Chef Marilyn's, Queen of Down Home Southern Goodies

This place use to be good back I. The day but now it's bland and unseasoned. The greens and red beans and baked chicken taste as if it were prepared for a diabetic. Waste of 13 bucks.
Mar 23rd, 2023

The food here is exploding with flavor. The portions are huge and you can't beat the prices. I have been coming here for decades. The people that work there are very friendly and helpful. Parking has never been a problem. I used to have to stand in a very long line to order. The last time I came I was only 2 people from the front. They are really not set up for dining in, take out only. Even the people in the line are quite friendly. It's right off the freeway.
Mar 19th, 2023

One of the best soul food places in L.A but its in a whole in the wall location
Mar 9th, 2023

Chef Marilyn's was actually my first experience with soul food and wow, I did not know how spoiled I was. I first tried it about five years ago because I was going through a rough time and spent six months living near Crenshaw and Adams. I mean, one can only eat Burger King so many times right? I was a little intimidated the first time I went. I had walked by many times and always saw the line and felt very much like a fish out of water. A tourist in my own back yard. I also didn't have a lot of money and food was my main expense at the time. Fortunately my housing was covered for three months while I got my head and priorities in order.My first time in I had no idea what to expect but I just went with it. I ordered Mac and cheese, rice with gravy (I chose the smothered chicken gravy), and got a large smothered chicken breast. I think the total came out to around $7 or something. Considering what I had been ingesting mainly to have fall off the bone tender chicken breast with that perfect gravy... I mean it was something special. So special that I'm still writing about it five years later. I don't need to say how good the mad and cheese was because most already. I ate there the next few days because it was so good and reasonably priced. Every time I went in I was treated with kindness and respect. You never know what someone is going through in life and the employee's kindness went a long way with me. I'm a white guy and honestly I'm the only white person I ever saw there but they still made me feel like I belonged in the community I was apart of. Like I belonged. I think that's really cool and that experience influences me to this day.I'm not a block away from Crenshaw anymore but when I am craving some truly amazing comfort food I make the trip. It's also encouraged me to explore other types of southern cooking as well. That time in my life was extremely painful and difficult but my experience at this little hole in the wall-- amazing cafeteria style food joint was always nice. It's a positive memory which I can't put a price on. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Mar 6th, 2023

Mar 5th, 2023