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    Henry's Soul Cafe

    3.9 (296 reviews)
    InexpensiveSouthern, Soul Food
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Henry's Soul Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    HENRY'S SOUL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Henry's Soul Cafe

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    LaTanya T.

    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.

    Fried Chicken Wings Macaroni and Cheese Candied Yams
    Talysa M.

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

    Macaroni and Cheese
    Christopher J.

    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.

    Mechelle M.

    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.

    Fried Chicken Wings dinner
    Cynthia J.

    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.

    Beef Liver with Onions
    Jerran N.

    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.

    BBQ Ribs Macaroni and Cheese Candied Yams
    Valen C.

    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.

    Fried Bone In Croaker with potato salad and Mac n cheese

    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.

    Fried CatFish meal with Candied Yams and Potato Salad
    Meg T.

    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 .

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    27 days ago

    Very yummy soul food. Reasonably priced! the chicken was the best part for me! Banana bread pudding was pretty good too

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    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food - Smothered pork chop and Steak and Cheese Sub

    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food

    4.2(64 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food consistently delivers exceptional quality & service. The staff…read moreexhibits professionalism, demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the menu & creates a welcoming atmosphere which enhances the customer experience. The cuisine is distinguished by its excellence; notably, the catfish is expertly prepared, flavorful & well-seasoned, obviating the need for additional condiments such as hot sauce or tartar sauce. Side dishes are thoughtfully paired with the main course: the collard greens with turkey are fresh & complement the catfish, while the macaroni & cheese presents a rich, satisfying flavor akin to a dessert. The cornbread is reminiscent of cake. Collectively, the superior culinary offerings & attentive service result in a memorable dining experience. Johnny Ray's stands out for its consistent standards & convenient downtown Silver Spring location. A visit to this establishment is highly recommended.

    When I walked into Johnny Rays, I was quickly greeted by the owner who is very involved in the…read morerestaurant. I ordered through DoorDash and was able to pick it up fresh. I ordered 2 whiting plates. One with collard greens with smoked turkey and fries and the other with Mac n cheese and rice and gravy. The fries were good. The whiting was fried to perfection. I also like the greens (I'm a southerner so I'm a bit hard to please). Everything was reasonably priced. The restaurant had nice music playing and has a bit of a lounge feel with the dark walls. It wasn't crowded on a Friday during lunch time. I'd go back for sure.

    Photos
    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food - Indoor seating

    Indoor seating

    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food
    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food - Inside

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    Inside

    Oohh's and Aahh's - Turkey wings meal

    Oohh's and Aahh's

    3.8(462 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    This spot is the Master P's of great eats, make them say oohh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh. Anyways, the…read moreatmosphere, ambiance, food, and service were stellar here at the Georgia Ave. location. My grilled chicken was moist, flavorful, and cooked very well. The fried catfish was not too salty and had great balance where you can taste the fish. The mac and cheese, cabbage, and green beans were all of nice quality, the weakest link is the potato salad, however that is a dish that can be complicated for different restaurants to get the hang of, fortunately I can prepare some awesome potato salad myself. The peach half and half drinks were balanced perfectly well not too sugary and sweet. I swear some of these places make drinks way too sweet and you want to check your insulin levels. The server was highly attentive and a great conversationalist and paid attention to our wants and needs and had superb professionalism and a strong work ethic. He was hospitable and accommodating. The staff was friendly and approachable. We had fun and enjoyed this more than Milk and Honey and even Carolina Kitchen. DC keeps gentrifying and losing its soul, but there are still some hidden gems around. This spot blends in with the Walmart, and funnily enough I have driven past here a gazillion of times and assumed it was some bakery or another spot and did not know it was a soul food joint, something DC has been minimizing and pushing out to Maryland like the city always does. I think it is masterful that they use clear plastic containers for their food making it easier for the staff as that can be expensive and time consuming with the dish washing/prep, sound economical move. It is nice that the business (U Street etc. location) has been in the DMV for over 20 years and expanded to Baltimore in Fells Point. I think Baltimore will like this spot! This felt authentic and soulful in a way that I had not experienced in the city in quite some time, as the city has had a lot of restaurants be sterile, bland, flavorless, and catered to certain demographics while completely ignoring others. I liked the soundtrack with R&B and was able to hear some TLC on the soundtrack which was very nostalgic and a throwback to DC before the gentrification when it was truly Chocolate City! Overall, it is a spot that you can visit more than once certainly not a one and done like a lot of restaurants that lack service, food, and ambiance/vibe.

    Representing runner-up to an out of town location, O is for Oohh's & Aahh's representing 2020. I…read morevisited on Sunday, May 31, 2020. At that time, I was upset about what happened with George Floyd a week earlier; still in 2026, it was wrong what happened to Floyd (not to mention more recent news that happened in that city was horrible too). I hung out with a friend on that warm day having a beer outside his apartment in Takoma Park. He is a mega-leftist politically (I'm more independent), but said he wanted to support a black-owned business; I said that's a good idea; I might do that for dinner. He was doing his own thing for dinner, so I was on my own. So, I looked up on Yelp what was in the area, and I saw just across the border in DC, Oohh's & Aahh's. Staff was nice, and I got a fried chicken platter. As this was Covid times, there was no dine-in. So, I schlepped all the way straight up Georgia Ave 6 miles back to my home in Wheaton fairly quickly on that Sunday as I don't like my food getting cold. I think my food stayed pretty hot as it was well-wrapped, and if it had cooled off, I could always microwave at home. The fried chicken, mac n' cheese (my favorite vegetable...I know not really a veggie but a joke), etc. were all solid. If I was ever over here, I'd consider coming back; just so rare I go to DC these days.

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    Oohh's and Aahh's - Dining room

    Dining room

    Oohh's and Aahh's - Turkey Plate

    Turkey Plate

    Oohh's and Aahh's - Titos strawberry lemonade

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    Titos strawberry lemonade

    Yardbird

    Yardbird

    3.9(903 reviews)
    1.2 miDowntown
    $$$
    Full bar
    Gluten-free friendly

    What can one say about YardBird that has probably already been said? Well no matter cause YardBird…read moreis a personal fav of mine! I've been to the DC and the Las Vegas locations and noticed that depending on which location you visit the menu can slightly change a few things. I prefer coming during Brunch hours which runs on the weekend from 10am-4pm. The buttermilk biscuits with honey butter and housemade jam are yummy. And the creme Brule waffles offer a nice sweetness for the sugar crave you might be having. And the fried chicken is to die for. Even has a gluten free option! But my fav brunch item is the gravy train. Which is a bacon, fried chicken, egg, and cheese sandwich SMOTHERED in gravy. This location also is within walking distance from a few metro stops. And there's a parking garage or two nearby in addition to street parking.

    I have never been here nor heard of this place but not like in a bad way. My friend who has celiac…read moreactually found this place on the gluten Free app. Honestly god bless cause it's such a cute spot!!! I do hate that you can only order breakfast 10-11am but SOO worth it when you get the GLUTEN FRIENDLY CHICKEN AND WAFFLES. like what?! Period. I haven't had fried chicken in almost 2 years and it was so amazing. The staff was super nice and attentive too. good vibes all around. I'm forsure coming back- but next time with my BOYFRANDDD and he can pay for all the food I'm about to eat there. Well tbh, all the food HES going to eat cause he's a little fatty ( like me )

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    Yardbird - 32oz Porterhouse

    32oz Porterhouse

    Yardbird - Lobster Mac & Cheese

    Lobster Mac & Cheese

    Yardbird - Y.B.G.M.

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    Y.B.G.M.

    Henry's Soul Cafe - southern - Updated July 2026

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