Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

American restaurant · Loop

Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

American restaurant · Loop

190 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60606

Highlights

Cleo's Southern Cuisine dishes out delicious New Orleans and Mississippi-inspired fare at its cozy Chicago spot, perfect for a laid-back meal.

190 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60606 Get directions

cleossoutherncuisine.com

$$$$$$

@eater

"This celebrated palace of soul food has found success in recent years. They’ve opened a pair of new locations (they also were in Fulton Market at Time Out Market Chicago for a stint). Lee had visited the original location in Bronzeville. For his latest visit, his angle was something that many worry about after an expansion — is the place still good? He spent $25.99. One of the items, “The 10,” was named after Lee (chef Kristen Ashley has fun with menu items; she created a special — “The Eater” — after Cleo’s made Eater Chicago best fried chicken in Chicago list). Lee is quick with the disclaimer that have a financial agreement with Cleo’s. “The 10” includes everything he ordered last time — fried catfish with a pineapple glaze, sweet potatoes, and cornbread muffin: “Everything that I said last time, I stand 100 percent,” Lee said, smiling and giggling: “10, 10, 10!” Lee says the seasoning and execution stand up to the fancier restaurants he’s visited, the Michelin-starred spots he doesn’t review." - Naomi Waxman

Here’s Everything Keith Lee’s Eaten in Chicago So Far - Eater Chicago

View Postcard for Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

@eater

"Cleo’s Southern Cuisine is a new addition to Time Out Market Chicago, offering Southern-style dishes." - Ashok Selvam

Time Out Market Chicago Announces Reopening Date, Adds Three Black-Owned Restaurants - Eater Chicago

View Postcard for Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

@eater

"Chef Kristen Harper from Cleo’s Southern Cuisine contributed a recipe for creole fried catfish to a digital cookbook for Blaktober." - Ashok Selvam

A Festival for Black-Owned Restaurants Will Debut in October - Eater Chicago

View Postcard for Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

@davidcho

Order ahead

View Postcard for Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

Maggie Lou

Google

Cleo’s Southern Cuisine is a gem worth visiting and worth the wait! The staff was incredibly friendly, which made the experience even better. Although I was disappointed that the mac and cheese wasn’t available due to a large Thanksgiving order, the food more than made up for it. The hot honey chicken sandwich was perfectly spicy and lived up to the hype. Both the catfish and wings, cooked to order, were absolutely delicious. The fresh preparation added to the flavor, making every bite worth savoring, including the cornbread. This is a small spot, so plan accordingly, especially since it’s been buzzing on TikTok and even got a shoutout from Keith Lee. But trust me, it’s worth it! I can’t forget to mention the tea, we absolutely loved it. It’s a must-try if you’re stopping by.

Christina Garcia

Google

Unfortunately it is not like the original. I ordered the 10. And got a 7. The sweet potato mix I got were two solid cuts of a potato (barley a portion and much less than from the original location), with 1 small slice of pineapple and it was dry. I was hoping if I mashed it then maybe what liquid was there would make it better. It did not. When asking the gentleman, Keith, at the front desk for a different sweet potato he said it's how it was and charged me for new sweet potatoes when I asked for different and more.When I asked about consistency from the original location he says, "well they make it different so it won't be the same here. Sometimes they have whole chunks sometimes it's the same." The cat fish fry was very hard on the edges partially over cooked tasting. At least the center of the fish was good. Cleo, if you read this. I hope you know I love your food, but for someone to comment saying that your location isn't the same is a damn shame. Keith Lee would have been disappointed with this food experience and the food given.

Sabrina Crawford

Google

I think I want to write a love letter to the food that I had from Cleo’s because it was just that good! The creole flair to added to the soul food goodness is just chefs kiss! First of all - PREPARE TO WAIT BECAUSE ITS COOKED TO ORDER. If you want food that’s been sitting out all day just say det!!! I tried “The Flyover” which came with three catfish fillets along with three wings, both creole fried! And the catfish fillets came with a creole buttered lump crab on top and it was REAL LUMP CRAB MEAT; not imitation! 🙌🏽 From the way the meat was seasoned, it only makes sense that it’s now a proprietary blend. The 24k gold muffin was GOOD!!! It was as shiny as my mom used to make my face with Vaseline when I was 7! 😂 But that sauce is literally like liquid gold; it’s so delicious and you can get a side of it. That purple rain drink was 🔥🔥🔥 too!!! If this spot has been on your list to visit, hurry up and make that trip and tell em that Bri from Planes and Plates sent you! Enjoy!

Zachary Zambrano

Google

The food was amazing! We had the catfish, wings, crab Mac n cheese, and muffins. The catfish was fried to perfection and the crab Mac n cheese was real nice and had a good amount of crab on it. Keith took our order and brought out the food, he was very friendly and attentive.

Kima Jay

Google

72 hours in Chicago and Cleo’s was a must on my itinerary. In fear of the Keith Lee effect, we arrived upon opening at 11am to avoid a long wait. Keith and Dee were patient and explained the menu to us. I ordered catfish , mac n cheese, and the sweet tea…total price $37. We waited about 30 min for food as it was cooked to order. The fish was crispy and hot; however, the batter tasted like an abundance of black pepper. Personally I didn’t care for the remoulade or hot honey sauce. The remoulade had a strong mustard taste and the hot honey tasted like honey and hot sauce. Def not worth the $2 charge per sauce. For me the fish was a 6/10, mac n cheese 8/10, sauces 0/10, sweet tea 6/10 (not worth $10). We are from Baltimore where you can get a jumbo half n half for $2.50. Some in my group found the food too peppery for their taste. Despite us not being impressed by the food. The customer service was top tier 10/10 all the way.

MzFit4aking Furtute

Google

The fish was kind of spicy and the chicken was cold. It was okay not bad though. I got the float and fly it was $16.99, 3 wings & 3 piece of fish. I will go back again but order my chicken freshly dropped.

Jordan

Google

I don’t see how this place got a 10. I waited thirty minutes past my pickup time and they ran out of utensils… cornbread didn’t have enough of that sweet sauce so it was too plain. Catfish and chicken weren’t seasoned enough, you need sauce to enjoy it. Mac and cheese was good but too heavy in a bad way. I could only take a few bites before it put me in a food coma. Way overhyped and not worth it

Vic Runsewe

Google

I’ve been to both locations. I live right around the corner from the one on wells. The one on cottage food was better just horrible customer service. The one on wells was terrible. The chicken wasn’t done I had to put it in the air fryer and the fish was dark brown like the grease was bad. The staff was ready to go so they were irritated and rushed everything and even closed an 1 hr early. I support a lot black business but this unfortunately I won’t go back. They’re definitely overrated and too high for such low quality food and service. I would’ve rather went to shake a leg and got the same thing but fresh and better service. l