Louisville, KYSoul Food

A Smoketown landmark since 1988, in Louisville's oldest African American neighborhood, reviewed by LEO Weekly's Robin Garr. Jumbo fried chicken wings and pork chops come with skillet cornbread that arrives hot enough to steam. Cash only, and the hours are short, so check before you drive over. The building has held that block down for nearly forty years.

A West End meat and two, reviewed by LEO Weekly's Robin Garr. Cayenne spiced fried chicken and a vinegar barbecue meatloaf come off a board that rotates daily, so what you get depends on the day you walk in. Sides are the whole argument for the meat and two format, and this kitchen makes the case for it.

Lucretia Thompson carries on her grandfather's Thompson's BBQ line, and LEO Weekly's Robin Garr wrote the kitchen up on Muhammad Ali Boulevard. The family's Liquid Gold sauce goes on nearly everything, the collards are cooked down properly, and the crispy whiting is the sleeper order. Barbecue and soul food sit on the same plate here without any argument.

Southern home cooking for dine in or carryout, named in LEO Weekly's guide to Black owned Louisville restaurants. A storm destroyed the old building, and the kitchen reopened in Shively in February 2026 inside a former O'Charley's on Dixie Highway. Same food, more room. Go for the smothered meats, the candied yams and the mac and cheese.

Sit down Southern home cooking on East Main Street, listed in LEO Weekly's guide to Black owned Louisville restaurants. Fried chicken and catfish carry the menu, with wings and cornbread beside them, and the room is set up for a proper dinner rather than a counter order. Downtown, which is not where most of the city's soul food lives.