A new restaurant, Soul/Ramen, has opened in Bronzeville, offering a unique blend of soul food and Asian noodles. Located at 508 E. Pershing Road, the restaurant is owned by Airian McDuffy, a South Shore native who aims to bring something new and innovative to the area.
Menu and Concept
The restaurant’s menu features a range of dishes, including Gulf Coast Gumbo, Jollof Dreams, and Shrimp Po’Bao. McDuffy plans to feature a different ‘Soul Bowl’ each month, with flavors like gumbo and lemon pepper. The restaurant is open from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday-Monday, with bowls starting at $12.
McDuffy was inspired to create the concept after trying a recipe for ramen that combined jerk and Thai flavors. She then experimented with different soul food ingredients, such as gumbo, and found that they paired well with Asian noodles.
Community Involvement
McDuffy has been involved in the community, vending at neighborhood festivals to keep the buzz going about her restaurant. She also received a community development grant from the city in 2024, which helped her to open the restaurant.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
