The best soul food restaurants in metro Detroit, according to Yelp

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Oct 22, 2021 at 2:20 pm

Good food feeds the soul, and great soul food warms your heart. As the weather gets cooler, the desire for warm and filling food becomes greater. We reached out to our friends at Yelp, to help compose this list of the top 20 best soul food restaurants in metro Detroit.

According to our friends at Yelp: This is a list of the top soul food restaurants in metro Detroit (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw) according to Yelp. We identified the top soul food restaurants in metro Detroit and ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews.

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Cuppy's Best Soulful Cafe

2469 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-320-2577

“Growing up in rural Oklahoma taught me a few things, one of which was always use corn meal batter for your catfish. Another was that if there is a non-chain restaurant in a gas station, it's bound to be good. Cuppy's satisfies all of the rules of the south.

It was so hard to find cornmeal battered catfish in Michigan. Here. It. Is.

So good. Cuppy's has all of the southern comforts. Collard greens, banana pudding, sweet tea. And it's all excellent. My husband always gets their fried chicken. The only thing missing is a chicken fried steak. I also tried their burger, and it was great.” - Lydia F.

Update: Since this publishing,Cuppy's has moved to a full sit-down location at 2469 Washtenaw Ave. Photo via Cuppy's Best/Facebook

Wicked Mary’s

3220 Packard St., Ann Arbor; 734-971-5703

“The food I Ordered was delicious. The chicken was moist and flavorful all the sides were delicious. When I ordered she said it would make me not want to go anywhere else she was right. It made a great Sunday picnic at the park perfect.” - Pamela T.

Photo via Wicked Mary’s / Facebook

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Moore Soulfood

3005 S. Fort St., Detroit; 313-406-9475

“I demolished the catfish,Mac & cheese and greens. So flavorful and the catfish was fried to perfection.

The staff was friendly. I called in my order and it was ready within 15 minutes.” - C R.

Photo via Google Maps

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Lape Soulfood Kitchen

5836 12 Mile Rd., Warren; 586-510-4817

“I ordered the rib tip dinner with collard greens and yams and I'm so happy I stopped in. The food was great. I would highly recommend if you're looking for good soul food.The only thing I didn't like was the cornbread muffin it was cold. But the rest of my food was amazing. I give them five stars because the food was delicious” - Mya M.

Photo via Google Maps

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Connie & Barbara's Soul Food Restaurant

13101 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-965-4970

“As a first time patron of Connie & Barbara's and I’m happy to say that I will return for breakfast and I am looking forward to trying lunch and dinner. This place looks shabby from the outside (and the inside is nothing to write home about), but the taste and portions of food negates that. A plus is that our waitress was very attentive and so very pleasant. I also observed her —she was very consistent with sanitizing customer use surfaces and her hands often.” - Ciara J.

Photo via Google Maps

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Victory Liquor & Food Store

16200 W. Warren Ave., Detroit; 313-581-7933

“Found this gem on yelp. Ended up going here twice. Judge if you must. The fried fish was perfectly seasoned and fresh, mac n cheese was good. The greens and string beans were good. You get a can soda with your meal and they actually had Vernors ginger ale.

It's weird that this is inside of a liquor store. But it's a whole kitchen and hot bar set up, so once you get in, you realize it's a real food place. Just no where to eat. And they have pizza.” - Dee D.

Photo via Google Maps

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Lillie Bell’s

25030 Southfield Rd., Southfield; 248-595-9070

“We had two rib tip dinners with greens and baked beans, a large order of mac and cheese, a gimme all you got spud, and strawberry banana pudding.

I was taken back to my childhood. It was so unbelievably good. All of it.

Thank you so so so much for the amazing meal.” - Katie H.

Photo via Lillie Bell’s/Facebook

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10x's Better Soul Food

41700 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township; 586-226-1707

“The food was great! Reminded me of my grandma's cooking! I'm new to the area so I was pleasantly surprised to find real soul food! The service was excellent and it didn't take long to get our order. They are drive thru only, currently. I highly recommend.” - Felicia J.

Photo via Google Maps

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Mo P's

2071 Golfside Rd., Ypsilanti; 734-340-3972

“It's been a while since I visited Mo Ps, and I was sure glad to see that they were still open for business after the pandemic destroyed so many small businesses. As always, food was amazing, service is great and the place is clean. I'm picky about public bathrooms, but their bathrooms are always clean and well stocked with soap, tp, and even hand lotion!

If you like comfort food, I highly recommend this place. #supportblackownedbusinesses ” -L S..

Photo via Mo P’s/Facebook

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Clayton's Kitchen

3736 Inkster Rd., Inkster; 313-722-4346

“The $7.99 lunch specials can't be beat. I had the bbq ribs with collard greens, fried okra, and cornbread. I was surprised at how good the meal was. I actually returned the following week and ordered the same thing. A great neighborhood soul food restaurant.” - Jennifer W.

Photo via Clayton's Kitchen/Facebook

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Ribs & Soul

1126 South Gratiot Ave., Mount Clemens; 586-477-0442

“The food has great flavor & the serving is decent. I really love how fast the service is and the food is fresh. I also had some desert, I recommend the peach cobbler but I'm sure everything is yummy, it's close and reminds me of family cookin, will be back for more.” - Domanique R.

Photo via Google Maps

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Bakers Keyboard Lounge

20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300

“Great soul food. Best thing on the menu is the beef short ribs. I judge every soul food restaurant by there Mac and cheese and there's are decent. If u done in and are lucky enough to catch the live entertainment it's an experience you [can't] miss.” - Chantell H.

Photo via Google Maps

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Beans & Cornbread

29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680

“This was my first time in the Motor City and we chose to dine at Beans and Cornbread. I must say this establishment is very inviting to say the least complimented with a friendly staff and delicious "Soul Food" makes you feel right at home. Especially, during the holidays. I'll dine here anytime I visit the "Motor City.” - Ambrosia S.

Update: Since this publishing, Beans & Cornbread has been renamed Cornbread Restaurant + Bar and has relocated down the street from its original location to 29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield. Photo via Google Maps

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Detroit Vegan Soul

19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728

“Honestly I was curious cause I'm slowly transitioning from eating meat to become vegan. And I was wondering how soul food could be turned into a vegan dish. But y'all I got the platter with the tofu catfish and the sides. It was banging, seasoned to perfection and some hot sauce to your liking. If I lived in Michigan I would go there every week. It was so good. And the lady at the door was so nice and about her business. Thanks for the amazing food.” - Zhane O.

Photo via Google Maps

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Detroit Soul

2900 Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-962-0277

“Detroit Soul, gave me the most pleasant experience i've ever had at a food establishment. The food is cooked with love and passion. Cooked to perfection. They genuinely care for their costumers and I cannot wait to come back. There food is AMAZING!!!” - Taylor W.

Photo via Google Maps

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The Jamaican Pot

14615 W. Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-659-6033

“Loved it! I got a small jerk chicken lunch special and had leftovers. It was perfectly spicy, the plantains were perfectly soft and sweet with some crispy bits and the cabbage was also amazing. Cabbage being amazing says a lot... and they have patties! There was a constant line but we didn't wait long. We sat in the car for maybe 10 minutes (the waiting area is small) then went back in to check and it was ready a few minutes later.”- Andrea E.

Photo via Google Maps

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Fusion Flare Kitchen & Cocktails

16801 Plymouth Rd., Detroit; 313-653-3700

“Hot damn. My new trainer at work found out I was a lamb chop eating, soul food loving type and pointed me directly to here. Boy am I glad she did.

The lamb chops here are amazing. Perfectly seasoned, cooked to ideal juiciness. That ginger glaze is perfection. My greens were off the chain good. My loaded potato was good but I think I should have gotten double greens.

My husband got the shrimp, scampi style, with mac and cheese and greens. He loved it all. Especially the mac and cheese. He also was quite fond of our fried shrimp app, apparently quite a bit more than fond as he ate almost all of it solo. Not a bit greasy but crispy and happy

The drinks here were nice and strong. They also have terrific kool aid yay! The waitstaff was really on the ball. Overall we just had a fantastic evening. Thanks Amber! ” - Liz W.

Photo via Fusion Flare/ Facebook

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A Taste Of Soul by Biggie's Soul Food Restaurant

1004 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-483-8360

“The food really does touch your soul...the mac & cheese with baked beans were as delicious as the wings and ribs. I was astonished by the finger licking dishes” - Jaron S.

Photo via Google Maps

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SavannahBlue

1431 Times Square, Detroit; 313-926-0783 ??

“Our party of three loved everything from the sweet potato salad to the salmon entree. Upscale soul food at its finest. Fast, friendly service in a modern jazzy setting. We will be back!” - RT

Photo via Google Maps

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Ella Mae's Place

2251 S. Fort St., Detroit; 313-383-9593

I got the smothered pork chops, Mac and cheese, and yams. That's the first thing I need to say. This is my first review ever and I ABSOLUTELY needed to write this. If I could give it a 10/5 I would. Arguably some of the best soul food I've had in such a long time. I won't lie to you, I pulled up to the restaurant and I was a little skeptical because there's only 2 sliding windows and no way to get in for real. But don't judge a book by its cover y'all, trust me! I highly suggest ordering ahead, it will take a while for them to get everything together, but trust me it is so worth the wait! I'm coming here every time I'm in the area - Amaka U.

Photo via Ella Mae's Place/Facebook

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