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    Elsa's Place

    4.5 (81 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM

    Elsa's Place Photos

    Business Info

    ELSA'S PLACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Elsa's Place

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    a meal in a styrofoam container
    Olivia S.

    Elsa's is an unsuspecting place tucked into an inconspicuous corner of downtown Jacksonville. You'd easily miss this gem if you weren't paying attention. I walked in and was greeted by the lovely family that runs the restaurant, they were kind and welcoming, I instantly felt comfortable. The girl who took my order was very friendly and accommodating. I ordered two chicken Roti. First off they were HUGE! I mean full bone in servings of curried chicken inside. I had to eat it in thirds over the course of two days. I was a bit anxious to eat it because I figured it would just instantly fall apart but that thang is STURDY lol! It was sooo good. I ordered the second one for my Fiance who is Jamaican, he loved it and it he's very critical of Caribbean cuisine. I'm honestly surprised because if his mama didn't cook it he pretty much thinks it's nasty. So this is a big deal in my house. He requested Elsa's again for dinner tonight but today is Sunday and they were closed. We will be heading back on Wednesday when they open back up to try the shrimp Roti and we both can't wait!

    Jerk Chicken & Rice, Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens
    Ashton D.

    Elsa's is my favorite place to eat at in Jacksonville! This place is a hidden gem. Everything on the menu is delicious!!! My favorite thing to get is the Jerk chicken or ox tails! They have the BEST Greens, Mac, Cabbage, CAKES, and Sweet Tea in all of Jacksonville!! They give you a LOT of food and it's cooked FRESH! The prices are so cheap, the food is definitely worth a lot more ! If you haven't tried this place, I encourage you to do it! (Be mindful the Jerk Chicken can be spicy to those who aren't used to spicy foods). This place is so so so GOOD!! Gordon Ramsey would approve!

    Court Street entrance, but there's parking and entrance at back.
    John M.

    Elsa's Place is a Yelper's dream: independent, minority owned, family-run, small business that provides consistently great food in generous quantities at great prices, Granted it doesn't look like much in passing, and in fact it would be easy to pass without ever knowing it's been there for nearly 17 years, but once you've found Elsa's Place, you'll want to go back. Elsa herself hails from Trinidad with just a trace of accent in her voice and more than a trace in her cooking. She's assisted by her two sons who attended SW, and I think sometimes by husband as well. Soul and Caribbean. Collard greens and jerk chicken. Fried shrimp and fried plantain. Potato salad, oxtail soup, chicken curried or fried, and a host of vegetable options and burgers as well. Most of the mains include a hefty serving atop a generous bed of rice and two sides for around $12. Less expensive options include l include burger and fries and a Caribbean burger I have yet to try. My favorites are the lemon-pepper chicken and vegetables and my 98 year old mom loves their lightly vinegar-tinged collard greens and their shrimp with vegetables. When you step in from a bright day, Elsa's is DARK. Don't let that worry you; the place is CLEAN. Check out that 99% sanitation rating. Watch for a step down when coming in off the Railroad Street entrance (off the parking lot). Elsa's seats about 20-30 max. No room for big groups but you can pull a couple tables together if needed. No alcohol. All food available to go,, but it's not a bad place to just sit down and enjoy a good (big) informal meal, now and then, and it's quiet enough to have a conversation. Not fancy but GOOD. I look forward to eventually trying everything on the menu. Open Wednesday through Saturday until 6pm. Done items may run out before closing. Highly recommend.

    Menu
    Isabel P.

    Best little mom and pop restaurant in town. A hidden gem!!! Family owned and operated ! Great service .

    Oxtail stew.... heavenly !
    Diana N.

    After many attempts, i finally made it here. They closed at obscure times when they first opened, but now they're closed on Sunday's and Monday's. There's a large parking lot in the back that's quite full during peak hours. As you walk in, you're overwhelmed by the aromatic flavors. I was able to snag a table along with a friend of mine. There seemed to be two guys running this place. Nothing is formal here. Everyone here is down to earth and have one goal in mind- to make sure their customers are happy. I decided on the oxtail stew with a side of fried okra and collard greens, with an extra side of plantains. You can order an entree with half of one dish and half of another but priced with the more expensive dish. You can have half an oxtail stew and half curry chicken but will be charged 11.99 for the meal, same as if you got just the oxtail stew. I believe it was 7.99 for the curry chicken. They were kind enough to bring samples of the jerk chicken but it was too spicy for my taste. They also serve goat but only on Saturdays. All in all, it's one of the best meals I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying in Jacksonville .. the complex flavors of food and the great service make this a winner in my book! The decor and design of this joint is plain awful but don't let that sway you away. You feel like you're eating in a backwards dollhouse from a horror movie. It's dark atmosphere leaves much to desire. They need a designer or at least someone who knows how to pick a better paint color than peach! Just close your eyes and eat the oxtail stew... u won't regret it!

    Oxtails, cabbage, mac n cheese, and a beef patty
    Jade A.

    This was my first time eating here. I ordered the oxtail platter. I was not expecting for there to be this much food on the plate and I was expecting a hefty price tag. Good eats for a decent price. There is no parking on the main street where the GPS will take you but if you pull around back there is plenty of public parking. She quoted me 20 minutes and she was right on time. I plan to return quite a few times before I leave the area. Go get you some!

    Curry chicken, oxtail, mac and cheese and fried okra
    Stephanie L.

    This place is the epitome of the hole in the wall. The sweetest owners/workers, the sign outside is worn down so you MIGHT miss it if you don't know what you're looking for, and absolutely incredible food. We got SO much food and had so much to take with us. The gentleman who waited on us was patient, sat down and took the time to tell us all about the menu. It definitely made the experience better. The one thing I will say, because it is such a small space, it gets pretty heated from the kitchen. Try it out! You won't regret it.

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Delicious home cooked meals, call ahead as entrees are cooked to order. Vegetables taste slow cooked, perfectly seasoned.

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Best oxtail in North Carolina! Not much of a storefront presence, but it was open. Very friendly staff and excellent food!

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The ox tails are so delicious so is the curry chicken they give you a lot for your money !

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    3 years ago

    Awesome place for oxtails, greens, Mac and cheese! Real delicious food at this place!!

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    Southern Harvest Soul Food - Blueberry Walnut Muffin & Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffin

    Southern Harvest Soul Food

    4.5(108 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Southern Harvest Soul Food - 3 out of 5 stars…read more I hate to be the guy who leaves bad reviews, especially after giving a place multiple chances, but this was unfortunately the last straw for me. I drove nearly an hour to get to this restaurant, excited to try the oxtails. Upon arrival, I was told they were no longer being served because they were out. This marks the third time I've driven there specifically for oxtails and was unable to get them due to being out of stock. This wasn't late in the afternoon either--I arrived right at lunch opening. I know what some of you are thinking: why not call ahead? You're absolutely right. That mistake is on me, and I've definitely learned that lesson. On a previous visit, I tried the shrimp and grits, and I'll give credit where it's due--they were actually phenomenal and easily the best thing I've had there. Unfortunately, my other experiences haven't matched that quality. The last time I visited, I settled for the brisket burrito. While sweet and savory can work together, this one was overwhelmingly sweet and just didn't hit the mark. I also asked for a Diet Coke and was told they only had Sprite, regular Coke, and water, which was surprising. My wife ordered the biscuits and gravy, which had almost no flavor. For a southern soul food restaurant, that was pretty disappointing. I don't plan on coming back. I'm not mad--just disappointed. I hope this review helps others avoid making a long drive expecting a specific dish only to find out it's unavailable.

    The food was delish, I had the shrimp and grits well seasoned a decently size portion and all…read moreingredients blended well together. My daughter had the sausage n biscuits she said they were well made , a bit salty and spicy but overall pretty solid. The service was adequate we did not have to wait long for our food, the ambiance was nice on a chilly day was warm with wam music and delicious smells. We will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Southern Harvest Soul Food - Inside

    Inside

    Southern Harvest Soul Food - Everything bagel with Breakfast Turkey Sausage

    Everything bagel with Breakfast Turkey Sausage

    Southern Harvest Soul Food - Front of the restaurant

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    Front of the restaurant

    Raleigh Soul Kitchen - Pork Chop Dinner

    Raleigh Soul Kitchen

    4.5(20 reviews)
    97.5 mi

    Absolutely delighted with the Pork Chop Dinner. You get two Pork Chops that were cooked to a…read moreperfect tender and tasty flavor. The yams were cooked just right. So happy to have found an awesome place to go for finger licking soul food.

    I went downtown to handle some business when the sudden urge for soul food took over me. After a…read morequick search, Raleigh Soul Kitchen popped up. While I didn't recognize the name, I recognize some of the photos on the website from social media. After a quick glance at the menu, I decided that I would be stopping by there to eat. I could have called or ordered online, but I wanted to put their claim for quick service to the test. Also, their prices weren't astronomical. Now, I was a bit surprised that the restaurant was located inside of a corner/juice store. But hey, I'm not Stranger to "gas station" food, so challenge accepted. I love the idea oc community innovation and joint-use spaces. The place is 100% take-out. Ordering was easy, but it can get loud in there so you have to yell a bit. Not all menu items are on the website. Do check the white board in front of the register. The day that I was there, strawberry banana pudding was a specialty on the menu. I didn't order it, but wished I had. I ordered, oxtail (it's auto served over a bed of rice and peas) with collards and mac n cheese, Catfish with Mac n cheese and yams, finally sticky ribs with cabbage and rice and pease. The collards were way too salty. They were cooked too mushy and I couldn't really taste the greens. The cabbage were almost too salty, but when paired with tbe rice and pease, they were perfect along both the oxtail and the ribs. The ribs were tender and delicious. A little over sauced for my liking, but still delicious. The mac and cheese and yams were delicious. Nothing special, but delicious enough that you want to order them at every visit. The stars were the oxtail and the Catfish. The oxtail were seasoned down to the bone and just perfect. This was my 4th try for oxtail since moving to Raleigh 7 months ago they have everyone else beat!! The portion was generous and I loved that it was automatically served over rice and peas as part of the meal. But the Catfish. THE CATFISH!! Perfectly seasoned and fried. My ride home was about 15 minutes and it was still crispy when I arrived despite being packaged in a Styrofoam plate. It was so light , crispy, and flaky. That will probably be my #1 go-to at this place. They were super busy from the time I arrived to the time I left so it took my order about 20 minutes. Try to call, order online directly from them or via doordash. Don't be afraid of the area. I know what tv teaches you, but just be open to exploring different communities. I can't wait for my next Catfish plate!!!!!

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    Raleigh Soul Kitchen - Restaurant part of store

    Restaurant part of store

    Raleigh Soul Kitchen - Oxtail Rasta Pasta

    Oxtail Rasta Pasta

    Raleigh Soul Kitchen - Pork Chops

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    Pork Chops

    Taste Da Vibez

    Taste Da Vibez

    3.5(11 reviews)
    91.6 mi

    So glad Taste Da Vibez is finally in Garner! Let me just say--there are so many options that I…read morealready know I'll be back. On my first visit, I ordered the hamburger steak with rice, along with mac and cheese and green beans for my sides. Everything was good and full of flavor. The sides definitely gave classic comfort, out-the-box/canned vibes--but still seasoned well and satisfying. Most importantly, it's refreshing to have something in Garner that isn't just another traditional fast-food spot. The service was great and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Looking forward to coming back and trying more off the menu!

    I remembered that I'd heard about a new soul food restaurant opening in the White Oak area and…read moredecided to give it a try. While the location is great, the business doesn't stand out well enough to attract those that may not be looking for it. I parked into the back and entered the back door. While they sell soul food, the vibes feel super Jamaican. Black paint with green and yellow accents. Fairly large and very clean dining area. The cashier didn't really greet me when I walked up. She wasn't rude, but she wasn't friendly or welcoming. She did complement my shirt. Her non-verbal cues made me feel rushed. I had to ask her if they were sold out of anything. That information was not offered. I also had to ask her the price. I ended up ordering the lamb chops plate that came with rice, and two side. I opted for the collards and mac n cheese. It took maybe 5-8 minutes for my plate to come out. 3 other people came in, ordered and left before I did. I think it was because theybhad to grill the lamb chops. Visually the food looked delicious. Very generous serving of everything. However, the collards were the most disappointing collards I've ever had. They didn't taste bad. They just weren't seasoned AT ALL!! they just tasted like a collard with pepper flakes. The rice was just plain and Not seasoned. The mac n cheese was pretty good. They need to season the pasta a bit more and use a more flavorful cheese. The star was the lamb chops. They were a good size, seasoned extremely well, tender, and grilled to perfection! On top of that they gave me 4. They're They're the reason I'm giving 4 stars. I washed all of that down with a slice of their pineapple cake. It tasted like box cake with canned crushed pineapple on top. But it was delicious. I'd go back just for the lamb chops and cake. At $40 though, i won't go back too often. I hope the other sides are much better though!!

    Photos
    Taste Da Vibez - Kitchen and order window.

    Kitchen and order window.

    Taste Da Vibez - Lamb chops over rice, collards, and mac n cheese

    Lamb chops over rice, collards, and mac n cheese

    Taste Da Vibez - Back entrance

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    Back entrance

    Elsa's Place - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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