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    The Licking

    3.0 (106 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order The Licking Takeout or Delivery

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    THE LICKING ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Recommended Reviews - The Licking

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    Front of the building
    Moe A.

    Service was great portion are small and prices are bit high wasn't a big fan when the check came out and they added automatic gratuity on table of 3 but I did tip over the added on gratuity ambiance is ok place was full of people and tasted pretty decent

    Kiara S.

    I had been hearing about this restaurant and I happened to be not far from it on vacation so I decided I need to go here to eat. I had elected to get the wings and it came with two sides so I got the yams and collard greens with turkey meat in it. I also had to have the famous lemonade. It wouldn't be a good stop without the mystery lemonade. With the lemonade you can get it with liquor in it or without. The drink was very delicious along with the food. I wasn't disappointed at all. I left in a food coma due to how delicious and fulfilling the food was. The decor was nice and they played some great music. The price was definitely your typical price you would pay for an establishment of this nature. The service was great. If you are debating on trying this place definitely do it because you won't be disappointed.

    Hallway of the restaurant.
    Lianna C.

    First impression into the restaurant after seeing the staff outfit - shocked we thought we were in the hooters . We have a 15 yr old boy who keeps giggling the whole time. Totally not teenager's place to go lol. Food though was good. We ordered chicken wings and fried calamari. No complaints about the flavors. They all tasted GOOD. There was a lady offered taking pictures on each table and after the pictures developed, she presented to us the pictures taken and with the frame. Cost $20 each, we end up getting the black and white picture instead. Not sure if she is the the staff there or allowed to be there to promote her photography business.

    This was my first time coming here. The food was excellent. I never tried Lemon turkey. It was really good. The customer service excellent the waitress was wonderful. I just recommend everybody to come to this restaurant.

    Fried Shrimp Dinner
    Linda R.

    While out shopping I stopped at the Licking on Florida Mall Ave. The service was quick and the cashier was cordial. I ordered a shrimp dinner (6pc), yams, and Mac & cheese as my sides. There is an up charge for the Mac & cheese. I posted a picture of the meal. You can decide on how it looks and the taste was ok.

    Outside
    Peachtra C.

    The licking is a a must have after church when I'm in the mood for some southern fill me up food. I'm from Miami and was familiar with the licking back home. There are 2 locations in Orlando & I prefer the Fl Mall location because it's closer to my church & This is also the only location that sells the buffalo Mac & Cheese. I usually order the same things when I come . I love the baked buffalo Mac & the fried lemon pepper turkey wings. I absolutely loved their Collard greens & Yams! I get a mystery drink & a slice of red velvet cake and I can eat that over the course of 2 days if I don't share it. The wait time can be lengthy sometimes so be patient. When I come on Sundays they are usually playing gospel jams & at about 1:30 or 2 pm it switches to hop hop & R&B . The staff is very helpful and the ambiance it clean and colorful. They also usually have a photographer who walks around taking pics .

    Fried Shrimp dinner
    Donna R.

    I have been to the other location and it was just like this one but it is bigger . The customer service was professional and friendly. My sides were a tad bit salty but the food was prepared well and came out hot. The batter is nice flavorful and golden brown. If you are like me and love to eat soul food but not cook it this is the place! Added bonus it is right next to the Florida mall great for those coming in town!

    Front Entrance
    Antwain B.

    Service was excellent, food was excellent and ambiance was great also. Food came out quick, hot and fresh.

    Chicken Wings & Fries

    First off, the restaurant isn't very kid-friendly. They don't offer kid-sized drink cups, so my daughter ended up with a big cup that wasn't easy for her to handle. The prices are also on the higher side -- about $20 per person, and even the greens as a side dish cost $7.99. Refills are for Pepsi products only and it's a charge for the tea and lemonade. The customer service felt pretty bland. The staff didn't seem focused on creating a good customer experience, and having to scan a QR code for the menu was a bit of a turn-off for me -- I prefer a physical menu when dining out. I ordered the hot wings with fries, which were decent, but not really my cup of tea. I would've preferred a different style of fries, and the ranch dressing came in a packet instead of a cup, which took away from the dine-in feel. My daughter had the red velvet waffle chicken tender sandwich, and while it looked good, it was pretty bland -- the chicken could've used a little more seasoning. I won't be going back anytime soon.

    Turkey wings, collards and mac
    Key J.

    The fried turkey wings were moist, flavorful and fried perfectly. The collards and mac were great additions. I really wanted yams but they were out for the day. My friends had the wings and fried shrimp, they both enjoyed their meals. Expect great soul food when you come. They have an option to make their signature drinks into a cocktail and they're not shy with the liquor so that's a plus. The drinks were stronggg lol. However, my food took almost an hour to come out. So if you're in a rush make sure to order way ahead.

    Sam G.

    I went around 7pm for dinner and I knew I was going to be disappointed when I noticed only 3 ppl working that night. There was a large party waiting to be seated before me. There were 2 waitresses and 1 waiter. My food looked and tasted like it was old (mushy Mac and cheese, burnt broccoli and fried chicken) and not fresh at all. My partner's food was mostly good (lobster bites and fries) the seafood rice seemed old like it was prepared the day before and this was leftovers. This was my second time trying this chain, I think I'm done forever. They have the potential to be so good. I want to support so bad but nah. The music is awesome, I love the artwork but the quality of the food/service is not what it should be. Service seemed like it was just ok. They took my meal off the tab because I just couldn't eat it but they knew it looked a mess when they brought it out.

    Fried Shrimp and Fries - Excellent
    Thomas P.

    I really didn't know what to expect with The Licking. Is it finger licking? Anyway, the ambiance is fast casual. I'm not into hip hop culture but this place has tons of pictures of music stars and the soundtrack is pumping! It was fun. Service was great and friendly. They have beer, wine, and frozen drinks as well. They also do takeout. The food blew us away! I got 6 jumbo fried shrimp. They were a very good size and nice and sweet .Perfectly fried. And the fries were excellent as well. I was super impressed given I thought I was going to get something much more "fast food". The buffalo chicken on mac and cheese was equally awesome. Served in a small cast iron skillet to keep it at about 4000 degrees. Chicken was tangy with a little heat. Then that buffalo sauce mixes up into the mac and it's great. Very filling. I'd say instead of hitting the food court at the Florida Mall, pop over here. You can even walk it easily if it's not 100 degrees outside!

    Amanee W.

    If you're craving flavorful, well seasoned comfort food, The Licking delivers. The portions are generous, and the menu has all the soul food classics...fried turkey wings, mac & cheese, collard greens, and seafood options. The fried turkey wings were tender, and the honey garlic shrimp had the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Can't forget the mystery punch, always a hit! Expect a lively atmosphere with music bumping, which adds to the vibe but might not be for everyone. Overall, worth a visit if you're in the mood for bold flavors and Southern style eats!

    Lemon Pepper Wings, Collards & Mac and Cheese

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    food was cold and no flavor. over hyped, servers are rude as hell. , not fresh at all

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    4 years ago

    The fried Turkey Wings were very good. Juicy, well seasoned, and filling. The yams were good and the collard greens were tasty.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Licking

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    P & D Soulfood Kitchen

    P & D Soulfood Kitchen

    4.4
    (167 reviews)
    5.8 mi
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    If you're looking for a place that serves food that warms your soul and satisfies your appetite,…read morethis is it! The staff is welcoming and friendly, and the portions are generous. While it's primarily a takeout establishment, the owner will occasionally accommodate small groups with seating when possible. What really sets this place apart is the genuine hospitality and the love that goes into every meal. You can taste the care in the food and feel it in the service. If you're looking for delicious, comforting food made with heart, I highly recommend giving them a try!

    Food Made With Love…read more I'm visiting from out the state and the only food I desired was southern cooking. There were a few choices on Yelp and Google but I selected P&D. The first letter of the husband an wife names. My expectations were high, and they should have been based on the reviews. This is not a standalone location as the are other businesses within the same building. You won't see P&D on the exterior signage but you will see "Soul Food Kitchen" A la carte buffet style food served. I like this so I could see what I'm ordering. Which is way I should have not purchased the Mac&cheese. Macaroni noodles and shredded cheese melted within. A serious faux pas for macaroni and cheese. I observed how many customers appeared to be regulars, and several people were ordering additional food to take home. I ordered two full meals. The main dishes are served with cornbread dressing on the savory side or rice. One suggestion for P&D would be to offer a brown gravy option alongside that is not meat-based specifically for the dressing. The highlights for me were the yams, fried fish, and pork chop and red velvet cake. Those dishes were well seasoned & well-prepared. Without being critical of the other side dishes this is what I would say: Sharing a few side dishes with your group before committing to larger portions. If you're a singleton stick to yellow rice, yams, and beans. While some food choices did not meet my palate, I can understand why this place has a loyal following. The welcoming familial atmosphere, location, and comfort food are sometimes the basics of what people need to get through the day. Service: 5 stars Food portions: 5 stars Food presentation: 4 stars Parking: 5 stars Returning?: Unlikely "When food is made with love, it's hard to critique the heart."

    Photos
    Serving station
    Serving station
    BBQ'd Chicken Leg Qtrs , Green Beans
    BBQ'd Chicken Leg Qtrs , Green Beans
    Exterior signage from the street

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    Exterior signage from the street
    Nikki's Place

    Nikki's Place

    3.9
    (298 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    Hey there! Went to Nikki's place this past weekend with my wife and my son and I'll tell you, it…read moredidn't disappoint. I've been wondering for a while where to get some good stick to your ribs so food, so when my wife told us that Nikki's Place reached out to her to come try some authentic soul food, I had to join her. We had to make sure to get an array of different things to try as much as possible. So we ordered.. smothered pork chops, fried catfish and shrimp, lemon butter chicken wings, red rice, Collard greens, Lima beans, black eyed peas, cornbread, candied yams, mac and cheese, and some onion fries.. with some sweet tea. I want to tell you, every bite I took had me closing my eyes and smiling. My only complaint was the lima beans were a little bit salty, but when I ate it with everything else it didn't really matter. The lemon butter fried chicken wings were absolutely amazing. I have not tasted anything like that in my life. You can't go there and not get them. You need these wings. I'd also like to say that all the sides are meat-free , so vegetarians come get some . We ate till we were full, and we had enough to take home as well. We took an order of bread pudding home for dessert and that was absolutely delicious too. Overall absolutely great food. The staff took care of us very well. Highly recommended!

    I called in for a to go order. Luckily I was 5 minutes away from the restaurant. I ordered the…read moreFried Chicken, Candied Yams, Cabbage and White Rice. It took less than 10 minutes to receive the food. It was really good. I definitely need to come back for more.

    Photos
    Wall of recognition
    Wall of recognition
    Shrimp and grits
    Shrimp and grits
    Nikki's Place

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    Kook’n with Kim

    Kook’n with Kim

    4.8
    (96 reviews)
    11.7 mi
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    Working at the office today called for my favorite go to soul food place!…read more I ordered me and my assistant the smothered pork chop dinner with 2 sides , corn bread and two slices of cake. I ordered through door dash and it was delivered hot and fresh within 30 minutes. It's enough for left overs and my cake for later this evening as my treat lol. I absolutely love this place and I have already placed a large catering order for my family reunion and baby shower coming up.

    The Meatloaf alone is 5 stars…read more Love love Ms. Kim's meatloaf - Its savory seasoned well and oh so tender. I am not sure if she adds pork in the meat mix but it is delicious and tender soft. The gravy that comes with it is delicious. The bread pudding is also one of the best you will have from a scratch kitchen. I have seen caucasians come here and grab food because I hear them say its the best meatloaf they had - to the cooking in general reminds them of their southern family member cooking. This day the black eyed peas was a popular side choice. I never tried it but it was a popular one. I spoke to Ms. Kim and her grandson this day just to have a conversation - Ms. Kim introduced herself to me with her First Name - She asked me if I was this ethnicity and she was right LOL she then stated to me she is part Thailand. Her grandson was also nice. I was sharing to him my past experience as a Yelp Diner at this establishment and both Ms. Kim and her grandson were not fond of the experience I had and then Ms. Kim adviced next time that happens at any food establishment to just get a full refund back. They were shocked of the experience I had. It was a pleasure talking to them both them hearing me vent it out about my dining experience from another establishment. On a weekday around close to 12pm this place can get a line for food. By far Ms. Kim's place is the best soul food IMO in Orlando and the portions are hefty! Next time you stop by - its nice to chit chat with Ms. Kim and her grandson who is pretty much the cashier.

    Photos
    Kook’n with Kim
    Lunch!
    Lunch!
    Best Soul food ever!

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    Best Soul food ever!
    Sunshine Soulfood Cafe

    Sunshine Soulfood Cafe

    3.1
    (19 reviews)
    7.1 mi
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    Finally tried this spot. The oxtails were very good. Seasoned to the bone and so tender that they…read morewere falling off the bone. The gravy they were in was delicious. I loved the cabbage as well. Very flavorful. The Mac and cheese wasn't my favorite, but it was still pretty good. The turkey wings surprised me because I was skeptical because they were dark in color, but they were delicious. Turkey can be dry, but this was not. It was moist and delicious. Yummy! I would definitely eat from here again and there's a lot more to try on the menu.

    My meal was decent overall. I ordered the turkey wings with mac and cheese and collard greens…read more The turkey wings were seasoned well on the skin and the outer layer, but once I got into the meat, it was pretty flavorless. I wish the seasoning had carried through the entire piece. The mac and cheese was actually pretty good, especially for a Caribbean restaurant. I usually only enjoy mac and cheese from soul food restaurants, so this was a pleasant surprise. The collard greens were decent as well. The restaurant itself felt like one large space housing three different restaurants: Jamaican, Soul Food, and Haitian. It was very run down, there was no air conditioning, and with the Florida heat it was uncomfortable to dine inside. If I return, it will definitely be for takeout. Customer service was efficient and fairly quick, which I appreciated. One downside was the portion size. I ordered a large meal, but the amount of meat was surprisingly skimpy. Now, let's talk about the passion fruit punch. It was absolutely amazing! It was very sweet, but after adding a little water, it was perfect. Overall, I'd give it another try, probably ordering one of the fish dishes next time. Just don't expect me to dine in during a Florida summer.

    Photos
    Sunshine Soulfood Cafe
    Sampler of cornbread -- not even a full sized piece
    Sampler of cornbread -- not even a full sized piece
    Sunshine Soulfood Cafe

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    The Licking Orlando

    The Licking Orlando

    3.1
    (351 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    First time visiting The Licking, and it definitely won't be our last! We ordered the fried chicken…read moredinner with mac & cheese and greens, and the fried conch dinner with pigeon pea rice and greens. Everything was fresh, hot, and full of flavor. Ordering online was simple, and we received a notification that our food was ready before we even arrived, making pickup quick and convenient. The restaurant was clean, and we were warmly greeted as soon as we walked in. Since it was our first visit, they even treated us to complimentary drinks, sauces, and cake, which was a nice surprise. Great food, excellent customer service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend!

    Money hungry. Incompetent. I came in at 1 pm. My total was…read more$43.00. I had a $100.00 bill. I was told that my bill couldn't be broken because they 'just opened' (they opened at 11 am. What does THAT have to do with me when the alternative is an ADDITIONAL fee (inflation charge of 3.0%) q- a 3.5 service charge to use a credit/debit card? So you're telling me because YOU don't bank effectively and efficiently that you cannot provide me change? Nor can you remove the 3.5% fee that I shouldn't be forced to pay? Spoke with the 'manager' 'Tee' who advised he had no credentials to remove the 3.5 fee nor could remove any percentage from my ticket. Literally worth|ess. If I didn't drive 40 minutes here I would have left...that's fine though. I won't be back.

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    The Licking Orlando
    Lobster, Shrimp and Grilled Chicken Pasta
    Lobster, Shrimp and Grilled Chicken Pasta
    The Licking Orlando

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    The Licking - soulfood - Updated July 2026

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