Our ‘Down South’ Recs for the Next Time Cardi B Wants Soul Food in Dallas

Cardi B was in Dallas this past weekend for her Little Miss Drama tour. We missed the Bronx-born, Grammy-winning rapper’s Instagram plea for restaurants to try while she was here.

We know some spots that would have satisfied that craving. And if you have any intel on where Cardi B landed for dinner, please let us know.

Pangea

1910 Pacific Ave., Downtown
Pangea just opened its new restaurant in downtown Dallas, a wonderful interpretation of Southern dishes refined with French technique. Chef Kevin Ashade serves up dishes from around the globe, as the name implies, with items like gumbo, Not Your Mamas Greens, cornbread and five-cheese mac and cheese, alongside a coq au vin that Beat Bobby Flay. The new space is beautiful, and we wish Cardi B had bought the whole space out for the night.

The Charlotte

2822 N. Henderson Ave.
The Charlotte in the Knox-Henderson neighborhood honors traditional Southern fare with dishes like catfish and spaghetti in an upscale, fun setting. Coined as an “all-day American bistro,” it’s rooted in comfort food as overseen by Michelin-trained chef Wyl Lima. Go for the spicy lamb chops or the blackened shrimp over a bed of cheesey grits and andouille sausage.

Kendall Karsen’s Upscale Soul Food

3939 S. Polk St., Southern Dallas
Kendall Karsen’s is a southern Dallas staple. Owner Kevin Winston grew up eating Sunday supper with his grandmother, Aunt Lou, who made sure everyone knew they could eat at her table. Winston recreates classic dishes with healthier ingredients. He’s hosted celebrities such as Bun B in the past. Mains include ribs, rotisserie quarter, fish fillets, liver and onions and chicken tetrazzini.

Sweet Georgia Brown

2840 E. Ledbetter Drive, Oak Cliff
Sweet Georgie Brown’s is an Oak Cliff institution, built on decades of generous portions of soul food. From ribs to fried chicken, smothered turkey and yams, this is where you put meat back on your bones after a concert. The sides are equally indulgent: mac and cheese, collard greens and cabbage. As The Dallas Morning News’ Timia Cobb wrote earlier this year, this isn’t a restaurant, it’s a “generational gathering place for the city’s African American community to trade stories and fellowship.”

Tha Neighborhood Kitchen

4705 Yancy St., Joppa
This is takeout only, so don’t pull up in a tour bus, but Tha Neighborhood Kitchen will make you a believer if you’re not already. The prices here don’t line up with inflation: styrofoam containers barely hang on, overloaded with oxtail, smothered pork chops, beef tips with rice and abundant, artery-clogging sides (as they should be). Check its Facebook page for the daily menu.