Luella's Southern Kitchen opens new Albany Park location with renewed vision

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of Chicago's most beloved dining gems is back with a brand-new space and a fresh, soulful menu.

Luella's Southern Kitchen, the acclaimed Southern-inspired restaurant from chef and owner Darnell Reed, is now open at its new permanent location at 4114 North Kedzie Avenue in Albany Park.

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Open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the new Luella's will serve breakfast and brunch only, an exciting shift for the restaurant that helped define Chicago's modern Southern food scene. The restaurant is named for Reed's great-grandmother, Luella Funches, whose cooking first inspired him as a child.

"This is a full-circle moment," says Reed. "I've come home in more ways than one, owning the building, deepening roots in the community, and focusing on soulful food made from the heart. Brunch is the perfect canvas to tell those stories."

The new brunch menu features Southern classics with elegant, creative twists:

• Crab-Stuffed Shrimp with Smoked Grits and Maque Choux
• Boudin, Egg & Cheese Biscuit with pepper jelly and Fontina
• Kentucky Hot Brown on Brioche with Slagel turkey
• Beignets and a Sticky Donut that are already buzz-worthy
• Chicken & Waffles (original or Nashville-style) using farm-raised poultry from Harrison's in Glenview
• Buttermilk Pancakes with whipped brown butter and Mick Klug Farm blueberry compote
• PB&J Po'Boy for kids, plus mac & cheese, housemade biscuits, and Three Sisters Garden grits

Weekly French Toast and seasonal specials keep the menu playful and ever-changing.

Since its debut in 2015, Luella's has earned both local love and national spotlight. Chicago Magazine named it the Best New Southern Restaurant in 2015. Luella's has also been a James Beard Award semifinalist in the Great Lakes region and a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient, three times, recognizing its excellence in quality and value.

Now nestled in the heart of Albany Park, Luella's Southern Kitchen is deepening its roots. Chef Reed looks forward to welcoming new neighbors while continuing to serve the loyal guests who've followed the restaurant's journey from Lincoln Square.

Reed's mission remains deeply personal: "I want people to eat something that reminds them of home-even if they're nowhere near it."