11 Florida Soul Food Spots Serving Sunday-Dinner Comfort Seven Nights A Week
Florida’s soul food scene runs deeper than the beaches and palm trees: it’s a celebration of flavor, family, and tradition served up daily. Across the Sunshine State, the scent of fried chicken, collard greens, and cornbread fills kitchens that turn comfort into a daily ritual.
These restaurants keep the spirit of Sunday dinner alive seven nights a week, serving plates that taste like home and hospitality that feels like a hug.
1. The Licking (North Miami)
Born from celebrity chef collaborations, this North Miami gem serves soul food with serious swagger. Mac and cheese flows like liquid gold, while fried catfish comes seasoned so perfectly you’ll forget fish ever swam in actual water.
The vibe screams modern coolness, but the food whispers grandma’s secrets in every bite. Oxtails fall off the bone like they’ve been cooking since last Tuesday, smothered in gravy thick enough to stand a spoon in.
2. Yardbird Table & Bar (Miami Beach)
This Miami Beach hotspot turns Southern classics into culinary art without losing that homestyle soul. Crispy fried chicken arrives at your table with a crunch so loud your neighbors will hear it, paired with cheddar waffles that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about breakfast-for-dinner.
The bourbon bar stocks enough brown liquor to make a Kentucky distiller jealous. Watermelon salad adds a refreshing twist to the heavy hitters on the menu, proving vegetables can hang with the big boys.
3. Fred’s Market (Plant City)
Tucked in Plant City’s heart, this family-run treasure has been feeding folks since way back when. Collard greens simmer with smoked turkey that makes vegetarians reconsider their life choices, while cornbread comes out so moist it doesn’t need a drop of butter.
The market side sells everything from hot sauce to homemade pies. Sunday crowds pack the place tighter than sardines, but the wait’s worth every stomach-growling minute.
4. Five Sisters Blues Café (Pensacola)
Live blues music and steaming plates of comfort create magic at this Florida favorite. Smothered pork chops arrive swimming in onion gravy that could make a grown man cry tears of joy, flanked by candied yams sweet enough to count as dessert.
The five sisters who inspired the name would approve of every bite served here. Peach cobbler bubbles under a golden crust, begging to be topped with vanilla ice cream that melts into peachy perfection.
5. Farmer’s Market Restaurant (Fort Myers)
Fort Myers locals treat this place like their second dining room, and for good reason. The buffet stretches longer than a lazy summer afternoon, loaded with everything from butter beans to baked chicken that falls apart if you look at it wrong.
Fresh vegetables actually taste fresh, not like they’ve been sitting since breakfast service. Banana pudding layers vanilla wafers and cream in a way that’ll transport you straight to childhood birthday parties.
6. Voodoo Bayou (Palm Beach Gardens)
Cajun spices meet soul food tradition at this Palm Beach Gardens fusion spot that refuses to pick sides. Jambalaya packs enough heat to make your forehead sweat, while buttermilk biscuits cool things down with their fluffy, buttery goodness.
Gumbo thick as Mississippi mud comes loaded with andouille sausage and shrimp. The voodoo in the name might refer to whatever magic they work in that kitchen, because these flavors shouldn’t be legal.
7. Batch Southern Kitchen & Tap (West Palm Beach)
Southern comfort and local flavor come together at this West Palm Beach hangout where tradition gets a trendy makeover. Shrimp and grits arrive creamy enough to make Charleston jealous, topped with bacon that adds smoky crunch to every spoonful.
Fried green tomatoes stack high with remoulade that zings your taste buds awake. The dessert lineup is sweet enough to make sure every bite of their famous chicken and waffles ends on a high note.
8. The Floribbean (St. Petersburg)
Caribbean heat crashes into Southern soul at this St. Petersburg spot that celebrates Florida’s melting pot culture. Jerk chicken brings island spice to the soul food party, while collard greens get cooked with a hint of coconut that’ll blow your mind.
Plantains share plate space with black-eyed peas in beautiful harmony. Sweet tea comes with a tropical twist, proving that sometimes mixing traditions creates something even better than the originals.
9. Mojo Hogtown Bar-B-Que (Gainesville)
Gainesville’s college crowd and longtime locals both pack this barbecue haven that knows its way around a smoker. Brisket comes sliced thick and juicy, with a smoke ring that proves patience pays off in the flavor department.
Coleslaw provides cool crunch against the smoky meats, while hush puppies arrive golden and steaming hot. The casual vibe welcomes everyone from students to grandparents, all united by their love of proper barbecue done right.
10. The Southern Grill (Jacksonville)
Jacksonville’s answer to Sunday dinner every night serves up nostalgia by the plateful. Meatloaf arrives with a ketchup glaze that caramelizes into sweet-savory perfection, sided by mashed potatoes so creamy they could be clouds.
Green beans get cooked low and slow with bacon, because vegetables deserve flavor too. The portions run larger than life, ensuring nobody leaves hungry or without a to-go box full of tomorrow’s lunch.
11. Seana’s Caribbean & Soul Food (Orlando)
Orlando’s theme park visitors discover real magic at this fusion spot where Caribbean recipes dance with Southern soul. Curry chicken brings island warmth to traditional soul food territory, while oxtail gets braised until it surrenders completely to tenderness.
Rice and peas share the plate with candied yams in a cultural exchange program that benefits everyone involved. The family recipes passed down through generations shine through in every dish that leaves the kitchen.