🧭 GTA Eats: Soul Food in the Six – The Deep Roots of Southern Cooking in the GTA

🍗 More Than a Meal — It’s a Movement

From fried chicken and cornbread to collard greens and mac & cheese, soul food is more than just comfort — it’s culture, resistance, and tradition served hot.

Rooted in African American history, soul food has found a proud home in the Greater Toronto Area thanks to the influence of Caribbean, African, and Southern U.S. communities. Today, a new wave of Black-owned restaurants and pop-ups is redefining what it means to bring Southern hospitality to the north — blending soul with spice, and history with hustle.

📍 Where Soul Food Lives in the GTA

You don’t need to cross the border for a good plate of chicken and waffles — just head to Kensington Market. The Dirty Bird Chicken & Waffles has become a go-to for fried chicken fans, offering crispy golden chicken atop classic Belgian waffles with a Canadian maple twist. They’ve expanded from Toronto to a new outpost at Pearson Airport, bringing soul to travellers too.

In Toronto’s east end, SugarKane offers a fresh fusion of Southern soul and Caribbean fire. Located on Danforth Avenue, this Black-owned family restaurant blends Cajun classics with Caribbean staples — think jerk catfish, cornbread with sorrel glaze, and plantain-stuffed jambalaya. Their weekend brunches and live music nights have made them a rising favourite in the city.

And for those who want their fix on the go, Big Jerk Smoke House operates food trucks and catering services across Southern Ontario. While their bricks-and-mortar shop is based in Kitchener, their trucks make regular appearances at GTA festivals and street food events — serving up jerk ribs, mac & cheese, and Southern-style sides with Jamaican heat.

🗣️ A Legacy Served Hot

Soul food traces its lineage to the African American South — where enslaved people turned humble ingredients into legendary dishes. That legacy lives on today in the GTA’s kitchens, where Black chefs honour the past while serving a new generation of food lovers.

From Emancipation Day celebrations to soul brunches and DJ-backed dinners, Toronto’s soul food scene continues to grow — not just as a flavour trend, but as a cultural movement.

📍GTA Eats: Food, Flavour and Culture is your weekly guide to the rich culinary tapestry of the Greater Toronto Area. Published every Saturday in GTA Weekly.