These New Jersey Soul Food Spots Bring Sunday Dinner To The Shore Every Day
Forget chilly nights and rushed weeknights! What if you could capture that soul-warming magic of a Sunday dinner – all the gravy, the greens, the unapologetic comfort – any day of the week, and right on the Jersey Shore?
We’re talking about places that dish out love on a plate, where the macaroni and cheese is as legendary as the boardwalk, and the fried chicken sings a sweet, crispy ballad. Get ready to loosen your belt, because these 12 New Jersey soul food spots are serving up a slice of heaven, shore-style, all year long.
1. Kelsey’s
Walking into this Atlantic City institution feels like stepping into your favorite aunt’s dining room during the holidays. The supper-club atmosphere buzzes with conversation, laughter, and the clinking of forks against plates loaded with fried catfish, smothered pork chops, and candied yams.
Weekend brunch here is legendary, with a buffet that stretches longer than the boardwalk itself. Regulars know to arrive hungry because portions are generous and seconds are encouraged.
Whether you’re craving chicken and waffles or a classic plate of oxtails over rice, Kelsey’s delivers that Sunday-dinner satisfaction seven days a week.
2. Kelsey & Kim’s Southern Café
Mornings at the shore get a whole lot better when biscuits and gravy are on the menu. This boardwalk-area gem from the same team behind Kelsey’s focuses on breakfast and lunch, serving up Southern comfort from sunrise until mid-afternoon.
Fluffy pancakes, creamy grits, and perfectly seasoned home fries make early risers feel like they’ve found a secret treasure. The café vibe is relaxed and welcoming, perfect for fueling up before a day at the beach.
Locals swing by for takeout platters of fried chicken tenders and cornbread muffins that taste like they came straight from a Carolina kitchen.
3. Leavander’s 22 Southern Cuisine
Hotel dining doesn’t usually scream soul food, but Leavander’s 22 inside the Claridge breaks all the rules. Braised short ribs fall off the bone with just a gentle nudge from your fork, while the mac and cheese is so creamy it could win awards.
Collard greens here are cooked low and slow, seasoned with just the right amount of smokiness to remind you of Sunday suppers back home. The setting is polished, but the food keeps its down-home roots.
Visitors and locals alike recommend this spot for a taste of Southern hospitality without leaving the casino district.
4. Platters Seafood & Soul Food
Combo platters here read like a greatest-hits album of comfort food. Fried whiting sits next to buttery corn on the cob, while shrimp and grits share space with candied sweet potatoes on plates so full they barely fit on the table.
The kitchen doesn’t make you choose between seafood and soul food because why should you have to pick favorites. Every meal feels like a celebration, the kind where everyone brings their best dish to share.
I once watched a regular order three platters to go, explaining she was feeding her book club and nobody trusts potluck anymore when Platters is nearby.
5. Shug’s Soul Food
Pop-ups usually mean experimental fusion or trendy small plates, but Shug’s keeps it real with rotating daily specials that taste like Grandma’s cooking. Smothered chicken on Tuesdays, meatloaf on Thursdays, and fried pork chops whenever the mood strikes.
Operating out of a campus kitchen, this beloved local spot has built a devoted following through word-of-mouth and plates that never disappoint. The menu changes based on what’s fresh and what the chef feels inspired to cook.
Social media keeps fans updated on daily offerings, and regulars set phone reminders so they don’t miss their favorite dishes.
6. Eileen’s Soul Food & Catering
Neptune City locals have Eileen’s phone number saved in their contacts right next to family members. Fried chicken here is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the kind that makes you close your eyes and smile with the first bite.
Oxtails are tender enough to eat with a spoon, falling apart in a rich gravy that begs to be soaked up with cornbread. Collard greens arrive perfectly seasoned, not too bitter and not too soft.
The delivery and takeout game here is strong, with orders arriving hot and carefully packed like someone’s sending dinner to a loved one.
7. Jameson’s Southern Cooking
Fried pork chops here don’t just satisfy hunger, they solve problems and answer questions you didn’t know you had. Smothered in onion gravy and served with mashed potatoes that could cushion a fall, these chops have earned Jameson’s a loyal following over the years.
This longtime shore-area standby knows comfort food isn’t about fancy presentations or trendy twists. Green beans cooked with bacon, cornbread that crumbles just right, and sweet tea that tastes like summer afternoons.
Regulars have been coming here for decades, bringing their kids and eventually their grandkids to experience the same flavors they grew up loving.
8. JBJ Soul Kitchen
Good food with a good cause makes every bite taste even better. This community-driven restaurant operates on a pay-what-you-can model, ensuring everyone gets a hot, homey meal regardless of their wallet situation.
Meatloaf, roasted chicken, seasonal vegetables, and hearty sides rotate through the menu, all prepared with care and respect. Volunteers work alongside staff to create an atmosphere that feels more like a neighborhood gathering than a typical restaurant.
With locations in Red Bank and Toms River, both close to shore communities, JBJ Soul Kitchen proves that soul food is as much about feeding hearts as it is about filling stomachs.
9. Quoney’s
Ocean County residents know where to find Sunday-supper flavors without the Sunday-only schedule. Fried fish arrives golden and flaky, while chicken wings are seasoned so well they don’t need sauce, though the house-made options are worth trying anyway.
Classic sides here include creamy mac and cheese, collard greens cooked just right, and cornbread that’s slightly sweet and perfectly moist. The menu reads like someone’s grandmother wrote it, full of dishes that bring back memories.
Local reviews consistently praise the generous portions and authentic flavors that make Quoney’s a go-to spot for anyone craving real soul food near the shore.
10. Aunt Berta’s Kitchen
Turkey wings don’t get enough credit in the soul food world, but Aunt Berta’s knows their value. Slow-cooked until the meat slides off the bone, these wings come smothered in gravy that demands to be mopped up with every available carbohydrate.
The menu blends soul food classics with Cajun influences, bringing a little Louisiana spice to the Jersey shore. Collard greens, red beans and rice, and jambalaya share menu space with traditional Southern favorites.
With multiple South Jersey locations including spots near Cape May, this small chain has made home-style comfort food accessible throughout the southern shore region.
11. Pappy’s Pig Roast
Barbecue and soul food are cousins who share recipes and cooking secrets, and Pappy’s honors both traditions beautifully. Pulled pork is smoky and tender, ribs have a perfect bark, and the sides could stand alone as main courses.
Mac and cheese here is baked until the top gets crispy and golden, while coleslaw provides a cool, tangy contrast to the rich meats. Cornbread arrives warm, ready to soak up any sauce left on your plate.
Shore-area residents treat Pappy’s like their secret weapon for feeding crowds, whether it’s a family reunion or just a Tuesday when nobody feels like cooking.
12. Dootsie’s Kitchen
Fast-growing doesn’t always mean compromising on quality, and Dootsie’s proves it with every platter that leaves the kitchen. Fried whiting and catfish are crispy perfection, while fried chicken stays juicy under its golden coating.
The delivery reach extends from Monroe through central Jersey toward the shore, bringing Sunday-dinner flavors to doorsteps across the region. Mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, and cornbread round out platters that feel like home.
My neighbor orders from here every other Friday, calling it her personal tradition because cooking after a long week just isn’t happening when Dootsie’s is a phone call away.