Soul food restaurant

Amy Ruth's

East HarlemManhattan

4.3· 6,196 reviewsClosed now
Amy Ruth's — soul food restaurant — in East Harlem — Manhattan — NYC
Amy Ruth's interior — East Harlem

East Harlem

Manhattan

The brief

About Amy Ruth's

Chicken & waffles are among the classics served to locals & sightseers at this down-home restaurant.

Health inspection

NYC DOHMH Grade A

A

Score12(lower is better)

Inspected2/9/2026

Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.

How grades work

Community Rating

4.3

out of 5

6,196 community reviews

Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.

Community-sourced rating

Reviews

What diners say about Amy Ruth's

15 verified Google reviews · 1 with owner response

4.5

15 reviews

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Yvette Alvarenga
a week ago

First time visiting Amy Ruth’s here in Harlem. The server, Tasha was wonderful and had a very welcoming energy. We got the chicken and waffles (smothered) & the hot chicken sandwich. Food came out extremely fast and was flavorful & delicious. Will definitely be back again. Thank you for the experience!

Terri L ColemanLocal guide
a week ago

It was a wonderful experience of a bus trip and play. The restaurant was ready for us, no waiting. And there was 60 of us. So no complaints. Large portions, seasoned well.

Gabriel Estrada (Kopshi)
2 weeks ago

Had the chicken and waffles. Amazing. Lightly sweet and hearty waffles, crispy chicken that was well tender. They included a side of cornbread as an appetizer and it was everything, fluffy and well-rounded in a way that made it satiating without overstating itself.<br><br>You'd do yourself a disservice not to stop in Harlem just for this place.

Debbie CLocal guide
a month ago

Our server was really nice, the food was just as great as the first time i tried it 8yrs ago. Jamaican chicken jerk and the chicken and waffles.

Emili CaballéLocal guide
2 months ago

I didn’t expect to like this place as much as I did, but honestly everything we had was delicious. The fried chicken was incredible, but what really surprised me was the chicken and waffle combo — I had no idea that would work so well together, but it absolutely does.<br><br>We ordered the Rev. Al Sharpton and the President Obama, plus collard greens and black eyed peas on the side. Both sides were really good, but the black eyed peas stood out for me — super flavorful and comforting. The collard greens were also great and tasted very authentic.<br><br>On top of that, the price was more than reasonable for the amount and quality of food we got. Definitely not expensive for what it is.<br><br>I’d 100% come back.

worlddwellerLocal guide
2 months ago

Amazing experience at Amy Ruth's today. The woman running the store was so friendly and attentive. Fried chicken was delicious, crispy and seasoned to perfection. Meatloaf was SO FLAVORFUL and tops everything else for me. Banana pudding was delicious but we just wished the cookies were soft instead of crunchy.

Deborah FelicianoLocal guide
3 months ago

Every single piece of chicken was so dry it was not edible. I was hoping for the best, even ordered a side of meat (which to my surprise was one leg)….2 meals with 1 side and 1 extra PIECE of chicken was $75.00 🤯🤯🤯 that price is the reason I HAD to leave a review. Also, cornbread had a strong bitter taste of baking soda. Pretty disappointed and hope they can rectify or make a better impression next time! As we have gone several times in person and haven’t had the same response.

Wanda iris Martinez (Wandi M)Local guide
3 months ago

The Barack Obama Dinner Plate was so good ! it almost put me to sleep at the table after eating dinner. The freshly squeezed lemon juice is sweet to perfection. The mashed potatoes…. WOW!!!! With the gravy sauce Double WOW !!! The Mac and Cheese you can eat it cold hours later and it’s still savory .., there’s no words to explain how delicious it tastes , just come out and order the Barack Obama Dinner and judge for yourself. The service great.. Dinner served in a timely manner. The atmosphere cozy and chill. Everyone in the restaurant was happy and welcoming. So yes definitely I would come here again.

yasmeen avilesLocal guide
3 months ago

The best soulfood in HARLEM!!!! QUICK and friendly service. If you haven't gone ,you are missing out on a treat ! Can't wait to host a party there . ENJOY

Mika CLocal guide
Edited 3 months ago

We celebrated a successful gymnastics competition in Harlem with a visit to Amy Ruth's! 😋 Customer service was top-notch, and the food was flavorful - loved the cornbread and my chicken and waffles.<br><br>However, my daughter had a rough go with the beef ribs (sour taste, ended up throwing up). Sides were hot and fresh, but suspect the ribs might've been off. Thankfully, she's recovering after 24 hours of rest.<br><br>Appreciated the hospitality and congratulatory vibes 🏆. Not sure if we'll be back, but glad we got to try it.

Isaiah FlemingLocal guide
3 months ago

I enjoy going here after the gym to eat some really good home cooked food. Love love love their meatloaf. I prolly go here at least 3-4 times a week 🤭🫣 no judgment lol.

GabrielLocal guide
4 months ago

This was my first time in this place and also the first time I had the southern home cooking style and it was very good.<br>I wanted to have my first ever soul food experience at Harlem and came to this place.<br>The food was delicious: We had the pork ribs, honey chicken, fried catfish and several side orders and they were all very good.<br>It’s a bit overpriced but at least the amount of food was decent for the price.<br>Service a bit slow but its OK and good atmosphere.<br>Fully recommend when you visit Harlem.

Adriana BLocal guide
Edited 5 months ago

First time at Amy Ruth’s and it did not disappoint. We were immediately greeted and seated. The waitress was attentive and wonderful. We definitely didn’t feel rushed which was great. This way we could throughly enjoy the meal and also just our lunch conversation.<br><br>Restaurant is so spacious that we had our privacy. Unlike a lot of NYC restaurants where tables are so close together.<br><br>Most important the food. The food was well worth the trip from Jersey. It was the best fried chicken I’ve had. All the sides were a great enhancement to the meal. Really delicious. Of course we had to finish our meal with dessert. We selected two items made in-house and they did not disappoint.<br><br>Only negative is that I’m not closer to the restaurant to eat there more often. Definitely worth the trip and highly recommended for a meal that just feels like comfort.<br><br>Thank you to the staff and to the Chef for a wonderful experience!

Deso MarcianoLocal guide
7 months ago

My mother wanted to take me out to dinner at a restaurant and this is where she chose and I’m so glad she did. I had a wonderful time. The food was amazing. I ordered the ribs and chicken combo and I had two sides which were peas and rice and potato salad, which was amazing the cornbread they provided was amazing. I tasted my mothers food she had chicken and waffles. Amazing. The staff was welcoming The establishment was very clean. I would definitely recommend . It’s a staple in the community and defines “Soul Food” at its best

Response from the owner

Thank you for the review and happy birthday to mom!

Ericka BLocal guide
8 months ago

Harlem staple right here. Had some of the best meatloaf and mashed potatoes ever…perfect comfort food on a chilly day. still thinking about it. Casual, clean, friendly…in the heart of Harlem. Highly recommend.

Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.

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Amy Ruth's is one of many healthy restaurants in our directory. See where to eat healthy in East Harlem, Manhattan's healthy dining scene, and NYC restaurant health inspection grades.

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