Luella's Southern Kitchen

The fried chicken here at Luella's is on a whole other level. The breading is definitely unique and something that I have never had before on other fried chicken places. Giving that it takes a while for the food to come out, the food is made to order. Every bite of the fried chicken was juicy, crunchy, and oh oh oh so good. The gumbo was quite disappointing. It tasted like progressive can soup, not a whole lot of flavor there. The beignet is a good choice. Warm, fluffy, and perfect portion size.

I joined a buddy for brunch and the biscuits and gravy were heavenly with just the right amount of gravy. The shrimp and grits were outstanding and had that perfect balance of spice and creaminess. The staff was so friendly and gave great recommendations without being pushy. I also loved the beignets which were light and decadent. I will definitely be back with a bigger group soon.

Luella’s was absolutely incredible and did not disappoint! The food took a little longer than expected to come out but it was WELL worth the wait. We had the Kentucky Hot Brown and the eggs benedict with collard greens and wow! It was amazing! The bacon in particular was incredibly flavorful. The only thing missing was iced coffee as they only had hot coffee. Looking forward to coming back!

I went to Luella’s Southern Kitchen in Chicago for brunch, and the food was absolutely delicious! We ordered the Crab Stuffed Shrimp & Grits, Chicken & Waffles, and the Buttermilk Pancakes. Everything was packed with flavor and very filling. 1. The Buttermilk Pancakes (topped with blueberries) were hands down the BEST I’ve ever had in my life. 2. The Chicken & Waffles came with three crispy, juicy pieces of chicken set on top of fluffy waffles. 3. The Crab Stuffed Shrimp & Grits were flavorful, hearty, and worth every bite. One thing to note: you order before sitting down, which can be tricky if seating is tight. We went for Sunday brunch around 11 and had plenty of options, but by noon the tables were almost gone. Overall, I highly recommend Luella’s Southern Kitchen and can’t wait to go back!

My girlfriend and I are transplants from the south and this place is exactly what we were looking for. Luella's has amazing southern cuisine.

Tried their biscuit and gravy with jalapeños , hash brown, Mac & cheese, and chicken. All were really delicious. Good sized portions. Like their metal water cups. It was raining during my visit and that put a damper on outdoor dining.

Walking in, the place looks very industrial. Long bar to the right and ordering counter on the left. We sat out in the patio, they give you a corresponding number when you order. Food was incredible! Had the shrimp & grits and peach cobbler french toast. We did have to ask a few times for our drinks and more water hence the service rating. Would highly recommend and go back myself.

Best American pancake I’ve ever had in my life and top 3 in the city, that’s inclusive of Hanabusa’s Japanese souffle pancakes and MangoMangos crepe cakes. Also really enjoyed the Hot Brown sandwich, my first one ever! You’ll probably wait a bit for your food, but it felt worth it flavor wise. Every dish was made with a lot of love. in the future I’m sure they’ll look to expand the kitchen to seating ratio, because the chefs in the back are working HARD. Despite what seems like a very busy kitchen everyone was very kind and warm. Wishing them a lot of success at the new location and I’ll be back!

This is a super cute hidden gem with a tasty selection of southern cooking. The ambiance was nice. It felt very cozy and I loved the artwork and set up of the restaurant overall. The staff was super friendly and attentive to customers The food was delicious and I only wished I’d ordered more. I went close to closing and as I got my food another table had cornbread come out and I was jealous. I’d definitely recommend the sweet potatoes and fried chicken. We all shared food and will probably do the same when coming back. Also- we went right before closing and they were super friendly and accommodating

I absolutely love the food, especially the French toast. It has been the best I’ve ever had thus far and I’ve tried many restaurants, including Honey bear. This French toast is thick, but still soft and fluffy not dry. It has tons of flavor not just on top of the French toast, but also within the actual bread. Also, the mac & cheese and yams have been the best that I’ve had at a restaurant in my entire 34 years of existence. Surprisingly my bill was under $100 despite all the food that I ordered, so that was a plus for me to be of great quality and inexpensive. 10/10 highly recommended!

Came here on a Saturday around 1pm for brunch. It was about a 20 minute wait which was not a problem - there were lots of shops to walk around! First, I must say the service is incredible. I’m saying that before I even mention the food, so that’s how impressed I was! Especially the one gentleman that helped take our order. It was as if we were old friends. Okay the food, incredible! The biscuits with the JAM: I want to have that every day of my life! Chicken and waffles is the way to go. We also got the shrimp and grits and cornbread which I liked but did not love as much as the chicken/waffle and the biscuits. Don’t forget the Mac and cheese!!

Food takes a little longer because fresh make. Best fried chicken in the areas. I have tried a few southern food restaurants around the area, and this place is the best. Crispy, juicy, well seasoning, and good portion for the price. House hot sauce is a little salty for my taste. Buttermilk fried chicken, Nashville hot chicken, shrimp, and grits, Mac n cheese or skillet Cornbread I have tried it all and it amazing. Delicious food and best perfect service. No, byob only soft drinks.

The food here is amazing. It takes some time to get prepared, but it's absolutely worth the wait. I had: fried chicken, collard greens & the macaroni and cheese. Go check it out!

This is the closest thing to a southern home cooking in the Chicago area. Brown sugar bacon was very salty. My waffles were fluffy and tasty but the skin on the buttermilk fried chicken wasn’t crispy even though I don’t eat chicken skin. Mac and cheese, sweet yams and cornbread was very good. Beignets tasted like delicious fresh donuts. Homemade sweet tea gets free refills 😉

I recently went to Luella’s for brunch with a friend visiting from Louisiana, and it did not disappoint! The service was excellent, the outdoor patio was cozy and cute, and the food was full of flavor. Will definitely be back.

We got the Nashville chicken and waffle, shrimp and grits, and mac n cheese. Every table had this combo to try. They were delicious! Shrimp n grits - I never had savory grits before as my culture prepares it sweet. My mind about grits is changed forever. It was so so so good. Mac n cheese - it came piping hot and it stayed hot in the skillet. Nashville chicken n waffles - the chicken was so crunchy and yet juicy and tender inside. The seasoning was superb. Beignets were the cherry on top.

Amazing amazing time here! The food was so so good! My boyfriend is from the south and he said he felt so at home here. All the flavors were perfectly put together and delicious! It’s an easy going place but was very popular this Sunday(11/30) we got to pick a spot and found a nice two top in the middle which was perfect :) the staff was so friendly and very on top of everything. Honestly me and my boyfriend both agreed that the beignets were better than anything we had in New Orleans (we go every year). We will for sure be back! So excited they moved so close to us!

We'd been to the previous location, but this was our first time at the new brunch spot. Enjoyed the music played on a record player...Chaka Khan! The food was incredible. We had the chicken and waffles, buttermilk pancakes (unlike anything we've everrr had...honestly life-changing), fried chicken, and were gifted the biscuit and gravy and beignets (which had a more dense, fluffy, unique texture). The fried chicken was fantastic, as always. The biscuit and gravy was unexpected and so delicious....fresh hot biscuit topped with crispy fried chicken tenders, andouille sausage, jalapeños, and THE GRAVY. So much flavor that is rich and sassy. Everything is made fresh, so do not expect to be in and out quickly. It is absolutely worth the wait.

I visited this spot in Chicago over the weekend, and I’m still thinking about the food! Mad I didn’t take any pictures. I ordered the grits, and they were absolutely amazing seasoned, rich, and incredibly filling. The hospitality really stood out, too. Every staff member I interacted with was warm, welcoming, and attentive. They checked in often without being overbearing and truly seemed to care about their customers’ experience. The whole atmosphere felt comfortable and inviting, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. Only complaint was that the restaurant is kind of small but that is minor compared to my overall experience! I hope business continues to boom and can expand in the future!

I ate here during the Afrotech conference last month. I end up going twice. First time I had their fried chicken plate it was delicious!! I can't remember the name of this pineapple cocktail I had but it was everything! I really loved the customer service from the GM. I also had the Nashville chicken sandwich really good. They also had a special drink called the martell smash. Really good. I will definitely be back!

Best brunch with my husband to celebrate a good medical test result. He had shrimp and grits and sid it was outstanding. I had eggs which were creamy and tasty and the BEST buttermilk pancakes I have ever had. The texture was amazing, I don't know what their secret is, but we will definitely be back! Only thing that would be better is if they had liquor for Mimosas. Nice people, too. Great service!

I wanted to like this place more, but there are areas that need improvement for me to rate this a 5. For starters, you pay up front. That wouldn't be problematic if there was a system in place where they recalled what you ordered, especially if the place wasn't full. We ordered coffee and were waiting and was told that it took 40 mins to brew, which was weird. My recommendation is to not take payment for coffee if it isn't readily available or at least ensure it's available before accepting payment. Also, communicating the delays is helpful. Customer service really makes or breaks rhe experience. I had the crab stuffed shrimp & grits and will say that it was really, really good and flavorful. My husband had the chicken and waffles and it was disappointing. The chicken was burnt, but also not warm. It seemed as if they were waiting to bring out both entrees together and chicken and waffles was done first, was sitting while the shrimp & grits was finishing. The biggest were fine, but we had to remind them that we ordered them. I try to extend grace and it is hard when you visit other places and have a different experience. I'm hoping to try this place again in the future and that the experience is improved.

It was early in the day I had time to travel from the Southside (after a.m. rush and before p.m. rush). I wanted to taste the Hot Brown. The presentation was wonderful. The flavor of the dish was average nothing spectacular. The sandwich was not warmed all the way through the layers but maybe it was not supposed to be. For me it was a one and done dish. Next time I will get the biscuit sandwich. The service was professional and accommodating. My meal was prepared fast. I didn't have to wait long to get my food. All in all I like the new location.

First time visit. Breakfast date. I had coffee, Cinnamon roll French toast, eggs and sausage. The icing on my French toast was my favorite part. Great service, nice music, very clean.

The place is very small for the amount of people who Floyd through the doors... I got the cream stuffed shrimp and grits and my beloved got the chicken and waffles... The grits had to much cream to me and if wasn't for the sauce that came with the shrimp I probably wouldn't have stew ate it... The sauce was scarcely added, they should give more.. the chicken was very good, seasoned all the way through and tender. However, I think I would go back and try another one of the 8 dishes they have on total but not no time soon...

This is an interesting place, saw it in the Chicago Reader listed as the best Soul Food around. Ok! First impression was interesting and it reminded me of certain hood establishments where you pay first, eat later. The chicken was good and moist, slightly lacked on the seasoning side though. The Mac and cheese lost me because it was runny and they used shells instead of elbow macaroni, that’s a sin. The cornbread was outstanding, moistened to the max. The Collards struck out, they lacked seasoning and didn’t please at all. I’d go back here, these are some nice people who give really good customer service. I’ll be back to try other dishes.

Price Point: $$ - I spent about 115.00 for 3 people. So here's the full scoop on this quaint soul food restaurant. My daughter's alum from Carnegie Mellon came for a weekend visit and I wanted to treat both to a nice Chicago brunch, so we chose Luella's. I'd heard of it before, but had never been and decided to give it a shot. When we first got there, the first thing I noticed was that it was small, so I knew the wait time was probably going to be long and I was right. We waited for almost an hour before being seated. As frustrating as long wait times are, the host at the front door was nice. We appreciated that. Once we were seated, it took about 10 minutes for our food to arrive at our table. The menu is limited but I think their menu captures the key soul food staples. I went with the Nashville Chicken and waffles which I shared my large half chicken portion with my two partners in crime for the day. They both opted for the shrimp and grits with a shared side of greens (really enjoyed the greens). As to whether they enjoyed their meals, I'll just say that there was nothing to take home. lol... Wait time, and atmosphere were a 7 out of 10. The staff and the food were a 8 out of 10. This place is definitely worth a try.

I had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was amazing. The grits were a little soupy and not very flavorful, but overall the dish was enjoyable. The atmosphere is great, and the sweet tea was wonderful. I would definitely consider coming back.

Luella is a wonderfully inviting spot that delivers comfort, charm, and delicious food with every visit. The menu is filled with soulful, well-crafted dishes that feel both familiar and elevated, each one seasoned thoughtfully and prepared with obvious care. From the warm, hearty entrées to the fresh sides and satisfying desserts, the flavors are consistently delightful and leave you eager to return. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, making it an ideal place to relax and enjoy a great meal. While a bit more consistency during peak hours could push the experience into five-star territory, Luella still stands out as a reliably enjoyable destination. With its friendly service, comforting dishes, and inviting vibe, it’s a place worth visiting again and again.

Came on a Saturday morning. Filled up pretty quick so get there early. Make sure you arrive with all your party , I was not able to seat initially. Also needing to order before sitting with a line behind you, added a false sense of urgency to ordering, especially as a first timer. Service was nice, friendly and attentive. Quality of the food was good! Chicken and waffles is what I ordered. 3 big pieces of juicy butter fried chicken , one waffle, side of eggs... eggs were good but they were $6 😅 for 2 medium eggs. Portion size is my biggest complaint.. between the eggs and the orange juice. I think those could be areas of improvement. Overall, check this place out, had cool soul music playing in tbe background. It was small but cozy, it was a nice local restaurant.

This is my first visit Luella’s and no one was at the counter soI walked in an ask if I could sit at the bar and I sat at the bar for 15 minutes waiting for for my order to be taken and was eventually advised by a gentleman the protocol was to order and pay at the counter when I walked in. And it is pretty much self seating and service with seating a silver where. I wait for two minutes at the counter to place my order and no one came. So I decided to go to the restroom. I came back to place my order and it was another 2 minutes before I could order the shrimp and crab grits and I realized the time and I had an appointment in 40 minutes before having to place a to go order because I don’t have time to dine in as I planned due to ordering process wasn’t displayed at the counter. Mind you it was to capacity. The service is slow and not congruent. So I recommend going when you are not concerned about the time waiting. “My time is valuable and when it is wasted you can’t get your time back.” So far I’m disappointed with the service. I will amend my review once I receive my food, it’s been 15 minutes. No signage on how to place your order or setting protocol.

Took an adventure to the North Side with our son. We saw some photos online and thought wow this looks like some good comfort food. You have to find some parking, parking some distance away isn’t a bad thing based on how much food they serve you, walking it off back to the car (if you’re driving) is good. My old lady ordered the Kentucky Hot Brown, it’s a sandwich on a brioche bun, yet it wasn’t soft. It was a bit dry, moisture was needed. Gravy, ham (she doesn’t like ham), and bacon were delicious… honestly. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles smothered with Nashville Hot sauce. The chicken was hot, spicy, crunchy, and juicy. The waffle was a bit thick but the syrup made it pretty melt in your mouth. We ordered a side of Mac n cheese which was baked and there had to be some Asiago in it, it was very delicious. We also ordered some beignets to go, they were fresh and warm, who doesn’t like powdered sugar? Overall service: Ordering was a bit annoying, you had to order once you walk in, before you get a table. Also I ordered the beignets to go after I already got to my table, I had to go back up to the register and also wait in line for other people to order. It is not very spacious, wouldn’t recommend bringing in a stroller, we felt like we took up a lot of space. Food was made to order, it felt like they were understaffed, the host and the bar back/server/busser were serving food and cleaning tables. Which also caused some delay in new customers ordering. It is a bit pricey, definitely wouldn’t go out of our way to come eat here again but if we were in the area we would definitely stop by.

Now I enjoyed my food. I had Chicken Gumbo and Shrimp and Grits. I had plenty of flavor in my Shrimp and Grits and a heathy amount of Shrimp. Every bit of grits got a piece of shrimp. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Now my other orders were not good. The Nashville Hot chicken was hot but not seasoned. And the Chicken and Waffles, the chicken was not seasoned and the waffle kinda tasted like cornbread. My three year old said yuck to the chicken 🥴. It was fried and looked good, just had no flavor or taste. Like there was no seasoning on the chicken or batter. - so those items ABSOLUTELY NOT. A waste of money! I did read another review that stated it was BYOB, which the website does not say. So we did bring in beer and I liked that.

The way the restaurant operates is new to me, but not a big issue. Had shrimp & grits and it was not quite what I had expected. The grits looked and tasted unlike any I've ever had. Shrimps were a bit salty and had a flavor that was uncommon. The omelet was light, fluffy and needed no seasoning. Hash browns were salty as well. Creamy texture inside, fried well outside. But to their defense, the young lady with me enjoyed the chicken & waffles and boudin biscuit. Also was given a pitcher of water but it had debris floating in it. When told, the waitress took time examining it, instead of bringing another pitcher. I do believe they can and usually do better, as people were coming and going quite frequently. It does get busy, so the food can't be that bad. It may have just been my plate. I may try again.

Came for breakfast. 2 entrees - Chicken and Waffles - Pancakes with blueberry compote. $45 Waffle was underdone as you can tell by the stringy dough.. Chicken was eh…honestly the fried chicken at Pete’s Market chain is waaay better and 8.99 for an 8 piece hah. Also the blueberry compote is just slightly cooked blueberries and you get about 7 of them. It’s not compote. Experience did not match up to the reviews. Finding out now they moved locations and maybe under new management? I would recommend passing this spot. $45 for 2 plates of mediocre and undercooked food is not worth it. Also they have this pay up front first with a bold sign saying “No Refunds”…so I didn’t even bother to ask. The staff were friendly.

Food was ok, average nothing special. Food was overpriced. Social media definitely overhypes it. Found two hairs on my waffle, Mac n cheese was nothing special. Chicken and biscuit were good. I’ll probably pass next time.

Waited 65 min for my meal (fried chicken and mac & cheese). Mac & cheese still hadn’t arrived at the 70 min mark. RIDICULOUS! There was no apology for the extensive wait. No unsolicited update. At the 55 min mark I inquired and was told “the website says it could take 30 to 90 min” to prepare. I didn’t see such statement. Overall, very disappointing. Food was delicious but is NEVER worth an hour wait. Date: Wednesday, December 31 Time: 12:00pm reservation

I came inside to place an order and waited a total of 2 HOURS for 2 pancakes 1 the chef In particular was being very. I noticed when they made a mistake and plated my order then had to put it in a to go box he threw it in the box and threw the syrup Inside the box with the food instead of placing it outside with the cuttery. The berries and the butter was all put on the pancakes. You could see the juice And butter dripping through the pancakes. I’ve ordered pancakes from numerous places before and for to go orders they usually put those items on the side and let you add them yourself. They told me they would have to make the order over, but I could tell they weren’t happy about that. They were taking so long with the order. I walked to the back to tell them that I would like to cancel. The bus boy then tells me that the order is ready. They gave me the order with no syrup Or napkins I had to ask for that. They never apologized for the inconvenience, wait or for being rude. Also, I recorded some content to do an an overall review on my experience the chef did not like me recording because he know the customer service was bad. This is very sad If I had known it would be like this the first time I came, I would not have tipped them $40 And recommended them to so many people. Smh

If you have been to the Luella's on lincoln know that the new location is not the same. Menu is different and some of your favs are missing. We waited over an hour for subpar food. The chicken once arrived was burnt, missing skin and cold(I sent it back). They claim that all food is made fresh however I was seated with a clear view of the fryer and could clear see previous cooked chicken in the basket. The chicken was recooked then served. Everybody in the restaurant was complaining of the wait. One patron said she waited 1 hour and a half for shrimp and grits. The serving size of the sides are smaller than what was given at Lincoln location but less flavorful. Don't bother order the waffles..it's the pits. We requested to speak to the owner but he refused to come out the kitchen. Don't waste your time or money..it's not worth it. In response to the owner message. Just because I didn't send my entire meal back doesn't mean I enjoed the food or had an experience worth returning for. If you are having problems in your kitchen suchs as staffing or equipment issues then you should spend more time addressing those instead of replying to reviews. At the very least apologize but not defend that brunch service. There wasn't one customer who didn't complain even those that had carry out, one table actually left without their food. For you to try and defend customers waiting over an hour for chicken is ridiculous. You had ample opportunity to discuss my experience while I was in the restaurant and you refused but didn't so I'm shocked you have so much to say now. Again my experience and my experience and it's safe to say that it was shared with all who visited the restaurant this afternoon. It's Not worth the wait and we won't be returning.

We drove over an hour to get there and we gave our name to the front desk we then stood there waiting over 45 minutes so when we saw some people who walked in get seated I asked how much longer and this insensitive and nonprofessional young man who did not properly explain the waiting process turn and shove a tablet in my face to show me what I guess was a waiting list. I calmly explained to him that I’m new I’ve never eaten there before and could he explain it again and the lady next to us said “ yeah because we didn’t understand it either”. This ignorant person said to me and the people next to me “I have other people to help” and turned away to talk to the other people waiting and luckily that lady saw what was happening and let him began to let him have it and we all decided to leave. I was trying to support a black owned business and It’s my hope that this establishment improves their customer service when it comes to their hosts.