Fodor's Expert Review Martha Lou's Kitchen

Martha Lou Gadsden has made her pink cinder-block building into a palace of soul food. Although the building is quirky, with a huge mural of the owner visible from a mile down the road, the food—chicken perfectly cooked to golden brown, divine fried pork chops—is taken seriously. The tireless octogenarian works all day, preparing collard greens, giblet rice, lima beans, and, yes, even chitterlings. Just a chat with Martha Lou is enough to make the trip worthwhile.