I worked across the street in the 90s. People in our office would go and report back. If they liked you, the food was great. If you were white, they probably didn't like you. Those people got unseasoned, undercooked food. No salt at the table and their waiter would be so rude and aggressive, you were afraid to ask for some. (Clearly intentional.) After a while, friends from the office would go just to report back so we'd all have a laugh about it. Tragic history. Crazy experience. Welcome to Phoenix. At least you have a story to tell. read more

Not sure what can be said that hasn't been already. I can't claim to be a soul food expert, but I do know a great tasting meal when I have one. Popped in before a Suns game, an easy walk past Chase Field. It was good to get away from the usual pregame options. The place was clean and inviting, and had a little bit of a "back in time" feel without being dated. Quickly and pleasantly welcomed and seated. Then came the hard part, making choices. We had fried chicken and fried catfish, with sides of Mac and Cheese, macaroni salad (yep, Mac two ways), greens and mashed potatoes with gravy. All were great, obviously home made from longstanding recipes. Especially into the greens, which were bursting with flavor. The catfish was delish, and my wife called the fried chicken the best she ever had. Saved room for peach cobbler, which was served smoking hot. The perfect sweet end to the savory meal. Next time I'm all in on pork chops, which looked amazing. And we will come on a Sunday, the only day dressing is available as a side option. If you're looking for a meal that feels like a friend had you over for supper, go here! Thanks Mrs. White's family! read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Remind me to take the pic before I start eating! - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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FAMILY over 60 years of some of the best SOUL FOOD in America The Renos are terrific Thx Gordon Ramsey read more

I cannot believe I have lived in the Valley for four years and am just now discovering this place. Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe is a true hidden gem. The moment I walked in, it felt like stepping into Auntie's house just as she finished frying up the pork chops--warm and welcoming! The food was an easy 9.5/10. The pork chops were perfectly seasoned with that unmistakable home-cooked crunch. The macaroni and cheese? Creamy, rich, and pure comfort. And don't even get me started on the peach cobbler--it tasted like it was made specifically for me, served piping hot right out of the oven. My only wish was for a slightly larger scoop of ice cream to balance out that warm goodness! To top it off, the red Kool-Aid had that nostalgic, perfect level of sweetness. It was the perfect birthday lunch! I'm already planning my next visit. If you want to be intentional with your soul food cravings, this is the spot! read more

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Smells good when you come in lots of people friendly people waiter was right there giving us help and ideas what's good can't wait for our food to come read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Yes it so Good - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

OMG. Has it been more than 15 years? The place has been renovated. No longer a hole in the wall felt like I was going to someone's house. Service has definitely improved. The food is still yummy fried deliciousness. read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Smothered fried pork chop, greens and cheesy mac. - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Great food stopped by for lunch had a great time with family the chicken was delicious and the black eyed peas and cornbread which was cold and old but they replaced it with fresh cornbread but will definitely visit again read more

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Hands down the best soul food place in Arizona always & they're always consistent. Staff is awesome and the fried catfish is always perfect. Not to mention they got the best sweet potatoes on the side of the country!! Food 5/5 Location 5/5 Parking 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Staff 5/5 Service 5/5 Return Factor 5/5 read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I met up with a friend for lunch upon entry the dining area was clean and the decor was welcoming. There was one server doing a magnificent job of waiting on 4 different tables. We all got our food fresh and without a wait. The food was flavorful and we totally enjoyed every bit. read more

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You can tell they have been here and are a part of history in Phoenix, AZ. Looks like some remodeling has happened and they are finishing up some minor things. This was our first time here. We've read good, great and bad reviews so we had to go with an open mind and not go with pre-made assumptions. We were somewhat greated when we came in... it was like we didn't really feel all the way welcomed kinda feeling if that makes sense. It wasn't really crowded which I thought was ok. I think we were the biggest party there at the time. There were six of us. Our waitress I believe, was the daughter of the owner, which was great and she shared that her mom is doing well and thriving. She said her mom is 99 and her mom's sister is 102. Unbelievable! I guess eating southern comfort food really does wonders for the body! She must be doing something right is all I'm saying. We were seated and it took a minute to get some menus and then our drink orders were taken. We ordered the southern fried chicken plates, cabbage, beans, cornbread was served, macaroni and cheese and greens, smothered pork chops, chicken fried steak. (I think that was everything) 'Big Backs' ... Everything was actually well flavored and really good. The chicken was fried perfectly. The cabbage had a little kick to it and was a little bit softer than what I like, but it was still good. The beans were really good and soft. My 12 year old ate all his mac & cheese. And he's a picky eater. He said it was good! Our experience here was good and we are glad that we tried Mrs. Whites. The waitress and other server were friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. They checked on us throughout our time in. Definitely, give this place a try if you're in the mood for some good southern comfort, food, and learning a little history while you're there, Or if you're out and about and want to try something new, different or get a taste of home cooking. Never judge a book by its cover or take somebody else's word for their experiences and how they view things. Have your own experiences. Never have assumptions or go off of what someone else says. Perspectives are always different. Taste buds are different from yours. And just as much as we want Great Customer service, which is always a plus and should be a given. Remember, how you show up is just as important. read more

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I heard about this place on Kitchen Nightmares.They have best macaroni and cheese I've ever eaten anywhere. The mashed potatoes and gravy are great. The cornbread was a 9 out of 10. Fried Chicken is one of my favorite meals,I've never had better fried chicken. I dined with 2 friends, they said the grilled catfish and fried catfish were great. They agreed how great the macaroni and cheese was. One of them had black eyed peas and said they were great. He said jalapeño coleslaw was good, not as hot as he expected. We were disappointed at 130pm they didn't have any daily specials, the only dessert they had was blueberry lemon cake. They only had about 4 tablespoons between the time we arrived and left in 2 hours. I hope they get more business so they don't close. The service was terrible, both employees working the dining room seemed like they were high and not fully coherent. We agreed the food was so good we will still go back. I would normally give a 3 star with that bad of service but the amazing food made up the extra star. It would have been 5 star if the service was decent. I hope they'll see this review and work on the service. read more

This place is goated for soul food in Phoenix. They never miss. The new updates to the place makes it seem nice and roomy, although ive been going at a time where famous people autographed the walls. The service was great but the food amazing the chicken fried steak is a fan favorite of my stomach read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Chicken Fried Steak, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Had an extreme craving for Soul Food, decided to try here and it definitely hit the spot! I ordered through uber eats but would've loved to try it in person. Smothered Pork Chops were good, I understand it's smothered but a little too soggy for my liking with the batter, however flavor was there for sure. Next time I'll have to get fried pork chops side of gravy. Fried Chicken was delicious! For my order to be delivered and still be crunchy and seasoned just right was a win! The sides wasn't my favorite, but did its job. I can't wait to try other menu items as overall experience was great! read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Smothered Pork Chop and Gravy with Rice and Mac and Cheese, side of Fried Chicken Thigh and cornbread - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Where do I begin! I just recently relocated to Arizona and have been missing soul food. As an east coast native who also lived in Atlanta for sometime I was thrilled when I got a recommendation for Mrs. whites. I can specifically searching for greens and mac and cheese. The location was nice and I liked the murals painted on the building. Gave it a community feel. The place was cozy inside and we were instructed to sit ourselves. When I saw kool aid and tea on the menu I felt that I was in the right place. The descriptions of the food were also enticing. The pork chops (which I ordered) were describe as season and fried to perfection. It must have all been a ruse BECAUSE The pork chops lack seasoning. The greens (mixed not collards) were made with sugar and a significant amount very sweet, yuck! I've never had greens that were sweet. It's a savory dish. The black eye peas were the only thing edible on my plate and those tasted like they came out of a can. My friend had smothered chicken, greens and mac. All equally disappointing. The Mac was water and lacked flavor and cheese. The chicken still had a few feathers on it. The plate was brought out before mine so by the time we waited on my plate and got up to get our own silverware because that was forgotten. Her chicken was soggy at best. To make up for all this our waitress offered us cornbread on the house. That too was a disappointment. Slightly more edible than the rest of the food though. After spending nearly $60 dollars total we left extremely disappointed. And hungry. read more

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What a gem in Phoenix. Upon walking in I was greeted by everyone working - So welcoming. The place is clean and cozy and I loved the counter-vibe where I sat. Food-wise it was fantastic. The fried catfish was straight outta the South. Mixed greens were so, so amazing - Full of flavor with the right light heat, no need to add anything. Mac and cheese was hearty and yummy, not soupy and bland. Cornbread topped off an amazing lunch, all washed down with some great sweet tea. Now one thing to note - They make the food fresh to order so it's not a super quick lunch spot but oh my, worth the extra 5 or so minutes for fresh food. Seriously, this place is good enough to run to on a long layover. 1000% I'm going every time I'm in Phoenix. read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Side of the building makes it easy to find! - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Excellent soul food, black eye peas, corn bread - fried chicken, pork chops. Service has improved 100%, fully renovated and cleanliness. Food was excellent, I will return for more. read more

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Really good plates of food. You can tell it's made there and definitely has a homemade feel to it. The staff are nice and friendly plus knowledgeable about the menu. It's a nice cozy spot to get lunch. read more

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Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe 808 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85034 I would give 4 stars for their delicious fried Chicken but 2 stars for service The staff is very friendly but needs training Positive Aspects I visited this restaurant after showing my listing at Crab n Spice. Friendly Staff**: The staff members were exceptionally friendly, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Delicious Fried Chicken**: The fried chicken was outstanding--crispy on the outside, moist and light on the inside. I absolutely loved it and will definitely return for more. Negative Aspects Slow Service**: The service was quite slow. I arrived right as the restaurant opened, and it took 30 minutes for my iced tea to arrive. Tea Refills**: My tea was not refilled until I finished my meal, although the server remained friendly throughout. From the restaurant website: Mrs. Whites Cafe. A family-run business since its inception in 1964. We take great pride in serving up classic Southern soul food in a cozy, home-style atmosphere. Our recipes have been handed down through generations, allowing us to provide our customers with a truly unique and authentic experience. Come and enjoy a delicious meal at Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe and take a step back in time. read more

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The restaurant itself is adorable and very 70s in its style. We walked in as soon as they opened on a Sunday morning and were told to seat ourselves by another patron at the restaurant. It felt like being at a family member's house. The restaurant is full of historical pictures of Mrs White's family which was really nice to see and I was surprised to find this establishment opened in 1964! My boyfriend ordered the oxtails with green beans and Mac and cheese and I ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and cabbage. The oxtails were falling off the bone and green beans were tender. The Mac and cheese was really well seasoned and probably one of my favorite dishes we ordered. My friend chicken was perfection! Crispy, juicy skin with succulent meat. Even the white meat was juicy. The mashed potatoes were nice and lumpy like I like them and the gravy was lovely and peppery. The cabbage was delicious and melted in the mouth. Paired with some hot sauce it was amazing! We also ordered a slice each of their orange cranberry cake and 7 up pound cake and let me tell you they do not skimp on the portions. The cakes were lovely and light and I appreciate when restaurants make desserts without frosting. All in all a wonderful experience, the people working there were friendly and we will definitely be back! read more

Delicious southern comfort food at its best! Get the fried chicken, and try to avoid the long lines by coming after the lunch rush or before dinner rush. read more

Mrs. Whites is a staple in Phoenix, Arizona. I have been going here since I was a kid and so have my mother, knowing the older family members. Today, we were greeted by a delightful young lady later to find out she is the great granddaughter to Mrs. Whites. It was her and a Hispanic gentleman holding down the fort and they really seemed to make a great team. Tables were cleaned before you can notice the party left and they checked on us often. Restaurant and bathroom was cleaned and the music was nice and mellow. A great lunch crowd and just a peaceful environment. Food was good as always. We got a smothered chicken plate and a veggie plate. My only hangup was the veggie plate costing the same as a regular plate and the veggies plate was full of juice making everything extremely wet. After draining, it was delicious and flavorful. I haven't been here in many years and was happy to visit again. Great experience and beautiful remodel. read more

I've heard good things about this restaurant, so I finally tried it. The food was just ok, besides the chicken. The chicken was very good. The mac and cheese was very bland. The greens could've used more flavor. The cornbread was fine. The sides came out piping hot, too hot to eat at first. read more

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You want great fried chicken? GO TO MRS. WHITE'S TODAY! Over the past 10 years or so, I've been to Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe several times, and almost always left happy that I made time to stop in. The one exception was shortly after the Covid shutdown, and things weren't right on that visit. Since then, I've been twice and plan to go back many more! read more

Delicious soul food spot! Southern comfort food served in super casual environment. I stopped by here after church on Sunday with my wife. it was our first time here. We ordered a fried chicken plate with two sides and a pork chop plate with two sides. All of the food was amazing! I was a little underwhelmed at the drink choices, they only had Kool Aid, iced tea (sweet or unsweet) and lemonade available. The prices everywhere are high these days for food and Mrs Whites is no exception. The average dinner plate with one entree and 2 sides of your choice The pork chop plate came with 2 pork chops so at least it was a decent portion nevertheless it cost more than $20. My fried chicken plate cost me an extra $3 so I could have the luxury of all dark meat. So for 2 chicken legs and a thigh i paid more than $25 for my meal. Bottom line is I could not afford to eat here more than once or twice a month with those types of prices. Attention to detail was a little lacking. I ordered unsweet tea but i got sweet tea. I suggested for my refill they could bring unsweetened tea but no one ever offered a refill. I asked for my refill in a to go cup when getting ready to leave that was overlooked as well. I had to ask for a to go box at the counter and they never provided me with a final check for the meal. I requested it at the counter after getting up to leave. None of these things were egregious just minor oversights that damped the overall quality of the experience. They lost a star from me for that. Pros - all the entrees and sides were on point! Servers were kind and pleasant to work with. - restaurant was quiet, clean and comfortable enough. - unique niche soul food staples available regularly Cons: - plates were pretty pricey ($20+ per person) The restaurant could use some TLC to elevate the experience for customers. - few soft drink options (no sodas available) - customer service could beat little better My wife and I I enjoyed this place and would be willing to come back. Nonetheless, my experience was far from perfect.The food was very good but all in all there is a little room for improvement in regards to the customer experience. read more

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MRS WHITE'S GOLDEN RULE CAFE . . . If you're a foodie in the Phoenix area, you know about Mrs. White's. For years I've heard people talk about this 60-year-old soul food restaurant. I have read articles and even seen news stories about the role it has played in the African American movement in Arizona, the food, and about Mrs. White herself. Back when it opened in 1964, the civil rights act had just passed, but change was still slow. Tempe was still a "sundown town." Mrs. White's was a place where everyone in the community could gather for a good meal and race didn't (and still doesn't) matter. When you step into this cafe, it seems like you've gone back in time, which I kind of love. It looks like I imagine it looked in 1964. There are photos, newspaper clippings, and awards from civil rights groups on the walls, and the operating hours are written on the wall in Sharpie. I don't really know much about soul food, but I do know our lunch was delish. Not sure what the secret ingredient is in that cole slaw, but OMG--it is seriously yummy! I'm not the biggest fried chicken fan, so I ordered the pork chop with Mac and cheese. It was tender and yummy. My son liked the chicken, but I didn't taste it. It's definitely worth a visit if for no other reason than the history. Fun fact: Mrs White's grandson, Lawrence, got his start cooking in this restaurant, before going on to open his own successful restaurants--Lolo's Chicken and Waffles. read more

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Arizona's first soul food restaurant! The name speaks it's self Mrs. White's golden rule cafe is the first soul food restaurant in Arizona and is still the best. In my opinion they haven't changed anything. When I go I always get there fried catfish with cabbage and mac & cheese.. Service is always on point. They make sure that you're taken care of. Make sure when you go to always ask for a piece of their fresh cornbread. Over the years, they've done remodeling inside to keep it unique as well to their style which I love it feels like you're at home having a home cook meal. And they have some of the best hours. They're open every day from 10 to 7 read more

I had the fish Mac and cheese and black eyed peas. The fish was a little salty and the black eyed peas smelled sour. Overall the atmosphere was inviting The food wasn't that bad definitely could've been better and the service was excellent . I would recommend this place to anyone looking for soul food. read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Pond Raised Catfish, Potato Salad, Mac and Cheese, Black Eye Peas and cornbread - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Best fried chicken I've ever had in my life! It's a joy to see Mrs White when she's around Food has always been good and the family treats you just like you are part of their own Greens-mmmm mmmmm read more

Food is not fresh .& heavily fried. There is an odor in the restaurant. The pork chops smell & has a bad taste. The Mac & cheese is too salty over coated with salt. The ice tea is not fresh, there is no air. No one wears gloves, hairnets. Ceiling is coming down, & lots of grafitti in bathroom. No parking. Not enough disabled parking read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Pork chops, beans, Mac & cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The food is really good and fresh and the ambience is very nice but my only complaint is that the food took forever to get to our table 9 out of 10 would recommend read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Catfish sandwich with Mac and Cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Walked in and was greeted not once, not twice , not three times, but 4 times, as I was waiting for my Uncle. Service was outstanding. They worked in unison like a well oiled machine. Was extremely happy with the service, as we had time to chat with the front of house manager. The owner was in the back of house cooking it up and making sure everything was coming out with consistency. The food was exactly what I was looking for, it was Soul Food. Uncle ordered their special Liver & Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Black Eyed Peas, I ordered Smothered Pork Chops, Black Eyed Peas, Collard Greens. We got some delicious corn bread with our meals, we both got some kool aid for nostalgic reasons . We both ordered multiple desserts, Uncle got 7up moist cake, I got banana pudding and we both ordered some fresh peach cobbler to go. The ambiance was authentic to the matriarch Mrs. White. They have tables or you can sit at the counter. read more

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I really wanted to like this place. I really did. So let's break it down. I ordered the smothered pork chops with my sides being Mac n cheese and sweet potatoes. I had koolaid to drink. The koolaid was amazing. The smothered pork chops were good but hard to cut and had a bone. The Mac n cheese was by far the worst thing I put in my mouth there. It was so bland and had ZERO flavor. It just tasted like pasta and milk. No flavor. No cheese taste. So disappointing considering the type of restaurant it is. Now I can't say anything about the sweet potatoes because they burned it and had to choose something else. I chose the rice n gravy. The gravy as well was not well flavored and was bland. Needed salt. Reminded me of plain grits without and sugar or salt or anything. They also gave us cornbread to eat with it as well. The cornbread was weird. It wasn't sweet at all like how cornbread usually is. They claim it's hand made with cornmeal but that just doesn't add up considering corn is naturally sweet and adding butter which brings out the sweetness did nothing to help the cornbread. I wanted to order cobbler but they ran out the day before and I was super bummed about that. A person I was with had banana pudding and that was delicious and excellent. I also wanted to order the oxtails but it wasn't ready at the time we ordered. I thought I'd take it home and order that to go but after 2-2.5 hours of being there it just wasn't going to happen so we left after paying. My dining companions had different things. One had the same order as me but chose the cabbage as her different side and apparently that was delicious. Another companion of mine ordered the fried chicken and catfish with sides of Mac n cheese, collard greens, Mac salad, and something else I can't remember. The fried chicken is AMAZING though. I had a piece and it was very good. And he said the catfish was very good too. The restaurant is cutely decorated and looks very 50s. Our server was nice too. His name is Jamal. I really wanted to like this place since I love soul food. But there were just a lot of things wrong on this food adventure unfortunately and I cannot justify the price for the kind of food we got. The entrees are 23 dollars per except oxtail which is 30. read more

This is the first I had the food and the service is ok rhe the tea is good if you are ever in phoenix Arizona stop by there restaurant and had the frid chicken and sweet potatoes and potatoe salad was good and the service was good as well read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Food was good - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Decided to go here because I saw them on the show with Gordon Ramsay. Can't lie, the chicken and catfish was great and they both came out super hot. The sides were solid but nothing crazy. Overall I would come back if I was in the area and craving some fried chicken. read more

Located on 8th Street & E. Jefferson Ave, it's been years since I've visited this place while visiting Phoenix. A short walk from my hotel, good southern food was on my appetite agenda. Mrs. White's has been voted for being Best of Phoenix Best Soul Food Restaurant and I can agree this place serves it up with good old fashioned home style cooking. This place makes it hearty, delicious and customer service is full of southern hospitality. But for those who are watching the calorie or fat intake, forget it because everything you've worked hard for and trying to maintain the numbers from your Doctor's office goes out the window! Since I have an addiction to fried foods, yes I'm going to order what I want and make sure that I have Mac & Cheese and green beans too! As promised, cornbread is also served with your meal. My Smothered Pork Chops was full of flavor and this might be my new go to dish since I'm always wanting something fatty and juicy after an intense training session in the gym! LOL! Peach Cobbler Pie was one of the desserts, instead I opted for the Louisiana Sweet Cake as coconut was one of the ingredients. read more

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The slowest service I have ever seen, they didn't start my takeout order until I arrived. The owner was there, and the service was still very poor. Will not recommend or be back ever again. read more

When arriving this building looked like it belonged in Alabama or Georgia, it reminded me of other Soul Food restaurants. After stepping through the door we were greeted with a smile and have a seat. Our server was prompt and took our order. This young lady is part of the family and proud of that fact as I asked, it is very refreshing to see family members keeping the tradition going. It took a little time for our food but it's fried chicken, made to order and it didn't disappoint, crispy crust, juicy chicken very good greens and a wonderful sweet potato side dish. By the way the young ladies kept the restaurant clean they cleaned floors and counter tops between orders. Phoenix is blessed to have a bonfide Soul Food restaurant read more

Good parking. Delicious food but quite expensive. If the owner repainted and did a little bit of updating, they would probably bring in a lot more money. Not much at all for an ambience. read more

The best fried chicken I've ever had!!!! The waiter was also excellent and so kind to us ladies yapping for hours read more

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe - Yum!!!! - Soul Food Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This was the first time I've been to Mrs. White's in years. I brought a friend who was visiting from Nashville and we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. She had the smothered chicken and I had the fried chicken with collard greens yams. Everything was delicious and the wait staff were amazing. I will definitely be back soon. read more