I’m always searching for genuine soul food, the kind of place where the ambiance takes a backseat to the quality of the collard greens. Forget the trendy downtown spots.
When I travel through Maryland, I look for the joints locals won’t tell tourists about-the vinyl booths, the handwritten menus, the deep fryers that have been seasoned for decades. I went on a culinary mission to find ten specific hole-in-the-wall spots.
These are the establishments where tradition is consistently the main ingredient, served hot, smothered, and without apology.
1. Bertha’s Soul Food Bar & Grill
Late-night cravings meet down-home cooking at this Baltimore landmark that never seems to close. Bertha’s pulls in everyone from shift workers to college kids hunting for fried chicken that actually has flavor. The platters arrive piled high, crispy skin crackling under the heat lamps…