Tucked away in Kent, Washington, Nana’s Southern Kitchen is the kind of place that makes you feel like you just walked into someone’s home. The restaurant at 10234 SE 256th Street has built a loyal following by serving up soul food that tastes like it was made with generations of love.
From crispy fried catfish to creamy baked mac and cheese, every dish tells a story rooted in Southern tradition. Whether you grew up eating this kind of food or you’re trying it for the very first time, Nana’s has something special waiting for you.
Fried Catfish That Rivals Anything From the Deep South
People drive from cities across Washington just to get a taste of this catfish — and after one bite, you’ll completely understand why. The fish arrives with a beautifully golden crust that shatters when you bite into it, revealing tender, juicy meat underneath.
Paired with homemade tartar sauce, it hits every note a great fried fish dish should.
Reviewers from Texas, Dallas, and even Southern states have called it the best catfish they’ve ever had outside their home region. One customer said it compared to the catfish back home — and that’s no small compliment.
The kitchen clearly knows how to season and fry fish without making it greasy or overdone.
The catfish is sourced from Missouri, which gives it a clean, fresh flavor that sets it apart. Order it with cornbread and you’ve got a plate worth every single mile of the drive.
Mac and Cheese So Good It Earns Its Own Fan Club
Some mac and cheese just fills a plate. The mac at Nana’s Southern Kitchen fills a memory.
Multiple reviewers have called it the best they’ve ever had in any restaurant — high praise for a dish that most people think they’ve already had perfected somewhere else.
What makes it stand out is the layered cheese flavor. The kitchen uses three real cheeses, which creates a depth that goes far beyond the standard boxed or steam-table version.
One reviewer even picked up hints of biscuits and gravy in the cheesy sauce, which says a lot about how complex and satisfying this dish really is.
It’s baked to order, so it arrives warm and fresh rather than sitting under a heat lamp. Whether you get it as a side or as part of a full meal, the mac at Nana’s is something you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve left.
Collard Greens Seasoned With Old-School Perfection
Collard greens might sound simple, but cooking them right is genuinely an art form. At Nana’s Southern Kitchen, they’ve clearly mastered it.
Reviewers consistently mention the greens as one of the standout sides on the menu, noting that they’re seasoned to perfection with a rich, savory depth that’s hard to replicate at home.
The greens have that slow-cooked quality that takes hours to achieve — soft but not mushy, flavorful but not overpowering. One customer from the South said the cabbage tasted just like how their family makes it, which is about as real a compliment as you can give a soul food restaurant.
If you’ve ever had bland greens from a generic buffet, this plate will completely change your expectations. Nana’s treats every side dish like it matters just as much as the main course — because here, it really does.
Candied Yams That Melt Right on Your Tongue
Sweet, sticky, and absolutely irresistible — the candied yams at Nana’s Southern Kitchen are the kind of side dish that makes you forget everything else on the table for a moment. One first-time visitor described them as melting in their mouth with a deliciously sweet flavor that blew them away, especially when paired with a piece of cornbread.
Candied yams are a staple of Southern cooking, showing up at holiday tables and Sunday dinners across the region. Nana’s version stays true to that tradition, delivering a rich sweetness that feels completely homemade rather than store-bought or canned.
The texture is the real secret here — soft enough to practically dissolve on contact, but still holding enough body to feel satisfying. Whether you’re already a fan of candied yams or trying them for the first time, this version is a genuinely memorable experience worth every spoonful.
Pork Chops That Are Tender, Juicy, and Deeply Seasoned
Ordering pork chops at a restaurant can feel like a gamble — they’re so easy to overcook and dry out. At Nana’s, that’s never a concern.
Reviewers rave about how tender and juicy the pork chops are, describing them as seasoned to perfection with a flavor that hits deep and lingers long after the meal is over.
One customer visited the night before a seven-day Alaska cruise and said the pork chops were a highlight of their entire trip to the Pacific Northwest. That’s the kind of impression Nana’s leaves on people — it becomes part of the story of a trip, not just a forgettable dinner stop.
The pork chops pair beautifully with the mac and cheese or the green beans, creating a full Southern plate that feels balanced and deeply satisfying. If you’re a pork chop fan, this dish needs to be at the top of your order list.
Fried Shrimp With Bold Southern Flavor in Every Bite
Crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside — the fried shrimp at Nana’s Southern Kitchen brings serious flavor to the table. One reviewer who had never eaten Southern food before tried the fried shrimp as their first order and immediately declared Nana’s their go-to spot for soul food going forward.
What makes the shrimp special is how well it holds up alongside the other dishes. Mixed together with potato salad and baked mac, one customer gave the flavor combo a rating of 1,000 out of 10 — which pretty much says it all.
The shrimp is fried with the same care and attention that goes into every other protein on the menu.
Southern fried shrimp done right has a satisfying crunch and clean seafood flavor that doesn’t get buried under heavy breading. Nana’s nails that balance, making the shrimp a must-try for anyone who loves coastal Southern cooking.
Cornbread Made the Way Grandma Always Intended
Cornbread is one of those foods that can make or break a Southern meal. At Nana’s Southern Kitchen, it earns its place on the plate.
Reviewers describe it as moist and satisfying, with a texture that complements everything from catfish to candied yams without stealing the spotlight.
Good Southern cornbread isn’t sweet and cakey like a muffin — it has a slightly dense, savory quality that makes it the perfect vehicle for soaking up gravy, greens, or a bit of honey butter. Nana’s version leans into that tradition with results that keep customers coming back order after order.
One guest mentioned spreading yam on top of the cornbread and calling the combination absolutely delicious — which honestly sounds like the kind of accidental food discovery worth repeating every visit. When the bread is this good, it stops being a side and starts being a reason to show up.
Sweet Potato Pie Worth Saving Room For
After a full plate of catfish, mac, and greens, you might think there’s no room left for dessert. Then someone sets a slice of sweet potato pie in front of you and suddenly the rules change.
Nana’s sweet potato pie has a devoted following among regulars who consistently list it as one of the highlights of any visit.
The filling is smooth and warmly spiced, carrying that unmistakable sweet potato flavor that feels both familiar and comforting. One reviewer loved it but mentioned they’d personally prefer it just a touch less sweet — which is a completely fair note and actually speaks to how genuinely sweet and rich the filling really is.
Sweet potato pie is a cornerstone of Southern dessert culture, and Nana’s version honors that tradition with care. Whether you’re finishing off a big meal or sneaking in just for a slice, this pie is a proper ending to a Southern feast.
Peach Cobbler That Brings Pure Southern Joy to the Table
There’s something almost magical about a great peach cobbler — the way the warm fruit and buttery crust come together to create something that tastes like a summer afternoon in the South. At Nana’s Southern Kitchen, the peach cobbler lives up to that reputation completely.
One group of Southern transplants who called themselves experts on soul food described the peach cobbler as amazing after what they called the best soul food experience in all of Western Washington. That review came from people who genuinely know the difference between good cobbler and great cobbler — so it carries real weight.
The cobbler pairs well with the rest of the menu’s dessert lineup, but it stands completely on its own as a reason to visit. Warm, fruity, and satisfying in a way that no other dessert quite matches, this is comfort food at its most joyful and uncomplicated best.
Oxtails and Banana Pudding — A Combination Worth the Trip Alone
Not every restaurant is brave enough to put oxtails on the menu. It takes time, patience, and a deep understanding of flavor to cook them properly.
Nana’s Southern Kitchen takes on that challenge and delivers a version that earned a perfect 10 out of 10 from at least one very happy customer who ordered them to go.
Oxtails are a beloved staple of Southern and Caribbean cooking — slow-braised until the meat falls off the bone and the sauce becomes rich and deeply savory. When done right, they’re one of the most satisfying things you can eat.
Paired with Nana’s banana pudding for dessert, the combination creates a full experience that feels genuinely special.
Banana pudding at its best is creamy, sweet, and layered with soft vanilla wafers that soak up all that goodness. Together, the oxtails and pudding make a compelling case for ordering more than you planned.
Smothered Chicken Rice and Gravy — Comfort in Every Forkful
Few dishes in Southern cooking feel quite as comforting as chicken smothered in rich, slow-cooked gravy served over a bed of fluffy rice. It’s the kind of meal that wraps around you like a warm blanket on a cold Pacific Northwest evening.
Nana’s Southern Kitchen puts this classic on the menu with all the soul it deserves.
The dish is a natural fit for anyone who loves hearty, stick-to-your-ribs cooking without a lot of fuss. The gravy soaks into the rice and creates a base that makes every bite feel deeply satisfying and complete.
It’s straightforward food done with intention and care.
Smothered chicken is one of those dishes where the seasoning tells the whole story. At Nana’s, the kitchen puts real effort into making sure every plate leaves with the full flavor of the South behind it.
For fans of Southern home cooking, this dish is a must-try on the menu.
A Family-Run Atmosphere That Feels Like Home the Moment You Walk In
Walking into Nana’s Southern Kitchen feels like being welcomed into someone’s home — and that’s completely intentional. The walls are covered in family history, and southern gospel music plays softly in the background, setting a tone that’s warm, genuine, and deeply personal.
It’s the kind of atmosphere that makes the food taste even better.
Staff members have been described by multiple reviewers as kind, welcoming, and eager to make every guest feel comfortable. One first-time visitor was offered a free sample of the yams by a granddaughter working the counter, which turned a first visit into an instant regular.
Little gestures like that are what separate a good restaurant from a truly special one.
The restaurant even hung up a forgotten jacket for a customer until they returned to pick it up — that level of thoughtfulness is rare. At Nana’s, hospitality isn’t a policy.
It’s simply how the family operates every single day.
Catering Services for Family Gatherings and Special Events
Some meals are so good that you immediately start thinking about who else you need to bring along next time. Nana’s Southern Kitchen takes that feeling one step further by offering catering services for family gatherings, birthday parties, and special events.
The restaurant’s owner has personally extended the invitation in multiple review responses, making it clear this is something they genuinely love to do.
Imagine bringing the full Nana’s experience — the catfish, the mac, the greens, the cobbler — to your next big family celebration. For anyone who has tasted the food and fallen in love with it, the idea of sharing it with a crowd is an easy yes.
The restaurant already proved it can handle celebrations beautifully, having hosted a memorable 17th birthday dinner that left the whole family raving. To inquire about catering, reach Nana’s directly at (253) 243-6711 or visit nanassouthernway.com for more details.
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