OMG. This place was worth the wait! I'd been trying to get here for two years, and it was just as I imagined. We were lucky and had no trouble getting seated. Our servers were amazing. I felt right at home. The drinks were good, but the food was just phenomenal. I had the hot chicken sandwich and loved the seasoning. My husband had the fried whiting with two sides, and it was so much food. Apparently, it was really good because he ate it all! It was perfect for our date night. read more

Soul Secrets - Maya's Hot Chicken Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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In from Nashville,TN visiting Cincinnati on vacation in Aug.2025. We annually come for the Music Festival, but have never been able to visit Soul Secrest. It was totally worth it the food was fantastic!! Had catfish w/2 sides & a friend had 3-piece white w/ mac& cheese we shared the sides soooo good! read more

Soul Secrets - Catfish, collards, yams & mac&cheese, corn muffin. - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This will be my 2nd review of Soul Secrets, only because I felt the need to point out an issue. In full transparency, my first review in Nov. '24 was a 5 Star review. With that being stated, I placed a scheduled online order in advance of the restaurant opening, and I noticed that the platters that allowed you to pick (2) sides, did not include Collard Greens. Mind you, I have had the collards before and they were really good, so i wanted a side of collards with both platters that I was ordering. Since I was not able to order the greens I selected something else, since they specifically state that you can only place an order online and not via phone. When I arrived to pick up my order, the first thing I did was mentioned the Collard Green issue and the woman working at the register stated that I could not order the greens because they would remove them from being ordered online when they run out. I told her that I placed my order as a 'scheduled order' prior to them opening, so that could not be the case. I mentioned to her that I also checked the previous (2) mornings with the same results. Now, to get the greens that I really wanted, I had to spend an extra $15 for the (2) extra sides instead of having what I wanted to begin with. Once my greens came out to add with the rest of my order that was already available for pick up (which caused me to not only pay an extra $15, but lengthened my time waiting by about 10 minutes), the woman spoke to the owner, which I witnessed from a distance and stated that the owner said she was going to add them back to the online order platform right away. One hour after picking up my order, they still were not on there to be able to order. All of this was on top of having an automatically added 20% Gratuity to my carryout order, prior to the option of me adding a gratuity if I so choose. It was itemized on my emailed receipt as "Large Party/Auto Gratuity (20%)." Not wanting to be over critical, but these issues that I am pointing out definitely had an affect on my overall experience and the question that was raised from within, would I return just because the food was good? Answer is yet to be determined. read more

Yes, amazing dinner and I plan to come back as soon as possible! My friend and I have been wanting to visit for so long and finally made it for an early dinner. I visited soul secrets when they worked out of Findlay Kitchen and was ecstatic when they opened their brick and mortar. We ordered the fried catfish and fried chicken, with various sides (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and Mac and cheese). The fried entrees were perfectly done, and I really enjoyed both potato sides and the collard greens! The Mac and cheese is good, and I think I wanted a little more cheesiness to it. Service was great and friendly. See you again soon soul secrets! read more

Soul Secrets - Catfish with sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Absolutely a great experience. Catfish was excellent. Fried chicken delicious. We tried several sides and enjoyed everything. The server was great and we met the owner. She told us all the food was based off her grandmother's recipes. read more

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The best soul food in Cincinnati without question. Get there early because the food be selling out quickly especially the dessert.

Good Food Selection ....Great Customer Service and timeliness for meals being served .. Food also very fresh ..

Came out all the way from CHICAGO ! saw a tik tok on how good the food was , and it did NOT DISAPPOINT! chicken was so tasty and fell off the bone , had you wanting more ! On top of that all the sides complimented the meals perfectly. Would definitely come and eat again , and recommend yall to come and check them out ! 10/10 !! read more

Soul Secrets - 3 piece chicken with Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Best soul food in Cincinnati. Been coming to Soul Secrets for only the past ten months and in ten months I have been here five times. A small unassuming corner restaurant in OTR just routinely killing it. Lots of space and full all day. Even if you come here around 3 or 4 pm, you will be waiting. The owner works regularly and the place is generally run by family. The staff is welcoming, polite, and treat customers as their own. The atmosphere is casual and full of history. The menu is straightforward: soul food. Fried chicken, fried catfish, and a bunch of sweet and savory, irresistible sides. You can, understandably, expect the food to take a while once ordered as some items are made to order. Comes to the table hot and perfect. Every time I take a bite of that chicken I am transformed. Perfectly spiced, perfecty breaded, perfectly cooked. There is another fried chicken place about a city block away that people rave about. All I can do is shake my head and wonder when locals will wake up. Soul Secrets is the place. read more

Parking is horrible and expensive. You will pay almost $9 for 2hrs. We sat on high chairs which I don't like but that's all that was available we thought. We found out later there was another area. The menu will tell you if you don't like your food you can't send it back. Once it's made it's yours. Nice artwork inside. The speakers for the Music are bad. It sounds like it's in a can and can be a little loud which makes everyone talk louder and louder. I never liked loud music when I'm eating because you want a conversation with your guess. Moreover you want to talk to the staff without yelling or being yelled at. It's Color coordinated well and the greater is right at the door when you walk in which is very nice. Collard Gumbo is a small portion for the price . It's good. The cornbread is more of a muffin and is not buttery at all. Mac and cheese is ok not memorable. Waffles taste like they were not cooked. The texture felt like it was reheated or just not cooked thoroughly. The chicken has the texture that comes from a pressure cooker and is very juicy and Has an above average flavor. The Sweet potatoes didn't come from a can at all and were delicious. I would say perfect. I wouldn't return because it didn't wow me. I wanted to try the fish but I think I will pass. read more

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I was craving soul food and, after seeing the amazing reviews, I can confidently say they did not lie! I tried the fried catfish, candy yams, macaroni, and string beans, along with a side of cornbread, and everything was fantastic. It's hard to find catfish fried to perfection, but this was it. The food was bursting with flavor, no need for additional salt or pepper. It's definitely a must-try! read more

This is my second time having Soul Secret. I got takeout. I ordered online. Customer Service was good. My food was ready when I arrived. You need an ID to pickup your food. I ordered the catfish, Mac n' cheese & collard greens. When I got home everything was still hot. The fish was very good, seasoned well, cooked hard like I like it. The Mac n' cheese was also very good, nice and cheesy. The collard greens were good. They were not can greens, and not a lot of stems. Also came with a moist corn muffin. The portions were huge, 2 large pieces of fish. I couldn't finish all the food in one sitting. Very good, will definitely order again. read more

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I thoroughly enjoyed the soul food and will definitely go back again! The macaroni and cheese and greens were amazing. I did not like that they were out of deserts for the second time. read more

Can't make reservation online And no one answers the phone. I have had a meal there before the food is great. I was flying back in town for work and wanted to take my coworkers there but cannot make a reservation. read more

OMG!! I'm stuffed, the food is good I drive from Dayton monthly to visit. Perfect size menu items so that they can focus on the good food.

Had the shrimp and grits. Absolutely delicious. I also shared a plate size pancake that was light and fluffy. I I'll definitely go there again. read more

I'm happy to recommend this establishment whenever you're in Cincinnati. My wife and I went in while in town for festival weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and food. I can't remember the last time I've had fried chicken cooked this well at any restaurant. Seasoned perfectly, cooked thoroughly, and had that crunch. The catfish and whiting was also to die for. Sides were great too, so was the staff. They also had a table amongst the vendors outside the stadium and we ate them again before going in. That's saying something. Please don't lose this touch! Queen City: y'all got a good one! read more

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Alright now, Cincinnati, there's a new soul food restaurant in town! Just back from a delightful dinner at this new spot in OTR, and the consensus of the table (a party of 6) is that this place gets an 8 out of 10. Here's why: 1.) the catfish and whiting SLAP like a mofo. The breading, the flavor; the (non-greasy) crisp is just right: 2.) the Mac and cheese SLAPS...I split a serving with my boo and only got two mouthfuls because he loves the dish to his side of the table; 3.) the sweet potatoes SLAP, don't miss out on this tender, sweet goodness; 4.) the staff, ambiance, vibe and music SLAP. Here's where they lose a few points 1.) the greens were meh...I grew up in Arkansas with a momma from Mississippi who can make greens in her sleep, and she only ate one spoonful:( 2.) the cornbread taste like a cross between jiffy and some cornmeal muffin concoction; 3.) the salmon croquettes were greasy in the outside (and poorly shaped) and dry/salty and on the inside. I grew up eating salmon croquettes from canned pink salmon where you had to pick the bones out, and that was more juicy that what we ordered tonight; 4.) the hot sauce is all wrong for a soul food restaurant. They use Reds (I guess to placate Reds fans), but there's no reason this place shouldn't have Louisiana hot sauce on their tables; 5.) there's no (decent) chow-chow, and zero pepper sauce. I just don't know what to say here. The in-house chow-chow is corn heavy, which is weird. And the lack of power sauce kinda just feels like they don't really want you to eat the greens; 6.) they were out of desserts, and we were on the the first tables seated at 5pm (which means they didn't prep enough for the weekend). Our table split one of the only pieces of pound cake left, and I'm sorry, but that wasn't pound cake. That was dry/old angel food cake. I mean, it wasn't the worst, but if you know what pound cake really is, this will feel like a slice of birthday cake from Kroger. 6.) the signature cocktails sound good but aren't worth the price, just stick with a gin and tonic or jack and coke. In spite of these things, there was nothing to make me say, "Nope, not going there again ever!" Our server (Montrea) was kind, she was very patient with my elderly parents, and times everything that came to the table perfectly. All-in-all, this was a great choice for an evening dinner, and I look forward to going back for other things in the menu: read more

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Delicious food, very large portions! I had the hoppin John, loved it! Nice upscale looking restaurant, with down home good cooking-style food!!! read more

Good location and great ambiance, the service was excellent and enjoyed the food. Definitely stop by if you in the area.... read more

Soul Secrets - The decor.... - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Just had dinner at a soul food place called Soul Secrets Yall when I say Mrs. Candice put her foot , her mommas foot, and her granny's foot in the food! Baby food was so good and smelled so good I ate half my plate before realizing I had to take a picture I'm fat full and overly satisfied Thank you Mrs. Candice!!! Everything was amazing!! read more

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This place is absolutely amazing. My boyfriend and I walked in and the wait was 30 mins and we ended coming back 2 hours later and still got the table. The servers are amazing, hostess was the nicest ever, music while eating was great and the food was the best part!!! The pictures speak for themselves! Definitely will be coming back! P.S a little pricey but where else are you going to get the best soul food around! read more

Soul Secrets - Sweet potatoes - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was absolutely delicious! I had the fried catfish, greens and mac and cheese. The fish was seasoned and fried to perfection. Something to be mindful of is you can not place a in person to go order. I went to the bar and was told I had to go online to place an order. I thought that was weird but the food was so good I'm not gonna complain. read more

The food was immaculate. We were in town for a basketball tournament and we drove 45 minutes to try this spot out. It was well worth it. The hospitality was top tier as well. Ms. Gwen made sure our needs were met. She was kind and knowledgeable. Support! Support! Support! The catfish and chicken was fried just right. Everything was cooked to perfection and made with love. Thank you Soul secrets! We hope to be back soon!!! read more

Soul Secrets - Catfish meal - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We received a warm welcome when we arrived and were given great recommendations. One woman in our group had the fried chicken (which she said was fantastic) and the rest of us ordered fried catfish (which we all enjoyed). The entrees and sides were delicious and the portions were generous in size. The waitstaff were friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back! read more

Amazing service, hot and fresh food and excellent service. I highly recommend eating here if you're craving some soul food. The sweet tea and home made lemonade is a sweet treat! read more

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AMAZING FOOD! Came here on our family vacation, the food and the service and atmosphere were so amazing! I would definitely come back here.

The service and food were Amazing!! This is our second time coming, but the first time with our kids. We had no complaints! The portions were so generous. Everything tasted excellent. We will be back soon!! read more

Soul Secrets - Catfish Fried Chicken White Meat - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Loved this restaurant and so happy we got to eat here since we don't have restaurants like this in Tucson! I was unsure in the last side for my chicken meal and the server recommended the green beans. I am SO glad she did because they were EVERYTHING! The Mac & cheese and cornbread were good too, and of course the chicken was perfect. I went in with no appetite but wanting to try the restaurant and left being so glad that we did! This restaurant was in OTR in a convenient location as we were exploring the area. They played all my old jams and I also loved the paintings on the wall. 100% GO HERE!! read more

Soul Secrets - 3piece 3 Piece Fried Chicken Dark Meat - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Talk about a great experience turned BAD by the owner! What a STANK ATTITUDE I mean wow! Food was so good our server Diamond was amazing, she was so personable, cute, and fun! I ordered the fried catfish, greens, and mac & cheese. The fish was so crispy and seasoned to perfection, greens were amazing to be vegan, and the mac & cheese was really good and cheesy. They were out of desserts and it was my friends birthday so we was disappointed about that! If it wasn't for the owner, I'd definitely come back but after talking to her and seeing how rude and dismissive she was it's hard to believe she's the owner she truly gave back of the house and STAY in the back of the house service and attitude! read more

Soul Secrets - 2 Piece Fried Catfish - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I visited on a Friday around 8 pm and they were close to closing, but the food came out hot, fast and delicious. The service was attentive and polite. I tried the whiting with collards and green beans, the mac and cheese, and Hopping John's - all very well seasoned to perfection. The portions were ample and the drinks really good ( I had the Suga Honey iced tea peach remix). The decor was very nice, and our server told us the story behind the paintings/portraits and a bit about the restaurant. Only thing is that if you want to order to go (instead of dine in), we were told you'd have to order online. Other than that, it was perfect and I'll definitely be back. read more

Soul Secrets - Whiting combo w/ two sides - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Food was good. Fish crunchy, chicken juicy, sweet potatoes we good and sweet . Jambalaya was fresh , black owned. Will be back to try the greens they ran put when we arrived. read more

Soul Secrets - Jambalaya, catfish. Meatloaf sweet potatoes - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Me and the family came to Cincinnati,dropped in on the cozy warm place service was top notch food was drinks was also and poured to my liking strrrrongyall got have drop in on this place you won't be disappointed... read more

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Come down every year from Michigan for bowling tournment and had heard about this place but wasn't able to every get in until last time and let me tell you the food and service was top notch so needless to say it will be on my list to book everytime I'm going to be in the area. read more

We stopped at this restaurant headed to Detroit and was not disappointed!! We had a variety of our favorite southern foods (We are from Birmingham, AL) and everything was amazing. The portion sizes were massive! We were seated pretty fast for a Sunday. The vibe is really great. They were playing gospel so I had a really good time read more

Soul Secrets - CatFish Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Phone messages state, "Order via website!" Website says "Online order is Unavailable!" We got a friend to accompany us bc parking is a problem but we tried to Walk in to place an order and it was crazy. They took my order and we paid for it. The menu stated that Roasted Chicken - white meat was unavailable. Ordered Roasted Dark Meat chicken and waiter finally came back to inform me that they didn't have any dark meat chicken either. The sides were yams and greens. Dessert was pound cake. Four (4) staff members were unable to get the refund we requested because of their inability to furnish the food on their menu. At least 3/5 other customers walked away because of this same problem. The pictures displayed on the website appeared to be very professionally produced and are very stylish and appealing especially because in Cincinnati we are the only community that continues to produce the complete package when it comes to our soul food and professional and courteous customer service when it comes to Takeout food. Maybe one day one of the corporate sponsors on your long list will provide more than PR propaganda, hopefully they will suggest or recommend a professional mentor who will provide in person On the Job Training for your restaurant. Just think, my order alone was about $40 dollars. Several other customers that were forced to walk away because of your failure to deliver services would most likely put several hundred dollars in your account. This doesn't look like a normal business model??? read more

Very disappointing. There is a warning on menu that nothing can be substituted or exchanged after you order. The disgusting cold-slaw they brought to the table was soupy watery & unappetizing. They refused to bring me another side & the waitress actually brought me another bowl & suggested I "strain" it. Ridiculous policy & ridiculous attitude from the Owners daughter not to replace the horrible cold-slaw. I am attaching a photo of the item. I don't know what was more disturbing the actual dish or the indifferent attitude of the daughter. Since I was visiting from Oakland Ca, I will be sharing with my 200 relatives in Cinncinati about the incident & what to not expect if the should go there: terrible cold slaw and terrible customer service if you bring it to their attention! read more

This black owned and operated establishment is all that they describe on their website! The family portraits on the walls make you feel like you're visiting the owners home. Most of the food came out piping hot and was well seasoned; not salty either. Our waitress was pleasant and helpful. I got the whiting plate with Mac n chz and sweet potatoes and a 3-piece chicken add on. I gave 4 stars because the fish was fried harder than I like and the chicken and cornbread were not as hot as the rest of the food. Yet, I would absolutely go back to this place! read more

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First time trying Soul Secrets and it did not disappoint! The staff was extremely friendly, the service is to be modeled, and the atmosphere created the feeling of casual up-scale dining. As for the food, the portions were a great size, hot, had a balanced taste, with plenty for leftovers. THE SIDES DID NOT MISS () -- green beans, mashed potatoes, Mac & cheese, sweet potatoes! (Check photos for the meal) The only reason I did not give Soul Secrets 5 Stars is because, for me personally, the food held a little too much grease (I know it's a soul food restaurant) which I'm not a huge fan of. A couple minutes to let the grease run off and I there isn't a single critique I could have about Soul Secrets. All in all, very good place to eat, highly recommend, and I'll definitely be back!! read more

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This restaurant served me 2 chicken legs and my friend 2 chicken legs with several of the big chicken feathers dredged and fried with the chicken. When I brought it to the manager's attention who said she was Candace's daughter, she told me that she couldn't guarantee that large feathers wouldn't be on any of the other pcs of chicken if she remade them for us and that it's at the bottom of the chicken leg so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. I'm sorry but I like chicken men that is properly clean, feathers removed before batter and fried... am I asking too much as a paying customer for a 3pc chicken dinner for $25????? Oh... and the mayo based potato salad was straight out the cooler from a local grocery store and not homemade. I couldn't finish my meal after seeing those large feathers. The sweet potatoes, Mac n cheese, and , collards were delicious. The manager should have handled the situation better. read more

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