9 Black-Owned Soul Food Spots in Louisville, KY
When we are craving a delicious plate of soul food in Louisville, we love to visit one of these Black-owned soul food spots! From greens and fried chicken to tasty cornbread, these 10 dining destinations are our go-to spots for amazing soul food.
Shirley Mae’s Café
802 S Clay St, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 589-5295
Open Thursday through Sunday, Shirley Mae’s is an institution in Louisville that has been around for over 30 years. Serving up excellent traditional dishes like Ham Hocks, Chitterlings, Pork Chops and Turnip Greens, visitors here come back for the big flavors on order at this Smoketown classic soul food spot. As a cash-only place, Shirley Mae’s is perfect for takeout, but locals love to snag a seat at the bar or one of the cozy tables and enjoy the atmosphere of this beloved restaurant.
The Palm Room
1821 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 581-1251
A swanky nightclub by night, The Palm Room is also a hopping spot for a great dinner or even a soulful brunch on the weekend. The menu here runs from Catfish, Whitefish and Lamb Chops to other more traditional fare, ensuring that this upscale place will satisfy the cravings of everyone.
Four Pegs
1053 Goss Ave, Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 634-1447
A classic dive bar, Four Pegs also offers up a few tasty soul food options that we love to snag when we are in Louisville. The Luscious Pork Belly Sandwich is hard to beat here, but we also love the Grippo Wings with a side of Local Collard Greens.
Cottage Inn
570 Eastern Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 919-7099
Open for almost a century, the Cottage Inn is a popular Louisville restaurant destination that specializes in home cooking and sandwiches with plenty of soul. We love their weekly special of all-you-can-eat Chicken Livers as well as the Meatloaf with Brown Gravy and two sides, a mainstay for obvious reasons. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at Cottage Inn, as locals have consistently rated this spot one of their favorites.
Lucretia’s Kitchen
1812 W Muhammad Ali Blvd, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 294-8143
We love to go to Lucretia’s Kitchen on the weekend for their “Soul Food Saturday” or Sunday specials, but some of the best options here offered daily are the Salmon or Whiting Croquettes, the Fried Chicken and the Banana Pudding for a sweet ending to our meal. The new location is roomy and sleek, perfect for a group to visit consistently delicious Lucretia’s Kitchen.
Dasha Barbour’s
217 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 882-2081
The extensive soul food menu at Dasha Barbour’s makes this our go-to spot for when we are craving down-home food but not sure what we want. With unique takes like Dasha’s Collard Green Dip, we can nosh on classic flavors while we decide between dishes like Shrimp and Grits, Deep Fried Pork Chops and Fried Baby Back Ribs to go along with tempting sides like Sweet Potato Casserole and Corn Pudding. We always like to save room for dessert at Dasha Barbour’s, though, because their Mini Butter Milk Cake oozing with caramel sauce is one of our very favorite sweet endings.
Soulful Choices
4532 West Broadway St, Louisville, KY 40211
(502) 384-5650
This West End food truck’s sole focus is preparing hot, fresh soul food, and their permanent location on West Broadway always has a line of people ready to snag a delicious meal. Soulful Choices serves up Wings, Cabbage and Fried Catfish every day, but the most popular time to go is on Tuesdays when they offer Tuesday Dinners with Smothered Pork Chops, Fried Catfish or Baked Chicken along with their regular menu items.
Sweet Peaches
1800 W Muhammed Ali Blvd, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 356-0232
This West End spot is both a deli and a bakery, and Sweet Peaches is known for cranking out delicious breakfast and lunch with traditional and soul food options. Choices like breakfast Grits can be enjoyed anytime since Sweet Peaches serves breakfast all day long. We love their Seafood Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice and the Cabbage and Sausage side, all made lovingly by owner Pam Haines who is a force for good in the local community as well as a master in the kitchen.
Southern Express Soul Food
418 W Oak St, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 742-5456
Another one of our favorite black-owned soul food joints in Louisville is Southern Express Soul Food, a casual but welcoming counter service spot. We love that you can see the freshly prepared options here before you pick decide, but we tend to choose Fried Whiting, Yams and Black Eyed Peas. Southern Express Soul Food also offers scooped ice cream, sundaes, Shakes and Banana Splits with a handful of flavors every day, which makes a perfect ending to a delicious soul food meal.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the cart, check out our Louisville page, here!
Featured Blog Posts
10 Absolutely Delicious Italian Restaurants in Louisville
When only red sauce, carbs, and the feeling of being part of the Familia will do, visiting a local Italian restaurant is definitely what you should do. So to help you out, we have found the best Italian restaurants in beautiful Louisville, KY to try the next time you are craving the old-world flavors and atmosphere that Italian restaurants are famous for.
Where to Eat Along the Bourbon Trail in Louisville, KY
A visit to the famed Bourbon Trail in Louisville, Kentucky is on every whiskey drinker’s bucket list. But between tastings and distillery tours, knowing the best spots to sample a fantastic meal is the best way to enjoy every minute on the Trail. When we take a trip to the Bourbon Trail area of Louisville, KY, we always plan a visit to a few of our favorite spots for a fantastic meal.
8 Unbelievably Cool Rooftop Restaurants in Louisville, KY
There’s nothing quite like dining with skyline views in Derby City! Louisville’s rooftop dining scene proves that there’s no topping Kentucky when it comes to enjoying a hearty meal with a side of bourbon. Whether you’re visiting or you’re a local who enjoys the finer things, don’t miss these eight amazing rooftop restaurants in Louisville, KY.
Must Try Restaurants in Downtown Louisville, KY
Downtown Louisville is the place to be. From historic Whiskey Row to shopping in the South Fourth Street district, there’s endless things to explore. Check out our list of places to grab a bite to eat or something cold to drink next time you’re in Downtown Louisville.