The Best Soul Food Joints in the San Francisco Bay Area

Do you love Soul Food? No, I'm not referring to the movie; I'm talking about sizzling food with a touch of essence and soul. Soul Food is very under rated when it comes to the Bay Area, usually when you hear the phrase "Soul Food", you think of the south, however, California has many hidden gems in the bay area that cook soul food to perfection. Below I have listed the best Soul Food Joints in the Bay Area California.

Elve's BBQ & Soul Food: Looking for the heart and soul of West Oakland? Look no further than Elve's BBQ & Soul Food. Elves's has moved it's location over 5 times within the last 10 years, all of which were in Oakland. The Soul Food joint used to be known as "LV's" before switching its name a couple of years ago. While the name may have changed, the food hasn't! You can still count on Elve's for all of their specialty soul food items. With a fire selection of homemade hot links and smothered chicken, pork chops and steak, it's recommended that you leave your diet schedule at home! The sweet, smoky BBQ sauce really compliments all of the soul food it's been dressed with. Looking to fill up on sides?

If the answer is yes, try the greens, which are laced with shredded pieces of pork and tons of soul. Other sides such as beans and rice, spaghetti, and baked beans are guaranteed to satisfy all of your soul food fantasies. Looking to get the most out of your money? Try the great selection of combo plates. Get items such as chicken and fries, and burger meals for under $5. For bigger food portions, upgrade to the family combos for only $15.99. This is one of the only Soul Food locations in the Bay Area that offers whole chickens and slabs of ribs on their menu. If you're not into beef and chicken, check out their extensive seafood menu. Elve's offers fresh fish such as snapper, catfish and prawns, try the deep fried seafood combo.

Location: 3214 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland CA Phone: 510-655-9500 Hours: 10am-9pm

Home of Chicken and Waffles: Looking to cop great Soul Food in a youthful, friendly environment? If you are, head over to the Home of Chicken and Waffles in Oakland. Know before you walk in the door, THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR VEGETARIANS! Be warned that everything on the menu is super delicious and extremely high in calories. Located in the heart of Jack London Square, this Soul Food joint serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at a more than fair price. If you're planning on being able to sit inside the restaurant, get there at least 45 minutes in advance for the meal you're looking for as lines can sometimes be around the block. A tip to stick to is if the restaurant is crowed and you want to mingle inside, just go back later in the day, after all the Home of Chicken and Waffles is open from 8am-4am on Friday and Saturday. The vibe of Chicken and Waffles is upbeat and up to date, meaning you will hear lots of R&B and Rap across the speaker system. When walking thru the doors of the Home of Chicken and Waffles, pay special attention to all of the artwork on the walls, which reflects the roots and soul of this place. When selecting from the menu, I recommend going for the "soulified" deep fried chicken. Most chicken comes with waffles; however, you can choose to go for the combo meals that come with fries and other sides. All of these meals are sure to cost you under $10 and to be served with their special blend of sweet tea. All breakfast and deserts are under the $7 range so take advantage and order until your soul is full.

Location: 444 Embarcadero West, Oakland CA Phone: 510-836-4446 Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-1am, Fri-Sat 10am-4am, Sun 9am-1am

Hard Knox Café: Take a trip to the Hard Knox Café of San Francisco. While San Francisco has many Soul Food restaurants, this hidden gem stands out from the rest! The owner, Tony, has brought his Texas Soul Food to the Bay Area California. The Cajun and Creole blends of seasonings are injected through out every item on the menu. This is both dine in and take orders to go restaurant as you can call in advance to purchase your food. Try being social and talking to the manager at the front desk as they will call you when special or free meals arise for their most favorite costumers. The atmosphere here consists of soft blues music and flat screens. Every combo meal comes with its choice of 2 sides, all of under $11. All other items on their huge menu are soulfully tasteful and inexpensive. You can indulge in foods such as ox tails with gravy, creamy macaroni and cheese, turkey wings and smothered pork chops. If you're feeling in the mood for the full soulful experience, ask about the Cajun gumbo. The cornbread in this place is so rich and moist that it doesn't even need butter! When it comes to drinks, if dining in, it will be served to you in an old fashion mason jar, drink up! If you plan on getting a place to park, show up early as the parking lots gets filled to the tee by 1pm.

Location: 2523 3^rd St., San Francisco CA Phone: 415-648-3770 Hours: 11am-9pm