Miami is famous for its Caribbean and Latin-inspired cuisines, but where do you go for an authentic taste of the South – for the best soul food in Miami?
From homestyle black-owned restaurants serving southern classics to an award-winning bourbon bar serving artisan-style southern comfort food, discover the restaurants serving up the best soul food in Miami.
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Where to Find the Best Soul Food Restaurants in Miami
1. Eloise & Earnestine Soul Food
Clear your schedule if you’re planning to eat at Eloise & Earnestine Soul Food because “the itis” is a real thing you’re about to experience. It brings food from the Deep South to the mainstream with a menu full of exciting dishes to try.
Eloise & Earnestine do soul food differently. It’s where you go in Miami for an authentic taste of the South—a taste of ham hocks, oxtails, pig feet, fried okra, smothered chicken wings, and that’s just the start.
It’s open all day, so you can even get a filling breakfast with Georgia pork sausages and fluffy, buttery biscuits that melt in your mouth.
The unassuming décor inside Eloise & Earnestine Soul food is full of character, making you feel like you know the duo. Unique clocks decorate the walls amidst old family photos and positive quotes that feel like walking through the halls of your grandmother’s house.
Located: 6781 NW 27th Ave suite c, Miami, FL 33147
2. Honey Uninhibited
Brunch time at Honey Uninhibited is always full of energy—current radio hits play over the speakers as friendly waiters move in sync, delivering plates topped with comfort food staples. Guests dress up for a fun, boozy brunch, and you’re sure to hear a table or two singing “happy birthday” during your time there.
Honey Unlimited is a black-owned restaurant that completely changed the Miami brunch experience. Dine indoors in the modern dining room, likely playing your favorite sports games above the full bar or sitting at one of the tables next to large windows illuminated by the dining hall.
Outdoor dining is also an option, with designated awning-covered patio space to shield the South Florida sun and fans spinning overhead to keep cool on hot days.
Hope you have your appetite because Honey Unlimited is never shy on proportions. Order a breakfast plate complete with eggs, toast, crispy bacon, and potatoes. Or opt for a classic like the “Sweet Chick” chicken and waffles paired with a sweet pineapple mimosa. The “Hot Chick” is this popular meal’s 100% vegan version.
Located: 1777 SW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33129
3. Lil Greenhouse Grill
Lil Greenhouse Grill packs a surprisingly big flavor for anyone who dines at this charming black woman-owned eatery in Miami. It’s the perfect intimate space in the historic Overtown neighborhood to stop by for a tasty soul food lunch or dinner.
Melodic neo-soul classics fill the dining room as you revel in the kitchen’s scents of mixed spices and herbs. With perfectly seasoned food, it’s expertly prepared to impress even the likes of Oprah, who famously dined here.
Order a plate of the signature BBQ smoked wings or the traditional chick n waffles, a tasty pair of crispy, seasoned chicken, and hot, fluffy waffles. If you’re in the mood for seafood, the dream fire shrimp is always a restaurant favorite, or try the seafood cake.
Lil Greenhouse Grill has a curated selection of fine wine and beer available to order. Drinks from the bar give you plenty of options to find the perfect pair for your meal.
Located: 1300 NW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33136
4. Mattie’s House of Soul
Recent renovations in Mattie’s House of Soul completely transformed the dine-in experience at this black-owned restaurant, but one thing for sure is that it continues to serve some of the best Miami soul food.
You’ll feel at home as soon as you enter the restaurant. Old school tunes play throughout the restaurant as the hardwood flooring, and wooden wall accents give it a traditional southern-style diner atmosphere.
Grab a booth seat and browse the menu to find your favorite soul food dishes. Mattie’s House of Soul gives a homestyle flavor to main course dishes like chicken and steak paired with a side of mac and cheese, collard greens, and even chitterlings. It also serves fresh seafood like fried lobster and grilled shrimp. End dinner with a delicious strawberry cheesecake.
The owner, Mr. Aubrey, makes frequent rounds in the dining room to ensure everyone enjoys their meals. Not only does he bring delicious soul food to Miami, but he also exposes you to warm, southern hospitality that makes you feel like part of the family.
Located: 7501 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33150
5. Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
The farm-to-table experience comes to life at the Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. This award-winning restaurant has established a reputation for serving some of the best southern food in Miami.
Step inside the beautifully designed restaurant, complete with exposed ceilings and wooden accents, providing the perfect rustic atmosphere. Pull up a stool to one of the tables or plop down at the bourbon bar to indulge in the city’s finest spirits.
Foodies flock to Yardbird to taste the flavors that have made it a popular South Beach restaurant. Choose a main course of Lewellyn’s fine fried chicken to bite into the crunch skin, followed by the succulent chicken. Or, as an alternative to a soul food classic, the chicken n’watermelon n’waffles include spiced slices of watermelon that you’ll have to try! It serves big portions so everyone at the table can get a taste.
Don’t forget to taste one of the hand-crafted signature drinks at the bar. The sweet taste of the blackberry bourbon lemonade is always an excellent choice, or discover something new with one of the small-batch bourbon cocktails.
Located: 1600 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
6. Whisk Gourmet
Southern food becomes gourmet at Whisk Gourmet. It’s a curated restaurant experience with hand-selected details, from the ingredients to the craft beer and wine.
Whisk Gourmet is a contemporary dining experience. Wine bottles decorate the exposed brick walls while lovely music makes you dance in your seat while awaiting your food.
Peer into the kitchen to see Chef Carlos creating magic. It’s a purposeful restaurant design that lets patrons see their food being made, filling the restaurant with a salivating aroma of tasty southern food.
Take advantage of lunch and dinner specials and even daily special menu items. Or test your palette with one of the spicy dishes that will shock you with their flavors.
Whisk Gourmet has more than 100 wines and craft beers available, hand-picked to give you the best tastes matching its menu items. Waiters are always ready to recommend the best drink to go with your meal.
Located: 7382 SW 56th Ave, South Miami, FL 33143
7. Jackson Soul Food
The large, brightly lit dining room at Jackson Soul Food is always buzzing with families stopping by for southern food in Miami. The smell of delicious soul food greets you as you prepare to satisfy your food cravings.
Jackson Soul Food has been a staple in the historically black Overtown neighborhood since 1946. Memorabilia photos decorate the interior walls spotlighting the restaurant’s legacy in the historic community.
As early as 6 am, the kitchen is already active, serving patrons southern breakfast favorites like the corned beef hash breakfast accompanied with a side of grits, or keep it simple with lightly-powered waffles topped with sweet syrup.
Brunch hour is popular for ordering the classic fried catfish meal, cooked to your liking and paired with a flop, one of their specialty craft cocktails.
The casual atmosphere is often supplemented by live music to set the mood while dining. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to chat with the owner, Blow, to learn how he’s been able to maintain a successful soul food restaurant in Miami.
Located: 950 NW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33136 (Overtown); or 14511 NW 27th Ave, Opa-Locka, FL 33054 (Opa-Locka)
8. Sunday’s Eatery
Close your eyes every time you take a bite at Sunday’s Eatery, and you’ll swear you were back home in your mother’s kitchen. Food brings back the nostalgia of summertime family reunion cookouts when everyone crowds the grill hoping to get the first plate.
Sunday’s eatery is a black-owned restaurant started by famed Miami rapper Trick Daddy, who even keeps one of his plaques inside! And while his numerous chart-topping hits have made him a household name in the past, his restaurant has become a tourist attraction for people spending a day in Miami.
Don’t be surprised to see a line already waiting outside by the time Sunday’s Eatery opens up every day at 11 am. But their efficient ordering process is sure to get you in the door and food delivered to you shortly after. Lucky patrons can dine in the ocean-inspired restaurant with cool blue accents.
Soul food classics, including Cornish hens, fried ribs, chicken or turkey wings, and candied yams, are just a few of the delicious items on the menu that put you in a good moon with every bite.
Located: 2675 NW 207th St, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
9. Red Rooster Overtown
From the vintage-style restaurant sign outside to the colorful, art-inspired decoration on the interior, Red Rooster Overtown has one of the best restaurant atmospheres in Miami. Experience traditional soul food in Miami with modern twists inspired by flavors from around the world. Be sure to make reservations because its dining room fills up quickly.
Celebrate the diversity of cuisine with menu options like sizzling oxtails that slide right off the bone, mac and cheese, Wahoo Crudo, or the signature Rooster Royale, large enough to feed two people. Authentic spices from the Caribbean transport you to an island paradise with each bite. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself ordering a few extra cornbread to-go.
Red Rooster Overtown transforms Miami’s outdoor dining and inside seating with a free-flowing design with retractable walls and large windows for an occasional cool breeze.
Located: 920 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33136
10. We Shuckin
No need to ‘shuck and jive’ about the soul food at We Shuckin because it’s a place where the food speaks for itself! Dine in to experience its unique old-school vibe that people of all generations can relate to.
Walking inside We Shuckin feels like entering a contemporary art gallery exploring Black culture in Miami and celebrating black culture throughout the decades. It has a retro wall with everything from Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album to vintage Ebony magazine covers to black and white photos celebrating black history.
The soul food served in We Shuckin perfectly matches the atmosphere created inside the restaurant. Revel in the moment with authentic southern-style fried catfish tastes, or fill your belly with jumbo wings. The Cajun-inspired menu includes Cajun rice, gumbo, and more. The perfect remedy to the spices is to sip on their signature Jivin’ Juice or sweet lemonade.
From the food to the restaurant’s old-school vibe, there’s a lot to rave about We Shuckin, which attracts people from even outside Miami to drive to eat there.
Located: multiple locations
Are you craving soul food yet?
From savory tastes of crunchy fried chicken, gooey Mac and cheese, and smoky pig feet to dining in homestyle restaurants serving a plate of southern hospitality, see why soul food in Miami can give you an authentic taste of the South.
With many new restaurants springing up while others maintain their long-running reputation. With flavorful comfort food, amazing vibes, and southern hospitality service, these restaurants deliver a premier soul food dining experience for foodies.
Let us know in the comments which restaurant you want to try first!