Brian Nagele
Las Vegas might be famous for its dazzling lights and high-octane entertainment, but it’s the soul food scene that truly captures the heart. Amidst the hustle and bustle of card games and the clinking of slot machines, Vegas’s finest soul food establishments offer a warm and satisfying culinary experience with their flavorful dishes. Here, the spirit of Southern cooking is alive and well, dishing out generous helpings of warm cornbread, succulent fried chicken, and velvety collard greens. Each restaurant serves up a slice of home, with recipes passed down through generations, cooked with love and served with a side of genuine hospitality. So, let’s take a stroll off the beaten path and into the kitchens of Las Vegas’s soul food sanctuaries, where every meal is like Sunday dinner with family.
1. Gritz Cafe
1911 Stella Lake St #150, Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-255-4748
Visit Website
Gritz Cafe is a homey, hole-in-the-wall type of place in West Vegas — near Mario’s WestSide Market — that serves up some of the best soul food in Vegas. The portions are large, and the food is absolutely delicious. Be sure to try their famous chicken and waffles, which come smothered in gravy. They have a man grits bowl and lots of egg dishes, perfect for a groggy morning. And don’t miss out on a side of their yummy biscuits and gravy as well, especially if you go for breakfast.
2. EllaEm’s Soul Food
Revere Marketplace, 775 W Craig Rd, North Las Vegas, NV 89032
702-823-4444
Visit Website
EllaEm’s Soul Food is a comfortable soul food spot with a local feel, located north of the city center near Craig Ranch Regional Park. I like going to EllaEm’s for country fried steak, rice & gravy, liver & onions, and red beans & rice. But they also, perhaps surprisingly, have delicious red snapper. I find their snapper is always grilled to perfection, and it goes great with classic soul food sides like collard greens and mac & cheese. Plus, you can order Kool-Aid at this restaurant, which is my childhood dream come true!
3. Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles
325 Hughes Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89169
702-483-4311
Visit Website
If you’re looking for a fun and funky place to get your soul food fix, look no further than Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles. This place, near the Hughes Center and Wynn Golf Club, is a bit more upscale than your typical soul food restaurant, but the prices are still reasonable, and the food is absolutely amazing. They have all the classic soul food staples like fried chicken, waffles, green tomatoes, and black-eyed peas. Like EllaEm’s, they also serve a tasty homestyle watermelon kool-aid, which is one of my favorite things to order here. I also love that the bar at Lo-Lo’s serves drinks in a mason jar, adding to the fun yet relaxed atmosphere.
4. Lola’s
1220 N Town Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89144
702-871-5652
Visit Website
Don’t mistake Lo-Lo’s for Lola’s, as these two places are quite different. They both have lively, cozy environments with a bar, but Lola’s specializes in Cajun-style soul food, thus offering a different array of southern eats. The jambalaya is probably my number one pick here because it is seasoned to perfection and loaded with the best ingredients. My advice: get the bowl, not just the cup!
5. Mississippi Mary’s Soul Food Cafe
3923 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
702-333-1374
Visit Website
Mississippi Mary’s Soul Food Cafe — locally referred to as M&Ms — is a cozy, traditional restaurant in the Westgate Shopping Center. I stick to two main things at this soul food spot — the catfish and the beef short ribs. They also have great chicken and waffles, but you can find better chicken and waffles in other restaurants, so I prefer to stick with catfish and short ribs. They also have cornbread pancakes here, so clarify if you want regular cornbread versus these pancakes. I like them both, but I find the cornbread pancakes unique.
6. Soul Foo Young
1216 W Owens Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-539-0333
Visit Website
Soul Foo is a creatively named restaurant that fuses together soul food-inspired dishes with Asian-inspired cuisine. This West Las Vegas restaurant, located near Kianga Isoke Palacio Park, is one of the best soul food restaurants in Las Vegas if you want a heavy, greasy, ultra-tasty meal. Think about a plate with fried wings, macaroni & cheese, french fries, and — to top it all off — Chinese-style shrimp fried rice. What more could you possibly ask for, namely after a big night out on the Vegas Strip? If you have any space left over in your stomach, don’t hesitate to finish the meal with a peach cobbler or caramel cake.
7. Soul Food Cafe
7320 S Rainbow Blvd #112, Las Vegas, NV 89118
702-998-9780
Visit Website
Soul Food Cafe is the place I go for BBQ ribs. It’s located in Spring Valley near Cougar Creek Park, so it is a bit outside of downtown but is worth the trip simply for its delicious BBQ sauce. I end up putting their BBQ sauce not only on the ribs but on most sides too, including mac & cheese and red rice & beans. My friends have enjoyed their red snapper, which is grilled quite nicely. Just make sure to remember to bring cash because they only take cash or CashApp.
8. Yardbird Table & Bar
3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-297-6541
Visit Website
Yardbird Table & Bar is one of the most popular restaurants in all of Las Vegas, not just for their southern food but for their overall dining experience. Yardbird is located in The Venetian hotel, right on the Las Vegas Strip. The restaurant has a refined yet fun vibe, with an open kitchen and a lively bar scene. The menu at Yardbird is quite extensive, but make sure to try their signature chicken & waffles and the shrimp & grits. The chicken & waffles come with hot honey, and the shrimp & grits are served with tasso ham gravy — both dishes are mouthwatering and will leave you wanting more.
9. Onedia’s Southern Cuisine with Sugarr_K’s
2987 Las Vegas Blvd N, North Las Vegas, NV 89030
661-585-0989
Another newer restaurant and catering service in North Las Vegas, near Poker Palace Casino, is Oneida’s Southern Cuisine with Sugarr_K’s. Onedia’s Southern Cuisine specializes in catering and promises that all its chefs are culinary grads with years of experience. Not only will they deliver tasty southern-style food to your event, but they can also provide DJs, photo booths, and other party rents. In terms of food, they specialize in juicy, tender ribs, but they can likely make you any type of southern food you request!
10. Annie’s Kitchen
1212 D St, Las Vegas, NV 89106
725-214-6062
Annie’s Kitchen is a no-nonsense soul food eatery in West Last Vegas near Ethel Pearson Park. This casual joint has the best southern-style BBQ I’ve had outside of the South, and I was truly impressed by how delicious their BBQ sauce was. I got the ribs and chicken and shared it with my partner, which also came with two sides. They have the best ribs in the city, in my opinion, but if you’re not a fan of ribs, their chicken is also juicy and delicious. I got baked beans and mac & cheese on the side, and both were quite good. But next time, I’ll go with the tamales since it’s harder to find those in Vegas. You may have to deal with a long line of cars, especially near prime lunchtime, so either get to Annie’s early or be patient — it’s worth the wait!
11. The Hush Puppy
7185 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89117
702-363-5988
Visit Website
The Hush Puppy has two locations in Vegas, but I frequent the one on Charleston Blvd, West of the city center. This long-running southern restaurant has a lot to offer in terms of both common and unique southern dishes. You can stick with the basics and get fried catfish or baby back ribs. Alternatively, you can get a little outside of the box and choose an alligator tail or frog legs for dinner. These unique options are delicious, and you won’t be disappointed. I still like the classic dishes, but it’s worth trying for the novelty alone. And, of course, you can expect delicious hush puppies from a restaurant called “The Hush Puppy!”
12. Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken&Mack Ribz
3333 S Maryland Pkwy #11, Las Vegas, NV 89169
725-204-8664
Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken is a straightforward restaurant in the University District where you can get reliably tasty and crispy chicken, fish, and shrimp. Their macaroni and cheese are hit or miss, but it’s been cheesy most of the times I’ve ordered it. I stop by Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken when I’m in the area, but I tend not to go out of my way for it. Not because the food isn’t tasty, but because their business hours aren’t always accurate. If you’re in the University District area, I would certainly swing by and cross your fingers!
13. Mama’s Kitchen
Multiple locations
Visit Website
If you’re looking for a welcoming, friendly environment to get po’ boys, Salisbury steak, and oxtails, I will head to Mama’s Kitchen — especially the one on W Lake Mead near the Pearson Community Center. The food takes some time to get, but I always say that the best things happen to those willing to wait, and that couldn’t be more true at Mama’s Kitchen. End your meal with their delicious peach cobbler. I love it because I’m obsessed with cinnamon, and they don’t hold back on it!
Why Trust Us?
When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 4 credible sites and blogs, including Fingerlickingfoodietours.com and Foursquare.com.
We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible.
Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 4 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.
https://fingerlickingfoodietours.com/soul-food-spots-in-las-vegas/
https://foursquare.com/top-places/las-vegas/best-southern-soul-food-restaurants
https://www.ktnv.com/positivelylv/dining-and-entertainment/13-most-popular-soul-food-restaurants-in-las-vegas
https://hoodline.com/2019/05/the-5-best-soul-food-spots-in-las-vegas/
