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Start a Top 5 for Soul FoodEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Phoenix New Times. Updated September 2026.
Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe · Downtown
A downtown Phoenix throwback named for founder Elizabeth White, this decades-old room still runs from a painted-on sign to tight wooden booths and a lunch counter. Golden brown Southern fried chicken with cabbage and black-eyed peas is the famous draw, alongside smothered pork chops and fried catfish.
Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles · Central City
Started by Mrs. White's grandson Larry White, Lo-Lo's is a beloved soul food spot, built on crispy Southern fried chicken paired with hot, thin cinnamon waffles. The menu also runs to shrimp and grits, hot wings, and red velvet cake, served fast in a room that is usually packed.
Charlie Mae's Southern Bistro · Camelback East
On East Indian School Road in Phoenix, Charlie Mae's has served classic, comforting Southern meals since 2019, including fried catfish, smothered pork chops, and rib tips. It is a straightforward neighborhood soul food kitchen that leans on the standards done with care.
Big Bacon's · Downtown Phoenix
On East Roosevelt Street in Phoenix, Big Bacon's serves Chicago-style soul food, spanning pot roast, pork chops, and jerk chicken with sides like seafood rice and desserts including banana pudding and strawberry shortcake. A downtown option for hearty, Midwest-rooted soul cooking.