15 Soul Food Spots In Illinois That Bring Sunday Dinner Comfort All Week
In Illinois, soul food isn’t just a meal; it’s a warm embrace on a plate. From crispy fried chicken to creamy macaroni and cheese, these spots capture the heart of Sunday dinner every single day.
Locals know where to find dishes that taste like home, with flavors that linger long after the last bite.
Each restaurant serves up comfort, tradition, and generosity, proving that in Illinois, soul food is always worth the trip.
1. The Soul Food Lounge
Walking into this spot feels like stepping into your aunt’s dining room on a holiday.
The Soul Food Lounge serves up classics that taste like they’ve been passed down through generations, with fried chicken so crispy it sings and candied yams that’ll have you licking the plate.
Every dish comes loaded with flavor and zero pretense.
The staff treats you like family, which means they might tease you a little but will always make sure you leave satisfied. Sunday vibes happen here daily, no church clothes required.
2. Soul Prime Chicago
Fancy meeting you here at the intersection of elegance and comfort food.
Soul Prime Chicago takes traditional soul food and gives it a gourmet makeover without losing any of that down-home goodness that makes your heart happy.
Their short ribs practically fall off the bone before you even touch them. The presentation is Instagram-worthy, but the taste is what keeps locals coming back.
This place proves you can dress up soul food without stripping away its soul.
3. Soulé Chicago
Brunch lovers, rejoice! Soulé Chicago brings the heat with a menu that makes choosing just one dish physically painful.
Their chicken and waffles combo has achieved legendary status among Chicago foodies, and for good reason.
The waffles arrive golden and fluffy, topped with fried chicken that’s been seasoned by someone who clearly understands the assignment.
Weekend waits can stretch long, but nobody’s complaining when the reward tastes this good. Pack your patience and appetite.
4. Bronzeville Soul
Nestled in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood, this gem honors the area’s rich African American heritage with every plate.
The catfish here gets fried to absolute perfection, with a cornmeal crust that crunches like autumn leaves. Portions are generous enough to share, though you probably won’t want to.
The collard greens simmer with smoked turkey, and the peach cobbler arrives bubbling hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top. History tastes delicious here.
5. Morrison’s Soul Food
Nothing fancy happens here, and that’s exactly the point. Morrison’s Soul Food keeps things simple, honest, and incredibly tasty, serving cafeteria-style comfort that reminds you why soul food became soul food in the first place.
Their cornbread comes out moist and slightly sweet, perfect for soaking up pot liquor from the greens.
The fried chicken gets seasoned overnight, resulting in flavor that goes bone-deep. Cash is king here, so hit the ATM before you arrive hungry.
6. Jordyn’s Soul Café
Small but mighty describes Jordyn’s Soul Café perfectly.
This neighborhood favorite punches way above its weight class, delivering flavors that make you wonder if someone’s grandmother is secretly running the kitchen.
The oxtails here are fall-apart tender and swimming in rich gravy that deserves its own fan club.
Regulars know to call ahead because popular items sell out fast. Get there early, order generously, and prepare for a food coma worth celebrating.
7. The Neighborhood Gem (formerly Food On The Run Express)
Sometimes the best treasures hide in plain sight. The Neighborhood Gem underwent a name change but kept everything else that made locals obsessed, including recipes that taste like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house.
Their turkey wings are legendary, slow-cooked until they’re tender enough to eat with a spoon.
The mac and cheese stretches when you scoop it, loaded with multiple cheeses that create pure comfort. This spot understands that soul food feeds more than stomachs.
8. Southern Chicago
Down-South flavors traveled north and set up shop at Southern Chicago, where the menu reads like a greatest hits album of comfort food.
The fried green tomatoes arrive crispy and tangy, a perfect appetizer before the main event. Their smothered pork chops come buried under onion gravy so good you’ll want to drink it through a straw.
The sweet potato pie strikes that perfect balance between sweet and spiced. Every bite transports you to a front porch somewhere below the Mason-Dixon line.
9. MacArthur’s Restaurant (Chicago)
Established decades ago, MacArthur’s Restaurant has been feeding Chicago’s soul food cravings since before it was trendy.
The restaurant’s longevity speaks volumes about consistency, quality, and flavors that never go out of style. Their fried chicken recipe hasn’t changed in years because perfection needs no updates.
The black-eyed peas simmer with ham hocks, creating a side dish substantial enough to be a meal. Old-school hospitality meets old-school cooking, and everybody wins.
10. Pearl’s Place
Pearl’s Place operates on a simple philosophy: cook with love, season generously, and treat every customer like they just came home.
The restaurant lives up to its namesake, offering precious comfort food that shines bright. Their gumbo arrives thick and spicy, loaded with shrimp and sausage that party together in every spoonful.
The red beans and rice come seasoned just right, not too heavy but satisfying enough to fuel your entire afternoon. Comfort lives at this address.
11. Peach’s Restaurant
Breakfast and brunch reach new heights at Peach’s Restaurant, where the morning menu could make you abandon all other meals.
Their biscuits arrive fluffy and buttery, tall enough to require structural engineering.
The shrimp and grits dish features plump shrimp swimming in creamy, cheesy grits that’ll make you reconsider your life choices in the best way.
Weekend lines stretch long, but regulars know the wait builds character and appetite. Bring friends and share everything.
12. Roy’s Soul Food
Roy’s Soul Food doesn’t waste time on fancy décor or complicated menus. Instead, this spot focuses entirely on what matters: cooking soul food so good it could make a grown person cry tears of joy.
The hot water cornbread here deserves its own holiday.
Their lima beans simmer slow and low, developing flavors that supermarket cans can only dream about.
Everything tastes homemade because it is, prepared daily with recipes that honor tradition and taste buds equally.
13. Soul & Smoke
Where soul food meets barbecue, magic happens. Soul & Smoke combines two beloved Southern traditions, creating a menu that’ll have you debating whether to order ribs or fried chicken, then ordering both.
Their brisket gets smoked low and slow until it achieves that perfect pink ring and falls apart at the slightest touch.
The baked beans come loaded with burnt ends, making them substantial enough to headline. This place understands that smoke and soul belong together.
14. Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods
Cocktails and comfort food collide beautifully at Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods, where the drinks are strong and the food sticks to your ribs.
This spot brings a modern twist to traditional soul food without losing authenticity. Their fried chicken sandwich arrives on a buttery bun with pickles and comeback sauce that lives up to its name.
The dirty rice packs serious flavor, and the bourbon selection could keep you browsing for hours. Soul food grew up and got sophisticated here.
15. Abundance Bakery & Café
Rounding out our list is Abundance Bakery & Café, where soul food starts early with breakfast and baked goods that’ll ruin you for chain restaurants forever.
Their sweet potato pancakes are fluffy clouds of spiced perfection. The salmon croquettes arrive golden and crispy outside, tender and flavorful inside, paired with cheesy grits that could convert non-believers.
Their bakery case displays cakes, pies, and pastries that make choosing just one nearly impossible. Abundance delivers exactly what its name promises.