Cancel

Open app

Search

Chef Shaqs Kitchen

4.4 (51 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Chef Shaqs Kitchen Photos

Business Info

CHEF SHAQS KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

More like Chef Shaqs Kitchen

Recommended Reviews - Chef Shaqs Kitchen

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Potato skins
Monica G.

This was one of the first spots that showed up when i googled places to eat. We decided to try it out. We couldn't tell if it was open when we arrived. When we walked in i had a hard time w/ the sticky floor, but we decided to give it a try. We enjoyed our food. The only item that was just OK was the bean burger. The patty looked dry & not much flavor. The rest of the food was really good. The server was kind & attentive. Overall good experience & i felt the majority of the food was fresh.

Exotic Fries w/ Wings
Jeremy W.

Good lunch spot with great deals on food. Service is speedy and on point. Great addition to downtown. They have the lunch time service and speed down to a tee. They get you in and out, expeditiously....... Lol. They have indoor as well as outdoor dining.

Chicken sandwich
Kevin C.

Our never ending endeavor to find the perfect meal landed us at stop #1 of the night: Chef Shaq's Kitchen @chekshaqkitchen on South 5th street in downtown Louisville. We shared sweet potato fries and zucchini fries, both with aioli. My wife had the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich with crinkle fries. I had the Bring It On Salad. The Nashville Hot sandwich was, quite possibly, the best chicken sandwich either of us has ever had, likely attributed to a buttermilk taste and delicious slaw! They were out of turkey for my salad but substituted a generous portion of grilled chicken instead. As you can see from the pictures, the food presentation was top notch! Service was top notch (seriously some of the most knowledgable and friendly staff around)! Aniya M was great! The place was comfortably busy with dine-in and delivery service orders. The only other thing that bares mentioning is that the place is hot!!!! It's 93 degrees out and the A/C had trouble keeping up so they had a fan out, which didn't help much. Having said that, we could've chosen to sit outside like some other patrons did.

Dining area at Chef Shaqs
T B.

Food was great.. the burger was real beef, not some frozen patti, just a nice burger....fries were cooked just right. IMO..this place is a little pricey & needs to be updated...but for the first time being there I'm pretty pleased.

Catfish sandwich
Ashlee A.

The catfish sandwich and lemon pepper dry wings are toooooooo delicious. I'm still thinking about them!

Bring It On Salad w/ Fried chicken breast
Britany J.

I've been seeing people post about Chef Shaq Kitchen on social media, so I decided to give them a try on my lunch. I originally went in for the loaded fries, but after seeing someone's chicken salad, I immediately changed my order. I ordered the Bring It On Salad without bacon, ham, and added the fried chicken breast to it. That salad was just what I needed. The breading on the chicken breast was favorable and crispy. My next visit I'm ordering the fried chicken breast by itself.

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich & Thunder Over Louisville Fries
Shanneca O.

Shaqs Kitchen is a quiet spot for lunch or dinner. The menu is simple and service is fast. We ordered Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich with Thunder Over Louisville Fries, Cod fish, shrimp & fries and Buffalo wings.Everything was delicious and we will return. He is just starting up and still getting his restaurant established. We will definitely return to this downtown Louisville restaurant.

The "Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich"

See all

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

The pictures depicted are not from the restaurant. The food is bland and overpriced for what it is.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of J N.
0
12
3

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

The food and service are a great treat. I never expected the attention to my satisfaction they delivered!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of T B.
0
2
7

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Ashlee A.
58
10
11

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ray G.
9
167
14

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Bryan S.
5
133
25

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of JD B.
0
10
0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Tera V.
61
38
39

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa M.
27
61
70

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Attentive service, good straight forward food! I had a burger, well seasoned and cooked perfectly

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Mary R.
142
6
4

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Gill F.
54
13
12

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Rob M.
12
5
3

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Diana L.
81
125
350

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Toya G.
2
18
24

4 years ago

Good food. Good service. Outdoor seating. I came back for lunch on Monday. They are closed today.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Chef Shaqs Kitchen

You might also consider

Hammerheads

Hammerheads

4.5
(1.5k reviews)
1.4 mi
$$

Have heard about this gem for 20 years but never tried it until last night. Wife and I sat at the…read morebar - love the atmosphere: spacious dive bar with low ceilings and wood paneling. There are also picnic tables out front. You get a faint whiff of the grill/smoker upon entering. Kylie was our bartender and she was fabulous - knowledgeable, friendly, and answered all of our questions with patience. Wife ordered a mango margarita and doesn't like a lot of tequila, so Kylie went half and gave her a shot on the side in case she wanted to add more. It was wonderful. I had a couple of beers. We started with the fried mushrooms, which aren't what you would expect. It's two large portobellos cut into chunks, battered, fried, and served with sun-dried tomato mayo. They were great. I then ordered a duck taco, brisket taco, and a side of Grippo Fries with smoked mayo. I'd never tried duck but that taco was smack-a-lackin'. The brisket taco was also good, and the fries were fantastic - sweet and spicy, fresh cut, and crispy. Wife ordered a pork belly slider and truffle fries. She enjoyed the slider but didn't care for the fries - just not her thing. The portions here are large. A side of fries will feed three people. We took a hefty portion of them home, as well as some of the mushrooms. We could've sat there at the bar and spent 3 hours socializing and enjoying a smattering of cocktails - love the setting. Look forward to going back and trying one of the burgers at some point.

Well I'd classify this place as a dive bar in the sense of the word. It's definitely not 4 star…read morenoted and maybe not the best exclusive signage and overall 4 star appeal; but it a diamond in the rough, persa. This place is quaint, nice location (on a corner ) decent seating, not a big outdoor dining area, the bar is long and has the memories of the old day saloon. Now the food; terribly good! Menu isn't extensive but good items and variety that will satisfy anyone's appetite. It was Father's Day but as soon as it opened they were quickly filled with patrons and people kept coming; even waiting to get in. The fries in duck fat were awesome. Since so many baskets of fries like this for a long time. The smoked wings are great, meaty and savory. I had the pork belly tacos; my only disappointment was you only get 2 per order. The fine combination of ingredients were splendid and the pork belly so tender. My wife had the bbq pork sandwich on pretzel bun. Very good tasting and this was with no bbq sauce on it. If you're in the area, do yourself a a favor and stop in. I can't wait to go back ( as we live in southern Indiana) so might be a bit but definitely want to try a few other items.

Photos
More of the bar
More of the bar
PBLT Sandwich - Definitely overall Pretty good! Needed another slice or two of pork belly but otherwise super tender. Would get again!
PBLT Sandwich - Definitely overall Pretty good! Needed another slice or two of pork belly but otherwise super tender. Would get again!
Beer served!

See all

Beer served!
Bourbon and Burgers

Bourbon and Burgers

4.3
(89 reviews)
5.9 mi
$$

This is the second time I've visited Bourbon and Burgers and have honestly been blown away both…read moretimes. We dropped in on Oaks night and even though it was pretty busy we were able to grab two seats at the bar. The only downfall of this was the time of day and the position of the Sun blaring through the garage door windows blasting me in the face however that cannot be helped or avoided, just a heads up for anyone who is super sensitive to the sun and arrives around sunset. I started with a Sunset Spritz and looked over the menu, there are so many great options to choose from and I was really torn on what to get but decided on the blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich (you can also get grilled or fried, but the bartender recommended blackened) and an order of sweet potato fries. The fries come with a side of a smoky pineapple chutney of some sort and even though I'm not a huge fan of anything that's really smoky it was absolutely delicious and a great combo. Seriously 10/10 recommend. The sandwich was also fire! I am extremely picky about sea food, especially since I used to live near the cost so it was always fresh and it definitely did not disappoint. I was so full when we left lol My husband got the beef sliders as his entrée with a side of regular fries tossed in roasted garlic pepper. I tried them and they were just OK. The sweet potato fries are definitely where it's at! I am really looking forward to going back and trying out some new items like the Cheeseburger Hand pies, Chicken tenders or one of their boozy milkshakes ... it sounds delicious doesn't it!

When you see a place with this name... you're expecting them to do at the very least two things…read morewell. I'm happy to report that although I'm not much of a drinker these days, their burgers are indeed delicious. I had the bacon cheeseburger & my friend was talked into their "Argentinian" burger by our waiter. (which has "argentinian chorizo, provolone cheese, roasted tomatoes, chimichurri sauce, caramelized onions" on it) I'm also a sucker for some good wings so I had to also try their dry run wings... all very good! It was a beautiful & warm sunny day so we got to enjoy the nice patio seating outside and still were able to see the TVs. Surprised at the lack of street noise also! Very nice area & good restaurant! Would definitely go back!

Photos
Bourbon and Burgers
Fried Mahi Sandwich
Fried Mahi Sandwich
Sweet potato fries with smoked pineapple sauce

See all

Sweet potato fries with smoked pineapple sauce
Steak & Bourbon

Steak & Bourbon

4.6
(113 reviews)
0.5 mi

My wife & I celebrated our anniversary at Steak & Bourbon downtown this year. We usually go to the…read moreWestport location, but we were very happy we went with downtown this year. First off, the location is prime and the venue is perfectly designed for the space it occupies. The wall of windows looking out to market/4th provide an excellent backdrop and light the space well in the afternoon/evening. The lounge style dining area has some excellent, comfortable furniture to relax and enjoy conversation. Of course, there are also more traditional sort of tables to sit at if you aren't into lounging. Long story short, vibes were great. The service was also stellar. Our server was Cole, and he made sure that we had a fantastic anniversary dinner. He had us wanting for naught, and made excellent recommendations for both food and drink. Top talent! Speaking of food and drink, magnificent! 10 ounce filet cooked perfectly medium and seared beautifully, a savory potato au gratin, steak hand pies with a nice, flaky crust, and delicious lobster bisque. All paired with a couple bourbon ball martinis and old fashioneds. If you are thinking of going, don't hesitate. You won't be disappointed and we will be back!

I highly recommend Steak & Bourbon to anyone desiring wonderful atmosphere, great service and…read morephenomenal food. I went with family for a birthday celebration and was not disappointed. steak frites cooked to perfection w/shepard pie as a side was my dinner. The LARGE portion size of shepard pie as a side which could have been a meal itself. Go and have the experience for yourself. You will not be disappointed! Bon Appétit

Photos
Bar seating
Bar seating
Steak & Bourbon Meatballs
Steak & Bourbon Meatballs
Lobster bisque

See all

Lobster bisque
Holy Grale

Holy Grale

4.3
(593 reviews)
2.1 mi
$$

Holy Grale is just that. If you're picking something else, you "chose poorly". Delicious beer…read moreselections freaky fresh on tap. Marvelous atmosphere with an interconnected beer garden in the middle. Stunning food offers that shine on their own and sing louder when paired with their beers. The team at holy grale also bring it all together with incredible service. The burger is incredible, but I always come back for the schnitzel platter. I only wish they had a spaetzle to go with it! The fries are proper chippies, thick square cut and long. Crispy outside, fluffy inside. And there are so many dips to choose from. Salads are crisp and light and a marvelous side. I cannot say enough good things. I love the grales.

This place is definitely worth a visit just to see it. Fun spot and a very cool vibe inside. This I…read morebelieve was our 7th stop on our tour of Louisville distilleries and bars. We had a couple cocktails in here and the service was excellent even though it appeared they were filled to capacity. There were 4 of us in our party and we were seated at a table in the corner near the bar. Was definitely a cozy spot with so many people being in there and the bar being full. I had The Holy Ghost cocktail and it was a pomegranate hibiscus sour, it had just the right amount of sour! I do not like bitter drinks and this one was good and easy to drink. My husband had a couple of dark beers, I do not remember which ones but he liked them. They had a nice outdoor area but it was a bit too cool for that but it may be worth a return in the Spring to check it out. Bathroom was also really cool as the decor and theme spilled over into it. We will be back.

Photos
Holy Grale
Shishito & mushrooms in romesco w. sunny egg
Shishito & mushrooms in romesco w. sunny egg
Bar area

See all

Bar area
Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

3.9
(2.5k reviews)
0.7 mi
$$

Stopped at Doc Crow's since it seems to be a popular spot. Upon walking in, it doesn't seem big but…read morethere's an additional space after the first section. The restaurant includes a long row of bar seating that extends to the other end of the restaurant, so there was no problem for me to find a seat on a busy day. I ordered the Mac n cheese and braised greens, and the Mac n cheese was really good and creamy. The braised greens were just okay, it wasn't the best greens I've had and it could use extra flavor. I don't know if this is a thing they do at Doc Crow's, but in my opinion the bartender excessively kept asking me what I wanted even while I was still looking at the menu. This definitely frustrated me since it was clear that I wasn't ready yet. I think she should have done a better job reading my cues to figure out when I am ready to order.

We were due for an underwhelming experience, and I'm at least partially to blame for not having a…read moredinner spot lined up beforehand. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I spent most of the afternoon on a bourbon tour and a post-tour distillery so...food was needed. And quickly. In our mild defense, we didn't really know how the day was going to go or when we were actually going to have dinner, which made it a little tougher to pre-plan, but no research went into this at all and we paid for it. We wrapped up our bourbon adventures at the Angel's Envy distillery probably five or six blocks from here. Instead of being grownups and doing at least a quick/impromptu recon for spots, we literally just walked outside and down W Main St until we hit something. And we hit this, which was right on the edge of the main tourist area, pretty much Louisville's equivalent of the Times Square/MSG area. And as someone who works and used to live in NYC, you'd have to do a lot of convincing to get me to eat in that particular area - it's overpriced and the food/service just tends to not be very good, which makes you wonder what the appeal is for tourists beyond the convenience. But regardless, it's always struck me as an odd way for a tourism spot to put its best foot forward (or not). Doc Crow's is enormous, and when we were brought further into the restaurant to our table, I think we literally walked through three or four large rooms and navigated through multiple passageways. If you told me this place took up an entire city block or close to it, I'd believe you. Beyond the size/scope, there's nothing really distinctive that separates it from the myriad of other restaurants you'd expect to see catering to out-of-towners. It was the Friday evening of Memorial Day Weekend, so a place that I suspect is usually pretty busy was even busier and louder than that. Maybe not the greatest recipe after a bourbon tour, but who can say. On the app front, we got the Crispy Salmon Bites, which were fine. Not an item I typically see on a menu, even one with more of a seafood bent. I thought the cornmeal/panko breading was the right call; I'm a big catfish aficionado, so I'm of the opinion that cornmeal is underutilized, at least in the Northeast where I come from. Otherwise, nothing really mind-blowing there; probably would have made sense for it to be a different type of fish given the prep (I think salmon is best raw in a sushi roll or grilled), but it could have been worse. I don't think a ton of thought went into this on my end, but I went with the full rack BBQ ribs, along with a side of mac n' cheese. Again, okay, though not as flavorful as I would have hoped and I thought the ribs were on the dry side. Not their fault, but I always regret getting the full rack in hindsight because ribs have a deceptively significant amount of meat on the bones and a half rack is a very decent portion by itself; I am a work in progress just like everyone else. The mac n' cheese was also pretty dry, which I think you can see pretty obviously in the accompanying picture. Tasted and felt reheated at least once or twice. The service was pretty efficient given how busy it was, but our waiter was just on robotic autopilot. Not remotely personable and everything I said to him was responded to with, "For sure, for sure." Maybe he was having a rough night to start the holiday weekend, but it felt like he was just going through the motions and just checking off some boxes there. I went into this already predisposed to not like the generic tourist trap places, so grain of salt. But my recommendation if you have the time/bandwidth (now that I'm a cagey Louisville vet) is to bypass this area if you can and find something tastier and more interesting in the Highlands neighborhood. That's where the real ones are.

Photos
Beautiful Bar area
Beautiful Bar area
Heap N Chips
Heap N Chips
On a vibey street

See all

On a vibey street

Chef Shaqs Kitchen - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...