Soul Food Renaissance

For the best southern food in Long Beach, Soul Food Renaissance—formerly called LBJ's Fine Foods—is where it's at. Your hands will get dirty, there will almost certainly be sauce smeared across your face, but it's all in the name of damn fine comfort food. Smothered chicken comes layered over white rice, while a side of cornbread, mac and cheese, yams and the like fills up the rest of your table. The fried chicken here is a dream, as are the wet short ribs sidled up next to a pile of mashed potatoes. Wash it all down with sweet tea served in a glass jar.