Soul Food Tour

Soul food special from Lonnie's Best Taste of Chicago.

I’m not sure when my love affair with Southern and Soul Food started.  Like many, probably with some delicious crispy fried chicken, fried corn bread, greens and coleslaw.  I also attribute it to conversations at work that almost always revolve around food.  My coworker would talk about her experience growing up in the country and her mom cooking soul food, prepared every day from scratch and from things they grew on the farm.  Those conversations usually end up with me craving some soul food and leading me to some new places.

So what is soul food? The short answer is, “traditional southern African-American food”.  Though the term “soul food” was coined in the 1960s, soul food went back to the time of slavery more than 200 years ago.  Often left with only unsavory cuts of meats (pig feet, intestine, etc.),  “Soul food cooking is an example of how really good southern Negro cooks cooked with what they had available to them.”  (Bob Jeffries, Soul Food Cookbook, 1969). Beans, greens, cornmeal (used in cornbread, hush puppies, johnnycakes, and as a coating for fried fish), and pork are examples of the staples of soul food cooking. Source

I’ve done some initial research and didn't find a very good list of great soul food places around town. So I’m making my own list. The best part is I get to do the research to put together that list! :) In the next few months, join me as I do a soul food tour looking for authentic soul food places around town. 

*Authentic soul food places usually include dishes like chitterlings, ham-hock, oxtail, etc. but my definition will be a little more lose.  As long as the business identifies itself as a soul food establishment then it'll be on my list.  I'm also particularly interested in African American owned businesses.  

These are places on my growing list, chick on the link for my review.  Check back often for updates!

Shirley Mae’s Cafe and Bar  | rating: 9/10
802 S. Clay Street (Corner of Clay and Lampton)
Louisville, KY 40203
502-589-5295
Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday: 1:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
$13 and under
Cash only
Website

Lonnie's Best Taste of Chicago | Rating: 8/10
121 St. Matthews Ave
Louisville, KY 40207
502-895-2380
Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
$9 and under
Parking in the back or street parking
Website

Big Momma's Soul Kitchen | Rating: 7/10
4532 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40211
502-772-9580
Monday - Friday: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Around $9
Parking on the streets or park
Take out only
Facebook

Southern Express Soul Food | Rating: 5/10
2300 W. Market Street
Louisville, KY 40214
502-778-8700
Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Everything is $1
Facebook
418 W Oak St
Louisville, KY 40203
502-634-3240

Dasha Barbour's Southern Bistro | Rating: 8/10
3825 Bardstown Road (on Bradford Dr)
Louisville, KY 40218
502-882-2081
Monday – Wednesday, Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 12 a.m.. – 8 p.m. 
Sunday: 12:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Average $5 - $15
Parking in front
Website

Miss Ada's Kitchen and Catering | Rating: 6/10
510 E. Chestnut Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502-561-3762
Monday - Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Wednesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday

Franco's Restaurant and Catering
3300 Dixie Hwy
Louisville, KY 40216
502-448-8044
Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Forty Acres & a Mule
1800 Dixie Hwy
Louisville, KY 40210
502-776-5600
Monday - Sunday: 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m

Sweetie Pies Soul Food Restaurant
4900 Poplar Level Rd
Louisville, KY 40219
502-409-4120
Weekdays: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Weekends: 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.
Facebook

Sweet Peaches
1800 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd
Louisville, KY
502-356-0232
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Facebook

Soul Food By Tiffany
Various, Louisville, KY 40216
502-727-4115
Catering, take out and outdoor seating
Tuesday - Saturday: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Facebook

Food 4 the Soul
612 S. 5th St
Louisville, KY 40202
502-614-6363
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website

Down Home Cafeteria
2605 Rockford Ln
Louisville, KY
502-882-2510
Monday - Sunday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Facebook

If you have your own recommendations, let me know!