Nothing beats soul food for heartiness, comfort, and finger-licking flavor. Think collard greens, beans, and cornmeal in many forms, along with crispy catfish, pork, and tender fried chicken. What could be better than that? Here, we've tracked down the standout spots in every state to get yourself a plateful of sensational soul food.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the most unmissable soul food restaurant in every state.

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

It may be small, but J.W. Beverette’s Soul Food draws a big crowd. Locals and visitors alike flock here for smothered pork chops, tender oxtails, yams, green beans, collard greens, catfish nuggets, and sweet peach cobbler. Customers also love the friendly service – and as there are only seven tables, people are more than happy to get takeout if no seats are available.

Evolving from a makeshift set-up in a local sports center to a shack and now a full brick-and-mortar store, Triple A's has slowly but surely built a solid reputation for satisfying soul food. The menu is stuffed with classics, such as mouthwateringly crispy chicken, fluffy beignets, and hearty shrimp and grits breakfasts. Fans highly recommend the mac ’n’ cheese on the side, too.

You know CC’s on Central has a solid foundation for sensational soul food when you learn it's run by a mom-and-son team. The joint serves up breakfast and lunch dishes all day, including an untraditional jambalaya that has customers returning again and again. The first Sunday of every month is particularly popular here, with the restaurant delivering a must-visit Soul Food Sunday Service.

A welcoming atmosphere and speedy table service await those who venture into The So Full Café. Part of the Black Swan Catering Company, the café opens on Sundays with a weekly changing menu that typically includes favorites such as smoked oxtails, fried pork chops, blackened catfish, and fried chicken wings. All meals come with bread and two sides, including candied yams, black-eyed peas, and fried okra.

Hole-in-the-wall joint The Blazing Chicken Shack II has a short but impressive menu. It might not look like much from the outside, but it's what's on the inside that counts. The star items are the fried chicken wings, catfish, and oxtails, which come with sides such as red beans and rice, mac ’n’ cheese, and fried okra.

Vegan and soul food don’t usually go in the same sentence, least of all on the same plate, but chef Abundancechild Xi-El is changing that with the menu at her curb-side restaurant, Drop Squad Kitchen. 'Bacun' and waffles, 'turkee' subs, 'lobsterless' grits, vegan steak subs, and mac ’n’ cheese are all cooked from scratch, plus there's a delicious menu of salads on offer.

Soul Food Bistro is huge but still manages to have a homey feel. Two restaurants in Jacksonville serve a traditional buffet dinner, with dishes such as slow-braised oxtails, golden fried shrimp, and herb-roasted chicken. Sides include sweet buttered corn, honey-glazed carrots, and seasoned string beans. There are also specialty options such as herb-roasted salmon and chicken wontons. Customers rate the wholesome food and generous portions.

If you're looking for soul food with a twist, then you should check out Oreatha’s at The Point. Inventive dishes include collard green fried wontons (pictured), crawfish poutine, and Sicilian jambalaya, all of which fuse soul food with other cuisines to create something fresh and exciting. That’s probably why this joint is a hot spot for brunch and lunch.

Heaven's Soul Food Cuisine began life as a food truck in Ohio, but now the good folks of Oahu, Hawaii get to experience its out-of-this-world soul food. The ethos behind this venture is high-quality Southern food that nourishes the body – and, yes, the soul. Expect classic dishes such as chicken, catfish, and cobbler, all served with a smile.

Saint Lawrence Gridiron transformed from a food truck in 2012 to a brick-and-mortar eatery in just a couple of years. The restaurant serves New American food with a significant Southern influence, so expect smoked meats, mac ’n’ cheese, and shrimp and grits alongside new dishes like poutine with brisket, black bean paste, and Gorgonzola. This is scratch-made cooking with passion and flair.

The Soulfood Lounge boasts that it serves soul food from around the globe, including Caribbean honey chicken, Asian short rib, Mexican tacos, New England chowder, and much more besides. If you wish to travel the world as you eat, you could opt for the menu's 'Grand Tasting,' which includes three entrées of your choice, or the Chef Experience of the Day, which involves your server curating the menu for you. Or you could do what everyone else does and keep coming back for more.

Popular spot His Place Eatery is known for its excellent hospitality and gourmet take on soul food. Chef James 'Mackie' Jones has hand-crafted every recipe, dry rub, and seasoning on the menu. Expect fried chicken served with red velvet waffles and a cream cheese drizzle, deconstructed chicken pot pie, and in-house hickory-smoked meatloaf with pepper bacon and sweet and spicy sauce.

If you're looking for Southern food and traditions in the Carolina mountains, check out the Tupelo Honey Café in downtown Des Moines. Starting in Asheville, North Carolina in 2000, this small chain soon arrived in Iowa, and the location gets plenty of attention. The menu changes with the seasons, but you can expect to find the likes of sriracha-honey fried chicken and waffles, glazed meatloaf (pictured), and blackened mahi-mahi with Creole butter.

Soul Fire Food specializes in lunch and dinner boxes, loaded frybread, and fries covered with cheese sauce and perfectly seasoned meat. But the joint does deliver some twists on traditional favorites, serving up dishes such as a taco burger and a soul-fired baked potato with a choice of tasty toppings. Fans can head to the storefront or order from the mobile food truck – both of which will send them home happy.

A Louisville favorite, Lucretia’s Kitchen serves up incredible soul food dishes packed with flavor. The portions are big here, so locals recommend coming hungry. Expect the likes of house-made cornbread, award-winning fried chicken, tender smoked ribs, fried catfish, and meatloaf. The sides are worth savoring, too, with popular options including mashed potatoes, green beans, and mac ’n’ cheese.

Praised for its homey vibe, friendly service, and incredible food, Taylor’s Catering & Restaurant is one of the best eateries in Shreveport. The family-owned joint serves up a rotating selection of hearty, home-cooked dishes. Highlights include barbecue ribs, red beans with sausage, whole catfish, and fried chicken wings. If it’s on the menu, make sure you save room for a serving of banana pudding.

This small spot is loved both for its food and the warm welcome it gives customers. Go See TYCE BBQ serves a Jamaican-influenced menu that provides a dose of soul food at its best; both the curried chicken and jerk chicken are celebrated for their taste and authenticity, while the sides get plenty of attention, too (particularly the sweet and crisp plantains and collard greens). Saturday is Fish Fry Day.

Soul Kuisine's food is described by its owners as being all about 'quality, comfort, and decadence.' Stand-out dishes include a salmon cheesesteak with fried shrimp, and a chicken mac bowl. We also love how the sandwiches and wraps are named after iconic singers, like the Gladys Knight – grilled or crispy chicken topped with bacon, Swiss cheese, red onion, and honey mustard.

A gem of a family-run restaurant, Addie Lee’s Soul Food serves crispy fried chicken, saucy and tender barbecued beef ribs, and oxtail, along with sides including sticky rice, yams, mac ’n’ cheese, collard greens, and pinto beans. The welcoming staff get just as many compliments as the food, which regularly sells out by the end of the day.

Family-run carry-out spot Detroit Soul was founded in 2015 by brothers Jerome Brown and Samuel Van Buren. Although it's known for serving comfort food with a healthy twist, there's no compromising on flavor. The mac ’n’ cheese is popular with customers, while the pork chops, catfish, and fried chicken are also worth checking out. All meals come with two sides and a large cornbread muffin.

This family-run restaurant, named after late matriarch Angelea, serves up traditional soul food using generations-old recipes that are full of flavor. Meals such as smoked turkey leg, catfish nuggets, and smothered chicken are served with two sides and cornbread. Choose from collard greens, yams, rice, mac ’n’ cheese, and spaghetti.

Longstanding neighborhood joint Bully’s Restaurant offers some real soul food classics. You can find neck bones, pig’s feet, chitterlings (hog’s intestines), beef tips with rice, fried catfish, and barbecued ribs on the menu. Sides include mac ’n’ cheese, lima beans, yams, cabbage, okra, and fresh greens, and customers rave about them all.

Soul food with gourmet flair is what you get at Gourmet Soul, the brainchild of chef Lavinia McCoy. Its dishes, such as fried salmon over coco rice with Cajun cream sauce, and shrimp and grits, are perfectly plated and receive rave reviews from customers. The décor is suitably fancy too, featuring velvet chairs, a silver bar, and cool paintings.

Soul Brothers Inc serves up a delicious menu of Mexican comfort food classics. There's an array of tasty tacos, but perhaps the best item is the O.G Street Tacos – tacos filled with a choice of ground beef, steak, chicken, shrimp, or jackfruit with lettuce, tomato, and Cheddar cheese. The tasty wings, meanwhile, come with a choice of sauce, including honey-garlic siracha and lemon pepper.

Georgia's Northside provides takeout Southern food courtesy of renowned chef-owner Alan Natkiel, who previously ran restaurants in New York. He also appeared on TV shows such as Good Morning America and The Rachael Ray Show, before returning to his hometown of Concord. The tempting menu includes a classic pulled pork sandwich, fish and chips, and a fried chicken plate with coleslaw, potato salad, and a biscuit.

Looking for comfort food that's healthy, too? Vonda’s Kitchen has an all-day breakfast menu featuring both spinach and ricotta pancakes and silver dollar pancakes with berries and maple cream, which customers love. Classic Southern dishes such as fried chicken, fried catfish, and mac ’n’ cheese are also made with fresh, local, organic ingredients.

If you’re a fan of chicken and waffles, there’s no better place than Frank’s Famous Chicken & Waffles, which featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Customers love pairing the pecan and bacon waffles with perfectly seasoned fried chicken. It's not all about the chicken, though: the fried catfish, fried gherkins, and sweet tea also get rave reviews.

The best jerk chicken and barbecued ribs can be found at the small takeout joint Taste of Heaven in Brooklyn. Customers rave about how tender and full of flavor the meat is, and how it slips off the bone. Dishes are served with cornbread and two sides, including mac ’n’ cheese and collard greens. While you’re here, check to see whether the German chocolate cake and the Key lime cheesecake make an appearance on the dessert menu.

When the Morrison family moved to Charlotte, they couldn’t find any soul food, so they set up Nana Morrison’s Soul Food to fill the gap. Customers comment on how well seasoned and crunchy the skin on the fried chicken is. Daily specials have included smothered meatballs, chicken Alfredo, and meatloaf, while delicious sides – such as sweet yams, cornbread, collard greens, and mac ’n’ cheese – are just waiting to be devoured.

The all-day breakfasts served at Homesteaders are nothing short of legendary, featuring the likes of scratch-made buttermilk pancakes, locally sourced smoked bacon, ham, and sausage, and top-quality eggs. Other top orders at this cozy and classic Midwestern soul food spot include chicken fried steak served with mushroom gravy and the Homebreaker burger (a 5oz burger topped with cheese, bacon, fried egg, and Hollandaise sauce), with hash browns on the side.

A cornerstone of its Cincinnati neighborhood, Rasheedah’s Cafe has been serving halal soul food to customers since 1993. From the fried chicken to the beef short ribs, salmon croquettes, and cornbread, everything is said to be phenomenal. Sides include mac ’n’ cheese and candied yams.

Visitors to Oklahoma City's Penn Square Mall might have their heads turned by an abundance of fast food options, but Spunkie’s Soul Food is right there waiting to be discovered, too. The soul food restaurant offers a more meaningful experience, with crispy fried catfish, meatballs, and fried chicken all at the heart of the menu. Then, of course, there's the rib-sticking sides (mac ’n’ cheese, candied yams, baked beans, and fried okra) and delicious cakes to finish your meal.

This humble seaside food truck gets five-star reviews from customers who love the flavorful food, with some saying Surf 2 Soul serves the best chicken and waffles they’ve ever eaten. Other popular choices on the menu include the shrimp po' boy, salmon and crab cake roll, and seafood gumbo. There's also a tasty seasonal cobbler with locally sourced fruit and fresh whipped cream.

Set up by retired caseworker William Coleman, Mississippi Chicken Shack serves the best fried chicken around, according to happy customers. Choose what kind of meat you want out of leg, thigh, breast, and wing, and enjoy it with two of the musically named side dishes. We like the sound of 'Tina Turner' mashed potatoes with 'Rolling on the River' gravy. A piece of cornbread is thrown in for free.

Fried chicken is always the star attraction of any Southern joint, but regulars at Honeybird implore you to check out the snacks and sides, too. The soul food specials include fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits fritters, and a dill pickle potato salad – perfect accompaniments to the juicy chicken. You can choose your cut, flavor (customers recommend the Nashville hot style), and sauce for your perfect plate.

You can’t miss soul food and seafood joint Hannibal’s Kitchen, thanks to its bright orange building. Inside, the walls are covered in photos of the Huger family, who have run the restaurant since 1985. It’s famous for its crab and shrimp rice, which is packed with flavor, while the pork chop with red rice is a customer favorite.

If you love big plates of pure comfort food, Workmen’s Cafe is the no-frills spot for you. This charming joint is loved by locals for its homey flavors and affordability. There’s always a good deal on offer, from blue plate specials like African peanut chicken stew to giant platters piled with the likes of chicken drumsticks and thighs, pork chops, cornbread, and sides.  

H&T's Home Cooking was opened by Hattie Palin and her husband Thomas in 2005, with the couple vowing to provide 'the best homestyle meals with excellent service' – and, if reviews are anything to go by, they're doing just that. Expect big helpings of classic soul food, including meatloaf, fried catfish, shrimp and cheese grits, and fried chicken.

Customers love the friendly service and home-style cooking at Nana's Kitchen, run by chef Toshia 'Nana' Ramsey. Highlights on the menu include the beautifully presented waffles, rosemary-baked chicken, smothered pork chops, and wing baskets with a choice of seasoning (from Cajun to mango BBQ). Tasty sides include sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, and green beans.

Named after the entrepreneur, chef, and inventor Lucille Elizabeth Bishop Smith, this charming spot in Houston serves up brilliant brunches, lunches, and dinners. Head here to try the Famous Chili Biscuits, piled with house chili, Cheddar, and harissa cream. Other highlights include shrimp and grits, braised oxtails, and crab cakes with green Hollandaise.

We have Chef Julius’ grandma to thank for the talent at Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen; Julius learnt the cooking basics from her from a young age. For a memorable meal, start with the fried green tomatoes with pickled okra and ranch dressing – then follow them up with fried chicken with maple hot sauce or the catfish. Both options come with two sides and cornbread.

The sign out front at Maple Soul tells you everything you need to know about this beloved restaurant. It reads, 'From farm to table, from table to soul.' All the ingredients used in the kitchen are fresh and grown locally to deliver a menu that the joint says fuses Vermont comfort food with Southern soul. The menu even informs you where in the local area your food has come from.

Located in the historic Farmers Market building in the heart of Old Town Petersburg, Croaker’s Spot is a seafood and soul food restaurant – and there's another branch in St. Petersburg. As well as specials like broiled haddock with vegetable rice and cornbread (pictured), the menu has dishes such as twin crab cake medallions, butterfly fried shrimp, and fried fish salad, as well as fried chicken wings.

Simply Soulful is famous for its breakfast menu of Big Biscuit Sandwiches stuffed with a variety of fillings – including egg, cheese, and meat –as well as shrimp and grits, and chicken and cornbread waffles. Another menu highlight, the sweet potato pie, is made from a recipe passed down through generations.

Colorful interiors aren’t the only noteworthy thing about soul food restaurant Sumthin’ Good Soul Food. It also serves excellent chunky pork butt in a sweet and tangy sauce, 'out-of-this-world' fried cabbage, well seasoned collard greens, and delicately sweet cornbread. Open since 2017 and run by owner and head chef Jay Harris, it's a family affair named the best fried chicken spot in West Virginia by Taste of Home magazine.

Customers at family-owned Daddy’s Soul Food & Grille comment on the friendly staff as much as the delicious food. Each day, you can get fried and baked chicken, catfish, and sides such as smoked turkey greens, sweet potatoes, and baked mac ’n’ cheese. There’s also a rotating menu featuring specials like spaghetti and salmon croquettes.

Café Genevieve was honored with a visit from Guy Fieri for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so you know you're in for a plate of goodness before you even walk through the doors. The cozy café serves brunch and lunch in a historic building, combining the charm of its Southern-style cooking with a distinctly Western setting. Diners rave about the pig candy and eggs Benedict.

Now find out where to get the best chicken sandwich in your state

Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.