This was a mixed bag. I tried them twice recently. The good - Coleslaw, potato salad, yams, and beans are good. The beans are a little salty but I do like the flavor. Bbq sauce is good. The online ordering option is nice but it does auto-set to an 18% tip, so be aware of that. You can change it though. Average - Rib tips were ok but I have had better at the Larks Girls bbq truck. Too much fat and not enough meat, and not enough sauce. The white bread was under all of the meat and sauce, so that is unusual. It is usually on the side or on top at places. Dressing and mac are just ok. I like the sauce in the smothered pork chops but I prefer a different quality of meat. The cornbread is flat, like johnny cakes. They were ok but one was burnt. They were out of mashed potatoes both times and they gave me white rice instead on a delivery order instead of calling me. They were also out of banana pudding the 2nd time and Uber Eats did call me to ask about taking peach cobbler instead. It was mostly just sweetened dough and syrup, not much peach. Would not get again. Both orders were placed in the afternoon, so if you are running out of stuff that early, maybe online ordering is not the best option for you. They also don't accept notes in the system so you can tell them what to substitute. read more

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Phenomenal pulled pork sandwich and boss hog fries; generous portions. Staff are friendly; mainly women I've noticed, which, hey, I won't complain. Lot of cool memorabilia paying homage to Benton Harbor's best, and music. read more

Dialo's is beloved for good reason. The variety of the menu is unparalleled and the food is tasty. Their macaroni and cheese is out of this world, don't leave without ordering! Online ordering is a breeze. A sleeper hit is the lemon pound cake- the subtle lemon flavor is just delightful. Can't wait til our next visit! Be sure to support this Black-Owned business! read more

Dialo's Cafe - Lemon Pound Cake, Medium Coleslaw, Medium Mac & Cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Grub hub delivery came before the scheduled window! My husband and I were so happy with the food - it tastes like it came from someone's home kitchen, made with love!! Fried chicken has a super crispy, cornmeal (?) breading that is just amazing! Chicken is tender and fresh!! We loved every side - Mac & cheese melts in your mouth. Ribs have a zesty sauce. Thank you for an excellent, home cooked meal! My pictures were taken during dinner and it went fast! read more

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I've been aching to try Dialo's Cafe for months now and I finally had the chance to go for dinner tonight. I ordered the Chef Dialo's Deluxe Cheddar Bacon Burger minus the veggies for my husband and The Jean Klock Park turkey burger minus tomato for myself. Called it in over the phone and was told 20 minutes, but we get there and our food is not ready yet even though I showed up late, so it really took about an hour (ordered at 5:46, got food at 6:36) which was not appreciated. People that came in after me even got their food sooner than I did. The restaurant is well kept but small. The one employee I saw never smiled and was not in view for most of the time I was there, assumably in the kitchen. I open my container and I saw a top bun and fries. My burger was literally buried under the seasoned fries. The turkey burger looked more just like a chicken sandwich rather than ground turkey. My mom never ate red meat so I've had many turkey burgers and this looks nothing like the homemade turkey burgers I made growing up. While the burger looked odd and definitely didn't taste like I expected, I would eat it again. The fries smelled like heaven, I will give them that. Seasoned perfectly, with a nice crispy crunch. I wanted this to be an amazing experience so badly but making me wait is basically a sin. Don't lie about wait times, because you don't know if someone can't wait the real wait time. My husband really wants to come back but it'll take some convincing to get me back here. Too long, didn't read: service 1 star, food 4 stars read more

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The food was absolutely delicious! My boyfriend and I picked up some fish, fries, and sides to go picnic on the beach and might I say, it was a fantastic decision! Only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was for one side being missing and for the atmosphere. With COVID-19 going on, they only allow 5 people inside at once. However, by the time I got my food to go there were 8 people inside, plus the workers. However, it was an overall good experience and I would pick up food to go from there again! Fried Perch Boss Hog Fries Fish Poe Boy Fried Okra Mac & Cheese Yams Corn Bread read more

Dialo's Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Don't let the outside of this place fool you. The food is just beyond good. We went in and seated ourselves.  There was one waitress helping here, but they weren't too busy. Went with some sweet tea (which was very good), a mini rib tips dinner and a brisket dinner. The BBQ sauce they use is amazing. It is different from any sauce I've ever had, a tangy flavor without being sweet.  The baked beans were in a brown sugar sauce that fed my sweet tooth. The coleslaw was unique with a creamy sweet and tangy base and some really good seasoning on it. The mac n cheese was super cheesy with real bits of cheese in it and very flavorful.  The cornbread casserole was meh in my opinion, especially after finding shredded turkey in it which I despise, hubby liked it though. I literally could not stop saying "Oh my gosh, this is so good" as I was eating it. And we were ready to pull away when we pulled up and saw the building. So glad we stuck it out and went in!! I do feel like the place could use a good cleaning as the window sills were not very clean at all, but the tables and booths seemed clean, albeit not in super great condition in some areas. read more

Good but a little pricey. And I think they ripped me off with some half pieces of catfish at closing time when just a couple days before I got whole pieces But you know what, I'll let it slide because the food got me wanting to slap my mama... read more

We were in town for a wedding and wanted a light snack before the reception. We found this spot via reviews and checked it out. Please do not let the humble exterior fool you - this place may look like a hole in the wall but the fried chicken was AMAZING. We split an order of fried chicken with mac and cheese and coleslaw. The fried chicken may have taken 20 minutes but it was worth the wait! We rounded out our light snack with a slice of carrot cake that was a great after wedding treat. We even joke about making the trip back up from Chicago for this fried chicken - so good! read more

We love Dialo's Cafe. It is close to our home and we get to-go from there at least once a week. We cannot get enough of the rib tips. We order them dry with the sauce on the side. Their rib tips are super meaty and the sauce is tangy and not too sweet. They make a nice snack or dinner. Hands down the best rib tips in the area. They are definitely a must try! read more

Dialo's Cafe - Rib Tips - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Tried the fried chicken for the first time. It is superb. Crispy, juicy, lots of pepper in the coating. Great fresh cut french fries. A very happy, friendly woman taking lots of phone orders for takeout at 4pm, so the business appears to be doing well. This is arguably one of the best restaurants in the area. Very high quality food. read more

If you like Soul food/southern cooking, this is the place for you. We tried Dialos on the recommendation of a friend and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious and so flavorful, each bite was a treat. Everything we tried was well seasoned and arrived hot on our plates. The BBQ chicken was perfectly smoked and the sauce added a little extra kick. You have got to try the place! read more

Dialo's Cafe - A sampling of what we enjoyed. - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Brisket tasted like it was made in an oven. Probably the worst I've had. Sauce was very ketchupy- I'd get it on the side. Mac n cheese was good. Potato salad was ok- pretty saucy heavy. Chicken tenders were good. They didn't have the dish my friend ordered and then charged me more for a similar meal to replace that. I thought that was lame to charge me $2 for a different meal after I'd already paid for one they didn't have. Overall, tried it. Wouldn't go back. read more

On the way to Chicago we stopped in. Quite an unassuming place, but that never steers me away. Amazing!! Dare I say this: went down south for the first time last year...here at Dialo's their fried chicken was far more superior than any place I ate at down south. The sides weren't bad either. My favorite was the coleslaw had some ingredients I haven't had in coleslaw before mmm!! Banana pudding tasty!! read more

Fantastic! I had the perch po'boy, a side of cabbage, and Mac 'n cheese. Banana pudding for dessert. The po'boy was HUGE and delicious. Nice breading on the filets, and plenty of them. Remoulade, pickles, onion, tomato and lettuce. I loved it. The braised cabbage was perfect, included some carrots as well. Mac and cheese, just delicious. Super cheesy, noodles weren't mushy (like I usually find at restaurants) Oh! And we had banana pudding. It was perfect. All and all , this place is like eating at your family's house. The food is real, and prepared with love. It's really fantastic, and I can't wait to go back. Edit: I almost forgot, the service was great, too. Really kind server was so helpful with the menu descriptions and recommendations. PS I would love a perch option on the kids menu! read more

Dialo's Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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Best fried Catfish in town. All of side dishes are homemade . Everything I've ever got at Dialo's Had been worth the wait. Made to order. read more

This place is a hidden gem. The BBQ was delicious here. Their BBQ sauce def had some spice to it which I really liked. The rib dinner serving size is huge and the ribs have a ton of meat on them. Brisket was good but def preferred the ribs. The cabbage side was also surprisingly good. It seems like a family owned place and the staff was friendly. read more

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I've been craving soul food for awhile now. I decided to encourage my colleagues to dine at Dialo's for lunch on a Thursday. Also known as BBQ THURSDAY! I was not disappointed at all. Friendly service and generous portions. I couldn't finish it all in one sitting. Unless dining in I would suggest calling your order in and checking out the Facebook page for daily deals. I might go back for Fish Fry Friday, too. read more

Dialo's Cafe - Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Greens, and Cornbread Cakes - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Family and I came through while on vacation after searching for a small, local place to grab a bite. Dialo's did not disappoint! Great food, friendly people, reasonable price. We really loved the Loaded Hog Fries and The Flats pulled pork sandwich. Would definitely recommend 10/10! read more

This food is absolutely amazingggg!!! You can tell it's cooked with love. I love the pasta and the rib dinner plate.

I've had Dialo's bookmarked for several weeks and today we finally made a trip there for lunch with friends. The restaurant is conveniently located on M139 but easy to miss with an unassuming sign and very small parking area in front. The smoker billowing white clouds of fragrant smoke was the tipoff that we had found the place. We were greeted by our friendly server, Zenaya who told us about the specials and made some great recommendations. We landed on ribs, perch, friend chicken and the pork chop special with a variety of sides. We didn't have to wait too long but our mouths were watering when our feast was finally delivered to our table. Everything was fantastic, fresh and piping hot. The fried chicken was a stand-out as many have said - the breading was crisp and seasoned to perfection. Of the sides we particularly liked the mac 'n cheese, red beans & rice and the collard greens and corn bread. The coleslaw was amazing too. Even though we were totally stuffed, we tried the peach cobbler for dessert - excellent as well. This place is a hidden gem - spotlessly clean, with comfortable seating or convenient carry-out and a nice menu with lots to choose from. We will be regulars here!! read more

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Attempted to try at 815... supposed to be open until 9... drove out of the way to give this place a shot..

We stop by on our way back to Chicago. It was 100% worth it! The ribs and the sides were flavorful, tender and delicious. Also had their homemade lemonade. read more

Dialo's Cafe - Rib Dinner - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Perch sandwich was lightly breaded with green onion topping. Very tasty. I recommend it. This was our first time stopping by and had a little difficulty using gps direction to find it nestled by Pizza Hut. read more

Amazing food and service. The fried chicken is cocked perfectly and the greens, yams, and okra is amazing.

On Friday, July 31, 2020, I placed an order through Door Dash for two Chicago style hot dogs, cold slaw & homemade lemonade. I made a special request for no relish on the hot dogs & no ice in the lemonade. The hot dogs were smothered in relish, the buns were not fresh & the hot dogs were overcooked. The lemonade had ice & was pretty much watered down when I received it. I called Dialo's & after being put on hold for a very long time, I asked for a refund. I was told I would have to contact DoorDash because Dialo's wouldn't get paid by DoorDash for a week. I contacted DoorDash & was denied receiving my money back. I will never order anything from Dialo's again. read more

This is the absolute, hands down best food I've had since I've moved to St.Joe!! It's exactly what it needs to be, no fuss. My husband is from North Carolina and we love bbq. We eat bbq like it's our job. This is damn good bbq!! It's fresh, well seasoned, portions are great. Holy sweet Jesus that banana pudding! Y'all are doing the lords work over at Dialo's! I was in the worst mood just yelling at my husband being a miserable fool and he came home with those ribs, mac and cheese, banana pudding. Next thing you know I was dancing around the kitchen like my old self. Bahaha mac and cheese can save your marriage. read more

This food has to be better. We ordered catfish steaks. These were the worse pieces of fish I have had in life. Really no meat mostly fish bones and season less fish fry mix. The rib tips just ok. Peach cobbler just ok. Overall, disappointing experience . read more

This place is really fantastic! [Atmosphere] Friendly staff. A small kinda place too, maybe max seating for 20-30. Small mix of tables and booths. Definitely has a "family owned" kinda vibe to it. [Food] I usually get either the perch or catfish with sides of mac n' cheese and sweet potatos/yams. And it's all really, really good. The biscuits with apple butter are to die for as well! My friends usually get the barbeque chicken or ribs and they love 'em. Some of the desserts aren't all that great though tbh. [Overall] I highly recommend it! I'd go once a week if I could to be honest :) read more

I've never been to the cafe but I have visited the food truck. The sauce is plentiful but overall the food is good.

Had a Great Meal with a friend of mine at this place! We ordered BBQ and it was that deal! The sauce was perfect and the portions were just right. In addition to that... The sides were just as good! I don't usually sample a lot of Soul Food outside of my grandmother's cooking, but I believe even my grandmother would be proud to eat at this place! On top of all of the Great Food... the Customer Service (which I am big on) was impeccable! The Hostess was extremely warm and friendly and both the chefs came out to acknowledge that we were complimenting the quality of the food. Don't get it twisted... I sought out a place with a low profile in this city since it was my first visit, as I like to know about places like these... and this one did not disappoint! Big Shout to Chef LaShunn for making this place a winner! Give this place some attention... You won't be disappointed!!! We'll be back! read more

Love everything about this place :). Excellent food and people. The Mac & Cheese is amazing. I need to venture out and try some other dishes. Every time I go for one of the fish dinners. Can't go wrong! read more

I was in Benton Harbor for my Nephew's wedding. I found Dialo's on Yelp. This place is amazing. Real soul food. I'm talking fantastic chicken charred to perfection, cabbage, greens done with pride. Heart stopping onion rings. Amazing. Service incredible. Call and listen to the answering machine. It is actually the way they are. This place would do so well in Charlotte, North Carolina where I now reside. Give them your business. Don't be put off by the no frills exterior. This place is legit! My wife said "the sweet potatoes were to die for" My son said "hamburger and fries were a treat for the senses." read more

Just moved here from the south and was really craving some food from home ... we soul this was a soul food place and I was skeptical but this place delivered ... the owner is super chill and funny. Service was awesome and the food was phenomenal. Like that Mac n cheese was better than any that I've ever had. (My memaw would be so pissed if she saw this lol) ... my husband had the fried chicken and he's super critical and he loved it so this will def be one of our regular spots to eat read more

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Fried chicken was freshly made, moist and delicious! Fresh cut fries were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Service was excellent too! read more

I am so, so incredibly sad after leaving here. It's a whole hour and a half away from my house. I don't know if I'll ever make it back. And that is a travesty. Every single thing that went in my mouth here was perfect. The BBQ sauce, out of this world. The potato salad was smooth, tart, and creamy. The fried perch had amazing flavor and was cooked perfectly. The baked beans were straight out of my grandma's kitchen. And the Mac and cheese.... Dear God the Mac and cheese.... Not stringy, not watery, not grainy, not weak, just perfect. The best I've ever had. We literally asked them for the largest container of it we could have to-go. We ordered desserts to go too. Lord watch over my poor soul tonight. read more

Go here. Hands down. Best meal I've had in ages. The customer service was fantastic and the sweet tea the best I've had north of the Mason-Dixon. read more

Decided to come here for lunch and enjoyed it. The fried chicken was well cooked and fresh to order. I decided to try the yams and was super happy. I missed the south so much and now I have found a soul food place that hits the spot in the Michiana area. Looking forward to coming back for sure. I kinda wish they had some southern style sweet tea. read more

Dialo's Cafe - Boss Hog fries with beef brisket - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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THE BEST SOUL FOOD IN THE AREA! I really like this place! Their food is amazing. Sides and entrees just remarkable. Also, Love how it is shown the love and pride they have for the community. Everything is always clean and staff is very friendly. I believe is a family owned business because it is treated like it! Wish you guys the best of luck! Your food is great! read more

We were looking something different than the usual burgers or fish fry on Friday. Had passed by here a few times, so glad we stopped in the food was great! Will definitely be going back. read more

Dialo's Cafe - "Boss Hog" Fries Ribs-Half Slab Rib Tip Dinner and sides - Soul Food Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan