Suga Foot is, without exaggeration, the best soul food in the Albany-Troy-Schenectady area. For me,…read morethe true test of any soul food restaurant is the collard greens. These were exceptional. Tender, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavor. The southern oxtail with rice and beans was equally impressive. The oxtail was fall-off-the-bone tender, rich, and comforting. The yams were sweet and balanced. Beyond the food, the restaurant itself is lovely. The decor is warm, full of plants. The only small suggestion I'd offer is serving drinks in glasses instead of plastic cups - real glassware would match the rest of the vibe a little better.

Oxtails with rice and beans are delicious. The oxtails fall off the bone. Paired with yams and…read morecollard greens. Take out order delivered to table.

We tried this "hidden gem" (Albany location) 1. Best sweet…read moretea lemonade I've ever had 2. Spiciest Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich we've had No pictures of the sandwich my husband ate it Definitely try them if you haven't already

I drove up from NYC just to have brunch with a dear friend. Now in all fairness while I enjoyed…read morethis restaurant it was just that much better because of the great company I was with. The space is large and spacious. We went for brunch and it appeared to be family friendly. It's a nice place to go after church or to catch up yet you can still have an afternoon cocktail. I ordered the biscuit and gravy and my friend had shrimp and grits. In addtion we had beignets and candied bacon for the table. The beignets are not New Orleans good but would never expect anything this good in Albany. My biscuit and gravy were good. The gravy was savory and the biscuit tasted homemade. It was a little to thick for the amount of gravy. However I would love to try the biscuit by itself with another entrée. The shrimp and grits are not Southern style they are New Orleans style. My friend felt they were ok. Now the candied bacon was a hard NO. It was heavily salted. You could not eat do to the level of salt. I am not sure if this was a fluck or how it's prepared. Unfortunately we returned to the kitchen and I never return anything even if I don't like it. However, our server Alexa was very helpful and provided overall good service. If you are close by you should check out. True rating 3.5

Come for the food, stay for the folks…read more Recently moved to Upstate NY and decided I should go on a chicken wing tour of the area. I mean, these people know wings. Running errands in this area and dropped in to try Memphis King's (1st time visit) I always get the same wings (hot buffalo) at each restaurant/bar to keep things fair. Memphis King's wings are smoked, then fried. I've found that you lose a lot of smoke flavor when they're fried to order but these had just the right amount still present. Very tasty. And crispy! (a lot of smoked wings are grilled but, while delicious, it doesn't render enough of the skin to make them crispy and I like crisp!) I've sampled wings from about 30 places (so far) and I would whole heartedly put Memphis King's in my top 10 for sure. Looking forward to trying their other items because their burnt ends look great. As does the house made pastrami *droooool* As for the people, the gal in front of house was wonderful. And the chef (not sure if he was the owner or not) was so nice. Kept checking in on me to see how everything was and kept offering me suggestions and samples. Not pushy, just smart business because I'm 100% gonna go back.

This was great about 3 years ago when we visited, but sadly it has gone down hill since then. I…read morehad pulled pork sandwich and wife had what was supposed to be chopped brisket. They were very large sandwiches, but herd was mire like pot roast that brisket. And the pork was lacking in flavor. The sweet sauce was thin snd mire like a tomato sauce. Cole slaw was OK snd she said the mac and cheese was very good. The prices were very good but the food quality overall was barely 2 stars. We took most if the meat home to the dog.

I was looking for something a little different than the halal food establishments that are…read moredominating the food choices in the Tri-city area. (That's not a bad thing) Ya Yas is conveniently located in downtown Schenectady near State street on an unassuming corner you would pass easily if not paying attention. No worries, though there's plenty of parking and even a parking garage next door. I went on a slow Thursday night and was met with the owner who I assume was Ya Ya herself. She immediately greeted me with the house specials along with the homemade sides. I ordered the 1/2 chicken breast, collard greens, yams and corn bread the perfect southern food combo. I'd never tried collard greens but they were tasty and felt like a cross between spinach and Brussels sprouts. The bill was reasonable at $18 with plenty of food so you definitely won't go home hungry when leaving Ya Yas. If you're in the mood for some southern hospitality in Upstate NY, give this place a try I will definitely be back.

Lunch was bangin'! I always wanted to visit after trying out their soup at the soup stroll a few…read moreyears ago. But then we moved away. But we were driving through town and my husband said he wanted fried chicken and I said we're finally gonna go eat lunch at yayas. So yeah he got the fried chicken meal with yams, cornbread, Mac salad, and string beans. I got the fried catfish with the same sides. Everyone working was so kind and came to check on us. The food was sooo good. I had enough leftovers to bring home dinner too.

Absolutely loved my brunch experience at The Nest! This place is truly a gem in Schenectady. The…read morerestaurant itself is super charming with an antique feel. Our server was the sweetest, and gave us some great recommendations. We started with the honey butter biscuits, which I highly recommend! We also got the friend green tomatoes which I enjoyed too. They really do a great job a southern cuisine here. Would love to come back to try some items from their dinner menu.

I think this is the, absolute, best place to sit down and eat. The food is impeccable. Southern…read morecomfort, right on Broadway, the fried chicken and short rib dishes are undefeated. They have a hot honey sauce to pair with the chicken, please stop by. Service is excellent, once I left a bit late and I'm so sorry I did but management was super polite about it.

Umana Yana - Washington Ave, Albany, NY If you're looking to…read morestep outside of the ordinary and experience bold flavors in a welcoming atmosphere, Umana Yana is a must-visit. This was my second time here--my first visit was dining in with friends, and this time I ordered takeout. Both experiences were consistently impressive. Known for its Ethiopian dishes and outstanding vegan cuisine, Umana Yana brings African culture to life through its vibrant décor, flavorful food, and thoughtfully crafted drinks. Every detail reflects passion and authenticity. It's no surprise that actress Tabitha Brown made a stop in Albany to experience the restaurant's highly praised vegan offerings. That's a testament to the reputation they've built. For my meal, I ordered the jerk lamb lollipops, jollof rice, and slaw. The lamb was tender, juicy, and packed with just the right amount of jerk seasoning. The jollof rice was rich, well-seasoned, and full of flavor, while the slaw added a fresh, crisp balance to the meal. On my previous visit, I tried the wings and waffles, and they were equally delicious. Two visits, two different meals, and not a single disappointment. Whether you're a longtime fan of African cuisine or looking to try something new, Umana Yana offers an experience that's just as memorable as the food itself. If you don't know, now you know. Add Umana Yana to your list--you won't regret it!

Yelpers and hard-to-please Redditors praised Umana Yana but I was initially unclear on the "must…read morehave" items given the fusion aspects. Umana Yana is named after a Guyana location but much of the fare is African. In addition to scouring photos I even looked on DoorDash for popular items. The jerk lamb lollipops and red curry fish tacos were excellent. Umana Yana is an expert in spice and sauce, and also has a knack for combining fire and sweetness. The lamb has plenty of built-in flavor but was also adorned with a topping vaguely in the pico de gallo paradigm along with pineapple, and there's a green sauce on the side.

I litterly ate the plastic fork...... yes it was that good…read more I don't write reviews at all. Shrimp and meats are nicely sautéed and warm, good quality for an all you can eat. Staff is very helpful and the place is very clean

I love a grab and go buffet. This one has a lot of different options to choose from. I have only…read moredone grab and go but there are seats there to dine in. The place is a bit on the smaller side but looked well kept. The workers were nice every time that I went in! I loved the fruit punch, collard greens, and fish! The macaroni and cheese was a bit on the bland side but as a mac lover I still get it every time. Prices are based on weight if it's takeout. I felt the price was great for the value. Went back again soon after my first visit and recommended to friends! Great place if you're indecisive or just in the mood for a yummy variety.