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🏆 Best Soul Food · Manhattan

The best Soul Food
in Manhattan, NY.

All 27 soul food places in Manhattan, NY, measured the same way. 15 came out above the median. Top of the list is Charles Pan-Fried Chicken on 94; Aqua Boil takes second with 92. This is mostly $$ territory ($15–30): 64% of the list. What reviewers name most often: fried chicken, mac and cheese and jerk chicken.

15 scored · 27 on the map · 12 listed without a score

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27 places
1Rank
Charles Pan-Fried Chicken — Morningside Heights, NY

Charles Pan-Fried ChickenTop 10%

Morningside Heights · Soul Food · $ · under $15/person
#1 Soul Food in Manhattan

Top 10% in New York County, on 1,545 ratings.

94Sweet Score1,545 ratings
2Rank
Aqua Boil — Hell's Kitchen, NY

Aqua BoilTop 10%

Hell's Kitchen · Seafood · $$$ · $30–60/person

Top 10% in New York County, on 3,577 ratings.

92Sweet Score3,577 ratings
3Rank
KJUN — Murray Hill, NY

KJUNTop 10%

Murray Hill · Korean · $$$ · $30–60/person

Top 10% in New York County, on 2,427 ratings.

92Sweet Score2,427 ratings
4Rank
Charles Pan-Fried Chicken — Hamilton Heights, NY

Charles Pan-Fried ChickenTop 25%

Hamilton Heights · Soul Food · $ · under $15/person
#2 Soul Food in Manhattan

Upper quarter of New York County — 2,606 ratings behind it.

89Sweet Score2,606 ratings
5Rank
Charles Pan-Fried Chicken — Lincoln Square, NY

Charles Pan-Fried ChickenTop 25%

Lincoln Square · Soul Food · $ · under $15/person

Upper quarter of New York County — 3,524 ratings behind it.

82Sweet Score3,524 ratings
6Rank
Patok By Rach — Inwood, NY

Patok By RachTop 25%

Inwood · Asian · $$ · $15–30/person

Upper quarter of New York County — 489 ratings behind it.

82Sweet Score489 ratings
7Rank
Rabbit’s Chicken & Waffles — Harlem, NY

Rabbit’s Chicken & WafflesLocal favorite

Harlem · Soul Food · $$ · $15–30/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

76Sweet Score44 ratings
8Rank
1803 NYC — Tribeca, NY

1803 NYCLocal favorite

Tribeca · Soul Food · $$ · $15–30/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

74Sweet Score2,114 ratings
9Rank
theBoil — Greenwich Village, NY

theBoilLocal favorite

Greenwich Village · Seafood · $$$ · $30–60/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

70Sweet Score2,501 ratings
10Rank
Chubby Crab - Asian Wok & Cajun Kitchen — Chinatown, NY

Chubby Crab - Asian Wok & Cajun KitchenLocal favorite

Chinatown · Soul Food · $$ · $15–30/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

68Sweet Score301 ratings
11Rank
Jacob Soul Food Restaurant — Harlem, NY

Jacob Soul Food RestaurantLocal favorite

Harlem · Soul Food · $ · under $15/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

65Sweet Score3,351 ratings
12Rank
Manna's Restaurant — Harlem, NY

Manna's RestaurantLocal favorite

Harlem · Soul Food · $ · under $15/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

63Sweet Score1,891 ratings
13Rank
Jacob Restaurant — Harlem, NY

Jacob RestaurantLocal favorite

Harlem · Soul Food · $ · under $15/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

55Sweet Score1,137 ratings
14Rank
Amy Ruth's — Harlem, NY

Amy Ruth'sLocal favorite

Harlem · Soul Food · $$ · $15–30/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

53Sweet Score6,306 ratings
15Rank
Sylvia's Restaurant — Harlem, NY

Sylvia's RestaurantLocal favorite

Harlem · Soul Food · $$ · $15–30/person

Rated above the typical place in New York County.

52Sweet Score9,048 ratings
Straight answers 💬

Soul Food in Manhattan, NY, briefly

What is the best soul food in Manhattan, NY?

Charles Pan-Fried Chicken currently ranks first with a Sweet Score of 94, built on 1,545 ratings. The list re-sorts itself as ratings move, so first place is not permanent.

How many soul food places are there in Manhattan, NY?

We track 27. 15 of them have earned a Sweet Score, which means they rated above the median for their county and category. The rest are listed with their address, hours and what people order — just without a number.

How much does soul food cost in Manhattan, NY?

The commonest price band on this list is $$ — $15–30 — covering 64% of the places we track here.

How is this list ordered?

By the Sweet Score, a 4–96 rating built from where a place ranks against others in its own county and its own category. 50 is the median, 78 is the top quarter, 90 is the top 10%. A place below the median is still listed — it just doesn't carry a number, because we only publish a score when it's good news.

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Rankings order by the Sweet Score; ties break by the tasters’ score. Promoted placements never appear in rankings — they’re labeled and live elsewhere. How ranking works →

The 15 Best Soul Food Restaurants in Manhattan, NY (2026) | Sour Grapes