Powell’s Soul Food Cafe

I’m proud to say that I’ve eaten in all three locations that Powell’s Place has run their business: Hayes Valley, the Fillmore and now Bayview/Hunter’s Point. I have even seen Mr. Powell around town in his ridiculous 80’s wig! LOL. I will say this: the glory days of this restaurant are only a memory nowadays. This location is a cotton-​pickin’ shame, and I think he should either turn the business over to a more efficient family member or close up shop altogether.
I think he needs to fire the whole kitchen staff and start from scratch. Too many items (especially the side dishes) come out cold, congealed or not fresh. If you cannot live up to the standard that made you famous, then you have no business running a restaurant. The fact that this location isn’t open for dinner is a major letdown, but the area of town also doesn’t help things.
If I’m correct, the Fillmore location was shut down because Mr. Powell owed over $ 100,000 to the city. What I don’t understand is this: all those years on Hayes Street, and you never bought the building or space? I really hate to see such a legendary local restaurant going to the pits like this, but this is what happens when you stop putting your best foot forward. I’ll still come here, but not nearly as much as when it was on Fillmore or Hayes. It really isn’t worth the money anymore, sad to say.

Long gone are the glorious days of Powell’s. Especially when it used to be on Hayes.
Yes, the parking on Hayes was horrible, and so was the Fillmore location, but the food was always on point!
The new spot isn’t as nice, and it’s not open as late. That’s just sad news for me.
The corn bread, greens, and fried chicken are the same though. It’s just not as available as before.
Do you guys remember, Mr. Powell himself, broadcasting from the Hayes Valley location? He would broadcast, the biggest gospel radio show in the world, from a little booth! I miss those nostalgic days. At least the chicken is still around.

This place is awesome. I have been there twice and I recommend the smothered pork chop if they have it that day. It was so tender that I only needed a fork to eat it. Very good. The mashed potatoes are very good, as are the yams and the greens. For 10 dollars you get 1 meaty entrée and two sides. Please try this place to it stays open. It is a restaurant from 11am-​3pm, and a blues/​jazz club by night.

you would totally miss it if you weren’t looking for it. There is a black chalkboard in the window with hand written «powells soul food café»… They don’t even have a phone line!
We went on New years eve during lunch, it was dead quiet, and the food was not piping hot. The fried chicken was still crispy, even though it wasn’t right out of the frier. The greens were tummy! with a nice bite to it and the slight bitterness. The red beans and rice was excellent with the hot sauce and the sweet tea was great. The mac and cheese would have been better if it was hot, as the cheese had slightly congealed.
My recommendation would be to go early, when the food is just out, and then it would be 4 stars.

There food is great. Sad that they moved but willing to go to the new area just for there food. Fried Chicken is the best. Dirty Rice, Catfish, greens. Yummy!!! Friendly service.

bust out the visor and baggy pants, its flashback time.
so circa 1996, did you see bunch of kids lined up at some warehouse? the walls vibrating?
did you have this cd bumping on your bandpass 12″ sub?
«so i heard keokis spinning in a small intimate venue in sf this weekend.»
«OH NO SHIT. we HAVE to go!!!»
found ourselves near h&ns then sf headquarters… this venue, it looked like and i swore it was a small little warehouse… awesome night. the guy might be a cocky fuck but he had the crowd bumpin.
fast forward… wait HOLY SHIT TWELVE ODD YEARS!!! its been 12 yrs!!! crap me.
le sigh
anyways, so ive been waiting for powells place to open in their new, lunch only location here in the hood.
oh wait, what the heezy, im reading on Unilocal,its inside a jazz club?
i drive by… wait, theres only PAPER, HAND WRITTEN NOTE in the window saying POWELLS PLACE!!!
holy crap, this is the place we went to see keoki!!! 12yrs ago…
le sigh.
the food was nowhere as good as i remember at the eddy street location. my thigh meat was dry as was the leg. the skin was overly crunchy and everything seemed like its been sitting for way too long.
le sigh.
but ill still be coming here, hoping that supporting mr powell this way, maybe he can get another location started soon enough.
its been 12yrs!!! holy crap. so sad.

Receptionist: So where did you go?
Kevo: Powell’s!
Receptionist: What???
Kevo: Powell’s. You know… fried chicken… soul food… cholesterolic goodness???
Receptionist: You went to Hayes? You were only gone for 2 minutes.
Kevo: No, they’re right down the street.
Kevo: They were in the Fillmore after Hayes.
Receptionist: They moved again?
Kevo: Yes. Next door at the nightclub.
Receptionist: What’d you get?
Kevo: FRIED CHICKEN! Red beans and rice AND sweet potatoes!
Receptionist: Hmmm. Sir Mix-​A-​Lot called, he want his booty back.
That’s right folks! Powell’s is back!
As Don B. pointed out, the hours are minimal and the food is served cafeteria style. The food is still good, although not quite as good as before! (since it’s not made to order)
This is the best food option on this side of the Bayview.