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    Henry's Soul Cafe

    3.9 (292 reviews)
    InexpensiveSouthern, Soul Food
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Henry's Soul Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    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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    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 .

    The menu
    Kathy W.

    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!

    a meal of chicken, macaroni, and cheese
    Noah R.

    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!

    Meatloaf dinner with Collard greens Candied Yams

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    2 years ago

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

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    Hen Quarter Prime - Deviled Eggs Fried Green Tomatoes

    Hen Quarter Prime

    4.3(166 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$$$
    Fine dining
    Takes reservations

    When everyone who just dined at this restaurant, asks each other, "how does this place stay in…read morebusiness?" when offering such a good deal for all you can eat crab legs and all you can drink. You know it was a solid meal and the experience was excellent! We had a special occasion, and we all came out for all you can eat crab legs. All you can eat cornbread and all you can drink. The alcoholic beverages were limited to Jim beam old-fashioned, red or white sangria, and a limited draft beer select selection. For all you can drink, you would usually expect a water down lower quality beverage, however, that was not the case. The old-fashioned were very well made. The red sangria was decadent and not overly sweet. And the draft beer was a good old draft beer. Caroline was our server. She was absolutely excellent. She was attentive, polite patient with us. Always making sure we were all taken care of. She helped make our meal even better. The decor of this restaurant is very high class. Visually it's very well, appointed with table, linens, cloth, napkins, and cohesive color scheme. With the decor, high-quality drinks and the high-quality food we were more than happy to pay the $70 for all you can eat and drink. I highly recommend this place. I have to make sure to come back sooner than later.

    I visited for the Mother's Day brunch, and I'll start by saying the atmosphere was beautiful. I…read moreloved the decor, the music playing, and the hostess stand was warm and friendly. Unfortunately, that's where the experience started to go downhill. The food itself was good, but the service from Jordan honestly put a damper on the afternoon. On such a busy holiday, I understand things can get hectic, but we constantly had to ask for basic things like water and for our dirty dishes to be cleared, and the service was extremely slow and inattentive. I ordered pancakes from the menu. I waited nearly 30 minutes for pancakes because certain menu items apparently had to be ordered separately. And I had to ask about them twice. He keep blaming the kitchen, but I honestly think that it was him. To make matters worse, Jordan spilled water on my daughter's food and on the floor. His shirt was also visibly dirty with food and water stains on the front, which was not the most professional appearance. From where we were seated, we could also see him taking several breaks while the restaurant was busy. I didn't want to complain in the moment because my children planned this outing for me, and I didn't want to put a damper on the afternoon. But for me, service really makes or breaks a restaurant experience. And respectfully, some people are meant to be servers and some people are not. Serving may just not be Jordan's strength. He seemed overwhelmed, extremely slow, and honestly confused for most of our visit. And they were adding 20% gratuity automatically. He did not deserve 20% AT all! He soured my Mother's Day experience which was truly unfortunate. The food and ambiance were there -- the service unfortunately was not. A different server would have made this a five star experience.

    Photos
    Hen Quarter Prime - Awesome decor

    Awesome decor

    Hen Quarter Prime - Little bit of this and that off the brunch buffet

    Little bit of this and that off the brunch buffet

    Hen Quarter Prime - Passion fruit Lemonade and peachy lemon drop.

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    Passion fruit Lemonade and peachy lemon drop.

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    3.9(2.7k reviews)
    2.9 miCourt House, Rosslyn
    $$
    Full bar
    Takes reservations

    My girlfriend and I went here for dinner recently…read more Ambiance is on point with a very fun bee/ honey theme. They had a cute outdoor seating space, however it was cold and rainy so we couldn't sit there. We had the fried green tomatoes, snd both got the salmon with two sides of your choice. I got Brussels sprouts and potatoes. She got Mac and cheese and salad. The salmon was perfectly cooked and potatoes were crispy and salty on the outside and creamy potato on the inside. Yum!! We sat there until they were sweeping around our feet and they were very nice about it even then. I rarely close down a place these days, so I was grateful they were accommodating.

    Let me start with the good. Our waitress, Samika, greeted us…read morewith a smile and took great care of us. She was attentive, friendly, and kept things moving. The wait wasn't long, and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. They also offer a Monday-Friday happy hour from 4 PM to 6 PM, which is worth noting. Now that we've covered the positives... I came with my family, as we usually go out to eat on Sundays after church. I ordered the shrimp and grits, my sister had the dark‑meat chicken with fries, that unfortunately had to be switched when they brought her the wrong white meat, chicken and fries. My granddaughter got sausage and grits. There are no pictures of the food because I don't recommend you come here if you're looking for real southern food. I personally won't be back and won't waste storage space on disappointment. The shrimp and grits....the portion was so small, I thought they accidentally brought me the sample plate. It should honestly be listed under "Kids Menu". The menu says it comes with chorizo pork sausage, but instead of sliced pieces like normal restaurants, it was crumbled so tiny I thought it was seasoning dust. When I asked about it, they told me it's "put in very small so you don't know it's there." Well... congratulations. Mission accomplished. You get six shrimp, and they claim the dish is "spicy". Please, the spice level was somewhere between tap water and air. Then there was the chicken dish. I tasted it, and my sister will give you the full breakdown in her own review. The skin had a nice honey flavor, I'll give them that. But once you get past the skin, the chicken was out here playing hide‑and‑seek with the seasoning. Completely bland. The fries were fine, not great, not terrible, just fries. Now, the bathroom: I was unimpressed. When you walk in, there were paper towels on the floor and toilet paper in places it shouldn't be. The handicap stall does have a baby‑changing table and some extra paper towel and tissue supplies, which is helpful. However, the toilet seat covers in the handicap stall need to be replaced, even though the other stall had some available. Overall, the restroom did not feel well‑maintained. Great service can't make up for food and facilities that simply don't deliver. This was a disappointing visit, and I won't be back.

    Photos
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar
    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

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    Mallard - Dessert - "coffee & cigarettes"

    Mallard

    4.4(71 reviews)
    0.7 miLogan Circle, Downtown

    Mallard is a charming and cozy Southern restaurant, serving everything from classic shrimp & grits…read moreto Peking duck. You cannot go wrong with their menu! The shared pork saddle was the star of our evening... insanely delicious and perfectly cooked. I also hope they continue offering their Valentine's Day Raspberry Sunday. The peppercorn and ice cream combination was delectable. Bravo! Mallard's restaurant appears divided into two parts, with seating areas as you walk in and a smaller nook closer to the kitchen. Both are beautifully decorated and offer enough space to not feel crammed. The servers and hosts are welcoming, patient, and extremely attentive. Thank you to all the staff for a wonderful evening. We will be back soon enough!

    tl;dr -- 3.5/5, but bumping it to a 4/5 for the attentive service…read more Mallard's been on my friend and I's list for awhile, so we got dinner here for our catch-up meal this past Tuesday. The interior leans into a nostalgic Southern theme rooted in a different era, with warm red-brown tones, vintage frames lining the walls, and some duck-related decor. After placing our order, our server brought out a small serving of French onion soup for us to enjoy, compliments of the chef. The soup was incredibly creamy and smooth with a nice acidity. The bits of fried onion on top gave it a sweeter flavor that had us wanting more. SEA ISLAND PEA DIP - 9 Duck Fat Saltines, Benne Seeds The house-made saltines were a nice touch, with a wheat-y and nutty texture and flavor that's missing in the store-bought ones. I love the pea dip, which was mixed with benne seeds, for a smooth, yet gritty flavor. My friend thought it tasted a bit too heavy of a "fennel" flavor, but I personally enjoyed it. FOIE GRAS & WAFFLES - 23 This was easily our favorite dish of the night. The combination of flavors and textures was outstanding: silky, umami-rich foie gras balanced by tart pickled apples, grounded by the familiar comfort of waffle, and brought together with a savory onion sauce and apple butter. The foie gras maple syrup was quite delicious, definitely a unique pairing. PENNSYLVANIA PEKIN DUCK - 46 Given that there would be Peking-style duck breast, with sauce reminiscent of hoisin on the side, we thought there would have been some sort of bun to pair with it. Despite that, the duck breast was so juicy and perfectly prepared. The collard greens were delicious. The fried chicken leg was great with the meat falling off the bone easily. The batter was not overdone either. Definitely a standout dish, with the duck breast being the highlight. GRIDDLED WILD BLUE CATFISH - 31 The dish featured a small slab of lightly battered catfish with a generous pour of the she-crab chowder, which read more like a sauce given how reduced and salty it was on its own. Since we family-styled everything, we only had a couple bites of the catfish each. We enjoyed the peanut potato, but left majority of the bacon and chowder since it was too salty. A few pieces of toast would've gone a long way in balancing the dish, which was a shame, as the chowder itself was quite seafood-forward and savory. "COFFEE & CIGARETTES" - 15 Lastly, we ended our night with our dessert featured on an ashtray. A generous scoop of espresso ice cream topped with chocolate mousse, topped with tobacco caramel and olive oil. There were also espresso morsels on the side, with its bitterness cutting through the overall sweetness of the dessert just a bit. This was good, but a bit too rich and sweet for my taste. While there were a couple standouts, my friend and I both agreed that Mallard is fine, but not great (echoing a couple other reviews). We're glad we tried it, but it's hard to say when we'd be back.

    Photos
    Mallard - Inside duck decor

    Inside duck decor

    Mallard - Ahi Tuna Crudo

    Ahi Tuna Crudo

    Mallard - Pimento cheese

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    Pimento cheese

    Puddin' - Brown Butter Bourbon Bread Puddin'

    Puddin'

    4.3(522 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Boyfriend and I went to Union Market for a post-dinner sweet treat. I saw this place all over…read moreTikTok, I knew I needed that Brown Butter Bourbon Bread Pudding. They give free samples for NEARLY ALL of their food, I mentioned I traveled to DC from CA, and the workers gave me a sample of one of everything on the menu! Gosh, I have never experienced such AMAZING customer service! My boyfriend loved the etouffee and my favorite was the gumbo sample. We were so stuffed from our previous dinner, and couldn't order more. We noticed everything on the menu was VERY affordable for DC pricing and gave good portions. We ended up opting for the bread pudding, and finished it in minutes. The bread pudding feels like a warm hug, and is a MUST with the ice cream. It has hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and the bourbon perfectly balanced the creaminess and sweetness of the ice cream.

    On my DC visit my friend told me this place was good and she didn't lie. The bread puddin is what I…read morewent for and it didn't disappoint. They have a decent size location located in the market and of course there's a line to stand in but it's not bad. Let me tell you, I got one small order and went back for a big order. The customer service was good and it's a walk up and keep it moving type of vibe. They call your number out, you pick up your order, find a seat or sit outside. Overall it was good and I would visit this location again.

    Photos
    Puddin' - Stall sign // Puddin * Union Market, DC

    Stall sign // Puddin * Union Market, DC

    Puddin' - Brown Butter Bourbon Bread Puddin'

    Brown Butter Bourbon Bread Puddin'

    Puddin' - Chicken 'n Beef Sausage Gumbo

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    Chicken 'n Beef Sausage Gumbo

    Henry's Soul Cafe - southern - Updated May 2026

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