Southern Fried — Restaurant in Phoenix

Southern Fried – A Mixed Experience in Phoenix’s Soul Food Scene

Finding a quality soul food restaurant or a renowned fried chicken spot in Phoenix can be quite the challenge, so I approached my visit to Southern Fried with cautious optimism. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon, eager to explore a place I had yet to experience.

Upon arrival, I was struck by the lack of curb appeal; the restaurant is small and somewhat unassuming. I recommend placing your order ahead of time and opting for takeout, as the interior was uncomfortably warm, likely in the 90s. Within minutes of stepping inside, I started to feel the heat. Although there was an electric fan present, it seemed oddly positioned away from the seating area, which did little to alleviate the discomfort. I was greeted warmly by one of the owners, who kindly took my order.

My selection included: Two fried pork chops with a side of collard greens and rice with gravy. Two pieces of dark meat chicken accompanied by collard greens and candied yams, with an additional side of fried shrimp.

Unfortunately, the fried pork chops were disappointing. They were dry and overcooked, rendering them almost inedible. On a more positive note, the collard greens were flavorful, boasting just the right amount of savory juice. However, the rice and gravy fell flat, lacking the depth of flavor one would hope for in a soul food staple.

The fried chicken, while perfectly cooked, was limited to wings only, which diminished its versatility. The candied yams were delightful, striking a good balance in texture without being overly chunky, though a touch more sweetness would elevate them further.

Overall, my experience at Southern Fried was a mixed bag. While there were some highlights, such as the collard greens and candied yams, the shortcomings in the pork chops and the lack of variety in the chicken offerings left me underwhelmed. Based on this visit, I find it hard to justify a...

Ordered takeout here for the first time! I am new to Phoenix, so I have to try all the local spots!! This happened to be my first one! I saw the name of the place and just knew that any place with 'Southern" in the Title was going to be extremely good, and I had no disappointment! GPS sucks to get to it, and the sign out front was not noticeable, but I found it! 😁😁 Anyway! The guy who took my order over the phone was great! He mentioned up front he didn't have certain items, because he was changing his menu, and I was cool with that, so I placed my order and then realized it was close to closing time for him! Even then, he was still cool! So I pick up my order and the same guy was cooking my order. When I get there, he was just sacking it up, approximately twelve minutes from the time I placed my order to the time I walked in to pick it up. Once he sacked it up, He then proceeded to check me out, so the guy is doing the whole works and did it to perfection! He was great! So I got home with my food. My lady friend ordered a cheeseburger and fried zucchini, she opened her box and couldn't believe how big her burger was, so she dug in! She said it was sooo good!! I ordered chicken wings and Fried Tilapia with corn nuggets, and it was all ON POINT!! The chicken wings were the biggest I had ever seen! I ordered four and did not finish them, glad I didn't order the six that I originally was going to! Lol! Anyway, to make this long story short, I will definitely being coming back here for more again and again! And would recommend this place to anyone! Thank you...

I saw Southern Fried pop up in a Phoenix group and headed out to try the food based off the photos. I have passed this place multiple times and I never paid attention to it. I ordered the salmon croquettes, greens, yams, and a side of mac and cheese.

I strongly suggest if you want a taste of Southern food, go ahead and try them. The croquettes were very flavorful and seasoned with bell peppers and onions. They were moist and crispy on the outside. The mac was good. The yams were just sweet enough. Not too sweet, but enough to double as dinner and dessert. The greens were a bit salty, but I used the cornbread to cut the taste. The cornbread was good as well. It was on the sweet side, but it worked well as a way to sop up the greens. I was very surprised that I was also offered a taste of their sweet potato cornbread. It was really good. I tried to make some several times, and I haven't been able to master this recipe.

The staff was very friendly. They were personable and attentive. Due to the heat and the lack of AC I felt like I was at my grandmother's house. So, you really get a homestyle vibe from the place. Don't expect to sit down and eat. This is a to-go spot. Now, if it wasn't 108 outside, I probably would have sat at the one high top table, but it's really not a place to dine. Take your food home and enjoy. The total cost for my meal was $22. The...