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.“

“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 wish we had this in Miami. The food was excellent and flavorful. I had the hummus and chicken shawarma. Very large portions. The chicken was seasoned perfectly. The service was also great. I like that it’s across from the park so you can people watch. Thank you!“

“Great well seasoned food.“

“A group of friends and myself showed up towards the end of the night and were still happily served by Ne, who helped us through the menu and brought all of our food with ease. I had the lemonade which was amazing, as well as the catfish (with rice and mac and cheese). As someone from the South (texas) I had never had such good soul food. If you do not try anything else here I beg you to get the cornbread. It changed my life.“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Let me tell you, I'm Dominican and I love soul food. I got collard greens, white rice, sweet corn, and cabbage with corn and the collard greens and the candian were off the charts. It's been a long time since I've tasted a good collard green and candian. I will be coming back here.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 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 💪🏾“

“Jamaican Flavors has a variety selection of food to chose from I've been ordering for a while now I used to go this location on Jamaica Ave 164 st for years. My go to is Brown Stew Chicken, Bone-In-Jerk Chicken comes with rice. I've ordered Chicken Patty, Vegetable Patty, Beef Patty delicious foods.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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 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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“seafood platters are the 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.“

“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...“