Slow-cooked food available fast at Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria

HILLSIDE, Ill. (WLS) -- Some of the best soul food is served cafeteria style - and you'll get no argument from West Siders, who would certainly put MacArthur's up there among the best.

But head a little further west to Hillside, and you'll find a local favorite where they've been frying, smothering and sauteeing for more than a decade.

The fryers run non-stop pretty much all day at Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria, across from the cemetery. But so do the giant pots, intended for slow-cooking bushels of greens and pounds upon pounds of yams. It's slow food intended for those with limited time on their hands.

"The food is hot, it's ready and there's no wait. That's my driving force," said Priscilla Redmond, Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria.

So while it might take hours to make those collards - with either turkey or pork - and those candied yams take a similarly long time, you can pick them up in seconds at the long cafeteria line, along with oozy, rich mac and cheese, smothered chicken or short ribs. And of course, fried chicken and catfish.

"Tons of chicken every day. Tons of fish every day," Redmond said.

There is plenty of sweet tea to go along with the corn muffins, creamy-smooth mashed potatoes with gravy and hearty beef stew - but do leave room for dessert. Several of the cakes are brought in from elsewhere - like the fantastic caramel layer cake or red velvet versions. But Redmond also finds time to make her own cakes and pies.

"We do the German chocolate, the sweet potato pie, the bread pudding, the pecan pie, pound cake. That's about all the time I have to do," she said.

Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria

4330 Roosevelt Road,

Hillside, Ill.

708-544-6230