Simply Soulful

"Ms. Helen’s Soul Bistro, a beloved Black-owned soul food restaurant in Seattle, faced financial difficulties preventing its reopening at Midtown Square. The restaurant, which had gained fame until it was displaced by earthquake damage and gentrification, is still a catering business. The owner plans to reopen at the same historical location once sufficient funds are raised." - Harry Cheadle

"In a city that uses sensors and cameras at the supermarket to track what customers are buying in order to avoid any human interaction, simple can be hard to come by. And while we might let ChatGPT write our wedding vows and robots drive our cars, it seems like we can all agree on one thing: technology won't be touching fried chicken. Even as it stands underneath some new-construction apartments attached to a sterile Amazon Fresh store in the Central District, Simply Soulful is a refuge of deep-fried, slow-cooked simplicity. This soul food spot, once a staple of Madison Valley, moved to the Central District in 2022 and the menu hasn't changed a bit. Here, the best option is to order family-style. Get a couple of entrees, lots of sides, and let the mixing-and-matching commence. The gumbo is a must-order—sipping this thick and smoky broth makes for a carefree experience up there with taking a midday nap and being one of Oprah’s dogs. The fried catfish has a resounding crunch, with flakes of salt seemingly placed strategically in every bite. And while the sides are small and the mac and cheese is more dense than creamy, the yams are fantastic, tender with vanilla hints and a brown sugar sauce that grazes everything else on the plate. photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters Simply Soulful’s new digs are bright and modernized, with huge garage door windows that bring in sunlight, and gallery walls with art created by BIPOC artists in the community. The display case of desserts, like banana pudding and sweet potato pie, is a masterpiece in its own right. If the bread pudding is available, grab one—it’s as if monkey bread and pound cake eloped and then honeymooned in a vat of caramel. While we’d sooner suggest Lil Red or Communion for truly exceptional soul food, Simply Soulful has its place here. It's proof that meat and sides don't need to be complicated to be good. And in 20 years when the president is R2-D2, grocery clerks are folklore, and your friend still wont shut up about seeing Frank Ocean at Coachella, that simplicity will stand the test of time. Food Rundown photo credit: Nate Watters Fried Catfish With crispy breading that snaps to reveal a flaky filet, this catfish is juicy, well-seasoned, and tastes even better when topped with a few squirts of louisiana hot sauce. photo credit: Nate Watters Mac And Cheese All mac and cheese is not created equal, and what this one lacks in creaminess, it makes up for in the form of dense cheddary glue that holds the elbow noodles in place. A bubbling baked top seals the deal. photo credit: Nate Watters Yams When sharing this meal with friends, get two orders of these yams—one for the meal, and one for when those dessert cravings come at midnight. photo credit: Nate Watters Fried Chicken Don’t be surprised if you end up ripping off the peppery, crispy skin to eat by itself. Red Beans And Rice Rice and beans are a perfect pair, but this version is dry, and although it has the smoky flavor we want, it tastes more like tobacco than anything else. photo credit: Nate Watters Cornbread Muffins These bite-sized cornbread muffins lack moisture on their own, but when used to sop up gumbo or eaten alongside a piece of catfish, they do the job of a side dish very well. photo credit: Nate Watters Gumbo There are some problems only a bowl of soup can fix, and this gumbo will cure all of them. With a glossy broth and hearty pieces of chicken and shrimp, it blows us away every time. Our only qualm is that for $17, we wish there was more of it." - Kayla Sager-Riley

"Ms. Helen’s, Seattle’s most famous soul food restaurant, is working to return to its Central District location. Founded by Helen Coleman in 1970, it became a neighborhood institution and a hub of the city's Black community. After several setbacks, including bankruptcy and damage from the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, the restaurant is being revived by Henton, Coleman’s daughter. Despite gentrification and financial challenges, efforts are underway to reopen the restaurant as Ms. Helen’s Soul Food Bistro by November, with ongoing fundraisers to support the project." - Harry Cheadle

"I moved to Seattle after Ms. Helen’s Soul Food closed, so I’m highly anticipating being able to experience this institution’s triumphant return to the Central District this spring. I am also highly anticipating all of her fried chicken wings, greens, and mac and cheese." - Adam H. Callaghan

"Recently opened its larger new location in the Central District." - Adam H. Callaghan