Soul Food Spots Trending
A Yelp list named a beloved Phoenix restaurant among top U.S. soul food joints, while Chicago's Soulé by Bridgette Flagg was praised for fish and grits in North Lawndale. Virgil's Kitchen was recommended for modern soul food alongside other Atlanta-area diners.
The Phoenix restaurant scene is rich with soul food history, prominently featuring Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe, a landmark institution since 1964. Founded by Elizabeth White, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, the cafe has served classic dishes to generations of diners, including notable figures like James Brown and Senator John McCain. The restaurant was a trailblazer, welcoming all patrons during a time of segregation in Phoenix. Another Phoenix staple, Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles, was founded by Larry "Lo-Lo" White, the grandson of Mrs. White. He honed his skills and recipes at his grandmother's restaurant before establishing his own, which has become an Arizona institution known for its signature pairing of savory fried chicken and sweet, fluffy waffles. In Chicago, Soulé by Bridgette Flagg has become a celebrity hotspot, attracting figures like Scottie Pippen and artists Lil Baby and Lil Durk. Owner Bridgette Flagg was inspired by the memory of her mother and grandmother's cooking, starting by selling dinner plates on Instagram before opening her first boutique restaurant in West Town in 2017. The restaurant is known for its Creole-infused take on soul food. Virgil's Gullah Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta offers a taste of the unique Gullah Geechee culture, the oldest Black culture in America. Co-founded by the married couple Juan and Gregory "Gee" Smalls, the restaurant's recipes are inspired by Gee's family, who hail from James Island, north of Charleston. The menu features dishes with West African roots, emphasizing rice, seafood, and local coastal ingredients. The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved on the coastal plantations of the southeastern United States. Their culinary traditions, born from making the most of available rations and local ingredients, have significantly influenced what is now considered Southern cuisine. Dishes like shrimp and grits and Hoppin' John have Gullah Geechee origins. The success of Virgil's has led to its expansion to three locations in the Atlanta area: College Park, West Midtown, and Conyers. The founders, Juan and Gee Smalls, are also philanthropists who created "The Gentlemen's Ball" to celebrate the accomplishments of Black LGBTQ people. Virgil's itself is considered a safe and welcoming space for the Black queer community. Modern soul food is seeing a renaissance, with chefs and restaurateurs putting innovative twists on classic dishes. This includes incorporating diverse culinary influences, offering more plant-based options, and a greater emphasis on farm-to-table sourcing. This evolution honors the heritage of soul food while adapting to contemporary tastes and dietary preferences.
