7 Spots for Soul Food in Greater Phoenix

Even though the term wasn’t coined until the 1960s, soul food is an American tradition, especially in the South. Dishes such as hominy and grits, corn bread, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and chitterlings remind Americans of home and family and comfort. Here are seven spots in the Valley ready to fill our soul food void.

Buzznbeez Good Food Truck

Christian Buze (also known as Chef Buzz), the grandson of the famed Mrs. White, has put his family’s soul food on the road with a brightly painted food truck that makes regular stops throughout the Valley. Along with his partner, Beatrice “Bee” Bullock, the two serve up soul food classics like fried chicken, catfish, seven-cheese mac ‘n’ cheese, greens, and yams, in addition to rotating dishes with a global touch, like Indian coconut curry and Jamaican jerk chicken.

Michael’s Cafe

Billing itself as “the best all-around upscale urban cafe in Central Phoenix,” this small bar and restaurant serves live music, karaoke, and drink specials along with soul food and Southern hospitality. Check out dishes like catfish and fried chicken served up with sides of fried cabbage with bacon, greens, and mac ‘n’ cheese.

Bobby C’s Lounge & Grill

This casual bar and restaurant in downtown Phoenix specializes in soul food, live jazz, and DJs. Enjoy a cocktail (or a glass of grape Kool-Aid) with catfish nuggets, smothered pork chops in homemade gravy, or Southern-fried chicken with collard greens and black-eyed peas. Don’t miss desserts like red velvet cake, banana pudding, and peach cobbler.

Stacy’s Pit Stop BBQ

Owner of defunct downtown soul food fave Stacy’s, Stacy Phipps’ new joint in Sunnyslope may be small and in need of renovations, but the menu still boasts a solid selection of wallet-friendly favorites like catfish, fried chicken, okra, and sweet potato fries in addition to Phipps’ barbecue slathered in his rich, sugary sauce. Enjoy a favorite to go, or eat on the outdoor patio, and bring the green — for now, this Pit Stop is cash- only.

Stacy’s Smokehouse

Stacy Phipps says he’s no longer involved with the original location of Stacy’s Smokehouse, the purple building in Central Phoenix where he relocated from Jefferson Street in 2008. Phipps’ wife is now overseeing the business and keeping the name, but the food is still made from his recipes. In addition to the ‘cue, there’s crunchy fried catfish, greens, mac ‘n’ cheese, hush puppies, and fried chicken at fill-you-up affordable prices. (Cash only.)

Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe

Since she arrived in Arizona from Texas to help her brother run a church and cafe, Mrs. Elizabeth White’s turned her name, her home-style soul food, and her observance of the golden rule into a Valley legend. Fast-forward 50 years and you can still find the tastemaker at her restaurant, baking peach cobblers and pies and overseeing perfect platefuls of smothered fried chicken, succulent pork chops, ox tails, and pond-raised catfish. On the weekends, look for okra gumbo.

Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles

Larry White Jr., nephew of famous Mrs. White, knows the only thing that can make his fried chicken more delicious is when it’s drenched in Red Rooster hot sauce and paired with bites of syrup-drenched waffles. And at his homemade soul food haven (with locations in Central Phoenix and Scottsdale), those who forgo their diets can enjoy White’s signature dish along with luscious catfish, red snapper, greens, mac ‘n’ cheese, red velvet cake, and real-deal banana pudding made with vanilla wafers.

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7 Spots for Soul Food in Greater Phoenix

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