The Soul Shack

Restaurant · Hyde Park

The Soul Shack

Restaurant · Hyde Park

1368 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Highlights

No-frills joint cooking up hearty Southern soul food in a casual, compact setting with takeout.

1368 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 Get directions

thesoul53.com

@soulshack53

$10–20 · Menu

@infatuation

"The Soul Shack is a casual spot that (as the name suggests) focuses on soul food. They have dishes like smothered fried chicken, lollipop lamb chops, and sides like mac and cheese and cornbread. And while those things are tasty, we come here for the soul rolls. They’re fried egg rolls stuffed with jerk chicken, yams, mac and cheese, and greens. They will send you straight to bed, but with a smile on your face. " - adrian kane

The Best Restaurants In Hyde Park

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@eater

"Down-home cooking that’s been modernized is the theme over at Soul Shack, situated directly across the street from Sophy Hotel. The restaurant’s inventive in the sense that classic dishes are turned up a notch with Southern flair. Particular of note are the signature soul rolls filled with macaroni and cheese, greens, and fried yams; jerked Cornish hens; and fried smothered chicken." - Audarshia Townsend

Hyde Park’s best restaurants on Chicago’s South Side - Eater Chicago

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@eater

"The Soul Shack is a soul food restaurant owned by Rico Nance, featuring items like jerk chicken made with Cornish hens, braised short ribs, and lemon pepper-fried okra. Entrees range from $15 for chicken and waffles to $42 for surf & turf mix of grilled salmon with lamb chops or short ribs. It is set to open on Sunday at 1368 E. 53rd Street." - Ashok Selvam

Soul Shack, a new Hyde Park soul food restaurant, to soon open - Eater Chicago

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@eater

"The Soul Shack serves fried okra, fried chicken and waffles, jerked Cornish hens and more." - Ashok Selvam

Chicago’s Newest Restaurant and Bar Openings for Winter 2019 - Eater Chicago

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Zo Wesson

Google

The food here is good. Pricey but good. It is the go to place for the full Spectrum of African-Americans in Hyde Park. Get it to go though. My server, while being a very social young man to everyone that came through the door, left much to be desired. If they ever get a more professional and efficient waitstaff, I’d give this place five stars!

Keasha Esther

Google

BABY!!!!! From the start to the finish...Soul Shack DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I ordered the fried chicken with greens and mac. BOMB! I didn't need not a pinch of salt nor pepper on this bomb mac! Jesus had to come of the throne and season these greens himself. Who fried this chicken? Do me a favor and smack them. They put their whole foot in it. Great ambiance, the staff was really nice, and overall...5 Stars for the experience.

Tanya Fook-Marshall

Google

My party of 6 was unanimously disappointed with the restaurant. The ambiance was fair. They were short staffed, and the server was ok, but brought the wrong food. The presentation was fair. The taste of the food, general concensus, was poor. Our appetizers was fried green tomatoes and chicken soul rolls. The tomatoes were overripe. The chicken soul rolls were missing chicken, which was an additional price to include the chicken. The menu gave two sides with the chicken and waffles, but we were told you get only one side. Now the grilled chicken I ordered was very dry and the wings were tiny. My friend ordered fried chicken wings, corn bread, greens and macaroni. The macaroni arrived as we were finishing up, and she couldn't eat it because it was sour and cool. My other friend didn't care for the entree she ordered, which was chicken and waffles, with greens and a separate order of macaroni and cheese. Unfortunately her plate was left practically full, as she didn't care for the food. The lady with her mother sitting next to us was also disappointed with their food. Her mother said the cornbread wasn't made correctly. The restroom wasn't clean. Parking is horrible in the area. I don't plan to return, nor my friends.

Brandon Polk

Google

This place has a relaxing design. The food was phenomenal and it looked as good as it tasted. I highly recommend this establishment. We ordered the Chicken & Waffles. It came with 1 side (I got Mac N Cheese). Nothing was a disappointment. I give them 5 out of 5 Stars.

Dr. Tracy Bibbs

Google

I rarely leave negative reviews I was highly disappointed in this restaurant. This was my first visit and I ordered take out greens, mac and cheese, cornbread and gravy and rice. I literally got one small spoonful of greens that were a little spicy but decent. The Mac and cheese tasted like it came from a box. The corn bread tasted identical to Mariano's cornbread. But my biggest complaint was the rice and gravy. I literally thought they gave me mash potatoes and gravy because the rice was mashed together into one clump. I literally had to look at my receipt to see if they gave me the wrong thing. Needless to say I won't be going back.

Monica

Google

10/16/22, Compared to when they first opened the take out portions and presentation and quality of the food is completely different. The grilled chix wings were so small today they were like party wings but I was charged as if they were reg chix wings, the corn bread was black at the bottom (fine if that is how you like yours, I don't) and the grilled salmon was sliced so thin for $20 that there should have been 2 pieces...very disappointing considering I spent $100+ for 4 dinners. The other pics of salmon on your site do not resemble anything close to what I received today. The Lamb Chops and Short Ribs were as they should have been. The young man cleaning the tables was attentive and held both doors as my hands were full with 2 bags. I'm not so sure I'll be returning anytime soon. I live in the suburbs, drove to HP just for your food today.

Tamika Clemons

Google

First time there. Customer service could have been better. Rice was gummy and barely had gravy. Greens could've been cooked longer because they had alot of the big stems in them. The chicken was delicious, borderline almost salty, but it was the best part of the meal. I ordered takeout and I'm big on presentation of my food. Presentation was horrible! When I opened that tray it did not look appealing at all!However, the patrons dining in, the food on their plates looked amazing. I would still give them one more try and eat inside to see if that makes a difference.

Gabray Carter

Google

Great food! Great music! Great customer service! No complaints and plus it black owned very friendly. I went during the week and day no wait but I guarentee if you go on the weekend or at night you'll need to make reservations if they accept them. NO PARKING STREET PARKING ONLY. Fairly small restaurant but it only been opened for a few months.