Did you know there is a great variety of soul food offered right here in Western New York? Often referred to as “comfort food,” soul food is a style of cuisine that ranges from buttery fried chicken to mouth-watering peach cobbler. Soul food is the cuisine of the south prepared by African Americans that originated during a time of strong black expression and cultural identity.
Soul food is described by Chef Todd Richards, an Atlanta area chef and author of Soul cookbook, as “a black form of art”. It consists of various southern foods including fried chicken, green beans, sweet potato pie, hush puppies and cornbread. According to Richards, “soul food is a gospel, and chefs are its preachers. It can be handed down once you know it, and once you’re proud of it”.
Check out all of the delicious spots around WNY where you can get soul food!
Did we miss one? Did one of these places close? Send us a note!
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1. At Eleven Wings & Cuisines
3225 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214 / Website / Facebook
A few things from the menu: Cajun Chicken & Shrimp Pasta, Pepper Steak & Rice, Pan Seared Salmon, Honey Cajun Wings
2. Brothers Takeout Cafe & Catering
1281 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216 / Website / Facebook
A few things from the menu: Brothers Over the Top Fried Chicken, Corned Beef on Rye, Cajun Jambalaya Pasta, Chicken & Waffles, Brothers Stuffed Meatloaf
3. Buffalo Soul
454 Pearl St, Buffalo, NY 14202 / Website / Facebook
A few things from the menu: Fried Haddock Dinner, Fried Chicken Dinner, Fried Pork Chops Dinner, Key to our SOUL, Chicken and Waffles, Mama’s Peppersteak and Rice
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4. Dirty Bird Chicken N’ Waffles
6004 Buffalo Ave, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: The Big Dirty Combo (Boneless quarter leg, waffle, cheddar, lettuce, tomato), The Clucker (3/4 lb wings, waffle, buttered maple), The Sticky Icky (Boneless thigh, maple-garlic sauce, pickled jalapeno, dirty aioli), Dirty Fries (Hand cut fries, cheddar, dirty sauce, french fried onions, dirty aioli)
5. Je Ne Sais Quoi
1673 & 1633 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216 / Website / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Deluxe Combo (2 ribs, 1 fish, 4 shrimp, 1 chicken), Seafood Platter (Fish, shrimp, scallops, clam strips), Sides (Mac & cheese, yams, rice, coleslaw, tuna salad, green beans, pinto beans, cabbage, corn, potato salad)
6. Freddy J’s BBQ
195 Grant St, Buffalo, NY 14213 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Jerk Fish Dinner, BBQ Chicken Dinner, Southern Fried Chicken & Red Velvet Waffles, Ox Tail with Rice, BBQ Ribs
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7. La Verdad Cafe
1132 East Lovejoy, Buffalo, NY 14206 / Facebook
716-768-3150
A few things on the menu: The Stretch Mark Brisket Sandwich, Mac & Cheese, Burnt Ends Sandwich
8. Manna @ Northland
683 Northland Avenue Buffalo, NY 14211/ Facebook
A few things on the menu: Fish & Grits, Shrimp & Grits, Chicken & Waffles
9. PhatCatz of WNY, Inc.
965 Kensington Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Southern Fried Chicken, BBQ Shrimp, Breaded Fried Okra, Fried Pork Chop
10. The Oakk Room
1435 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14209 / Website / Facebook
716-771-2773
A few things from the menu: Chicken & Waffles, Fish & Grits, Fried Chicken, Fried Pork Chop
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11. The Traphaus
A few things on the menu: Fried Chicken, Jerk Chicken Alfredo, Fried Green Tomato Sandwich
12. Sugga D’s
883 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14204 / Website
A few things on the menu: Chicken Dinner, Fish Dinner, Rib Dinner
13. Groove Lounge Cafe
1210 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212 / Website / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Soul Food Dinner, Chicken & Waffles, Fish Dinner, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
14. Park Vue Soul Food
34 S Crossman St, Buffalo, NY 14211 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Fried Chicken, Haddock, Pork Chop Dinner, Chicken Hoagie
15. Margie’s Soul Food
999 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212 / Website
A few things on the menu: Fried Chicken Wings, Mac & Cheese, Ox Tail
16. Myracle Catering
200 William St, Buffalo, NY 14204 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Cabbage, Fried Corn
17. Sophisticated Soul
2227 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14211 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Fried Chicken Dinner, BBQ Rib Sandwich, Chicken & Rib Dinner
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18. The Soul Place
479 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14204 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Fried Chicken, Pork Chops, Ham Steak, Fish
19. The Fire Spot
3300 Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Chicken & Grits, Fish & Grits, Chicken Dinner, Tid Bit Dinner
20. Mattie’s
1412 Fillmore Ave, Buffalo, NY 14211 / Website
A few things on the menu: Chicken & Waffles, Fried Chicken Dinner, Corned Beef Hash
21. Ms. Goodies
1836 Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY 14211 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Chicken & Waffles, Shrimp & Grits, and Soul Food Friday
22. Simply Soul
829 Main Street Niagara Falls, NY 14301 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Ribs, Fried Chicken, Peach Dumpling, Sweet Potato Pie
23. Taste of Soul
346 Connecticut Street Buffalo New York 14213 / Facebook
A few things on the menu: Tasty Ribs, Oxtails Over Rice, Tasty Pork Chops Over Yellow Rice
Did we miss one? Did one of these places close? Send us a note!
This post was originally published in 2020 and has been updated.
