I am writing this review to warn others about my experience at Carolina Kitchen in Brandywine, Maryland. I ordered the salmon dinner online, which included greens, potato salad, and a muffin. The meal cost $35. When I got home and began eating, I immediately realized the salmon was spoiled and inedible. I called the restaurant to report the issue and request a refund. Instead of allowing me to speak with a manager, I was told to contact Toast because I had placed my order online. Unfortunately, Toast does not provide customer service for this type of issue and directed me back to Carolina Kitchen. I was given the runaround, and neither the restaurant nor Toast accepted responsibility. What disappointed me most was the complete lack of concern for a customer who was served spoiled food. I was simply told there was nothing they could do, despite the fact that I paid $35 for a meal I could not eat. Serving spoiled food is unacceptable, and so is refusing to resolve a legitimate customer complaint. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend Carolina Kitchen. Save your money and spend it at a business that values its customers and stands behind the quality of its food. read more

This might work for some people, but coming from a chef's perspective, it's not for me. When food is made in such large batches, it tends to lose its quality and personality along the way -- that mass-produced feel comes through in the taste. If you're into a cafeteria-style setup, this could be a fit for you. Just not the kind of dining experience I personally look for. read more

Went with the piece white chicken, with 2 sides, includes a corn muffin. The fried chicken was decent, not juicy, but not dry. The cornbread was sweet, more cake than bread Food is very overpriced. Service is good for the take out lane. read more

Me and my family went to this place to try because they've been wanting to try it. The staff were good and regular however the food is a different thing to talk about. When we got our food and opened everything it was not what we were expecting. I had ordered a kids burger because I was hungry but not that hungry and when I got it, it was burnt and way over cooked. I also ordered the Bacon and cheese Cajun fries which the cheese you could peel off and wasn't even melted, they were so dry and just bad. The rest of my family ordered fried chicken, greens, ribs, Mac and cheese, and potatoes. To start off with my family's order their greens were really sweet and had little to no flavor. and the Mac and cheese noodles were over cooked and had NO seasoning. My mother's mashed potatoes were supposed to come with gravy but there was none. The chicken was not very well but not crispy and unseasoned. Everything just seemed sweet to us and was very disappointing. The food was not priced well and to be honest my family wasted their money. To finish this off we also ordered two little cakes which were 9$ dollars each. We ordered a red velvet cake which was over moist and stuck to your mouth. It didn't taste homemade and was definitely was not red velvet. It sorta just seemed like vanilla cake mix with red food coloring. The cheesecake was not that bad but we've had better. The only good things were the cornbread (was probably jiffy) and the plain fries. Would not recommend and never come again Don't have pics my bad read more

White chicken very dry under the liquid salsa bbq sauce. Cabbage too sweet . A meal that was given to me and they should have asked me first. This is the 3rd time I've been let down by soul food from there. read more

I have not been to Carolina Kitchen in over 15 years but so glad I came across one last week. The fried chickens batter was light, crispy, flavorful full of herbs. The Mac & Cheese didn't real, it was super yellow but super delicious, chessy, creamy, the cornbread was moist and a bit sweet; the greens were smoky and tender. I will definitely go back. read more

Carolina Kitchen - Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Greens; and Cornbread - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

The overall service and food quality at Carolina Kitchen have declined significantly. Despite charging premium prices, portion sizes have been reduced, and the staff's attitude and professionalism leave much to be desired. It's disappointing, especially for loyal customers who expect better. Carolina Kitchen's ownership and team must take immediate steps to improve--because the community deserves better. read more

Excellent service and the FOOD was VERY WELL and eat everything. The ambiance was perfect and it always the out nowhere that has the BEST food. This was place we found driving up to hockey game. read more

If I could leave 0 stars I would. The customer service was HORRIBLE (horrible attitudes and didn't even acknowledge I was standing there for about 6 min) and the food is way over priced. I will definitely not be going here any more! read more

Just got pork chops Mac and greens. Haven't had a pork chop in four years and this one was so dry I could barely chew it. read more

Carolina Kitchen - Dry pork chop - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

Got my favorites today meatloaf, green beans, and cabbage. The cook/chef was a bit heavy handed with the sugar in the cabbage. The quality of the food of the food is going down. Everything from tough pork chops to jerked chicken is questionable. They are hit or miss depends on who is cooking. Consistent recipes and cooks are needed. read more

I look forward to Friday Nights. Not for TGIF purposes, but to eat the food from Carolina Kitchen. Now, their might be a line but that's because I'm not the only one looking forward to eating here. They have a tried & true system where you'll be in & out, depending on the person in front of you. I get the Mama's Stew Chicken - it's my. Go. To. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with whatever sides you choose. And if you're not interested in take out, you can eat in their spacious dining room area. If you're in the Brandywine area & are looking for some good Comfort Food... pull up! #MallyMallApproved read more

Carolina Kitchen - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

See all

I love CK veggies. I get them often. But today, their famous mac and Cheese tasted like it was out of a box. I was shocked and very disappointed. Do you have a new recipe ? It was very watery. Please gix it. Greens were excellent as usual. read more

Delicious! Yay for great southern food in MD. Great greens, mac&cheese and mains. Definitely recommend! Yum!!

Im never going to Brandywine location AGAIN. I walked in at 1:30 pm. I ordered 4 dinners. 84.00 +. I walked out at 3pm Im so Damm mad I waited all that time and the so call manager had the nerve to tell me the chicken wasn't cooked. Wait a minute. This is lunch time and youre going to tell me chicken is not cooked. They should have said Sorry the chicken is not ready would you like something else. I will never going to this establishment again in my life. I will tell all my friends to avoid Brandywine's location. Why did I have to wait 1 hour. I demanded them to give me a cup for something to drink. Poor customer service. Rude cashier and servers who seem not to give a Damm. Im so hurt. Im 74 years old. Im fustrated, handicapp and I feel disrespected. If I didn't have to feed my kids on a Friday I would have demanded my money back & walked out !!! I believe there are too Damm many Carolina Kitchens popping up. This location use to be a 10 star now its a 3 star. Where is the real manager. I need a refund for having to sit for 1hour to get my children's food. I wasn't even offered a compliment drink of water, i demanded it. After I had questioned my order after 50 minutes. I actually walked out at 3pm & I entered at 1:30. Please give me some respect by honoring me an apology along with some type of credit from that $84..00 bill. Not to mention the order was not correct. By now im tired and I don't have any more fight in me. THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE read more

I ordered the salmon,sweat potatoes, and greens...what I got was pork chops and mac instead. I called the same day and the manger wouldn't even come to the phone. The person I spoke with said they wouldn't refund me the difference over the phone. I didnt want to drive all the way from camp springs back to brandywine to prove I received the wrong order. I said I could send them a picture and they still refused to refund my money. Poor customer service on their part. Your management sucks for that. I dont even like the pork chops . Over charged for something I didnt order and dont even like. Thanks alot. I dont think I'll be coming back anytime soon or ever. read more

Carolina Kitchen - My order - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

See all

For starters the guy taking orders doesn't know the menu. I requested a grilled pork chop & a fried pork chop & he said we don't have grilled chops.....clearly on the menu! Second, your registers went out & you let everybody order food only to request cash at check out. After 30 minutes or so they finally get their card machine back working but I had already paid cash. The disappointment if part is that they didn't offer anyone in a line a discount, dessert, or drink. FTP!! Never going back. read more

Usually, I love this spot for a quick, delicious home-cooked meal, but this visit was a letdown. I always go for the creole salmon with red mashed potatoes (as advertised), creamy Cajun sauce, grilled shrimp, and a lump of crab. It used to be $39 and was spot-on, but now it's $50 and seriously lacking. They skimped on everything, and it was way too salty. The only saving grace was the collard greens. Huge disappointment. Also, a heads-up for those with allergies: knowing what's in the desserts is crucial. The bread pudding had something that caused a reaction. Service it was , I think knowing what you serve is important. Also, for the decor having more lighting would help. Chairs are having a lot of wear and tear. Probably won't be back for a while. Onward to tastier adventures! read more

Carolina Kitchen - Creole Salmon - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

This is such a great restaurant. The hospitality was amazing. I felt very welcomed. It's mostly a to go order but they have seating if you wanted to eat in there. The food was good and authentic. My favorite was the collard greens on the side. It's was such a cute place with all the decorations. I would definitely recommend. read more

Carolina Kitchen - Seating area - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

Not worth the price for what you get. $25 for ONE piece of catfish is ridiculous! $9 for one COLD serving of peach cobbler, eventhough the ticket states warm cobbler - False advertisement!! The cashier said they only serve cold cobbler. When I got home and actually saw what all I got for $41.87, I was mortified! Then as I tried to eat the cobbler, I find something in it that I can't make out. At that point, I just trashed everything. What a waste of money. NEVER again!! read more

See all

I hadn't been to Carolina Kitchen in a while due to the significant price increases. Today, I decided to stop by and grab dinner. When I got to the register, the cashier asked if I wanted a bag. I asked if there was a charge, and he said yes--50 cents. I almost walked out right then. There's absolutely no way it costs Carolina Kitchen anywhere near that amount to purchase their plastic bags. Asking customers to carry hot meals out in their hands unless they pay extra is just unacceptable. I make a point to support Black-owned businesses, but that doesn't mean I'll accept being treated poorly. This experience was the last straw for me. read more

Customer service has gone down. Too many teenagers working in there are at least that is what they act like. I stood at the service line waiting for someone to come over and take order for like 10 minutes. Finally a very young male worker comes over and ask me "are you ready now?" I was ready when I walked through the door. He was standing in a group talking with his other coworkers acting very dismissive. Then he was very disrespectful when he took my order. Seems as if everyone was very unorganized behind the counter. The quality of service has really gone down. read more

I don't like writing poor reviews but I had a really bad experience here. I ordered online for pickup only to have to wait 10 mins before even being greeted. By greeted I mean "You here for pickup"? No hello, no sorry to keep you waiting but lots of attitude. The restaurant was nice and clean. However, the cashier area is very tiny so there's people trying to checkout from ordering in the restaurant while people (like myself) waiting to pickup my order. I was smushed up by the soda fountain. Anyways, I wanted nothing more than to get out of that crowded situation that I waited until I got home to check my order and of course they were missing my sides but most importantly the meatloaf was completely burnt on the bottom. I've eaten here before and the food nor service wasn't this bad...unfortunate. read more

Hello , I had visited this location on Friday 12/5/2025 for the first time and was very disappointed because as I had ordered from the overhead board I had selected two dinners 1) rib tip dinner $28 and 1) whiting fish dinner $20 when I get to the register the rib tip dinner rings up at $36 so I had ask to speak to a manager and the cashier said there was no manager on duty so she called him from her cell phone and when I spoke to him he was very rude and said the price went up so i said well on the board the price was $28 not $36 there for I feel they need to adjust the price on the board, read more

Welcome welcome welcome. When someone asks where can I get soul food I send them here. They always give robust portions of food. My favorite is the beef tips and I always get greens and yams. This place doesn't miss period. read more

I placed an order for 5 dinners at 1:45pm EST. Maybe a 1/2 hour later, I received a text that my order was ready. I arrived at CK at 2:30pm, and it took about 15 minutes to actually reach the counter to request my order. I was told that they didn't have enough white meat chicken and had substituted pieces. Since I didn't request the substitution, the smart aleck staffer told me I would wait 30 minutes for chicken. I requested a refund for the dinner with the substituted pieces of chicken. Another of the staffers claimed that they were having trouble processing the refund since the order was placed via DD. They said it would take 10 minutes. Ten minutes came and went, and that staffer continued to ignore me. I requested to speak to the manager and was told he'd be with me. Then the story turned into the manager being on the roof repairing the air conditioner, and I'd have to wait. By this time, I'd been in CK for about 45 minutes. The staffer who said it would take 10 minutes for the refund had a new story: I'd need to contact DD to request a refund. I said I was leaving with food or a refund. Further, they said it would take an additional 10 minutes for chicken. I didn't leave until approximately 3:30pm. They gave me an extra set of utensils and an extra piece of cornbread for waiting. How UNgenerous! I have given CK entirely too many chances. It's like this nearly every Sunday. Why did I return week after week? For some reason, my elderly family members like CK. I told them today was it. They will have to find another restaurant. The issue is the not-so-new staff. They have not been properly trained. I don't patronize where I'm disrespected. CK will continue to operate in this manner until patrons rise up and demand better. read more

The prices are outrageous, customer service is horrible and long wait times. The food is not worth the prices they are charging. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

I ordered the Blackened Catfish meal and smothered pork chops. The food took and entire 38mins. The blackened catfish was $25 for me to get and end piece and crumbs and when I asked if all I get is this small piece the cashier "yeah that's how it comes". I had to remind them about my sides that weren't in the bag and let's not mention the cashier that rang me up for $95 gave me the 2 slushes that were now liquid once the food was ready. No apology no we'll replace your drinks nothing. read more

Carolina Kitchen - The blackened catfish pieces - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

The food is good, but just be prepared to wait forever. They have a dine in option and buffet to order option. Doesn't matter what you decide, you're going to have to wait. I usually just try to order my food from the buffet counter and I promise it's never been less than a 20 minute wait. If you don't have any where to go fast, then this is your place. read more

The food is good, however it's very frustrating that everytime I order fried chicken, I ALWAYS have to wait 25-30 minute. it's EVERYTIME!!! I wish management would hear the concerns of their customers and keep fresh chicken coming. read more

Carolina Kitchen is easily one of my favorite spots for soul food! The flavors are always on point, and the food never disappoints. Whether it's the fried chicken, mac and cheese, or collard greens, everything is consistently delicious and packed with that homemade taste. While I love their takeout, I do wish they'd serve the food like they used to at the DC location--it had more of a sit-down, restaurant feel that I miss. Still, for takeout, it's a fantastic option that always hits the spot when you're craving good, hearty soul food. read more

Down Home Good Eating 1/12/2023 Needed some lunch so i said beautiful gal you, treat yourself, so i did. Entered the establishment and was greeted with a nice Hello how can I help you. So i browsed the food casing to see what looked good. I decided on seafood. I got a fried whiting dinner for lunch and salmon dinner for tonight's dinner. I cjoose the sides of collard greens and macaroni and cheese. The whiting got soggy because greens were not drained but flavor and temperature of food were great. Cornbread was given after i had inquired. I wish they would serve unsweetened tea as not everyone can have the sugar and everyone doesn't drink soda. All in all i will give 8 out of 10 read more

See all

I'm not sure what went wrong today. I'm usually very happy with the food and service, and everything is typically ready and fresh when they open. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case this time. They didn't have BBQ white meat or rice available, which was disappointing. I ordered the BBQ beef ribs instead something I've had before and enjoyed but today they were completely tasteless. I've come to expect consistency here, so this experience was definitely a letdown. read more

I have been to this restaurant twice and ordered the fried fish. fool me once, but fool me two times I m Boo boo the fool. The first time the fish was cold and the batter was not sticking. Every person knows the fish is wet and needs to be pat down with a paper towel but I guess too busy. oh and Do not get me started on the tasteless fish not a bit of season. The fish is hopeless second time ordering and the same exact thing happened. I tried again because the cashier told me it would be a 6-8 minute wait. My naive self thinking it was going to be fresh and hot. The Portion size was good but when was the last time you had to throw away an expensive entree. The macaroni noodles themselves were left out or could not hold up to the cheese it was a 3 at best at least edible. The sweet potatoes were not bad at all and savage the meal. The customer service was efficient but nothing memorable. read more

Food is decent but the recent increase in price is a bit drastic. Depending on the cook, some items are a little too oily. I like the fried fish, Mac and cheese, and yams. read more

How can you go wrong with delicious southern food, especially when done right. Keep up the good work folks!! Also will you ever go back to in house dining with servers? Miss that option read more

1st time patronizing the Brandywine location. Week day mid day visit, so the restaurant was practically empty. Ordered my go-to of smothered pork chops and gravy over white rice, mac & cheese and greens. The gravy had an extremely slight burnt taste. Pork chops were a little overcooked. Although cheesy, the mac & cheese could have used an additional sprinkle or two of seasoning. The greens were a tad too salty. Overall, the meal wasn't of the standard I've grown to know and love of Carolina Kitchen. As we all have off days, I will continue to be a customer. read more

Carolina Kitchen - Smothered pork chops w/rice, greens and mac & cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Brandywine, Maryland

We ordered food off the menu up front and then had to wait literally 35 minutes for a kids hamburger and a chicken ceasar salad. The people behind us who asked for food from the display in front got food almost immediately, but we didn't realize asking for these simple, prominently displayed menu items would cause a massive backup. In addition to the wait on the food, it was not cool that the staff gave us no warning that the order would take a long time, and volunteered no updates while we waited. My husband stood by the counter waiting for 20+ minutes. There were at least 5 people working and no one said a thing until he asked for an update. The salad was ok, but the kids hamburger was burnt. read more

It's Father's Day at 4:00 pm in the afternoon on a Sunday. How the hell do you have smothered pork chops on the menu and not have any gravy!?!? That's makes zero sense. The staff overall just simply shrugged their shoulders. I basically wasted 20 minutes of my life standing in line. I even asked the manager how this could happen. She simply said "Sorry, we sold out of gravy". Unbelievable!!! I've given this place multiple chances to get it right and they continue to let me down. Never again. Never!! read more

Called the restaurant at 7:59 PM to place a call in order. The gentleman that answered the phone was polite however because he was in the back, he couldn't take the order and he didn't know how to transfer the phone to the front line. I'll call back several times. No one answered. My call finally gets answered at 8:34 just for the polite young lady to tell me they don't take call in order 30 minutes before the restaurant closes. However, she confirmed that I will still be able to get my food if I was in there before it closed at nine. 8:55 PM I'm out the kitchen is closed and I can't get the food that I want. The service here is hit or miss even before closing typically have to wait 30 to 45 minutes when you're told it's only gonna be 10 to 15. read more