So, really wanted some "Ancestor food" (Chitterings). Now, if you know, you know; they can't be purchased just "anywhere." After walking in (take-out only), and seeing that there were six people waiting for their food, I was convinced, this place CAN be trusted. So, staff, really nice. Informative, hospitable, and accommodating. As indicated, exclusively "Take-out," so not much attention given to aesthetics. All those waiting raved about the food. People there have been patronizing the restaurant for decades. Again, very good sign. Ordered chitterlings, potato salad, and collard greens. Initially thought $30.00 was a bit much, given I'd NEVER eaten chitterlings "out," BUT, thought about what it actually requires, and quickly changed my mind. The price point is fine. Everything was delicious. Everything. Including the Cornbread. Given I know how to cook, there were obviously some things I would have done differently. That doesn't even matter, this place is my "Soul Food" "go-to." If they can do chitterlings well, they can do anything. I can't wait to try everything else on the menu. I highly recommend. read more

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Tried this place while in DC for a conference and I'm glad I did. It's more of a takeout spot but there is a counter where you can eat if there is room. Everything I ate was good and full of flavor, I even enjoyed the tea which was good old fashioned sweet tea. I would say this was worth my Uber ride to and from,. read more

The staff was accommodating to our large party. They informed us how to order so we could maximize our time. When we arrived, we found out that we placed our order at the wrong location and they quickly helped us to ensure we were able to make it back to our meeting on time. My entire party enjoyed our meal. The bbq chicken sauce and skin was delicious. The meat was a little dry but I would rate the chicken 4/5. The green beans and cabbage were seasoned to perfection. The serving was large. It's small in size but functional to drop by and pick up your meal and enjoy it at home. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here to grab a bite to eat. I've been here before but it has been awhile so decided to give it a try. Ordered the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and greens. Meatloaf was burned so I was disappointed in that. The sides was ok. The meatloaf wasn't edible. I had to trash my food. It's not the same as it was years ago. read more

Listen!! This is the place to stop if you're looking for authentic soul food. That CHICKEN?!! Cooked to perfection! Everything was delicious!! read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Fried Chicken Wings Macaroni and Cheese Candied Yams - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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They still have some of the best Mac and cheese I've ever tasted. Compete with my mama's. The staff is friendly, responsive and open. They don't have seating but the takeout was efficient. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Macaroni and Cheese - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had one of those days where I was craving soul food and missing home in the South. While searching, I came across Henry's on Apple Maps and decided to give it a try. When I walked in, I was greeted right away, and it immediately felt like a place that's been part of the community for years. There's a warmth to the space that tells you a lot of people have enjoyed meals here. After looking over the menu, I ordered the catfish dinner with two sides -- fried okra and mac & cheese. The fried okra was a pleasant surprise. It was crispy, lightly breaded, and most importantly, didn't have that heavy grease smell you sometimes get with fried foods. It was flavorful without being overwhelming. The mac & cheese was good, though a little saltier than I would have preferred. I was hoping for more of a rich, savory flavor, but it was still enjoyable. The star of the meal was definitely the catfish. The seasoning and flavor were spot on, and the fillets were well cooked. I did find the occasional bone, but that didn't take away from the fact that it was the best item on my plate. I learned Henry's is actually known for their sweet potato pie, which I didn't try this time but will definitely be ordering on my next visit. Ratings: Catfish - 5/5 Mac & Cheese - 3/5 Fried Okra - 4/5 Overall, Henry's is a spot I would return to. If you've been here before, I'd love to hear your recommendations for what I should try next time. read more

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I haven't had soul food in DC in years because most of the places have been hit or miss with food quality. Henry's gets a 10/10!!! Crispy fried chicken like my grandma would make in Tennessee or down south at my alumni college Jackson State. The portions are large and the food is yummy!!!! Tip: Call to order your food in advance or the wait can be long. There is no seating only carryout. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Fried Chicken Wings dinner - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I would highly recommend Henry's. We stopped in and ordered the half chicken dinner which included the fried okra and yams, the chopped pork sandwich with collard greens and Mac n cheese, and the fish dinner with Mac n cheese and collard greens. Everything was great. The special sause for the fried chicken is amazing. I almost forgot the cornbread. The staff that took our order did a great job of managing the counter, the phones and the desserts. She needs a raise. lololol. We will be back read more

Longtime DC native and always wanted to give this place a try. It's a classic hole in the wall with good food. I first walked in and there is a stinch that chose to ignore so I could give the food a shot. Glad I did. The server is a bit short with her responses but she knows her stuff when it comes to the menu and pricing. She's Henry's granddaughter and appears to be running the whole show now that Henry is gone. My wife and I both ordered the Fried Whiting with Mac & Cheese and Greens. I also ordered a side of yams. I received my order and the bag was heavy. I knew this was a good sign. I got to the car and the food was piping hot. The cornbread is A1. Greens are delicious. There is a healthy portion of whiting which I surprisingly couldn't finish. The Mac and cheese was mediocre. Overall the food was really good and I'll definitely return. I ended up calling my mother and aunt and ordered food for them since I knew it was pretty good. Classic hole in the wall with good food. If you're looking for soul food this will definitely scratch the itch. read more

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Food was traditional soul food. I tried a variety, smothered pork chops, fried ribs, catfish and chitterlings along with several sides. Overall, not bad, flavorful. I would get some of the items again. Chitterlings were tender and flavorful. Service was easy and quick. Ambiance could have been better, larger to accommodate more dine in options. read more

After trying places like mid atlantic, vibes cafe & other "soul food" places, this seems to be the only one that's nailed it down. The ribs fell off the bone & the mac and cheese had me hooked. The ladies who took my order were patient as well. I will be back. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - BBQ Ribs Macaroni and Cheese Candied Yams - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lawwwd I don't know if it was just an off day orrr if the cooks just aren't cooking with love but me and my group came here and ordered several options and when we sat to eat the food, were very disappointed The mac & cheese was watery and Kraft like The ribs were hard, fried chicken was ok just overcooked a little, yams were ok and the fish was tasty. Oh and the cobbler was terrible.. The overall consensus was the food was *almost good, just needed to be cooked with more care Food- 2.5 Service - 2.5 Ambiance - 1 it's a tiny order only spot and is not updated read more

I've been coming to Henry's for years because they were known for consistently good food, generous portions, and reasonable prices. Their fried chicken is still among the best in the area, and I've enjoyed many of their staples over the years--fried pork chops, smothered chicken, turkey wings, mac & cheese, yams, greens, and more. Unfortunately, the quality just isn't what it used to be. On recent visits, the food has been hit or miss, and portions have noticeably shrunk while prices have gone up. My usual go-to, the 3-piece turkey wing dinner, was especially disappointing. I overheard staff saying to only give two wings "because they were big today"--they weren't. When I asked about it, the response was defensive rather than helpful. If portion sizes are subject to change, a clear disclaimer on the menu would go a long way. A few quick notes for first-timers: No cash accepted - card or online orders only. Online orders close 1.5 hours before closing. Takeout only - no dine-in option. Henry's still has potential, especially for their fried chicken, but overall the experience feels less reliable than it used to. Here's hoping they can get back to what made them great in the first place. read more

Tried Henry's Soul Cafe for the first time and everything was delicious. You know it's good food when it puts you out for the night. The staff is very friendly as well. Definitely going back and would recommend it to anyone. I'm glad I don't live near by because I would eat here everyday. read more

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I was in the mood for a plate of some good food before I left DC . This place did not disappoint service was fast and my food was hot . I ordered the catfish meal which comes with two sides. I got yams,and potato salad. I also had to be greedy and got some sweet potato pie.Now when a place says they are known for something I order it ,and yes I'm glad I did the pie was everything I just wish it was a tad bit bigger .I thought the slice was small. Other than that I would recommend to come here. A great takeout spot . read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Fried CatFish meal with Candied Yams and Potato Salad - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food and staff was amazing. I went two days in a row. First day I had smothered pork chops and cabbage and Mac cheese and the best pound cakes the next day I had fried chicken and potato salad and collard greens and that amazing sweet potato pie. read more

I love this place! From the food to the customer service, both of which have been awesome both times I have gone. I found Henry's on Yelp last month and decided to take my family for takeout. We were here visiting from California. I was here again this month, and all I could think about on the plane was our first day's lunch, and, of course, Henry's was the first choice. This time, we chose chicken and fish. Last time, we had the same but included turkey wings and pork chops. Both times were so good! I love Erin, who took my order, and she even remembered me from my prior visit! She has been nothing but kind and patient with me adding to my order. I also want to shout out Renata, who was our server. Whenever I come to DC, Henry's will also be in our food rotation! They also give college students a discount. What a great way to honor the community. Thank you again, Erin, for making me feel like a loved and valued part of Henry's! read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - The menu - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love Henry's it still it's old school DC vibe. I love the fried whiting, sweet potato pie and fried okra. This place is my go to when I need some southern comfort! read more

Fried Chicken was tender, crispy, flavorful. Melty green beans with bacon were pure, old school deliciousness. No seating so make sure you have a place to take it! read more

This food touched my soul. Soooooo good! The mashed potatoes were insane! And the wings were delicious. My friend ordered the half chicken meal with a side of greens and mashed potatoes. I didn't get enough pictures but incredible! I will 100% be back! read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - a meal of chicken, macaroni, and cheese - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food never fails me! I take the drive every time. Make sure you order ahead so you don't have to wait! I usually order online and wait the time it says to come pickup. They also do catering which is how I first learned about them as I've used them for my company. read more

Google maps highlighted this restaurant nearby my hotel. Of course I want some delicious soul food while in Chocolate City aka DC. Meals were totally worth the walk. The whiting was fried perfectly. The meatloaf was moist and tasty. The sides were delicious!! Best part were the portions!! Plenty food for at least 2 meals for me. It's a walk up corner service restaurant so no seating at this location. Staff were kind and friendly. They apologized for the wait but honestly the meals (3) took less than 10 minutes from ordering to being received. Best soul food I've had outside of the south. Def recommend! read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Meatloaf dinner with Collard greens Candied Yams - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went to Henry's in Maryland near East over and the Liver and Onions, gravy was horrible. I keep trying to spend my money there but the quality of the food has gone down. I have been eating at Henry's in DC for over 20 years and I knew Mr. Henry. He was a passionate man and cared about the quality of the food leaving his restaurant. I wasted $15.99 to day and the portion of food is getting smaller. The string beans had an after vinegar taste and the liver was so tough. The Mac and cheese was ok. I hate to see yet another black owned business go down hill. The passion is not there. You can not throw any black person in the kitchen thinking black equals soul food. If this Soul Food restaurant business is not your passion as it was Mr. Henry's passion, please stop and close down. I went to the U St. location and just started last year going to the Maryland location and on several occasions the food was bad. I fed my food to my dogs and that's sad. I hurt for Mr. Henry because he worked hard to leave a legacy for his children , but this is not it. I am sorry, but you need to be aware of how this is affecting your lively hood and your family's reputation. Close if you cant cook real, good and down home SOUTHERN FOOD. read more

(4 stars for their incredible sweet potato pie. 1 star for everything else) I was looking forward to supporting this place. Sadly, the only good thing here is their claim to fame; the sweet potato pie. It is incredible I must say. I didn't care for the food here at all. I ordered the fried trout dinner with collard greens and macaroni and cheese. The trout was a bit on the salty side and over fried. The collard greens weren't anything to rave about and they were too "stemmy." I hate collard greens with a bunch of stems. The macaroni and cheese lacked soul and reminded me of kraft mac and cheese with seasoning added. It didn't have that baked consistency that I'm used to. It was more like creamy mac and cheese. If I didn't care for any of the three food items that I ordered then I have no faith that I'd really enjoy anything else on the menu. If I'm ever in the area I'll get a slice of sweet potato pie and keep it moving. The young lady, Erin, behind the counter was nice. Thank God she was behind the register taking the orders because her coworker Renata was so rude and unpleasant. I had a question about the items that came with my order and she came out of nowhere with her face screwed up and had an attitude. Maybe she's a relative of Henry, the owner. Otherwise, she should be unemployed. read more

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Henry's is a great place you're looking for old fashioned southern style soulfood. I especially like its Mac and Cheese and collard greens. You can't go wrong with Henry's. read more

I'm glad it's carry out only because I licked my little to go plate it was so good! My goodness! Please do not pass up on this gem! We ordered the smothered baked turkey wings. The meat was fell off the bone immediately and the smothered fried pork chops. I don't even like pork chops and I sucked the meat off the bone on these. It was so tender, seasoned well, and made with so much love. The side were greens, Mac and cheese, and candied yams. I could cry just remembering how rich and delicious each bite was. And last bit most certainly not least are the desserts. Tried both the famous sweet potato pie and banana pudding. My tastebuds will be yearning for it for years to come. I see why the pie is famous. It's perfect! Best, Yelp suggested place I've received yet! read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Banana Pudding Homemade World Famous Sweet Potato Pie Slice - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Souuullllllllll GOODDDDDDDDDDD!!! And yes it's worth the wait. We got there around 5:00p on a Friday. There was no line just 1 person ahead of us. Ordered fried okra, fried chicken, with candied yams, cabbage, corn bread for me and my daughter to share. Got my sister fried cat fish plate & a few Sweet potato pie slices. We waited for about 20 minutes and people just started coming in left and right, it got busy real quick. Got home and demolished our plate because it was the best food we had on our trip. So glad we stopped and got to try Henry's! Will be back when we come back to DC. read more

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Great food, big helpings. I used to prefer some of their competitors, but they've really improved over the past year. I've had three different meals from them lately, and they knocked it out of the park every time. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Baked Turkey - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stupid hours, mediocre soul food and Horrible service from a dirty Carryout. "Famous" sweet potato pie was extremely underwhelming and homemade lemon cake tasted old dry and store bought. It was cheap tho ‍ read more

Finally stopped in, not sure what took so long. Amazing fried chicken, crispy and flavorful, not dry. I ordered the half chicken with Mac and cheese (perfect), and collard greens (a touch bitter for me, but better with some mumbo or hot sauce), and corn bread (tasty). Super filling for $18 with a slice of sweet potato pie, which was good but on the sweet side. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Fried chicken @davideatsdc - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food is okay! However a few changes could make this establishment much better. The 3 stars are strictly for some of the food and I'm being nice with this! 1. Customer Service: The employees have unfriendly attitudes. 2. Mac and Cheese: it's just not good! They need a better recipe. Taste like noodles and cheese. 3. Tartar Sauce: Too much mayonnaise. Taste like just Mayo, not good. Add in some of the relish juice and lemon to help this! It needs a hint of freshness it! Place in the refrigerator. 4. Cleaning: Please clean up, wipe down, mop! Dirt on the walls, doors nasty and I can bet they never wash those ice tea machines! This place gets an F for cleanliness! read more

We decided to try Henry's on a Sunday. It was your typical DC parking situation. We found street parking pretty close (around the corner) and just walked around the corner to the restaurant. When we arrived we were greeted by the person working in the front. I must note there was an awful smell as we entered. Not sure what it was but it was not pleasant. We decided to ignore the smell (hard as it was) because we had been wanting to try this place. The menu was posted and we took a minute or two to decide on what to order while there was another person being assisted with a order pick up. The lady picking up her order stated she asked for a different drink. The lady helping her said, "I asked you what you wanted and you said _____." From a customer service standpoint it wasn't a great exchange. The lady ended up leaving with the drink she received versus the one she wanted. To be fair I was not there to hear the previous exchange about the drink but as a business owner or restaurant employee I would have just replaced the drink and not argued with the customer. Nonetheless, once the lady left it was our turn to order. We stood at the counter to the left until the person I was with asked the lady if we should go to the other side to order. She said yes. So instead of just telling us where to order we would have stood there had we not asked. Once we got to the right side we were able to order and before we started she let us know of any items they were currently out of which I appreciated. We ordered the pork chops (with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans) and the fried fish (with mac and cheese and greens). I also ordered the peach cobbler. The order was ready pretty quickly and everything was accurate. The food looked good so we took the order to go. The pork chops, greens, and green beans were delicious. All seasoned very well. Everything else was awful. The fish was over cooked and lacked seasoning, the mashed potatoes were so flavorless that I put them in the trash immediately (along with the gravy), the Mac and cheese was just okay and the peach cobbler was also just okay. The biggest disappointment was the corn bread. It was not sweet and had no flavor. I was so disappointed in the food. read more

I thought the price was a bit much until I received my food. It was more than I expected & I completely take back what I thought about the pricing. The portions were great. I will definitely be coming back in the future & recommending it to everyone Inknow. read more

This was an absolutely incredible meal! I ordered the half chicken fried with mac and cheese, potato salad, and cornbread. The chicken was really tasty, and the sides were even better, particularly the potato salad. It was also a TON of food for $14 - I made three meals out of this! You order at the counter and there's no seating inside. The service is fine and I got my food very quickly. There were a lot of other things on the menu I wanted to try, especially the sweet potato pie, so I'll be back! read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Fried half chicken with mac and cheese, potato salad, and cornbread - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Open on time or put signs up to say why you are not opening. Arrived at 11:15 to find it dark and doors locked. Sign says they open at 11. Waited to see for any activity and saw someone moving around but still not opening. Saw several people come up to pick up orders and eventually leave. About 11:45 an employee knocked on kitchen window and they let her in. During this time saw them taking food orders to a container. I try to support black owned businesses but with all the ways to communicate and they don't have the decency to let their customers know why they are not opening? Shameful and unprofessional! read more

So I am only giving this place one star (for now) I was looking for a soul food place to go to, an since I wasn't in B'more I could go to angies soul food. They did not have more half of their menu; the lady did suggest trying their other store in MD, but it was over 40 miles away, since I was in DC in the middle of the afternoon. I can't say the food was bad, because I didn't try anything, but I will stop by another day and give them another try. but my first trip was a definite fail. read more

I would swear this was a laundromat or check cashing place from the outside. It has only counter seating by the front window and we ate in. It was good. I get beef ribs every chance I get since they aren't common where I'm from. Theirs were tender, slow cooked, and slathered in sweet barbecue sauce with sliced bread on the side. Good flavor, though I don't think these ribs were smoked as someone else said, given the color, flavor, and texture of the outside. They were satisfying either way! Sides: Greens were flavorful and not mushy. They actually felt healthy! The cornbread stuffing with gravy was well seasoned though sweeter than I'm used to. They clearly use their own baked cornbread. Dessert: Mmm. Banana pudding. You expect Nilla Wafers, but this was almost like bits of cake. I was into it. Portions at this place are insane. Come hungry. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Pile of banana pudding in bed while watching HGTV - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ample portions. Delicious. Delivery neat and warm. Real collard greens. Homemade gravy. Perfect porkchops.

BBQ ribs have pleasant smoke flavor, potato salad is right in there, and mac 'n cheese is old-school good. The sweet potato pie is widely known--it's smooth and layered with flavor. There's a huge photo of Henry holding his famous sweet potato pie on one of the shop's walls. What a thoughtful homage to him. Staff is friendly. There's very limited seating; always get mine to go. Without fail, there's a cop waiting in line to order food--a reliable testimonial. He's no longer with us, but Henry's down-home cooking lives on here. read more

Henry's Soul Cafe - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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