14 Soul Food Restaurants In Dallas, Texas That Locals Say Feel Just Like Home
In Dallas, comfort isn’t just found in big hats and warm smiles; it’s served on a plate piled high with fried chicken, collard greens, and mac and cheese that melts your heart as fast as it does your resolve.
The city’s soul food scene is built on love, tradition, and the kind of recipes that feel like a hug from grandma.
These hometown favorites are where flavor and family come together every single day.
1. Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley
Celebrity chef vibes meet down-home cooking at this upscale spot where the ambiance is as delicious as the entrees.
Kevin Kelley transformed traditional soul food into a full-blown experience, complete with live music and craft cocktails that’ll make your taste buds dance.
The shrimp and grits here aren’t playing around. They’re rich, creamy, and packed with flavor that screams “come back soon.”
Perfect for date night or impressing out-of-town visitors who think they know what real soul food tastes like.
2. Kendall’s Soul Food
Walking into Kendall’s feels like stepping into your auntie’s kitchen on a Saturday afternoon.
The portions are generous, the prices won’t break your wallet, and the fried catfish is so good it should probably be illegal.
Locals swear by the oxtails, which fall off the bone and swim in gravy thick enough to stand a spoon in. The yams are candied to perfection, sweet but not tooth-achingly so. Cash is king here, so hit the ATM before you roll up hungry.
3. Kendall Karsen’s Upscale Soul Food
Fancy soul food isn’t an oxymoron when Kendall Karsen’s is involved. This elevated version takes everything you love about traditional comfort food and dresses it up for a night on the town.
The lobster mac and cheese is a showstopper, combining two luxuries into one creamy, indulgent masterpiece.
Their fried chicken gets a gourmet twist while still maintaining that crispy, juicy perfection grandma would approve of. Reservations are recommended because word got out fast about this gem.
4. Lisa’s Soul Food Cafe
Lisa’s doesn’t need fancy decorations or Instagram-worthy plating because the food speaks volumes all on its own.
This no-frills spot focuses on what matters: flavor, freshness, and making sure you leave fuller than when you arrived.
The smothered pork chops are legendary among regulars, tender and swimming in onion gravy that demands you order extra cornbread for sopping.
Greens are cooked low and slow with just the right amount of seasoning. Lunch rush gets crazy, so plan accordingly or embrace the wait.
5. Sweet Georgia Brown: Soul Food Eatn!!
Named after the jazz standard, Sweet Georgia Brown hits all the right notes when it comes to authentic soul food.
The exclamation marks in the name aren’t just for show; they’re a promise that your meal will be exciting.
Their peach cobbler deserves its own fan club, with a buttery crust and fruit filling that tastes like summer in Georgia.
The fried chicken is crispy perfection, seasoned so well you might forget about using hot sauce. Bring your appetite and your stretchy pants to this Dallas treasure.
6. Two Podners Bar-B-Que & Seafood
Barbecue meets soul food in this hybrid heaven where the menu reads like a greatest hits album of Southern cooking.
Two Podners has been slinging smoked meats and fried seafood since way back, earning a devoted following that spans generations.
The brisket is smoky and tender, while the fried shrimp are golden and perfectly seasoned. Sides like potato salad and baked beans round out plates that’ll have you loosening your belt.
Warning: the smell alone might make you order twice as much as you planned.
7. Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que & Home Cooking
Since 1975, Smokey John’s has been perfecting the art of low and slow cooking with a side of Southern hospitality.
This Dallas institution combines barbecue prowess with soul food staples, creating a menu that covers all your comfort food bases.
Ribs fall off the bone with barely a tug, and the hot links pack a spicy punch that barbecue lovers crave. Don’t sleep on the sides, especially the mac and cheese that’s creamy enough to make you weep.
Cash or check only, because they keep it old school in every way.
8. Ellen’s (Casa Linda)
Tucked in the Casa Linda area, Ellen’s has been feeding Dallas families since 1957, making it older than your parents and possibly your grandparents.
The retro vibe isn’t manufactured; it’s genuinely vintage, complete with regulars who’ve been coming here for decades.
Breakfast is served all day, which means you can get fluffy biscuits and gravy at 3 PM if that’s your jam.
The chicken fried steak is massive, crispy, and covered in peppery cream gravy. Cash only, so come prepared to pay the old-fashioned way.
9. Mama’s Daughters’ Diner (Design District)
Located in the hip Design District, Mama’s Daughters’ Diner proves that soul food belongs everywhere, even among the art galleries and trendy boutiques.
The name tells you everything: this food comes from recipes passed down through generations of women who knew their way around a kitchen.
Chicken and waffles here are a religious experience, with crispy bird meeting fluffy waffles and syrup in perfect harmony.
The catfish nuggets are bite-sized pieces of heaven, fried golden and served with tangy tartar sauce. Brunch crowds can get rowdy, so arrive early or late.
10. Street’s Fine Chicken (Cedar Springs)
Street’s takes fried chicken seriously, elevating it to an art form without losing the soul that makes it comfort food.
This Cedar Springs location attracts everyone from college students to business folks looking for a taste of home during lunch break.
The spicy version brings the heat without overwhelming your taste buds, while the classic preparation lets the perfectly seasoned, crispy coating shine.
Honey butter biscuits are fluffy clouds of carbs that you’ll dream about later. Their lemonade is fresh-squeezed and tart enough to cut through all that delicious grease.
11. Hall’s Honey-Fried Chicken
Honey and fried chicken might sound like an odd couple, but Hall’s makes it work like peanut butter and jelly.
The secret honey glaze adds a subtle sweetness that complements the savory, crispy coating without turning your meal into dessert.
Regulars know to order extra napkins because this chicken is gloriously messy in the best possible way. The wings are particularly popular, perfectly sized for snacking or making a full meal with some sides. Pro tip: the collard greens here are cooked with smoked turkey, adding depth without being too heavy.
12. Rudy’s Chicken (South Dallas)
South Dallas knows good chicken, and Rudy’s has been proving it for years with bird so good it’s worth crossing town for.
This no-nonsense spot focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well: frying chicken that’s juicy inside and shatteringly crispy outside.
The seasoning blend is a closely guarded secret, but whatever’s in it creates flavor that penetrates all the way to the bone.
Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the staff treats you like family. Get there early because they sometimes sell out of the good stuff by evening.
13. Big Mama’s Chicken & Waffles
Big Mama doesn’t play when it comes to the holy combination of chicken and waffles. This spot takes the classic pairing and runs with it, offering variations that’ll make your head spin in the best way possible.
The waffles are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and big enough to serve as a landing pad for multiple pieces of perfectly fried chicken.
Syrup options include traditional maple and flavored varieties that add extra personality to your plate. Weekend brunch here is an event, complete with mimosas and enough food to fuel your entire day.
14. Norma’s Cafe (multiple Dallas locations)
Norma’s has multiple locations across Dallas because one wasn’t enough to handle the demand for their home-style cooking.
Since 1956, they’ve been serving up comfort food with a Texas twist, earning the nickname “the Best Little Pies in Texas.”
While famous for pies, the chicken fried steak and meatloaf hold their own as soul food staples done right.
Breakfast plates are legendary, piled high with eggs, bacon, and hash browns that’ll keep you full until dinner. Open 24 hours at some locations, because cravings don’t follow a schedule.