Shirley Mae’s Cafe

Their sweet tea is on point. It had been a long time since I’ve had GOOD sweet tea. Service was great. Friendly people all around. The man across the street is an angel from above, I swear it. He offered us a place to sit if we got too cold. I had to switch my order, but that’s alright. I completely admire the fact that they weren’t going to serve subpar food. The cornbread……. Amazing doesn’t even cover it. I thoroughly enjoyed the Mac and cheese too. Overall I cannot wait to come back, because I will stop here again.

I had the fried pork chops, sweet potatoes, greens, macaroni, and cheese. They also have the onions in the tomatoes, which made it just taste simply the best and the cornbread. It was just all to die for all of it was fresh, and I was fat as a pig.

The food was horrible i spent 60$ and had to throw it all away. My wife said the ribs were tough, the greens were slimy, and the chicken tasted like cardboard. Everything else was unedible.

The food was over priced. I ordered a pork chop dinner that came with one pork chop. The Mac and cheese was average. The collard greens were probably the best thing on the plate and they were bland. Also ordered the baked chicken dinner and was charged $7 for and additional quarter(the meal was $9). And everything is conducted at a window. There is no indoor seating.

The chicken and greens was cooked well but not seasoned. The mac and cheese was ok. I expected it to be baked. The sweet potatoes was good. This place is takeout only with outdoor seating

We were in town for a few days and were leaving that day. We wanted to try something local before we flew out later in the afternoon. We drive over to “Smoke Town” a Black neighborhood in Louisville. The cafe is walk up with a few tables in front. It seems most people do take away. The staff of the restaurant were awesome. The younger of the two men had an almost freakish ability to manage names of all the customers …I was sorta jealous. He was cool and busted my chops for not ordering any green vegetables with my lunch special (I'm not sorry though). The other patrons were very cool and we met some of the locals who go there regularly, including an older couple clad in their Sunday church duds. The only downside, the food took forever, We waited an hour or more. The wait got more pleasant when the younger man walked across the street and put on some great music at the bottle shop. We had planned to eat there. The weather was amazing! But, we weren’t anticipating the long wait, so we had to take it to the airport and eat there. Now, for the best part….the food was totally worth the wait. I got the meatloaf with Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes. My wife got the chicken wings with Mac and fried corn. The portions were generous and everything was outstanding. The chicken wings are really fried chicken. They’re huge and some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted. The sides were solid and the two fried biscuits were almost like a dessert! The regulars told us the long wait that day was really unusual, so I wouldn’t get too hung up on that. Other than that, it was a cool lunch spot. I’d totally go back or recommend them to friends. Definitely fits the role of what I like to call “a local gem.”

They are still serving out of the window, so make sure not to make any plans to eat inside. The Mac and cheese, delicious! The dressing, baked chicken, and turkey were a little dry. The chitterlings used to be my favorite, but they were off this day. I will definitely try it out again.

This is my favorite spot for bone-in chicken to be honest. The sides are also incredible. You get a great amount of food for the price and the service is absolutely a 10/10. This place is just another level of great. I had the coleslaw and mac and that was just right where it needed to be. The fried chicken was buttery good. The banana pudding is delicious. I also had the sweet tea. If you want sweet tea with the extra sweet this will also satisfy.

You can't go wrong with the only on Sunday chicken and dressing with fixings, if you want a belly rubbing meal. Always generous portions, enough for me to have leftovers.

If I could give a negative star rating I would. When there yesterday August 11,2025 for my Sunday dinner. Ordered meatloaf mashed potatoes and greens. The meatloaf was like they started sloppy Joe's then remembered they were making meatloaf. I put ketchup on it thinking it would improve the flavor. NOT. Ordered mashed potatoes with gravy instead of gravy the put grease on them. And to make matters worse my hot water cornbread had the same gravy/grease on the bottom (wet). The only thing that was edible was the greens which was like a teaspoonful.

Oooh, buddy! I'm so happy I finally made it to Shirley Mae's. When we walked up after parking on the screen, a friendly man, who was sitting out, greeted us and we gave him our orders and paid. We went early on Thursday, and because it was basically their Monday, not everything was made or ready just yet (namely, the desserts), so perhaps if you're dead set on something, don't come first thing on Thursday. There are a few tables outside, so we found a seat at a picnic table. There was a bit of wait for our food, but it wasn't too long. When our food was ready, the man brought it back out to us. After unboxing... Woooo!! I ordered the fried tilapia, greens, and sweet potatoes. It came with the hot water cornbread (which sort of reminded me of the hush puppy, in that it had a crispier exterior with soft insides). Everything was soooo tasty. What a wonderful meal with great service. This really is a Louisville gem, and I will be back for everything (especially dessert)!

Very unique! Cash only and TO GO business only. My colleagues and I stopped here for lunch today based off of a Food Network craveable Cornbread article. Service was great. Very friendly. Theres only 3 tables to sit outside on the street. We ordered the fried chicken wings , mashed potatoes, collard greens, green beans and- of course -the award winning cornbread. We enjoyed our lunch and the little fried cornbread coins were delicious.

Good food, friendly staff, To go only and very slow service. This small family own and run business can earn a solid 4 or plus if the rating was solely based on the food. While it could earn a 1 if the review was based on quickness of service. Does the good food worth the wait? Not if you are on the go but if you are ordering from here for work, family or yourself, give it an hour or so before you plan to eat, including if you call an order a minute after they open. Good wings, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, Chicken N Dumpling, okay tilapia Bon appetit

Food was delicious! Great portions, well seasoned, made with lots of love. Warren gave us amazing service and was such a pleasure to hang back and talk to after we were done. I love our collective neighborhood (though im a little closer to Shelby park) so the outdoor seating provided a nice ambiance of beautiful trees and city sounds. 10/10 will be back and highly recommend.

So my family and I happened across Shirley Mae's as we searched for soul food. It was July and super hot so we sat in the car and waited...and waited. We also parked up at the next block and ate in the car as our next stop was the airport. My smothered pork chops were tender and so good. My sides could have definitely used a little more seasoning but I prefer adding my own salt &stuff anyway. The star of the show for me was the cornbread as it took me back to my youth at my grandmother's and great-grandmother's house. I was mad I didn't purchase extra. The Kool-Aid was phenomenal as well. I will definitely be back when in Louisville!

We didn't know that since the pandemic they were not serving inside and were 100% a pick up option. I suppose you can eat sitting on the curb but since we visited during a tornado warning we didn't. I can attest to Warren and his dog Java were very welcoming, as were the rest of the locals. The food was delicious, I really loved the cabbage, the greens, sweet potato, Mac n cheese n corn, hahaha that's most of em. We also tried the ribs, fried chicken, meatloaf and porkchop. The wings were the winner but all were very good. We also ordered the soup of the day, a ham and white bean. It was also quite good. Oh n the cornbread was a whole new world for us northerners. I recommend taking some home, toasting them in the morning and making a breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon, cheese n hot sauce)

Amazing food!!! Run and go get you a plate!! Never will let you down! Great conversation and great customer service!

I feel as though I had set my expectations too high. I had gotten smothered pork chops, mac and cheese, the soup of the day, and cherry Kool aid. I'm sad to say the Kool aid was the most memorable part, that and the corn bread. The mac and cheese had thick noodles which i enjoyed, but was just fine. The porkchop was really tender and felt nice to eat, but had its dry spots. Overall it was just Mediocre, but I didn't have a bad time. The service was a tad slow, but I didn't really notice due to striking up conversation with another man waiting too. However, the woman who took my order was very kind, and I always appreciate that more than quick service. I went on a nice cool day, and ate outside. It was a nice place to eat, if it weren't for the multitudes of flies swarming me. I figure it's a risk of eating outside, and there was a cute cat that came over to investigate, so that made up for it in my eyes.

Food is delicious, service is spectacular! The kids took over after their momma passed recently. They're really sweet people. Support local!

Rest in peace to Mrs. Shirley Mae what a wonderful soul and legendary woman who didn't play in the kitchen, may you rest in heaven peacefully I'm praying for you family

Old school restaurant, Ms.Shirley is the Queen of the Eastend Smoketown I'm talking about real soul food being made up in there. You will not be disappointed. Quick service during lunch time Treat yourself to this Louisville Gem .

Unseasoned fried chicken, overcooked boiled ribs then grilled and overpriced sides. Extremely long wait time.

My first visit to this family run "soul food" lunch spot. It's not located in my favorite part of town but if you go to their website check out the menu and call them you can do curbside pickup. Just remember it's CASH ONLY the chicken wings lunch special was a great buy with extra large wings two sides and their famous deep fried cornbread for 11 bucks. The wings were delicious both sides were truly home made quality. I will be back soon to try the gravy smothered fried pork chops.

I'm so surprised at all of the great reviews. People say it's hit or miss and it was definitely a miss for me. The green beans and sweet potatoes were obviously out of a can. The mashed potatoes were instant. The cabbage was bland. Nobody was impressed with the ribs. We were sorely disappointed and won't be back.

I was recommended this place & expected it to be really good due to the large group of people waiting outside but I was very disappointed. Food had absolutely no seasoning. Portions were small. & They didn't have any desserts the day I went.

I was looking for a decent soul food spot in Louisville and decided to give this one a try. Very bad mistake. The fish tasted like it was fried in old grease along with the hush puppies/cornbread served with it. The greens tasted straight out a can with no seasoning at all. The fried corn was more or less uncooked corn served without any type of flavor to it. I wouldn't recommend this spot to anybody.

Forgive me, when I heard this was the ultimate O.G. spot I thought that meant Old Geezer. But rollin' through the hood in my rent-a-ride I realized it was the O. M. (original meaning) of O. G. (Original gangsta). A nod and a smile to Mother Shirley herself settin' outside by her well used BBQ kettle that's smokin' away like a high school kid behind the gym and once that rig is runnin' there isn't a stray dog for blocks that's isn't in the queue hopin' for a few scraps of Que. I stepped inside the wall in the hole joint that has been there since the original Jurassic Period and inhaled years of fine cookin'. Yes, it has that Riker's Island feel to it as Shirley's is a converted shotgun house (and no doubt there's probably be a shot gun still lurking in there somewhere) with one grimy window at the long end. A long bar runs the length of the room and on the weekend you'll find a butt on every stool sippin' the beer of the day or something more bracing if required. The dining room has a lot of character mainly owning to the characters that hang there. The interior looks like the construction project that time and money forgot. Exposed wiring, HVAC on display, jury rigged building guts everywhere. All the expense here goes into providing great food instead of making the place look like a Parisian bordello. The Cafe is homey, a haven for homies, where all are welcomed by the friendly staff genuinely happy to have you. You'll be dining in their home and it feels that. Walk on the mismatched linoleum squares to your table next to a dingy brick wall and melt into the warmth of really good food offered by really nice people that turn a well worn spot into something sunny-side up. The Vibe: A U. of L. game is on in the background and all the tables are talkin' to each other in the foreground. Caveat one: It's cash only, but not to worry, it's reasonably priced so no need to pimp out your crib on Airbnb to eat here. Caveat Two: The portions are heroic, mythic, Marvel comic sized mountainous piles of cool stuff to chew on. (Read, ain't no one leavin' hungry. And movin' after eating here might be a challenge). Caveat Three: Time when you dine here. After church you'll wait for the Second Coming before you get a table let alone a second helping. The Staff: All real deal with feeling. Shirley's crew are all ready to turn those food wishes into fine dishes. The team is efficient, helpful and want all their customers to enjoy this Louisville legend. "Honey, the Wings and Two sides gonna make it hard to finish. One side for a little twig like you, gonna be enough, Sugar." "Yes Ma'am, thank you." The Food: All made to order so patience is not optional. There is a small menu of tried and true with a few specials and maybe an experiment or two. But, the Wings are the star here. Great Wings are my guilty pleasure. Now, a brief word about those Wings. For $5 I was expecting a couple of Hummingbird flappers instead of the four Condor Wings that showed up, each as big as Shaq's shoe. A crunchy coat covers the juicy meat. Eat'em neat and there is a slow crawl of heat workin' it's way across your tongue. Or amp it up with a splash of Frank's Hot Sauce and Trappey's Peppers in Vinegar. The Wings land hot and ready to pick up (sounds like the note in Trump's little black book next to Stormy). It was absolutely delicious. (But I can only speak to the Wings). The Ribs were plastic fork soft. The meat was slidin' off the bone. (Now now, enough Stormy jokes.) Remember to factor in a dry cleaning bill to the cost of your meal. (Plate of Ribs, $6. Dry cleaning that nice leisure suit, $9). And eatin' those ribs is like makin' love. If you don't have it all over you, you're doin' it wrong. The Hot Water Corn Bread Biscuits were spiritual. They were a Monkey fist sized little treasure of pleasure. Crispy, corny, and every bite feather light. They were the perfect Hoe Cake. (Donald's pet sobriquet for Stormy? Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Don't forget to have a side for your front, either. The Turnip Greens with a little bits of Pork bits, Onions, and Tomatoes were lean, mean and green. An excellent balance to the protein. The Fried Corn Nibblets which I couldn't pass up, nor should you, were also wonderful. Get some. Having absolutely no room for dessert I was more concerned about how I was gonna be able to stand up and actually walk out under my own power. But, then, I was offered a house made Jam Cake large enough to feed the entire 7th Cavalry. It was an amazing Sticky Pudding suitable for the British Monarchy at Christmas, but you can have it now with no fanfare. Blackberry Jam, Raisins, Walnuts, and a soft cakey crumb topped with a Caramel lattice. Hail to the Queen, Shirley. The next day I was barely able to button me trousers with out creative maneuvering, a tool kit and determination. Shirley Mae I live for the day I'll be back.

Shirley Mae's Café fit almost every stereotype of a hole in the wall southern comfort restaurant. Tiny with no elbow room, great smells spilling from the inside to the outside parking lot and some great tasting cornbread. The staff to me is the most endearing aspect of this place. They seem very humbled by you stopping in and are very personable and friendly. I had two different associates pull a chair up Just to check on me. I ordered the ham hock with sides of mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. Every item was very tasty and had great flavors. Definitely a food coma inducing meal. This place falls victim to two of my biggest pet peeves at a food establishment. So for me to give it 4 stars still will tell you how much I though of the food and people there. The two things that bother me is that they are cash only and they give you soda cans instead of fountain drinks. In this day and age where things like square exists to allow small businesses to accept cards without going bankrupt there is no excuse not to accept cards. As for not having fountain drinks it really takes away the experience of having this huge tasty home cooked meal while only having a 12 oz drink to last the duration.

Met son in Louisville yesterday, and he really wanted to take me to Shirley Mae's for lunch, as he had been previously. Wow! Despite Covid19 forcing us to take-out, this was amazing food. Pleasant staff; great selection; fair prices....and a wonderful piece of Americana! Loved it!

Black Family owned busy with wonderful service . The family is amazing and appear to be strong pillars in the community. The food was definitely worth the wait.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I called in my order, per the other reviews. I live at least 30 minutes away. I also had to stop by the bank to get cash so it took me about 35 minutes. I still waited 20 minutes when I got there. I ordered two plates, one with wings, mac and cheese and greens. The other with a pork chop, mac and cheese and sweet potatoes. The pork chop was smothered, which I didn't ask for, but wasn't worth mentioning considering how much time it had already taken. The best part about the meal was the mac and cheese. Everything else was pretty bland. The wings couldn't have been seasoned. One previous review said this spot was pretty hit or miss. I guess today was a miss kinda day.

I arrive to the dimly lit restaurant having driven by thousands of times, never knowing that some of the best food in town is waiting for me to taste and rich history of Louisville. Mama Shirley Mae opened this restaurant in the late 80s and she along with her children have been serving up food ever since. I asked Bill the son of Shirley what his favorite items were and he said the ribs, greens, and cabbage. He was not wrong. The ribs were well cooked and the meet fell off the bones, you could taste the butter in the cabbage, the greens were spot on, for dessert I had the peach cobbler that came in a rectangular pan with a heaping mound of ice cream. It was probably one of the best meals I have ever eaten. This intimate aged place is filled with history and stories of Muhammad Ali, Whoopi Goldberg, Louisville mayors, and many others. The register is probably older than most people living. The vintage bar is well stocked and tables are scattered around for folks to sit at the bar or at a table. You can even see through the glass the food of you are grabbing it to go. Shirley Mae's represents Louisville, history, good food, and the importance of family and faith. Cash only and you better get dessert even if you have take it home.

i love the cornbread and the pecan pie. my order was ready on time in neat containers. the staff seem to really take pride in their job :)

If you're looking for authentic soul food, this is the spot. Homely, delicious and the best you can find in Louisville. Shirley Mae and her family are nothing but warm and welcoming. We've been coming here for years and are sad to say goodbye as we're moving out of the area. The sweet potatoes are to die for and an absolute must to order. Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, coleslaw and more... everything is hearty and fresh and it's hard to pick a favorite. Authentic sweet tea - for you east coasters, this is a welcome change I'm sure ;)

I love your food, but after over 30 years in business, you don't seem to know much about running a kitchen or customer service. When I walk up and see 2 people standing outside and 1 car waiting, I don't expect a long wait. Especially when my order is just some mashed potatoes and a tea. Yet. Over 30 minutes later I'm told your last order of mash went out with the giant order in front of me. That's pitiful.

Shirley Mae's is very difficult for me to review. The food is really hit or miss. When it's hitting, it's really hitting. The cornbread is insanely good. It might be one of my favorite foods in the city anywhere. The fried chicken wings are also very good. Good crisp. Tasty crisp. The ribs are also very tasty. Recommend. The food, really, is not the problem here. The issue is with the service. Everytime I've been to Shirley Mae's, the wait has been insanely long. I can't even begin to describe it. You best have the patience of Job if you plan on dining in, because it's going to take a WHILE. And I have absolutely no idea why this is. It looks like it's because they're prioritizing takeaway orders. I can't say for certain that that's true, but it sure seems that way. I saw several people come in after us, place a to go order, and leave before we ever got our food. *shrug* So maybe that's the move. Call ahead. Go pick it up. Take it home. I'm just not sure that the food is so overwhelmingly good that it's worth the trouble (except for that cornbread).

This is the first time I been to Shirley Mae Cafe since covid. It's set up where you can't enter the building, you have to place your order outside the door. I had to wait 30 minutes before i could place my order and another 10 minutes to get it. The up side is that the food was great.

Drop the Mic...the BEST Soul Food in the 502. I ordered Meatloaf, Real Macaroni and Cheese, Real Sweet Potatoes, Real Green Beans and Real Hot Water Cornbread...Real GOOD Eatn!! The total was $14 and well worth it. But one drawback is it is cash only. The best compliment I can give is my meal was like my Grandmother made...Good old fashion Country Down Home Soul Food.

Don't pass by this place based on the outside! It might be hard to see the entrance and the windows give the impression that they are closed, but Shirley Mae is at work and she is working wonders! Everything is freshly made and delicious. Order the sweet potatoes, they are phenomenal. Peach cobbler is delicious. Corn bread is quite different than what you're expecting but very good (so is the banana pudding). The fried chicken is simple and good tasting (don't expect a lot of seasoning). The ribs are smokey and sweet. Come here for a big meal at a very affordable price. We'll be sure to come back if we're ever in Louisville again.

This was my first visit to Shirley Mae's Cafe. The food was amazing. The service was wonderfully pleasant. We went on a Sunday and received curbside service.

OMG!! What can I say. This was the best soul food I have had outside of my own Grandmother's kitchen! All the recipes are authentic to the culture. Seasoned! As I'm writing this review i am stuffed....put a fork in me IM DONE. The place is a whole in the wall but aren't those the best eats. The service from Mr. Simpson was impeccable. He was friendly and knowledgeable. We were able to meet Ms. Shirley Maes...awesome. Chitterlings were tasty. The dag on fried corn.....smh was buttery goodness. The greens were good. Cabbage was okay, Ribs were smoked well. The beans were good. Chicken was fried perfectly. I blew up my diet....smh lol

Louisville has quite a few soul food restaurants and Shirley Mae's Cafe is one that's highly rated. I decided to visit a few days ago, for the second time. A person can be put off by the neighborhood and the inside of the restaurant. The walk-up can be intimidating, as it's not inviting. It definitely feels like the neighborhood. The inside of the restaurant is dark with really old furniture. But...there is plenty of seating, it's nice and cool during the summer and the staff is super incredibly nice, helpful, and accommodating. There's a bar area that's stocked with a good selection of spirits. Plenty of televisions to catch a game, or whatever. It's not uncommon for people from the neighborhood to be hanging out near the restaurant. I've found the neighborhood folks to be very nice and ready for a friendly and short conversation. They know many people come to Shirley Mae's and they are down for patronizing her business. Considering the constant traffic Ms. Shirley has a great system in place to make sure each customer is given proper and prompt attention upon entering. I met her, she was there - sweet lady. The one thing that I was overly excited and impressed by is you can literally see the food being cooked. Certain foods are made to order, such as the fried chicken wings I ordered. The meatloaf was already cooked, yet very fresh looking and tasting. You could see the greens being cooked and the pans and skillets being used were ancient! And for those who don't know....that's a good thing. I've never seen cast iron skillets so worn - a lot of years of cooking, seasoning, and love went into those skillets and pots and I LOVE IT!!! We ordered the meatloaf, chicken wings (super huge with lots of meat), potato salad, mashed potato w/ gravy, cabbage, and hot water corn puffs (my mother called it hot water cornbread and her's were REALLY delicious - I could never eat just one). The wings were cooked to order. Four came to an order (or 5, can't remember) and although that number sounds small, these wings were gigantic with plenty of meat. The meatloaf was a little salty, but very good and tender. The sides were all delicious. I especially enjoyed the potato salad because there were a lot of ingredients (vegetables) mixed in that made it very crunchy and flavorful - really, really liked. The hot water corn puffs were good, but I'm sorry Ms. Shirley... my mom knocked these out the park!! I enjoyed our food, the service, and just being there. We will definitely return for more delicious soul food cooked by Ms. Shirley Mae and her team. All this food cost $19 - not bad. And the food was piled high in the to-go container (had to use a rubber band to help keep the container closed). CASH ONLY!! CASH ONLY!! CASH ONLY!! I believe her children help out. And they are so, so nice. Especially the lady (assuming her daughter). Don't be surprised if she goes old-school on you and call you (and everybody else) "baby" when she's addressing you. She believes in interacting and making sure you're comfortable while waiting on your food. She constantly updates you on the status of your food order to assure you that you're not forgotten - "your food is cooking, baby!" I walked out feeling good and smiling and with my mouth watering for some good ol' soul food!!

So we came to support Shirley Mae's as we've done so for many years. My husband had a friend who volunteered to buy our food today when he pulled up to bring the money a Nappy Afro head old woman with dirty clothes on and a mustache (she was a worker there) ACCUSED him of dealing drugs from the car. It was the furthest from the truth she refused us service as well as made a complete unnecessary scene cursing us out but to add insult to injury she completely stereotyped this black man for no reason. They can view the cameras they will see she was completely out of order, rude, mean, and disrespectful to us for no reason at all. She looked dirty and shouldn't have been preparing food anyway. Needless to say We get enough stereotypes from other race we definitely don't need it from our own people. DO NOT SUPPORT SHIRLEY MAE's since the mom is gone the food isn't that great anyway. PLEASE TRY BIG MAMAS SOUL GOOD RESTAURAN I promise you will get better service. Sincerely, APPAULLED

Fantastic find! The food was great. Seriously, I didn't believe the comments on hot water cornbread, but it is amazing. It's fried, flavorful and divine. The staff is friendly and I liked the down to earth atmosphere. The only minor drawback is the neighborhood isn't the best and I would recommend Uber in after dark.

Shirley Mae's Café is just delectable taste like grandma's homemade southern cuisine. Their curb side food is just as good as if you were eating in and there's always a line. If you want good for for a good price go to Shirley Mae's and be sure to bring cash!

I simply love Mrs. Shirley Mae's very nice people and the food is being good. Ms. Shirley god is truly Outstanding

I know I been rating many of the restaurants highly on Yelp. But this Cafe is definitely one of the best I have ever visited. I had the lunch special, which consisted of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and Mac and Cheese. Everything was great but the hot water cornbread was, hands down the best I have ever had. I could rave on and on about everything but you need to experience it for yourself. The only suggestions I have are to go early and hungry. It gets very crowded.

What to get: sweet potatoes, fried chicken Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: very casual, fast take out Wait: 0 mins (Friday 3PM for 1) Parking: street parking The Experience: Southern home cooking. That's the type of food and service you'll find at Shirley Mae's. Be sure to get a good look at the pictures of the outside of the restaurant because I almost passed it twice while looking for the place. The entrance is on the side of the building (rather than the corner), so keep your eyes open! Parking is on the street and there were plenty of spots around (it was 3PM on a Friday, so I don't know if it gets any busier on that street during dinner hours). Not sure who all works there, but you're greeted like family. "What can I get you, baby?" I would have asked for everything, but I came for the fried chicken. It's 4 wings, but wow...they're large! I could barely close the to-go container, so they had to help me put a rubber band and plastic wrap before I left. It's practically popping out. If you get the lunch combo (which ends at 3:30PM), you get the entree, 2 pieces of hot water cornbread, and 2 sides for $10. I got the mac 'n' cheese and the sweet potatoes. The mac was alright, nothing particularly special, but the sweet potatoes are on the level that you have at Thanksgiving. It's usually my favorite, so I could have boxed that up as a meal for myself. The hot water cornbread is not like the sweetened cornbread you find elsewhere. It's like cornmeal, savory and filling. The fried chicken is like what you find at home. A light crispness and large pieces. No tiny wings, so 4 is enough for a meal. Add salt, pepper, and hot sauce to your liking. Made the mistake of not ordering a dessert too, so I'll need to come back another day!

Today I had my most MEMORABLE moment in Louisville. As I searched for some Kentucky fried chicken I found this soul food secret that is Shirley Mae's. This local black owned business is owned by a QUEEN which I now call my second grandmother as I got to hear her stories and feel the history of this blissfull place while getting filled on SOUL. I'm SO grateful for the great finds traveling brings upon. #RibsForDays#SleepingWithTheLadyBugsLiterally#LadyLuck#SupportLocalBlackBusinesses

Dilapidated building in a not so nice area of the city. The ambiance is definitely something to be desired. However, any dish you get here is like your granny cooked it with love. Limited hours and all cash will leave many wondering if this place is any good. However, take it from me to make this place a priority for lunch. I take all out of towners here whether they are blue collar or hoity toity and all thank me for a great meal. Shirley puts lots of love into the meals and cornbread. The bread is a must!

It's so much i can say about Shirley Maes ! Me and my aunt went there Sunday for the first time. When we got there it was around 730 and Shirley Mae herself was sitting outside taking in the breeze nodding hello as we walked in. It's definitely a hole in the wall establishment and they usually have the best food and that is correct. It was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was great. All the photos on the wall of different celebrities who have visited her restaurant. And off to the side behind the bar too is different family photos of Shirley and her clan. Her son was working the bar and taking orders. He was a real character and was a big help when we were ordering our food to go. There was another daughter sitting down watching tv and another back behind the counter cooking and preparing orders. The interior is basic and doesn't look like it's had a lot of repairs but it doesn't need the repairs to look all fancy when the food is immaculate. We both ordered the chicken dinner. Which comes with 4 pieces of chicken which are by far humongous and i got Mac n cheese and sweet potatoes with a side of fried corn of the cob. The corn off the cob was the best thing I've ever had in my life. I wanted to cry it was so delicious. Everything about Shirley Maes was perfect and i will be returning hopefully every Sunday for dinner.

It's always hard doing a review of a restaurant and assigning a singular star value. There really needs to be separate ratings for food, service, and facility. Assigning one number to Shirley Mae's is difficult. The facility is small, not in the greatest of locations downtown, and anything but modern or dapper. It would receive two stars. The service was "unique". We were greeted promptly and told to pick a table. The ordering process was "informal" and follow-up was equally so The friendliness of the staff and the hometown feel made one quickly feel like part of the family. It would get three stars only because it wasn't the typical table service we are used to. Now for the food. It was fabulous. Though the ribs were smothered in sauce, they were tender and tasty. The pork equally so. The Mac and cheese tasted homemade as did everything. The potatoes were delicious. The green beans good. The Corn the best we've ever had as was the cornbread. It's homemade soul food at its finest. As one reviewer noted the experience was like eating at Shirley Mae's Home. On a side note. It seemed this family often provides free meals to those in the neighborhood. As nice as they seemed, this isn't surprising. They also only take cash, which was surprising in this day and age. They are only open Th-Sun. We will be back and you should give the place a try.

So, I really shouldn't review this place because I only got desserts, but they were delicious! When I go into Franco's, I've not always had a warm reception. When I walked into Shirley Mae's (a true DIVE), I was greeted warmly by a woman behind the cafeteria line-like table. She told me I could look at the menu on the wall behind me and answered a couple questions about what they had specifically that day, even while she was preparing to-go orders for two individuals waiting. Another man came out and asked what he could get me and if I needed any help. He ran through all the desserts and quickly boxed up a piece of sweet potato pie and a mini pecan pie. I'm not a huge fan of sweet potato pie (it was for my husband), but he made me try it, and wow, was it delicious. The consistency of the pie itself was similar to the best pumpkin pies I've ever had (NOT crappy store bought ones) with a subtle seasoning. The pie crust was also amazing! Not shortening heavy or dry and crumbly, it was simply perfect. Two days later, my husband and I shared the mini pecan pie, which again, the crust was awesome. The kicker....salted pecans. The top of the pie had whole pecans tightly layering the pie and they were salted. It made for a sweet and salty delight. Exactly how a perfect turtle sundae is made at Whitey's Ice Cream Shop in Iowa....sweet and salty. I'd go back again just for desserts! Maybe I'll try the fried chicken next time too.

Shirley makes THE best soul food. And it all happens in a friendly, well-loved setting in Smoketown that makes you feel like you're joining friends and family for Sunday dinner. Plus, everything is made to order, and you can watch it being prepared in the open kitchen. Wonderful food, setting, and at an excellent value. On my most recent visit, my spouse and I enjoyed the fried fish, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and hot water cornbread. For dessert, we snagged the last piece of blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top. Simply heaven!

Best fried chicken, best cole slaw, best sweet potato:) Everything I ordered is amazing! The fried chicken is not greasy, and the meat is tender and juicy inside, plus it is not as salty as many other fried chicken places, yet still have flavors in it. Best cole slaw I've ever had. Fresh and clean. Best sweet potato: you can taste the sweetness and butter inside. I also ordered the string bean. They stew it with pork belly meat, so it's soft and absorbed the broth. Also like the fresh lemonade:) Overall, it's a nice place for having Kentucky fried chicken. The food is fresh and well-prepared:).

Very good food. The only thing was that we called in order,but they waited until we got there to fill it. So we were a hour and a half later eating. And I hope they will start opening there dining room soon.

Great food and family! We will be back to try more food on the menu. Thank you very mich