In the heart of Seattle's historic Black Americans Central District sits Simply Soulful, a black-…read moreand woman- owned restaurant. I tell my non-Asian friends that they should leave an Asian restaurant if you don't see any Asians inside. I am happy to say we were the odd ducks in this place! Love me some legit soul food. The menu is straightforward. We ordered at the counter. The food is brought to our table. The food took quite a while with big crowds coming in after us. I suspect they cook in batches as multiple groups received food at the same time. It was mostly self-service (utensils, water) until the restaurant quieted down, then we saw servers cleaning tables, etc. The Food: Combo Dinner with two sides, $26 - 5 Stars The combo plat offers two meat choices. I chose the wings and catfish. The wings are sizable and plump. Highly recommend. The catfish was a thinner cut and a bit dryer. I liked the very thin breading on the catfish, not greasy, and it tasted good with Tabasco. For sides, both the collard greens and fried okra are excellent. In fact, I say the okra is perfection! The little corn bread is just right for me. I thought the corn bread has good flavor while hubby said it was too dry. Catfish Dinner with two sides, $24 - 3.5 Stars Hubby complained the catfish was too thin. He's not a Tabasco person, so that doesn't help. I gave him two wings to calm him down. Lol. He loved the hush puppies the best. They are huge with a wonderful crisp. I agree with him! He thought the yams are too sweet; they do look sweet in the liquids but isn't that want yams are intended to be? I think he just needs to order differently in the future. Note they have a 3.5% service charge for credit card purchases. See line on the menu photo.

We visited this restaurant tonight for our family's Kwanzaa dinner and left very disappointed…read more We are a family of six (2 adults, 4 kids) and spent about $135 including tip, paid ahead of time. Our order took over two hours to come out. At the one-hour mark, my husband went to the counter to check on our order and was told it was "on its way out." About 20 minutes later, two entrees finally came out. It was obvious they had been sitting for a while -- the melted cheese was hard and discolored -- and one of the two dishes was prepared incorrectly. Another 20 minutes later, while walking by the counter, I could see my child's shrimp po' boy being finished. The person at the counter started squeezing sauce all over it as both the cook and I said "No sauce!" It had to be remade and came out 15 minutes later. At this point, only 3 of the 6 of us had received food, and my 5-year-old was getting very impatient. I let an employee know that we were still missing dishes and mentioned that several customers who ordered after us had already received their food and left. I also explained that my 5-year-old had only ordered a basket of fries, which still had not come out. Within the next 15 minutes, the rest of our food finally arrived -- and the fries came last, which was especially frustrating given how simple that order was. What made this experience particularly upsetting is that our family chose this restaurant intentionally for the final night of our Kwanzaa celebration. We spent time as a family researching Black-owned businesses, preparing presentations, and voting together on where to go. This was an important moment for our family, especially our kids who put real effort into the process. Given the long wait, disorganized service, incorrect and poorly handled food, and the amount we spent (which is a lot for our family), the overall quality of both food and service was very disappointing. The restaurant is very clean, beautifully decorated, and the staff is super nice. The food also has a ton of potential there were just way too many inconsistencies to be able to say really how it was. The banana pudding though!? 10/10 so delicious!!

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!!!!!

It has been a while ordering food from Nana's. I like that they are located in Kent, which is very…read moreconvenient. The parking itself gets a bit crowded in that area. We were craving some southern cooking and they were able to help us fairly quickly upon coming in. We ordered a meal with the two main and two side. In our order, we had the fried chicken and catfish. For the sides we had their macaroni and cheese and collard greens. With the meal it did come with a cornbread. We added n extra cornbread for $4. All this was a bit pricey for a meal. We ordered our food to go, so once our food is ready, they'll bring it out to our car. Which is a very nice service! But it did take a long time to get our food, I'm glad that it was fresh though. As for the food itself, I thought the chicken could've had a little bit more salt. But we did have the hot sauce on the side to dip, which made it good. The catfish was delicious, lots of flavor there. Nana's special sauce that was offered, made it even better! The sides were good, but for the cornbread. I would've liked it more moist. The place is very relaxed and chill, with many customers enjoying their food inside or waiting outside for the nice lady to drop off their order.

I had been to Communion before and was excited to finally take my husband. The menu had changed up…read morea little since my last time but everything was still really good so no complaints there. It is a small spot (sorta) so you kind of get in where you fit in. We ended up at the bar and honestly it worked out perfectly. Our bartender was friendly, engaging and just made us feel right at home. Another staff member came through at some point and was equally as kind. The service all around was great. Now let me talk about the food because that cabbage had no business being that good. I know that sounds random but it was my favorite thing and I did not see that coming. The mac and cheese was delicious, the fried chicken was really good, and my husband was all about the rice and black eyed peas (surprisingly). I also ordered a non alcoholic drink and even though I cannot remember the name it was really good too. The only minor thing was that one of the items, I think it was the hush puppies or cornbread, came out a little lukewarm. They mentioned it can be hard to keep that particular item hot, and flavor wise it was YUM so it was not a dealbreaker. Everything else comes out fresh as it's cooked so just know timing can vary by dish. It did get crowded toward the end and they politely let us know people were waiting outside. They handled it with so much grace it did not feel uncomfortable at all. I will definitely be back. Already curious about what will be on the menu next time.

This was hands down my favorite meal of my weekend trip. I found this spot through TikTok, and it…read morecame highly recommended. We didn't have a reservation, but after about a 10-minute wait, we were lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar. From the moment we walked in, the vibe felt warm, welcoming, and genuinely hospitable. The seating seems intentionally designed to bring people together, and you could see it in the mix of large groups, couples, and even solo diners. Like the name, it had a "communal" energy that made the space feel alive and intimate. The hostess, bartenders, and our waitress were all phenomenal. They were attentive and easy to talk to. Also, the playlist was good. It really added to the overall experience. We started with the sweet potato hoe cakes, and they were absolutely amazing. I loved the texture. They were soft, pillowy, and balanced. They weren't too sweet, even with the honey butter. I wish I'd ordered more to go because I haven't stopped thinking about them. I'll have to try recreating them at home. For my entree, I ordered the stuffed trout, and this is where things really took off. It's a whole fried trout stuffed with a seafood dressing (shrimp, catfish and oysters), and it immediately caught my eye on the menu. I'm not used to eating whole fish, and I don't think I'd even had trout before, but this dish was mouthwateringly good. The fish was crispy, hot, and perfectly seasoned. The béarnaise sauce really set it off. There were so many layers of flavor and texture, and everything just worked together perfectly. On top of that, the presentation was stunning. I posted it on my Instagram story and immediately had people asking where my food was as from. This meal was very memorable. I have zero notes. The ambiance, food, music, and service were all top-tier. Side note: There is a 5% "communal" surcharge added to every bill. The money is used to support staff benefits, the support staff, and the line cooks. This is separate from the gratuity. This surcharge is clearly explained on the menu, and I really love and appreciate the transparency and that they care about the employees. But yeah. Super good. We love a good meal and we damn near left there skipping.

I've been here on two different Saturdays within the past year and walked away as a very happy man…read moreboth times. Starting with the food, the shrimp and grits are creamy and packed with flavor, the eggs Benedict with bacon has perfectly poached eggs with a zippy crystal hollandaise, the waffle has a satisfying texture and comes with a comforting henny butter, and the best part that ties it all together: GARLIC. AIOLI. I have tasted many garlic aioli in my 28 years of life and this is by far the most delicious garlic aioli around. It's something I can't explain; you need to try it for yourself. With the breakfast potatoes, on the Benedict, in the shrimp and grits, by itself, I don't care, I just need it bottled up ASAP. As for the atmosphere, it's quite cozy and warm as a diner would be. I had to wait around 30 minutes both times I went because it was prime brunch time on Saturday and was fully worth the wait. The service is very welcoming and kind, and there's a good variety of sauces available on each table. They also serve Boon Boona coffee which is a Renton based coffee roaster, and I always love seeing local businesses support other local businesses. Overall, I love everything I've tried from Fat's and will hopefully be lucky enough to experience their food again soon.

I have lived in South Seattle for my entire life and have driven by Fat's more times than I can…read morecount. Finally had a chance to stop by while waiting for my son's baseball game to start at Garfield. Great atmosphere from the moment you walk in and the type of place that feels like home. We happened to just pop in while happy hour was happening. Ordered chicken and waffles, fried mushrooms, mac & cheese, and a root beer float. Everything was delicious. Fried chicken was super crispy...just how I like it. Price was affordable...which is so appreciated. The good music playing was a bonus and made the experience even more enjoyable. Go give this small business Some love and enjoy some good food. We will be back!

First and foremost, the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo was amazing. I love gumbo, so finding this place…read morewas such a treat. When we were there in February 2026, we met Reginald. While we were talking, he learned where I work and what we were going through. Without hesitation, he wanted to help. I connected him with the right person, and he generously donated approximately 70 gallons of his Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, along with rice and spoons, for all three shifts. He is truly an amazing person, and his food is just as incredible. Thank you, Reginald--my coworkers and I are so grateful for your kindness and support!

One of my favorite stops. I have gone here for years to get the best red beans, seasons and meats…read morefor various dishes. Today of course bought beans, seasons and meats. Walked out spending over $100. Will be returning of course. I bought the gumbo today for the second time. They make it themselves and OMG delicious. You get a side of rice and crackers. I did add my own crackers in this picture. Portion size is perfect. The customer service is always great and love all the hints of them on the walls. A must when you are in Kent or looking to try something new.

Had an amazing steak frites here. Love the interior decor and vibes. The service was exceptional…read moreand they happened to be playing the world series which was awesome!

The midweek brunch deal rules. The fruit platter is "better than average" (inside joke with the…read moreserver). Come during brunch during the week and enjoy great food and great service at a good price!

Jude's is the hidden gem I didn't know I needed in my life!…read more It gives small dive vibes. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The food is incredible. I love that each entire comes with choice of protein and a salad. The catfish was insanely crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The dirty rice was good. I could have used a little more flavor punch, but I haven't seen dirty rice on a menu in Seattle...so, I will not deduct points. Added bonus they are open late. I can't wait to go back for grits & greens!!

The Best Experience Hands Down In Rainer Beach 206 Seattle Wa!…read more Come see this amazing establishment! For the Grits Plate! Catfish is smacking! Cornbread is a hit! Dirty Rice is something special :) Sabrina is Amazing! Service 10/10 Ambiance was really nice! Vibes on 10!

We love the food here! We stop by when we have a hankering for the fried chicken. We got the 8…read morepiece combo fried chicken - half spicy & half original. I love their Brussel sprouts and bread pudding. There is something for everyone here and it's all good! I would try more things, but I really like their fried chicken. They also have a good HH menu. Service is friendly and fantastic. The place is always hopping and they play great music.

Service is bar service where the bartender takes your card when you walk inside and ask for your…read moreorder and if you want to close out. Seating inside is limited and outside patio covered is ok. You might see a group with a dog or two on the patio!! Ambiance is nothing special and bathrooms are clean. Food is cajun spiced! Chicken dishes good and very hot. Gangsta gumbo was ok. Cajun spiced mussels were good. The mac and cheese had hair in it. Host forgot to put in our order for Cajun mussels when we mentioned to him was the reason we came in the first place! They ran out of oysters! Mussels had a strong taste you may not like if you are not fully into cajun spice and flavor. French singing band showed up which was sorta unique. Draft Beer was not that great. No parking street parking.

Been waiting to give them a try and had an appointment in tukwila so I stopped in for lunch. This…read moreis a no frills, southern home cooked food spot with rotating specials. I stopped in about 30 mins after they opened on a friday and they had a lunch rush, everything is cooked to order so be prepared to wait at least 20mins. I ordered the 6oz catfish and chips which came with 3 catfish strips, fries, 1 hush puppy, chips and a drink ($16.99) I also got a side of mac&cheese. The positives: staff was kind, pastor at the counter would make jokes with customers and you could tell they had regulars during lunch time. Fries were well seasoned, hush puppy was good and Mac was acceptable. My only issue with the catfish was that it was overcooked and became a bit chewy (see photo). Sitting in there it seems like the wings were a customer favorite so I would love to go back and try their wings and other sides. Since my order took longer (there was a large order right before mines) the pastor at the counter thanked me for my patience and threw in a dessert.

I love fried chicken. I am always on the hunt for good, good fried chicken. Finally my husband I…read moredecided to give this place a shot. Because they have a limited schedule, we've missed being able to try it, but we got lucky this time. Take a look at the menu before you go, they offer different "today's special" items so take a look. We got the fried chicken and the honey spicy wings. I loved this fried chicken and the wings were so good. Honestly it's just simple good fried chicken, it was juicy and not too salty as sometimes breading can be. The wings though, they were my favorite, the sauce on these was so good. You just wanted to keep eating these and I did. I'd like to try more of their items soon. And be aware, there was quite the line already in place when my husband went to get food. It's good food period.

Tucked away on Leary in ballard is an amazing biscuit place. I used the plastic knife as a size…read morecomparison.So you have an idea of just how enormous these biscuits are. Super crisp and crusty on the outside, flaky. Tender and moist on the inside one biscuit is enough for 2 meals. They have some pretty interesting options here, though I've never had anything. But just the plain biscuit with butter or jam. It's one of those seattle hidden gems that if you don't know about it, you'll never find it.So i'm putting it out here.So, you all can bask in the biscuit glory, that it is

I haven't eaten many biscuits since moving to Seattle even though I grew up devouring them in the…read moreSouth. It's mostly because I find the large majority of biscuit places on the West Coast to be subpar - either dense and dry inside, or too similar to cake, like the baker substituted cake flour for good old fashioned White Lily. When I saw a bunch of people recommend Seattle Biscuit Company, I decided to give them a try. The first time I visited a biscuit place in the PNW a ton of people recommended, Pine State Biscuits in Portland for reference, I came out extremely disappointed. Hopefully this time would be different. I have to say, pricing is a bit ridiculous here. Just as a comparison point, the special fried chicken biscuit here is $27. The fried chicken biscuit at the place I grew up eating at is currently $5. The plain biscuit is $7 here vs. $1.29 there. Is it worth the price? I started out with a plain biscuit to judge their basic building block: Plain Biscuit ($7) - These are massive biscuits, around half a pound in weight, easily dwarfing the size of 90% of other biscuits. The smell wafting out of the paper wrapper smells heavenly with the aroma butter and flour. The taste reminds me of my childhood growing up in the South. It's distinctively buttery and salty, warm and comforting, almost spot on in taste as compared to say, Bojangles. A lot of places on the West Coast don't add enough salt or butter, making the biscuit taste unpleasantly alkaline. This one has no issues at all in the flavor department. The bake on the biscuit is fantastic, leaving the exterior with a crisp crust all around, while the inside still remains moist and fluffy. It's not particularly layered or flaky, and the interior, while fluffy, has a bit more developed gluten, making it just slightly chewy and slightly denser than perfection. When trying to split by hand, it doesn't split cleanly and instead chunks, especially in the center. Yet it's moist and doesn't crumble apart easily. These biscuits stand on their own and don't need any accompaniment to be enjoyed. Out of all the biscuits I've eaten on the West Coast so far (15+ places), this one tastes the most like a good Southern biscuit. (5/5) I was impressed enough with the biscuit that I revisited the week afterwards to try a sandwich: Gus ($27) - This sandwich seems very expensive until the plate comes out. In between the giant biscuit comes two pieces of fried chicken breast (or perhaps one piece filleted into two). It's breaded and fried generally well - the outside is definitely crisp, although it doesn't adhere that well to the chicken and slides off very readily. The interior of the chicken is nice. I usually expect chicken breast to be dry, but this one is relatively moist, not dried out at all. The breading tastes sweet and salty. I wonder if they brine the chicken in sweet tea. Each side of the biscuit is slathered with a bit of sweet mustard and peppered with pickle slices, giving some acidity to cut through the sausage gravy fat. Between the pickles and the sweet breading, it reminds me of the flavor of a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. The sandwich is served on a bed of orange-colored sausage gravy. It's thick and rich, although perhaps a little on the floury side. There's plenty of sausage mixed in, giving a ton of meaty depth combined with black pepper and spices. In terms of portion size, my wife and I shared this sandwich and we had trouble finishing it. It's definitely enough for two people, which makes the pricing a little more palatable. (5/5) Sweet Tea ($5) - This one is definitely on the sweeter side compared to what I make at home. The tea doesn't have much astringency but it does have a nice generic black tea flavor. There aren't that many places in Seattle to get sweet tea, so I'd say it's passable. I did purchase additional plain biscuits as well and I have to say texture-wise, they are similar, but these new ones tasted distinctively less buttery than before. I think there might be some consistency issues although this second batch is still really good. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the biscuits served at Seattle Biscuit Kitchen. I will definitely be revisiting in the future for more. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms.