Colorado Soul Food Spots Locals Love When They Need Real Comfort

When the cold mountain air bites a little too hard or life just needs a warm hug in food form, Coloradans know exactly where to go.

Soul food brings people together with flavors that feel like home, no matter where you’re from.

1. Welton Street Café

Nestled in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, this legendary breakfast and lunch spot has been feeding locals since 1988.

Owner Elbra Wedgeworth serves up Southern classics that taste like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house.

The smothered pork chops will make you weep with joy, and the salmon croquettes? Pure magic. Lines form early on weekends because word travels fast when food’s this good.

2. The Blazing Chicken Shack II

Hot chicken lovers, meet your match. This Aurora gem brings Nashville-style heat to Colorado with chicken so crispy and spicy it’ll have you reaching for sweet tea between bites.

Owner Chef Max cranks up flavors that dance between smoky, sweet, and seriously fiery. The mac and cheese calms the burn just right. Fair warning: their hottest level isn’t playing around, so pace yourself unless you’re fearless.

3. Randall’s

Family recipes passed down through generations fuel every dish at this Aurora favorite. Randall’s doesn’t cut corners – everything’s made from scratch with love you can actually taste.

Their oxtails fall off the bone like butter, and the candied yams hit that perfect sweet spot. Come hungry because portions are generous enough to share, though you probably won’t want to.

4. Sabrina’s Soul Food Kitchen

Sabrina cooks like she’s feeding her own family, because honestly, that’s how she treats every customer who walks through her door. Each plate comes loaded with flavor and zero pretension.

The smothered chicken drowns in gravy so good you’ll want a spoon, not a fork. Black-eyed peas seasoned to perfection round out meals that feel like Saturday afternoons on a Southern porch.

5. Cora Faye’s Café

Chicken and waffles reach new heights at this Arvada hotspot where brunch meets soul food in the most delicious collision imaginable. Chef Jeff elevates comfort classics without losing their down-home heart.

Crispy wings rest on fluffy Belgian waffles drizzled with hot honey butter that’ll change your life. The shrimp and grits compete for attention with creamy, cheesy perfection that Southern grandmothers would approve.

6. Mississippi Boy Catfish & Ribs

Catfish done right requires serious skill, and Mississippi Boy’s got it mastered. Their cornmeal-crusted fillets come out golden, flaky, and seasoned so perfectly you might forget about the ribs – but don’t.

Those fall-off-the-bone beauties wear tangy sauce like a badge of honor. Hush puppies on the side add sweet, crispy bites that disappear faster than you’d expect. Cash only, so hit the ATM first.

7. Nola Jane Restaurant & Bar

Big Easy vibes meet Rocky Mountain hospitality at this Denver spot that channels Louisiana magic. Jazz plays softly while plates of jambalaya and étouffée transport diners straight to Bourbon Street.

Their fried green tomatoes with remoulade make perfect starters before the main event. Save room for beignets – pillowy, powdered-sugar-covered clouds that prove dessert always deserves space.

8. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

Southern hospitality shines bright at this Cherry Creek favorite where scratch-made biscuits steal the show. Fluffy, buttery, and begging for a drizzle of local honey, they’re worth the carb guilt.

The goat cheese grits add creamy sophistication to classic soul food comfort. Fried chicken arrives juicy under its crunchy coating, proving some traditions shouldn’t change.