What Is Soul Food? Classic Dishes & Where to Try Them
Soul food is the traditional cooking of African Americans, rooted in the American South. This guide is for diners who want to know the classics before sitting down for dinner or the Sunday buffet.
Where the name comes from
The cooking is centuries old. The term “soul food” became widely used in the 1960s, alongside “soul” music and culture.
Classic dishes
| Dish | What it is | At Memoire’s |
|---|---|---|
| Fried catfish | Cornmeal-crusted, fried fish | Lunch, dinner and Sunday buffet |
| Collard greens | Slow-cooked leafy greens | “Greens” side |
| Candied yams | Sweet potatoes baked with sugar and spice | “Yams” side |
| Mac and cheese | Baked macaroni and cheese | Side at lunch, dinner, buffet |
| Cornbread | Quick bread of cornmeal | Sunday buffet |
| Banana pudding | Custard, bananas and wafers | Sunday dessert |
Eat soul food in North Minneapolis
Try a $17.99 lunch plate Wednesday – Friday, or the $37.99 Sunday buffet. Curious about Tuesdays? Read what birria is.
By the Memoire's team · Updated October 31, 2026
