Soul food is a home-cooked meal that fills your stomach and comforts your heart. Every state has its own unique soul food traditions. However, most people consider soul food as buttery bread, stews, savory grains, and gumbos.
In Houston, soul food is greatly enjoyed in the Deep South right at the massive urban sprawl. Houstonians enjoy soul foods like catfish, Mac n cheese, okra, smothered oxtails, chitterlings, and ham hocks, among others.
So many families in Houston run soul food restaurants. Each meal from this place is prepared and served with so much love. Read on to find a few of our favorite spots to enjoy hearty home cooking.
1. Mikki’s Soul food Café
Address: 10500 W Bellfort Ave 100, Ste 100 Houston, TX 77031
Phone: (281)568-5115
Jeanette Williams opened Mikki’s soul food café in 2000 at meadow place. Over time its popularity has risen to become one of Houston’s hottest eateries. Jeanette is a professional cook and a passionate mother who has become very successful in what she does.
The place has earned accolades from the Houston chronicles and local radio stations for offering great catering services. In addition, you will meet a friendly and welcoming staff that will ensure your family gets the best experience. Remember, every dish on their menu has a huge square of buttery sweet cornbread.
What stops you from heading to this place and grabbing some yummy soul food? Try their pepper steak smothered in bell peppers, gravy, and sautéed onions. It also comes with candied yams and collard greens as sides.
2. Esther’s Cajun Café & Soul Food
Address: 5007 N Shepherd, Houston, TX 77018
Phone: (713)699-1212
This café is named after Queen Esther, as the locals and staff call her, who is the owner and chef. The place is a product of entrepreneurial grit and family recipes. These recipes Esther uses are inherited from three generations of passionate chefs. They created the Cajun, Louisiana, soul food menu with a homely ambiance.
On top of the classic menu, the décor at Esther’s is sleek, and there is a full cocktail bar for you to enjoy. In addition, their daily menu has specific dishes you can only get once per week. Step in for their crawfish etouffee with red beans, cabbage, and rice as sides.
3. Houston’s This Is It Soul Food
Address: 2712 Blodgett St, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: (713)521-2920
This is it soul food restaurant is another iconic third ward favorite. It was started in 1959 by a family whose four generations have been running it. A greatly printed motto on their menus graces your eyes, leaving you with a Sunday feeling after picking any meal.
Houston Chronicles have recognized this place severally for its Mac n cheese dish. The Texas Monthly also lauded them for being Houston’s most famous pop culture. So pop in to try their battered fried chicken with Mac n cheese sides.
4. Soul Food Vegan
Address: 2901 Emancipation Ave, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: 1 713-814-8865
Soul food vegan is located in the third ward. The soul food is 100% plant-based. They know how to give their best by twisting all your favorite southern cooking. Soul food vegan love to make everything from scratch. If you are a veggie, they invent soy-free ingredients to imitate meat.
On their social media, you will find videos of appetizing soul meals that will educate you on alternative meals to eat. For example, instead of chicken, they use oyster mushrooms from which they bread and fry each piece to form a copyright of its texture and taste.
Also, they make a well-spiced plant-based mixture of chicken boudin and seafood using a sausage-making machine. In their boudin batter, they create a shrimpy taste from konjac root.
5. Alfreda’s Soul Food
Address: 5101 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: (713)528-0020
When it comes to home-cooked soul food, Alfreda’s soul food is rated as the third-ward institution. It was founded by the Green family, who later handed it over to the Williams family. It is a black-owned restaurant with friendly, warm staff that serves iconic soul food dishes.
Their outdoor patio is one of a kind. It is nicely decorated with colorful murals of famous black historical figures. The best part, each entrée you order comes with three sides. Therefore, you can get everything from blackeye peas, Mac and cheese, to collard greens.
6. Lucille’s
Address: 5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: (713)568-2505
Lucille’s menu is packed with a variety of southern classics. They are located within the museum district at a very comfortable family spot. Also, there is a large patio where live music is played on Sundays. You will be surprised how this little spot offers plenty of entertainment as you take brunch. After the meal, you can top off your experience with a taste of their signature cocktail.
7. Cassy’s Kitchen
Address: 4561 Edgefield St, Houston, TX 77051
Phone: 1 832-368-7629
This food truck restaurant is your stop if you are looking for a portion of comfort food for your breakfast or lunch. It is located in south acres serving southern and classic American specialties at an affordable price. They open from far early in the morning to around 5 pm.
The best thing is that you can have a chicken waffle any time of the day since breakfast is served all day. Some of their classics are; deep fried shrimp, catfish, burgers, tacos, barbecue specials, and fries. The barbecue special has potato salad, baked beans, brisket, and ribs.
8. Heavenly Choice
Address: 3810 cavalcade St, Houston, TX 77026
Phone: (832)419-0352
Heavenly choices are catering company and soul food eatery north of the fifth ward. They have a yearly community outreach program of back to school drive. On a normal day, they open from 11 am to 7 pm, and in case of any changes, they tell via their social media.
You will definitely enjoy their cozy dining room filled with a nice aroma from the fried chitterlings and fresh cornbread.