Soul Food Restaurants near City Of Orange, NJ

“The bacon cheeseburger came stacked and was good. The chicken wings had good flavor but were over cooked. The fries were decent; the Mac and cheese decent, 3/5. Shortcake ? was good! They sent old chocolate cake instead of the chocolate moose; it was gross. 1/5“

“Kawana and Natorie provided outstanding service and was very welcoming when entering the restaurant. Kawana made sure that my food was fresh. I would come here again.“

“?✨ A Dining Experience to Remember! ✨?

Walking into this spot, you’re immediately greeted by vibes for days – a perfect mix of warmth, style, and soul. From the first glance to the last bite, every detail has been crafted to create a true haven of comfort, beauty, and incredible flavors. ?✨

? Ambience & Aesthetic: This place is pure aesthetic heaven. Live plants add a lush, earthy vibe, while the stunning tables and floors tie the whole look together, giving it that cozy, chic feel. Every corner feels intentional, and the art on the walls brings a personality that just makes you want to stay and soak it all in. ??

? Music: The playlist? Perfection. ?? It feels like the heartbeat of the room, setting a chill but lively atmosphere that’s perfect for anything from a family meal to a date night. The tunes just pull you in, making you feel right at home.

? The Food: Let’s talk about that mac ’n cheese! This isn’t just any mac ’n cheese – it’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re back at Auntie’s house on a Sunday afternoon. Each forkful is pure, cheesy goodness, rich and comforting, like that first bite that makes kids run in from outside yelling, “DINNERTIME!” ?️? The chicken, greens, and yams were also top-notch, each one a testament to flavors that feel like home. It’s more than just food; it’s a trip down memory lane with every bite. ?

?‍? Staff: The team here is beyond incredible! From the warm welcome to the attentive service, they make you feel like family. Friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate, they add that extra sparkle to the whole experience. ???

Final Word? Loving god vibes good and a great space….- this place hits all the marks. It’s where flavors meet family, where aesthetics meet artistry, and where every corner invites you to savor, relax, and stay a while. ??

If you’re looking for more than just a meal, but a whole experience, this is it. Trust me – you’ll leave with a full belly, a happy heart, and already planning your next visit. ??️

Parking: Street

Kid-friendliness: Very“

“The food here is amazing. It’s always nice coming in and being greeted by the owner staff. If you need good soul food, this is the place to get it!“

“Loved the food. Authentic southern style cuisine.“

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had good soul food. I’ve been seeing Tasha’s on DoorDash for a long time because I was scared of being disappointed and I also thought the prices were high. Today I just decided to order the turkey wings with mac & cheese and yams and a side of collard greens. Wow! So good. Wings were so tender and that gravy was the bomb. Mac was delicious. The yams were a little too sweet for my liking and the collard greens were extremely salty. They’d be great without so much. But it’s definitely worth the price! Portions were huge! We split one meal and still had some left over. Try this place out. You won’t be disappointed.“

“The food was absolutely delicious, highly recommend“

“The food is excellent, flavorful & not overly salty. Good portions & reasonably priced.“

“Came across this restaurant as I was searching for Black owned eateries in this new neighborhood we just moved to. When we arrived, the exterior was a little off putting, LOL! So glad Shaun himself stepped out as well as a gentleman who came to pick up his order. We got to ask his opinion of the food. He told us this was his 7th time back so we thought, Let’s give it a try! $58 later, we got 3 meals and WOW! Delicious!!! Everything was so GOOD! Catfish, Yams, Mac n Cheese (and I am VERY picky about Mac n cheese), Honey Garlic Salmon, BBQ wings, rice and gravy and that cornbread!!!! Definitely coming back! I hope this review helps another skeptic not miss out on a GREAT SPOT!!!!! Worth the try! The portions are hearty! So glad we decided to give it a shot!!!“

“I took food to my job and they loved I brought a pan of yellow rice cabbage and a $20 pan of potato salad and took it to my job cause we had a birthday party for a coworker. They loved the food they never had it before I live in South Amboy but I’m from Newark work in Matawan at the nursing home, and they never had the flu before they loved it. Good job, kings.“

“I Am Always So Happy To Order Anything On Their Delightful Menu. The Food Is Always Prepared With Love And Care!! .. The Dinners Are Hot And Oh So Delicious! .. I Highly Recommend Jefferson's Cafe! Absolutely And Unequivocally Delicious Homemade Food!!! 10 STARS!!!!“

“My first time at this place found it on google . I order the turkey wings , yellow rice and candied yams. And I honest have to say the food was amazing very tasty . I RARELY write reviews for stores so that should tell you this place was good lol“

“I absolutely love Lite & Soul. Great quality!Their food is delicious and fresh, and the portions are generous, in my opinion. I've tried a few different entrées. You really can't go wrong with whatever you decide. My husband loves it too! This allows me a night off in my kitchen. lol“

“Best restaurant. Staff is great, food is great and prices are good. I'm from Montreal, Canada and everytime I go to New Jersey its a must that I eat at Top Knotch restaurant.“

“Everything was great I just did not like seeing to many peoplle walking in from the outside into the kitchen. I feel that we do not know what germs they are bringing from the outside.“

“Stopped here super quickly due to my other half being in the surgery center next door. Not from the Clifton area at all. I wanted to grab a little treat for him. I got the banana pudding. Omg!! To die for. The girl (assuming owner) was super sweet! Very cute place! A little hidden gem for sure!!“

“Customer service is outstanding!! Food was excellent!!“

“The food was great!! I had the oxtail platter and sandwich, it was amazing!! I highly recommend this spot.“

“A hiding jewel. After the Missy Concert, we decided to check out some local black owed businesses while in NJ. We ordered the lamb burger and the oxtail burger. Boy oh boy, it hit the spot! The cake must have been popping cause people were picking up orders but by the time we ordered it was all gone. Waiter and chef was very friendly.
Location small, location not the best (in park alot of unwanted traffic).“

“It's a long wait but we'll worth it the greens where so good....I should have got 2 sides of just greens....going back soon“

“ITS EVERYTHING PEOPLE NEED FOR THEIR SOUL AND IT BRINGS BACK THE FEELING OF LOVE AND FAMILY“

“Great home cooked food; friendly staff; Fair prices; Highly recommended“

“Big Al and Ms. Gale are the sweetest people in the world. They are like family, the uncle and auntie at the cookout. Food was great not overly salted tasted wonderful good home cooking. It's just them two, everything made fresh when ordered so be patient but well worth it. Well priced won't kill the pocket. Absolutely amazing experience small local spot. It was my first time there and
will be back again. Left them a small $20 tip to say thank you.“

“Definitely pulled up on a Wednesday after a long day at work. Needed a chill vibe...some good food...and the BYOB definitely served what I needed to unwind from my day. The spot was really chill. The staff were mad friendly and personable.
THE FOOD WAS AMAZING AND I MEAN AMAZING ‼️‼️‼️‼️
Hookah was bussin ‼️‼️
Tunes were definitely flowing ‼️
Overall a great experience.

All these other reviews talking about negative vibes and what not definitely are not everyday people.

The owner was a vibe and definitely helpful with whatever my girl and I needed

Definitely found a "just because" spot on any day of the week.

Definitely worth every penny and will be back‼️‼️“

“Friendly staff, good food! The fried whiting and grits are delicious!!!“

“Way better than other places in Hillside. Great service never rude or nasty at all very pleasant!! Good service goes a long way!!“