Where To Find Sensational Soul Food in Denver, CO
When you think soul food, you think of all of those delicious, classic flavors. Collard greens, cornbread, fried chicken–all the best things from the South. Denver is known for having great restaurants with all different kinds of cuisines, so it’s no surprise they also have a small selection of this Southern cuisine. Next time you’re hanging out in Denver and craving some tasty soul food, check out this list to guide you in the right direction.
CoraFaye’s Cafe
15395 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 333-5551
CoraFaye’s Cafe is the ultimate spot for laidback, lip-smacking soul food. This hidden gem serves up dishes with family recipes dating back nearly 100 years. This spot is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm which makes it perfect for lunch and dinner. The menu features Southern classics like fried chicken, fried catfish, and fried frog legs as well as sides like cornbread, mac and cheese, and hushpuppies. Be sure to also try the sweet potatoes too, they are to die for. Swing by CoraFaye’s and it’ll feel like you’re dining at grandma’s house.
Nola Jane Restaurant and Bar
1435 Market St Denver, CO 80202-1706
(720) 592-1942
Located in Lodo, Nola Jane is the latest entry in the Soul Food restaurant business in CO and is hailed for its delicious gumbo. The restaurant is open between 11:00 am to 2:00 am, giving people all day to enjoy the tasty dishes and drinks. They offer outside catering and private rooms for occasions such as wedding receptions. Their menu offers some of the best Southern comfort food, such as the Nola Jane macaroni and cheese with authentic New Orleans BBQ shrimp with black pepper, fried okra, crawfish etouffee and the fan-favorite gumbo with rice. They do have other food options such as salads and poboys as well.
Lea Jane’s Hot Chicken
1441 26th St Denver, CO 80205
Email: [email protected]
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a lovely Sunday afternoon picnic is some tasty fried chicken, sun and refreshing drinks. You don’t have to stress out during this time, and you can drop by Lea Jane’s for some authentic fried chicken. Soul Food doesn’t get better than crispy chicken with a side of collard greens and some banana pudding for dessert. Some of their best sellers include the plain Jane, fried chicken, deviled eggs and jumbo tenders.
Welton St. Café
2736 Welton St Ste 107 Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-6602
This family-run restaurant has been serving Soul Food for over twenty years and has garnered quite a loyal customer base due to its fantastic service and food. The fusion of Caribbean and Southern cooking that brings out unique flavors in the food sets the cuisine apart from other restaurants in the area. The must-have dishes include smothered pork chops with a side of cabbage, an impossible burger and a catfish sandwich.
Nola Voodoo Tavern
2231 Bruce Randolph Ave, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 389-9544
If you’re looking for some of Denver’s best comfort food, a spot you definitely want to check out is Nola Voodoo Tavern located in the historic Cole neighborhood near downtown. This New Orleans-inspired bar makes each diner feel at home with its southern hospitality and homestyle cooking. Their most popular soul food dishes here are the gumbo, fried okra, hushpuppies, and fried green tomatoes.
Denver Biscuit Company
141 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
(303) 377-7900
Soul Food at home is incomplete without a biscuit, and this restaurant is arguably the best at making them. The flavors in the food are more pronounced owing to the freshly baked biscuits, in-house gravy and the perfectly seasoned chicken that combine to make a mouth-watering sandwich. The dishes they offer include the shrimp and grits biscuit bowl, the Winona and the schooner. Most of the sandwiches will feature battered catfish or buttermilk fried chicken.
Lucile’s Creole Café
275 S Logan St Denver, CO 80209
(303) 282-6258
This spot has been serving Soul Food for nearly thirty-six years and is going strong still today. The restaurant has a vast breakfast, lunch and dinner menu that guarantees meal satisfaction with the most serene ambiance. For breakfast, the pain perdu, Lucile’s oatmeal, carlin county red bean, and sausage gravy biscuit are excellent options. Their lunch and dinner menus include the New Orleans-style gumbo, Andouille poboys, among fresh and tasty options.
Mattie’s Soul Food
4309 Freeport Way Denver, CO 80239
(702) 793-9982
Mattie’s offers the warm and fuzzy feeling you might get from homemade cooking. They offer various meal options such as catfish poboys, candied yams, smothered fried pork chops or whole chicken over rice. The spot is also famous for its desserts, especially Paulette’s famous pound cake, Tracy’s spice cake and Geneva’s banana pudding. They also have a different menu for outside catering. The restaurant is open from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Mondays to Wednesdays and from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Thursday to Sunday.
Swirk Soul Food
2205 S Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 337-0549
This hole-in-the-wall spot serves up some of the most delicious, authentic soul food in the Denver area. The fried chicken here is crunchy, tender, and juicy all at the same time, and the mac and cheese is unmatched! Some other popular choices are the fried catfish and the pulled pork sandwich. For dessert, try the delicious peach cobbler. If you have a hankering for some real southern soul food then Swirk Soul Food is a spot you’d want to swing by.
The Blazing Chicken Shack II
5560 E 33rd Ave Denver, CO 80207
(720) 596-4501
The calm presence of this restaurant makes for a therapeutic dining experience with delicious food in town. We recommend the pork neck bone with cornbread and rice, oxtail, hotlinks and catfish. Other dishes on the menu that are worth trying are the gizzard and fries, caramel cake, potato salad and fried okra. You will not be disappointed by this no frills southern cooking spot.
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Restaurant recommendations kindly provided by: Haley Paez | @milehighandhungry
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