in with Da Combo Plate B - ribs, catfish, cornbread, and sides (mac and cheese for me, potato salad for her). The catfish reeled me in, the ribs glazed me over, the mac and cheese was ooey-gooey bliss, and the cornbread? Normally I shrug at cornbread, but this "give-me-the-recipe" slice might just be the best I've ever had. Drinks: Our lemonade was bright, tart, and didn't taste like a sugar avalanche. Service: Our charming waitress delivered full-on Southern hospitality - definitely raise-worthy. Price: Roughly $30, but every bite was soul food gold. Would I return? Yes! This place has my foodie seal of approval - next will be the brunch edition sequel. read more

Some good damn food! Took about 45 min, but knew ahead that could be a thing because it's made from scratch. Owners were cool. Tiny joint, plan on grabbing to go just in case. read more