Southern Kitchen

Southern restaurant (US) · Tacoma

Southern Kitchen

Southern restaurant (US) · Tacoma

1

1716 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405

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Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null
Southern Kitchen by null

Highlights

Fried chicken, catfish, and candied yams served in a laid-back space.  

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1716 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 Get directions

southernkitchen-tacoma.com
@southernkitchentacoma

$10–20 · Menu

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1716 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 Get directions

+1 253 627 4282
southernkitchen-tacoma.com
@southernkitchentacoma

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Oct 17, 2025

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A soul‑food icon for fried chicken, cornbread stuffing, and peach cobbler, featured on Diners, Drive‑Ins and Dives and praised by local writers. Woman‑owned, welcoming, and unmistakably Tacoma.

https://www.southsoundtalk.com/2023/05/09/the-road-to-tasty-goodness-restaurants-in-the-south-sound-featured-on-guy-fieris-diners-drive-ins-dives/
Best Restaurants in Tacoma
View Postcard for Southern Kitchen

Mike Swartz

Google
Excellent food, excellent service, great value. You won't go home hungry and you'll feel welcome and enjoy a delicious meal. Bright and upbeat with a touch of soul, the atmosphere is great for individuals, small groups and families who want a comfortable diner style sit-down or for take-home. They fry to perfection. Not greasy, crispy light batter, moist inside and not overcooked. I really appreciate the ample amount of food for the price too. The service is super friendly, fast and very attentive to any needs you may have. When he saw that our daughter finished her amazing lemonade, he brought over a big mason jar of water for her without even having to ask. If you live in or are visiting Tacoma, definitely swing by and get some delicious food. You won't be disappointed.

Jacqueline Lee

Google
I was skeptical about trying this place because of the mix reviews, but I’m so glad I tried this place for myself. I’ve been here a little bit over a year and always passed this place up because of the reviews but, I must say the service was so good. The food was so good to me, though the catfish strips tasted a little burnt like the grease needed to be changed. The chicken was fresh those candy yams so good but a little on the sweet side and the mac & cheese was good the corn cake and that lemonade is good. I just wish it was a little bit tart but other than that I love this place and I would definitely try it again. Only thing is it took a while to get my food because it was so busy.

Ashley Nicole

Google
My husband and I were so excited to try this place but were a bit let down. We were seated right away but waited over an hour for our food. Food was good but a bit pricey. We loved how big the drinks were and the jars they were in, tasted homemade for sure. Inside is super cute.

Amy Acosta

Google
Came up from Lacey for a birthday lunch for my son’s 21st birthday. Loved the bright, cheerful decor! We were greeted immediately by a very friendly waitstaff. Ordered quickly. Food took a bit longer than expected but was DELICIOUS and worth the wait. Fried green tomatoes, catfish and greens are some of my favorite foods and these were cooked impeccably. They even treated us with a group sized peach cobbler for the 8 of us! So yummy! Thank you for helping make his birthday a little bit sweeter! We will be back!

Misty Rader

Google
Oh my goodness- if you have never been here- get here now! This place is so homey and welcoming- I chose Southern Kitchen for my birthday dinner tonight and it was so so good! Let me start with our amazing server, he was awesome, friendly, always making sure we were doing good- I happened to get his personal favorite the Texas BBQ brisket and I can see why had macaroni and cheese with buttered corned as my sides and oooo my that corn cake topping it off with a blackberry lemonade. Since it was my birthday he gave me a bread pudding on the house! My husband had the catfish and my daughter had the fried chicken. I will choose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday every year! Thank you Southern Kitchen for a wonderful meal and for being wonderful! I am so full still and have plenty of leftovers! Your restaurant and staff are top notch in my opinion ❤️

Renee Lacoste

Google
If you don’t feel at home here you’re not going to feel at home anywhere. If you aren’t stuffed full walking out then you must have hollow legs. Real southern food in the PNW is right here. Done right, just like my Nana from South Carolina used to make. Southern biscuits and gravy with eggs or grits for breakfast, catfish and okra lunch, chicken fried steak or fried chicken or catfish dinner… The fried green tomatoes are the best ever- and I mean THE BEST! The giant mason jars filled with sweet tea or lemonade with fresh fruit are so delicious. There just isn’t a way to get around wanting to order far more items than you can eat in one sitting! 🍳 🤤 If you don’t have room for dessert take something home with you. Bread pudding, peach cobbler, sweet potato pie… 🥧 All homemade with love. SO good! You’ll be welcomed in and made to feel right at home here. (Be aware that they are popular so if you go at peak times be patient.) Fresh food sourced as locally as possible. (Obviously catfish has to be sourced from Louisiana.) This Is like sitting down in your southern Nana’s home for a delicious meal and a warm hug. You will leave happier and definitely much more full than you came in. ☺️ Don’t hesitate! I drive an hour just to eat here. It’s truly worth the trip. I feel like I’m driving back to a little slice Nana’s house. ❤️ This is THE place for southern comfort food!

Black Chicken

Google
Whoever cooked the greens I ordered today deserves a raise. They were so perfect! It's noon Oct. 6th - whoever made these, thank you! And please don’t ever change the recipe.

Beth Whitaker

Google
What a hidden gem. Great service, food, and atmosphere. First, find the small pink building in the small lot that needs work. Then enter the blue door into a blaze of color, soul color, that just brings life into a burst of joy. Take your seat and find your way through the menu. Like lemonade? Like strawberries? Love creamy and rich whipped cream? Put the three together for a mouthgasm. Sooo good! Then on the food. Excellent and bountiful portions. And the sides are plenty to pick from. Grab a main, and if you like brisket dive into a plate of mouth watering tender heaven. Collard greens are lively with flavor. And the service, was fantastic. Friendly and attentive. Two people, drinks and entree was $65. And we had leftovers. I couldn't finish it all. Go and enjoy!

Melissa B.

Yelp
We were greeted as soon as we walked in the door. The servers were so nice, polite, and genuinely friendly. We had never been there before (a coworker recommended them), but we were made to feel like old friends coming back for a visit. Ok, the food...delicious! We ordered the catfish and the fried chicken plates. Having moved here from Kentucky, that is our comfort food...and they couldn't have made it any better. The side items and deserts...yum! The portions were quite generous. Go hungry! Worth the visit! We are already planned to go back.
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Jerome T.

Yelp
From the moment we sat down, we felt right at home. We ordered the fried chicken, catfish, hush puppies, greens, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes with gravy--and every single bite was packed with flavor. The chicken was crispy and juicy, the catfish was fried to perfection, and the sides tasted homemade, like something straight from a Southern family kitchen. We also had the strawberry and mango lemonades topped with whipped cream, and they were the perfect sweet touch--refreshing, creamy, and delicious. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the vibe of the place just made us want to stay a little longer. Southern Kitchen is the kind of spot you recommend to everyone--and definitely a place we'll be coming back to.
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Kimberly S.

Yelp
This is my new favorite place for Southern food! While in Tacoma, friends and I decided to head to Southern Kitchen. We could not find parking at the restaurant, so we parked a block away and walked over - parking is sparse. We arrived shortly before Noon on a Saturday and it was still pretty crowded. Smaller establishment, clean and inviting. Our server was amazing - friendly and attentive. We ordered: The Fried Chicken Sandwich with mashed potatoes, a Fried Chicken Plate with greens and mac and cheese and Fried Chicken Wing dinner with mashed potatoes and corn. They start you off with corn cakes, which were really good. The chicken was perfectly fried and remained moist; the sides were all great - we all raved about the mashed potatoes. We also ordered the Blackberry Lemonade which was tasty. Side note: We initially wanted to try the Brisket as well, but by Noon they were already sold out, so if you want the Brisket, be sure to get there early. The portions are generous, but the dessert we ordered to go, which was the peach cobbler, could have fed us all! Great prices and service - we are already planning our next outing to Southern Kitchen! .
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Stephanie D.

Yelp
Best place to get Southern food in the PNW. You from the real south and not from just southeastern WA? You make this food at home but want to eat out every once in a while? Wanna drink brewed sweet tea out of a quart jar? Lol! Come here and get your eat and drink on. They have new menu designs with a QR code.
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M G.

Yelp
Bomb breakfast and brunch spot.. chicken & waffles and the biscuits and gravy are on point! Perfect place for some authentic southern comfort food.. don't forget to try their lemonade

Tyrone W.

Yelp
Just moved here and had to hit this spot first chance i had. Not mad about it, food came out good. Hits close to home.
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Todd U.

Yelp
This is one of our favorite southern food restaurants! Their strawberry mango lemonade always hits the spot. My go to is the chicken fried steak. The flavors are to die for and it is perfectly seasoned. They serve the dish with brown gravy, I prefer country gravy, so I make the switch. Their collard greens are good, not as developed as my recipe, they are more traditional. The service is always spot on with personality, professionalism, and they are very friendly! Making it a family environment! I would not only recommend this place, this is our spot!
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Tracie E.

Yelp
Charming cafe serving up comfort food in Tacoma! We came for brunch on a Tuesday and was greeted by the pleasant staff behind the counter as we sat ourselves. Menu was nice and easy, not overwhelming, one side was breakfast the other lunch. We ordered the Cajun catfish strips, which were soft fried, fried chicken was our table favorite and a bunch of sides. Corncake 7/10 Mac&Cheese 7/10 Yams 8/10 Greens 7/10 Red beans & rice 7/10 Hush puppies 8/10 Sweet potato pie 7/10 Overall the food was average but service welcoming and we think they're worth returning, we enjoyed ourselves!
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Charlene G.

Yelp
All I can say is WOW! Friends had highly recommended Southern Kitchen and it's absolutely worthy of 5 stars. The service was very friendly, efficient and OMG, the food was everything I hoped it would be. I actually groaned in pleasure as I took the first bite of collard greens and the catfish was outstanding. My only complaint is that it's not closer to my home in Stanwood! Oh well, I've been wanting to explore Tacoma!

Brian M.

Yelp
The food is really good. The waitress was super bubbly and kept my drinks full!!! Their home sauce is excellent!!!
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Meralina M.

Yelp
This place this place this place!!!!! Everything hiiiits. But ESPECIALLY the hush puppies!!! We couldn't stop ourselves from eating them If you could believe it, it was just me and one friend order all this food (plus a jumbalaya to go). So we tried everything and not a single thing disappointed us. (Don't judge us, we had just finished the two day lawyer bar exam! Hehe). The sweet also hit the spot as well. The staff was also incredibly friendly, there is parking, and my god did I mention the hush puppies!?!?!? One of the best places in the puget sound!
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Bernard U.

Yelp
Been a couple of years since the last visit,thankfully not a lot had changed except the cheerful paint job which greeted us on entering this warm and cosy eatery. The staff are like the paint job,cheerful,friendly and informative.Settled on a couple of fish sandwiches,catfish and butterfish.A side of smoky beans and rice hit the spot. The menu has shrunk over time which,sadly,is understandable.I never have room for the delicious looking cobblers..maybe next time.Just a wonderful place to enjoy good home cooking.The restaurant is small so big groups could be a problem.
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Nava O.

Yelp
Best place in town for southern cuisine. BEST SWEET TEA IN TOWN, hands down. This Southern bell felt right at home. I ordered the 6th street platter that comes with catfish strips, 2pcs of fried chicken, a hush puppy, and 2 sides of your choice. I got the mac n cheese and collard greens. Those sides did not disappoint one bit. The greens were simply flavorful, and you feel the TLC of how it was prepared. Fried chicken was crispy loaded with good spices, and fried to perfection. The catfish strips, you can get regular or cajun spicy, and those strips were a party in my mouth. Yum yum! My friend and I also ordered some fried okra to start, and man oh man... the batter is superb. Food is excellent here with nice sized portions. Service was also a blessing here. Our server took great care of us. He was very friendly and organized. He even provided to go boxes for us without asking. The ambiance is very chill and lively with all the colorful decor. The tables are quite close together to fit as many as comfortable as they can, but you will be far enough to not rub elbows. There is street parking, or if you're lucky, maybe you can get a spot on their small lot. If you're wanting good food with good atmosphere, you will not leave here unsatisfied. ENJOY!
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Tanja G.

Yelp
This is a small but amazing restaurant. The people are so friendly and professional. Excellent food and service. Fried green tomatoes are fabulous. Tanja and Marlon
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Michelle A.

Yelp
The greens were delicious. The food was pretty good overall it just took a very long time to get our order (approx 45 minutes). People were friendly. The pancake corn bread was really good. Highly recommend if you don't mind the wait!
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Betty B.

Yelp
Awesome southern comfort food with the best sweet tea Great service. I had the country fried steak and selected macaroni and cheese as one of my side dishes - which was made with some serious love. Cheesy and flavorful! Country fried steak was not greasy, tender enough where i didn't need a knife. Finished off with a heavenly slice of their sweet potato pie. I thought the mashed potatoes were from a box they were so creamy, no lumps to be found.
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Vanessa B.

Yelp
We ordered delivery which was fulfilled through Doordash. The serving sizes are way bigger than I anticipated! Next time I'll be going for the vegetarian entree because the sides were so good. I really enjoyed the mashed potatoes, and the candied yams and mac & cheese were both delicious too. The fried chicken was juicy and again, way more food than I anticipated. Overall I really enjoyed it - it's always a treat to find good southern food in Washington! Looking forward to trying it in-person one of these days as well.
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Tarrin D.

Yelp
I haven't been here since 2016 and the food is still as good as the first time I was here. The lemonades are all refreshing with the fresh fruit put inside of them. Portions are big and definitely had to take the rest to go. We were full off the cornflake and fried green tomatoes before the meal arrived. When we went it wasn't too packed which was good, got in and out. Server was very attentive to what we needed and checked on us each time he left the counter!

Johnny H.

Yelp
Everything about this lovely restaurant is incredible! Outstanding service, ambiance and the food is out of this world! I've been craving authentic southern food and we found the mecca! This is our new go-to spot. Don't delay, get over here and try it!
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Vee S.

Yelp
My family's first time here, we ordered it to go and it took a bit for the order to be finished. One gentleman was helping with the front counter as well as server duties. He gave us our drinks while we waited for our order. Ample seating and a few small tables outside. Beautiful decorated! Ordered the catfish meal with a side of greens and candied yams with a huge hush puppy, two half-chicken meals, mashed pantoates and gravy, buttered corn, mac, and cheese all of which tasted excellent. Plus, portion sizes were perfect! My husband (from Chicago) was reminiscing while eating the catfish saying it was the same as he remembered while he was visiting his grandma in Mississippi. The order of the Red beans and Rice was underwhelming, I didn't taste any seasoning. The peach cobbler was peach mush, but I do appreciate the extra wrapping for the cobbler so it didn't spill into the bag. We also were shorted two pieces of chicken (we already left). I would not order either again unless there was a change. Even if we were shorted the chicken, we still intend to come back but plan to dine in next time.

Sylvester

Yelp
Stopped in with my adult daughter yesterday for the 1st time in 20+ yrs when I was stationed here at JBLM & boyyy was I not disappointed! Tastes even better now! We both got the 6th Ave platters and it was delicious! Enough food to feed 4 ppl easily. We got the Fried green tomatoes which could have been a meal in itself. The Mac & cheese was creamy & cheesy! The fish & chicken was fried to perfection! The greens were really good and the Yams were to die for. Let me not forget about the hush puppies! We even had leftovers And the service was Top Notch. Very personable & super friendly! I'll definitely be stopping in again soon!!
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Larry S.

Yelp
Let me start by saying this rating is only a reflection of the food. So here goes. We ordered the following: Appetizer - Hush Puppies- came out with the meal and we wanted an appetizer meaning it comes out before the meal. 1) 1/2 chicken dinner with yams and dressing with gravy. So what was wrong with this order. The chicken was not hot it was room temperature. The 1/2 chicken was 1-wing, 1-thigh, and 3-legs. Not what I expected when ordering a 1/2 as I expected 1-wing, 1-Brest, 1-leg and 1-thigh. You know half of a chicken. Now to the dressing, stone cold and the gravy was just as cold and thick like glue. The saving part was the yams. 2) Mac and Cheese, corn, I forget the third. The corn was out of a can, the M&C was oily and flavorless and not creamy as Mac should be from a southern kitchen. All were lukewarm. 3) Peach cobbler. A plus was the serving size but ends there. Canned peaches and dough was not good. The sweet tea is good. The friendliest people and extremely welcoming. Service was lacking and when you ask why not bring up the issues, I would have if I could get the server to help. Look, I can see and taste that this place has good food but hot and better seasoned would help and if you say 1/2 chicken give a true 1/2 chicken or tell the guest hey that 1/2 chicken will be....... Make the Mac and Cheese creamy and not dried out and oily. Keep the great welcome and inviting atmosphere.
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Natalie D.

Yelp
The greens are out of the can, catfish lacked seasoning, and the chicken was dry. I wouldn't recommend the food.
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Denise T.

Yelp
Stumbled on this place because the place I wanted to go for lunch was busy, I'm so glad I came here! Their menu is full of choices I couldn't decide on. The staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. Even my boss who grew up in Mississippi, and now lives in Texas said "it feels like home". I will be back!

Tayla P.

Yelp
The food was so good. Our waiter was great. It wasn't super busy at all so we got our food in a timely manner and sat down immediately. The only thing was we ordered the peach cobbler and for some reason he gave it to us to go and it was cold.. we didn't want it to go and so we had to throw it away... other than that it was very delicious.
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Cheryl T.

Yelp
Southern Kitchen Tacoma, Washington Saw this in a Triple D's ( Diners, Dive, & Drive-In by Guy Fieri) episode. We were in Tacoma & decided to check it out. We were not disappointed. Friendly staff & a limited menu however what they have, they did it right! We had the 6th Ave platter that consisted of corn bread, one hush puppy, catfish (regular or Cajun), Southern fried chicken & 2 sides. For the 2 sides, we had collard greens, rice & beans. Even though we came at 2pm for a meal, it was still busy! The customers are regularly streaming in & the restaurant does a lot of takeout orders. Be prepared to wait, the wait is worth as the meal comes out piping hot! You know they are freshly cooked. We had the regular catfish that came with a side of tartare sauce, the catfish has the cornmeal coating, it was lightly battered & moist on the inside. The Southern fried chicken was crispy on the outside & so juicy on the inside, I loved the coating, it was light & very nicely seasoned. The chicken comes with a side of honey mustard dip. The hush puppy was ok. The cornbread was like a pancake served with butter. The collard greens was yummylicious, salty & has pieces of diced ham. The rice & beans were good, cooked with green peppers & onions. We shared the platter as there was a lot of food! We thoroughly enjoyed the meal. If you are ever in Tacoma, Washington, check them out. Decor was bright, place was clean & music was awesome! Parking is limited, we came off peak & parking was not a problem.
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Zoelia J.

Yelp
THANK YOU Southern Kitchen! Thanks for the ambience. Thanks for such great, friendly customer service. And Thanks for the ACTUALLY delicious food. Sadly, so many places that I've been to across the country (I travel extensively for work; being places months at a time) boast about their food and it's just "meh!". Or the other places have great food but the service is crappy. Or the place is bougie and gorgeous but the service is meh and/or the food is so bad i leave half of it on the plate. BUT THIS PLACE right here!!! I enjoyed being here from the time I walked in through my whoooole meal (which I savored) until the moment I left with a carry out meal for later. It is such a relief to find GOOD DOWN HOME Soul Food 3,000 miles away from home. I grew up on Southern food. I KNOW good Southern food when I eat it. They had me sold when I heard the words Baked Mac and cheese and "yes, we have cobbler AND sweet potato pie"!!! I can't wait to drive 20 miles up the highway again for my next 2 meals.
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Carolyn L.

Yelp
I wanted southern food and I got southern food here. A cute restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Limited free street parking here though there is a paid parking lot next to it. Service was excellent! There was only one server on duty when I was there but it didn't feel like service was slow or lacking. Kamila was great in making recommendations when she found out I never had grits before. She told me how it could be eaten (plain, sugar and butter or salt and pepper). I got the chicken fried steak breakfast plate as it came with grits. The chicken fried steak was one of the best I ever eaten due to the seasoning. So delicious! If it's the same seasoning for the fried chicken and other fried stuff, I can see them being equally yummy. The biscuit was nice with butter and jam. I had the grits with butter and sugar. More sugar the better. It had a porridge (oatmeal) texture which I didn't really like. But now I know what grits taste like. I'll be back for the other stuff in future. Fried chicken. Fried okras. Fried catfish fillet. I saw someone ordered a hot chocolate and it came in a huge mug (mason jar) with lots of whipped cream. This place does not stint on the good stuff.
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Eddie J.

Yelp
If you're looking for a breakfast spot in Tacoma that serves up some good home cooking, then head over to Southern Kitchen at the corner of 6th Ave & Sprague. You can expect friendly, welcoming service, with an expansive menu featuring Southern specialties. Recommend trying the Chicken Fried Steak and eggs. So good!
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Keith M.

Yelp
Always delicious and so friendly and accommodating Great choices. Best Restaurant in Washington!

Barbara G.

Yelp
Totally worth all the RAVES!!! Best fried chicken- the CORNCAKE IS AWESOME!! And don't forget their tremendous Mac & Cheese and coleslaw!!!
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Sky F.

Yelp
Every time I pass this place I want to stop in and just enjoy the great atmosphere and a Southern breakfast. It really reminds me of diners I used to enjoy in the South growing up.

Craig H.

Yelp
I was tired of restaurant chain food since I've been in town. Grab my phone. Of course, I was puuuuuuuulled over and in a safe spot. "Yelp. 'Soul food", 'ratings'z 'Distance'. 25 minute away'" we were greeted with good music, vibrant colors, and smiles. Seen fellow Philly native , Lev Henry on the wall. Service was quick and food delicious. Not bland and not over seasoned. The tea was great also. Definately a must if you're in town.
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Rion T.

Yelp
Great staff, professionally working together, diverse crowd, the best food you'll eat if your not eating it with your own families and it was a spiritual approach seeing the matriarchs and patriarchs coming from church.
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Sidney P.

Yelp
This place is the best. Their soul food is absolutely delicious - cat fish, fried chicken, collard greens, grits. The menu is quite extensive and everything is scratch made, with generous portions. Interior is brightly decorated and very inviting. Some of the friendliest service I've ever had - super welcoming. This is truly a gem of a restaurant!
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Heidi T.

Yelp
My husband and I ordered thru Uber Eats. I had liver and onions, he had chicken fried steak. They were both delicious. Best breakfast we have had in long time. When I was younger would eat there. The food is still wonderful. Thank you

Eddie A.

Yelp
I have been going to Southern Kitchen since 1983. The fried chicken was the worst I have ever had. The chicken wings were yellow and looked like they were fried without batter. I like the owner and employees a lot. I hope that they can rectify this problem.
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Tracy A.

Yelp
Based on only one and first time visit: The service was very friendly and welcoming. We dined in a charming space with tables and chairs and a counter. We intentionally over ordered, and the leftovers were just as good as the first meal. We ordered the half fried chicken and received a breast, wing, leg, and thigh. It was hot, and it was good. I don't mean to oversimplify, but I just suggest ordering whatever main entrée really appeals to you as opposed to choosing something else because a reviewer did. Also, it's because I think the sides are really the stars here. In particular, I loved the jalapeno hush puppies, the collard greens, and the candied yams. If you like it, ask for the vinegar and the hot sauce. I liked the peach cobbler.
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Miaisha M.

Yelp
Let me preface with I came in on a Sunday around 2:30 and the place was busy with a steady flow of diners. I was feeling so optimistic, now let's get real. The corncake and cornbread stuffing were most definitely the best things going. My original corncake came out with my meal and it was lukewarm and was still very good. They must have forgotten about my liver in the deep fryer or whatever they fried it up. The gravy made it worth it to keep working my way through. I wish I would have taken a picture of the washed out, canned, not buttered corn, mushy rice and cold gravy. I didn't even try to hide the fact I didn't eat it. Thinking that perhaps I ordered the wrong things, I ordered the 6th Ave Platter, to go, with Cajun catfish, fried chicken, collards and cornbread stuffing. Hmmm...the catfish was broken up into more like nuggets instead of strips, they were ok, lukewarm. The wing was cold and dry, the thigh was hot and moist, and the greens. The greens tasted like Glory Greens out of the can with some onions thrown in, same juice and everything. No amount of hot sauce or pickled pepper sauce was going to make them taste good or like anything other than Glory Greens. Maybe they ran out of they normally fix, but this was my first time there and I have nothing to compare them with. I don't know if I would have come on another day and when they first open, perhaps I'll have a different result. Not sure if I'll give them another try. The servers checked on the other diners profusely, and didn't inquire once about my meal. I think they knew they didn't serve me the best version of what the Southern Kitchen is supposed to be about.
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Derrick M.

Yelp
Great soul food spot in Tacoma!! The sweet tea tastes like your grandmother made it and it comes in a mason jar!!! I had the catfish with greens & yams!! Its was amazing!!! I will definitely be back!
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Eleanor W.

Yelp
Came here today for breakfast and was sorely disappointed. The corn cakes were inconsistent-- a few were really great and others were way too hard and burnt. The hush puppies were really hard and dry. The sausage had a strange texture, the catfish was surprisingly bland and there was grease in my coffee... to top it off the place looked like it hadn't been cleaned well in awhile. The icing on top was finding two hairs in my food at the end of my meal. Two stars bc the server was nice enough to take it off the tab, however. Won't be back
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Ava E.

Yelp
So this place has come to be a tradition for alot of us that attend a convention in Ocean Shores every year...on the way home we stop in and eat some "comfort food" and it is all that here! I told Ben I would write this review and Kamila...the staff was amazing and we so appreciate all of you! We had a lot of ppl...close to 20-25 of ended up in here last Sunday! And they worked with us and we all got seated and ate! I had my usual...just like last year...the catfish filet with greens and yams...side of red beans...and sweet potato pie to go! But don't think for one second I didn't try the peach cobbler that one of my friends had!!! Amazing! The food is always on point and my blueberry lemonade....had to have it! We had some folks from the south that came in with us...talking smack! Not knowing that Southern Kitchen knows what they are doing! It was funny, they had to apologize...the food was great! So one more time....we left happy! I was ready to take a nap! Happy and full...my favorite place to be. Thank you guys for another wonderful memory...we will see you again next year!
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Bethany H.

Yelp
Came here as a family of four around 5:45, sat in a non-sunny spot, and the waitress came around real quick and got drink orders we ordered about 10 minutes later once we decided. We ordered the fried chicken sandwich, fried chicken entree, catfish strips, and bbq brisket. For the sides, we got French fries, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread stuffing, red beans and rice, Mac n cheese, and buttered corn. - Fried chicken sandwich: chicken had bones in it still which was a big turn-off. The fry of the chicken was a good and flavorful batter and was a good amount of crispiness. - Fried chicken entree: The crispiness of the fried chicken was great. - Catfish strips: Breading had a good flavor, and was cooked so it wasn't overcooked or burnt. - BBQ brisket: Had a good smoky flavor, could even see the wonderful rings it had on it. We came here when we saw the restaurant on Triple D, and have tried a multitude of other restaurants from Guy Fieri's show. They even have a few pictures from the show hanging around the restaurant and a picture with Kevin Hart when he visited. Since it was on Triple D, we were a bit disappointed with the food overall. Maybe it was just an off day, but was hoping for better. Overall it definitely gave a very homey feel, definitely a southern kitchen just from the atmosphere inside the restaurant. The waitress was great, it was only her so she was busy the entire time we were there with tables, checking out, answering the phones, and all the other stuff, so the service we got was great, but it could've been better if it wasn't as busy but that's not her fault. She did a great job making everybody feel welcome despite how hectic we knew she was running, * Only warning is that there's no air conditioning, and since they fry 99% of their food, the kitchen heat comes to the seating area but they have the windows open and a smaller swamp cooler up on the wall to help keep it cool so it wasn't too hot inside.
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Kimberly T.

Yelp
This is my second, third, ummmmm, maybe 20th time visiting this restaurant. I missed #thankfulThursday, but I'm sending a shout out to this great soul food restaurant that reminds me of Chicago's south side Hood soul food. The restaurant is so charming on the inside with the multicolored table coverings and chairs. The service is so welcoming that even though I'm not regular - I feel like one.
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Terrance S.

Yelp
Giving my last visit 5 stars not because of the food, but because of the exemplary customer service I witnessed by one of the staffers under extreme pressure. With orders backed up, customers complaining, and an overwhelmed kitchen staff, the manager handled himself so impressively I had to compliment him and make sure I posted this review. He was friendly, calm, understanding, and kept great morale with the staff. I was very impressed and his level of class and patience kept everything together. All food service workers, especially managers could take pointers from him on this. This alone will keep us returning. He was the young African American man.

A D.

Yelp
Came to this place in Tacoma while put in Washington for work, this place was highly recommended. I should have know better after pulling up the yelp reviews and seeing it was not 4 stars. Had the half chicken fried, candid yams, and red beans and rice. Where do I start. Chicken was not seasoned anywhere, a lady and her husband also from TX confirmed what I thought. Yams were yams and not candid, beans and rice were like eating veggies in a product that was not cooked down or sautéed. Very disappointing.
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Heather B.

Yelp
I've been wanting to come here for years! I live in Seattle so I don't always get down this way. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint!! I'm originally from Georgia, and it can be hard to find good soul food around here. I have tried a few places here and there, but this was the best by far. Everything was great and we got a lot. Fried chicken was amazing. The skin/crust was great but the meat had good seasoning too. The fried green tomatoes were perfect, no big clumps of breading falling off. The mac-n-cheese was soo tasty, so was the red beans and rice and the mashers and gravy... Damn, that gravy was good. The corn cakes and hush puppies rocked too. The seasoning was on point on just about everything, and the addition of their hot sauce made it even better. I got a blackberry limonade and my guy got a sweet tea. That lemonade was unlike anything I've had. It had lots of fruit and it was delicious. I was impressed. I've had good southern cooking and I'm a Chef myself... This place is legit! I'll definitely be back. Plus they were all so awesome and the atmosphere just had a great vibe. I also ordered Peach Cobbler to go because, DUH! It's amazing and the portion is huge. Very happy I made it here and I'll definitely be back for more!
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Debra W.

Yelp
We came here after a trip to Point Defiance as this place came highly recommended. Walking in, they were busy and much smaller than I anticipated. However we were seated and greeted very quickly. Our waitress, was very pleasant. Very friendly and great customer service just not always 100% attentive. The food was good but left me feeling mediocre about our experience. The chicken wings were hot and fresh and so was the fish. The quality of food was excellent. But the chicken wings and fish just needed a little extra seasoning for our liking. The sides were a-okay. Nothing that would make you slap your momma or anything but they will definitely satisfy any cravings you have for traditional southern food. The fried green tomatoes, hot and fresh as well. But we ended up not even finishing them. After one or two, you just didn't want to go back and reach for more. Now my son loved his pancakes and his Mac and cheese was definitely cheesy - just a little soft and under salted. But living on the Eastside of Seattle, I definitely wouldn't go out of my way. But if you're in the area and got a hankering for some traditional southern food, then why not?!
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Clifford C.

Yelp
I have to say I came here cause my daughter bought me to eat here. I saw it on food channel and it is good really good Southern food. The fried green tomatoes are amazing. Everything is very good. The gravy potatoes outstanding the service is wonderful. They kept coming around asking if everything is OK how did it taste if I needed more refill I mean, they were the best. The restaurant is a little small but it's cozy. The music is wonderful. Brought back a lot of memories where they had it on R&B music oh, and all you have to come here you won't be disappointed. I wasn't and I will go back again whenever I'm in Tacoma, and sorry I didn't take no pictures because it was too good. I was not gonna stop eating to take a picture but I will next time oh and by the way, I am not a tea person that much but they tea is good.