Updated February 2025
Good for the soul, good for the stomach.
Soul food is the staple of any good, old-fashioned American diet. Chicago offers some of the best comfort food outside of the South, from fried chicken to fried green tomatoes. Although we know no one can touch your grandma’s mac and cheese, these places might just come close. Chow down on comfort food delivered to your home or pickup your favorite meal.
Photo via Facebook/Frontier
1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. - West Town
Frontier is designed to take you out of your comfort zone and bring the wilderness back into your dinner. Featuring uncommon animal meats and the ability to purchase an entire alligator, it’s hard to pass up this experiential restaurant.
Image Via Facebook.com/ParsonsChicago
2952 W. Armitage Ave. - Logan Square
2435 N. Halsted St. - Lincoln Park
2109 W. Chicago Ave. - West Town
5721 N. Clark. St. - Andersonville
Parson’s is famous not only for its fried chicken and fish but also its house beer, which is now available by the case. Chicagoans swear Parson’s chicken tastes even better with the “extra mellow” brew—or the restaurant's signature frozen negroni.
Image Via Facebook.com/FeedChicago
2803 W. Chicago Ave. - Humboldt Park
Feed’s hidden backyard patio is one of the best places to dine on a summer evening. The chalkboard menu and comfort food cooked to perfection truly make the place feel like home.
Image Via Facebook.com/PearlsPlaceRestaurant
3901 S. Michigan Ave. - Bronzeville
One of the only formal Southern restaurants in Chicago, Pearl’s Place prides itself on making your experience one of a kind from the moment you walk in the door.
Photo via Facebook/Luella's Southern Kitchen
4609 N. Lincoln Ave. - Ravenswood
Luella’s has been family-owned since 1943, and it has only gotten better with age. Try the gumbo, trust us.
Image Via Facebook.com/BigJonesChicago
5347 N. Clark St. - Edgewater
Big Jones is a big hit for brunch crowd-pleasers reminiscent of The Big Easy like beignets, crawfish omelets and blue crab cakes. And if you're not an early riser, its lunch and dinner menus will satisfy your New Orleans cuisine cravings, too.
Image Via Facebook.com/OriginalSoulVegetarian
203 E. 75th St. - Greater Grand Crossing
Original Soul Vegetarian has 33 years of vegetarian cooking under its belt. Winning awards from PETA and Zagat for its gourmet soul dishes, there’s no better place for herbivores to find the best of traditional soul food.
Image Via Facebook.com/ChicagosHomeOfChickenWafflesOP
543 Madison St. - Oak Park
3947 South Kind Drive - Bronzeville
Chicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles prides itself on using historic recipes for its Southern food. Chicken liver is a non-namesake menu staple—try it out, you might be surprised!
161 N. Jefferson St. - West Loop
Wishbone is the pioneer of what it calls “Southern reconstruction cooking,” mix-and-matching traditional dishes to create fresh and surprising combinations. After nearly three decades in Chicago and a recent relocation, it's still clear that Wishbone is definitely onto something!
Image Via Facebook.com/LilliesQChicago
417 N. Ashland Ave. (Inside District Brew Yards) - West Town
Lillie’s Q specializes in beloved but often forgotten Southern staples including Brunswick stew and banana pudding. Also boasting some of the most popular barbecue in Chicago, this place is hard to pass up.
Image Via Facebook.com/ChicagoQBBQ
1160 N. Dearborn St. - Gold Coast
Chicago Q’s owner was once Oprah’s personal chef and, if it’s good enough for Oprah, then you better believe it’s good enough for the rest of Chicago!
1800 S. Racine Ave. - Pilsen
The folks at Honky Tonk BBQ love meat so much that they even offer it as a dessert! This spot is known for its candy bacon, real bacon doused in a maple coating. It's a crowd favorite that keeps customers coming back.
Image Via Facebook.com/TheRoostCarolinaKitchen
455 N. Milwaukee Ave. - River West
2011 W. Roscoe Street - Roscoe Village
The Roost takes Grandma’s soul food recipes to the next level. Every piece of
Photo via Facebook/Daley's Restaurant
6257 S. Cottage Grove Ave. - Woodlawn
Daley’s is Chicago’s oldest restaurant, founded in 1892 by Irish immigrants, and over the years has been frequented by celebrities like Muhammad Ali. We’re not saying you’ll become a boxing champ if you eat here, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
Photo via Facebook/Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods
1415 N. Wood St. - Wicker Park
Chef Brian Jupiter's latest venture reminds us how important seafood is to the soul food family. Fried and boiled options like shrimp and crawfish by the half-pound or a "Po' Man's Seafood Tower" are full of flavor. Ina's brunch is absolutely worth a daytime trip as well. If you need to spice it up, try some of Chef Jup's hot sauce (and maybe even buy a bottle to take home)!
Photo via Facebook/Soulé
3615 W Roosevelt Rd - North Lawndale
Entrees like blackened catfish and fried chicken are the obvious standouts here but we all know soul food is about the sides! Add cream corn, green beans with turkey, dirty rice and more to your meal here.
33 E 83rd St. - Chatham
2208 E State St - Burnham
As one of Chicago's highly talked about restaurants, Oooh Wee! It Is! is located in the Chatham on Chicago's South Side. As foodies know, it's the ultimate "fine dining on the go" experience where you'll be satisfied with lamb chops, beef short ribs, lobster tails, and much more. Weekly live music is the added bonus for this delicious restaurant!
Did we miss your favorite spot? Let us know at [email protected]!
