Soul Food Restaurants near Queens, NY

“This spot is new to the block according to the owner which was very nice. For a spot that just came in, the food was delicious I must admit, there wasn’t much we could pick from the menu because they were still getting things together but I got chicken, macaroni and cheese inside a craved out pineapple. Yummy… the service was laggy however it’s clear they were trying which made the process feel promising. I believe within a year or 2 this spot is going to be poppin off something nice. Drinks were ok!“

“Hi, this was my first time here and the experience was cool. The food was good the worker were nice and the music and the atmosphere was chill. I would definitely come back.“

“Just an Asian guy commenting. Been to Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Atalanta, and this place is up there in terms of flavor and texture. Wings are amazing. So surprised of wings, hit the spot. Mac and collard greens will satisfy as well. But wings are 🫰🏼🫰🏼“

“I experienced Nettie’s for the first time last evening. My dining experience was excellent from arrival to departure. The food was “DELISH!” The owner was welcoming & hospitable, the service was good, and the music and atmosphere wea awesome! I am so pleased and proud to have a “Black” owned establishment where you can dine in Queens in a tasteful environment, supporting our entrepreneurs and our community. I, along with others will be back!!!“

“I had the pleasure of dining at Vera's, and it truly exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the warm, inviting atmosphere made me feel right at home. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring every detail of our experience was perfect. The highlight was the food. The barbecue chicken and sweet ribs were savory on the outside and juicy on the inside—mouthwatering. The collard greens and cabbage were seasoned to perfection. What I appreciated most was the authentic soul food flavor that reminded me of home. Great care and tradition are poured into every dish. Whether you're a longtime fan of soul food or trying it for the first time, Vera's is a must-visit. I’ll be returning soon! I highly recommend it for anyone craving hearty, flavorful soul food in a cozy setting.“

“Great well seasoned food.“

“This was one of my favorite meals of the trip. Ayat serves Palestinian food and it's a beautiful restaurant. Service was warm and the server had great recommendations. We loved the mezze sampler (eggplant, hummus, and yogurt sauce were the best), pizzawarma, and above all, the mansaf w/ lamb shank (incredibly tender). Highly recommend checking this spot out, also byob.“

“The food is locally sourced daily. They offer 4/5 delicious entrees with delectable sides. Service was warm & attentive. Can't wait to return!!!“

“I am visiting from NC and wanted some home cooked food. I ordered the catfish and grits. The catfish was lightly seasoned it was very delicious. The atmosphere made me miss my late grandmother and mother. I will definitely visit again before I go back to NC.“

“Great atmosphere, awesome music, prompt service, friendly staff and outstanding cuisine !!!“

“Ate here several times. And have tried a myriad of items. The only thing I didn't like is that they pile everything into one box. So this last time ordering GrubHub I put in the comments to please seperate everything. IT WAS PERFECT. Thank you so much for separating all my items out!! Very good food have eaten the ox tails, pork ribs, lima beans, mashed taters, green beans, mac n cheese, chocolate cake (slice could have been bigger but it was good). And of course the cornbread is perfect.“

“Not bad at all.. fish was a little small but it wasn’t bad“

“I had my 48 Birthday Dinner here with family and we all had a great time , food was amazing , DJ was rocking service was great and we had drinks& hookah 10 out of 10 I highly recommend 💪🏾“

“When I tell y’all Tessey’s International Kitchen food is 🔥🔥🔥🔥. Listen, the food reminded me of home it was so good. Baby if you ever in the Bronx please hit them up.“

“My best friend and I visited Essence Bar and Grill yesterday (8/8/26). We wanted to grab a bite to eat and enjoy some music so I suggested this place since we hadn’t visited in years.

Our server was amazing and knowledgeable about all of the menu items. She has a wonderful personality and we enjoyed our conversation with her.

She suggested a few menu items and we both decided to order two side orders of yams along with our orders of buffalo wings & fries and a fish, shrimp and fries basket.

The temperature of the food when served was good and the food was delicious. We are both ready to go back for another meal because our experience was great.“

“I've been coming to Immanuel Restaurant for a long time, and it never disappoints! The food is always fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. Every meal is prepared with care, and the quality is consistently excellent. The staff is welcoming, and the service makes you feel right at home. If you're looking for amazing food and a place you can keep coming back to, I highly recommend Emmanuel Restaurant. Five stars every time!“

“The service is great pleasant people food good n service nice n hot Thanks“

“My cousin Dana told me about this place! It’s by far the best seafood I’ve tasted. The catfish, whiting and the shrimps were delicious. Now for the COLLARD GREENS! Off the hook. The best green I’ve tasted in years. I’ve been going once a week.“

“The meal exceeded what I thought possible in a restaurant. You'll appreciate their original vision. Their commitment appears in both meal quality and staff behavior. All team members are genuinely welcoming. I'll visit this place again.“

“I finally had a chance to try Exotics Eats, and it definitely lived up to the hype! Overall, I’d give it a 9/10. Fast service. The chicken wings were absolutely delicious and easily my favorite part of the meal. The shrimp was seasoned well and cooked perfectly, the rice was flavorful, and the mac and cheese was really good with perfectly al dente noodles.

The collard greens were also well-seasoned and enjoyable. The candied yams had great flavor too. I personally prefer my yams in chunks, but that’s just a personal preference and didn’t take away from the taste.

I also had the chance to meet the owner, and she was incredibly kind and welcoming. Great customer service always makes a difference, and it definitely added to the experience.

If you’re looking to support a Black-owned business and enjoy a flavorful, home-style meal, I’d definitely recommend giving Exotics Eats a try. Between the food and the hospitality, I’ll definitely be returning!“

“While in Brooklyn today (11/12/25), I had to go to one of my favorite soul food restaurants, Father & Son Soul Food Catering. They truly have delicious food and homemade desserts.“

“we ordered 2 orders of fried catfish, 1 with sweet potatoe fries and 1 with Mac&cheese, and also a side of collards. everything was made FRESH. crispy and delicious fish & fries, super cheesey Mac and the collards we're great! not the first or the last time I will order from here. reasonably priced for fish around here.“

“I have been going to this spot for over 25 years and until tonight n once before have not had a rude server. The young man working the window tonight 5/04/26 needs to be put in the back. He wanted to take my card as I placed my order n when I said how much is it he started adding in his head n when I said go pack n ring the order first he slammed the window. Then instead of telling me they had no wings or verifying my order he just packed it n showed me what he was gonna give me. Never spoke to me to say what he was doing. When he came for the card he still never said how much it was he just slammed the window again. When he was handing me everything I started to tell him look im a long time customer he never let me finish my sentence he just slammed the window again. Still the best chicken in queens... but this guy made me feel like if I come to the window n he is the server then I will just drive off n come back when hes not there. Im complaining becz this is not the first time he served me n it was the same the other time too.“

“I had a fantastic experience at this restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The service was equally impressive: attentive, friendly, and fast without being rushed. Highly recommend and definitely coming back!“

“I visited this restaurant for the first time last summer, upon moving back from Florida and baby it did not disappoint. I went with my co-worker the other day and of course I loved it, but she did as well and is looking forward to going back. The staff is very helpful and great. Truly always positive vibes and energy and I'm here for that especially from a black owned business. I love it 10 snaps and a twirl.“

“Newly discovered place for me. Everytime I visit my brother, I already know what I will be getting/ordering/eating. Catfish & Shrimp is phenomenal, not over seasoned, not over breaded and not even over fried/greasy/oily it just perfect 👌 😋 all around it. Customer service at 💯 always positive with smile and welcoming...“

“Place is very clean, the food does taste good, you only have to watch out for the amount you take it goes by weight. Overall, I like the food here, its buffet style most things are weighted by the pound.“

“My mother-in-law loves this place So we often order from here online. Today, I stopped in after work to pick up dinner. No in store seating,to eat there folks but The ladies who worked, there were lovely and helpful. the food thou! Down home cooking, always filling, good portion for a the price and REAL FOOD not fake processed garbage.“

“seafood platters are the best“

“When we lived in the Bronx, we ran an ad on our Cablevision TV show! We love the food so much wanted to take it with us to Washington State. Channel 11 rated them the best in NYS. Its true, they are the very best!“

“came here twice already, after trying some other spots in the area, and this one is my favorite! the man who completed my orders both times was very nice and pretty generous with portions. really happy to found a place to go to when out on lunch break.“