Manna's Restaurant

After a morning of strolling on 125th Street in the heart of Harlem, it is easy to become hungrey (if you know what I mean). So of course, I needed to stop by Manna’s for something to eat. And of course, Marylin and her staff did not disappoint. Everything from her homemade ginger juice and array of hot and cold dishes to choose from, buffet style you just need to have portion control bc once your dish gets the weight in, you may realized the truly your eyes are bigger than your wallet and stomach. So be mindful, walk around the buffet before taking your plate, the choices are incredible. They also have a catering menu so whatever you see can be created for a special occasion. I believe the pictures will speak for themselves. Enjoy

There are so many dishes, but each one is made with such care and tastes amazing. I came all the way from LA after seeing it on TV. Please open a Manna’s Soul Food in Los Angeles too!

The owner of this place, Ms. Betty Park, is well-known even in Korea. I was genuinely surprised to hear that she’s involved in community service, makes donations, and even runs a scholarship foundation in Harlem. The restaurant itself is a bit smaller than I expected, but the variety of food is impressive. The Korean-style seasoned fried chicken left the biggest impression on me—it could easily compete with some of the most famous chicken dishes in New York. The cornbread was absolutely delicious, and even the spaghetti was great. It’s the kind of place I already want to go back to tomorrow. The food tasted incredibly fresh, and the cleanliness around the food area was top-notch. While it follows more of a deli-style hot food format, there’s no doubt this is one of Harlem’s must-try spots.

Large buffet style restaurant fresh variety of hot foods ..rice - plain /rice -beans, vegetables, shrimp jerk/fried/baked chicken ect ..mac and cheese..greens/okra tomato. Yams ..plantians- et Great cold salads bar/fruit-jello bar ..kale-very good- spinach . Nice clean eat in area ..seasons decor. However should be more appreciative of regular weekly customers spending well over 20.00 buffet never says thank you. Others have mentioned this -not good..

May I say AMAZIIIING!!! This food was very delicious and the selection was great. Was here with my family (mainly men) and everyone left nice and full. We will definitely be back on our next trip to NYC.

Super delicious, just grab what you want. Drinks are sick too. My friend from S.Korea flew in just for this

We just visited today and the roast beef and honey chicken were especially delicious so I had no choice but to take another plate to-go for my dinner. The employees were all very friendly and the owner Betty was full of motherly love. Highly recommend and will always make time to stop by whenever we visit New York.

Food was ok, nothing bad but nothing you're excited to take another bite of. Temperature of everything was just above room temperature, that's what's disappointing me the most (it's 44degrees right now). Also paid way more than I expected to, missed what the weight on my plate was but paid $39 for 1 container, ice tea and a slice of lemon pound cake. Plate had rice n peas (good), Mac n cheese (meh), zitit (meh), puffed honey fish (good), crab cake (good), collard greens (meh but I think I would've enjoyed if it was hot).

Listen, I bought food from Manna's on a Saturday, and it was so good that my mom and I had to turn right back around and drive down to Harlem again (from Rockland) just to get more. I am Haitian, so trust me when I tell you I know good food when I taste it. This is the kind of food that makes you hum while you eat. The kind of food that makes you forget about your diet and your errands because nothing else matters in that moment except what's on your plate. The flavors were rich, seasoned all the way through, and every bite tasted like somebody's auntie or grandma was in the kitchen putting real love into it. What I really love is that it's buffet style, so you already know I was piling my plate with everything that called my name. You get exactly what you want and as much of it as you want, which makes it even better. Harlem has so many gems, but Manna's is one of those places where you can feel the community and the history in the food. The price is more than fair for how satisfied you will leave, and you will be thinking about that plate long after you finish it. When I say this place is worth the trip, I mean it. If you see me driving down to Harlem again, mind your business, because it is probably just me, my mom, and grandma (who came along for the second ride) going back for another round.

The food was amazing! I'm just visiting and Manna's was one of the first places I've eaten and I already want to go back. Everything was full of flavor, it felt like thanksgiving at my families house. And the man helping was very friendly. Will be back.

Placed a catering order for Thanksgiving. The rice and beans, honey wings, cornbread, peach cobbler and banana pudding were good. However, the string beans were NOT good and had to be thrown away. I'm writing this review on behalf of my daughter/grandchildren since I didn't personally taste anything.

I haven't eaten at this location, which is new to me, but I tried it the other night. Manna's is a buffet-style soul food restaurant. The food is consistent and as I remember it over the years. My favorite is the honey bbq chicken wings. Everything else is decent if you want homestyle food in a rush. Do stay away from the mashed potatoes! I remember them being very delicious in the past. What I encountered the other night tasted like cardboard, a.k.a. imitation mashed potatoes. Other than that, I'm good with chicken wings and salad. Watch how much you load your plate because when you get to the register... lol.

Took my nephew to the Apollo and wanted a quick local place nearby to grab a bite before the show. Had passed by Manna's for years, but never ventured in until then. So glad I did! Noting Manna's is not a fancy dining setting, the food and flexibility with its selection makes it a winner in my book! They offers a great, fair-priced buffet with some delicious soul food specialties. Loved the baked chicken, (yum) chicken stuffing, tender sweet plantains, plus especially (two of my favorites) collard greens and candied yams! My nephew had a tasty jerk chicken with assorted sides. We both totally enjoyed it! Manna's will likely be my go-to local pre-show spot in the future, however would recommend eating there any time!

They moved to a new location and have outside seating options. It hits the spot when you're craving soul food but it has changed a bit in quality. I felt like they had more options at their old location vs this new one but the food is still good a bit pricey but again better than other options. We wanted to scoop a bit of everything but the pepper steak was more sauce and peppers than any steak so we left it.

Well, your food is weighed. If you have a fat back then you'll have a fat amount to pay. I had 2 pieces of whiting fish, 1 1/2 spoon of potatoes salad with 1 1/2 spoon of rice and beans with jerk sauce and that was $12.45. The food is very flavorful. I enjoyed it. The service was very respectful and pleasant. The ambiance was a soulful vibe a little tight but soulful.

Just moved here a week ago, i've tried a couple places around NYC and this is hands down the best i've had so far and likely for a while. I know fantastic food when i have it. Very flavorful, varied palette, and many options for you to pack your plate with. I'll be coming here for years to come!

Even I wasn't able to try everything, so I came back within a week to this pay-by-pound buffet and was able to get by without a single repeat item. The fried chicken was just o.k., but that provides more opportunity to branch out. The ribs were a standout with an enticing red sauce, and the mac-and-cheese had that awesome crust on top. In my second excursion, the pineapple ham was perhaps the most photo-friendly offering, but the boldest flavor was from the jerk chicken. While the abundant meat is what initially lured me in, I also enjoyed the potato salad, cabbage and black-eyed peas. Depending on your mood, you might want to lean on the healthy, reliable collard greens, or try for a curveball like the lima beans with smoked turkey necks.

Whomever said they Chitterlings was good, doesn't know good Chitterlings at all, they were horrible, especially for $20 for this little as bowl

Manna's is another eatery that I frequent so much that they should have a framed pic of me on the wall at the register. All of the food is buffet style and the variety is amazing-sooo many options. There are delicious hot and cold dishes to suit every craving. I have so many favorites and personal combos. I'm a big fan of the crispy honey fish. The baked ziti is so hot and cheesy and scrumptious. It's nicely baked and filled with saucy ground beef. I spoon drizzle jerk chicken gravy all over it. The collard greens are cooked so well, they make me miss my grandmother's and think of how she made hers. The greens aren't too firm and not too soggy. They're just right and perfectly seasoned. When I'm feeling extra greedy, I dig into the cornbread dressing. It's nicely browned on top and very tasty. The salads, fruit, deviled eggs-all the cold options are A1. Manna's has recently added NOLA style gumbo to the menu and it slaps! This is my fave place to eat from when I'm in Harlem for work. Good stuff!

This place is a buffet restaurant, so you can order from their menu here and got hot or cold food! I got fish with I believe it's cod ! Turkey breast , some deviled eggs .. some chicken breast , some kale salad too , it's has over 40 different sides or flavors here ! It's a bit expensive for me , mine comes to around $15 for over a pound of food!

The food was good, fresh and seasoned pretty good. The service was friendly, there was an older man that was very wise and knowledgeable, speaking to the younger generation about making a change etc. it's a small cute mom and pop buffet, you can eat in or take out.

HAD TO try this spot with all the hype and reviews! Went with my son, over 45 yrs., and grandson of 21 years old. Three (3) seasoned pallets and 2 real time working chefs. We all, unanimously agreed!!!! Not going to have another, consciously, on purpose experience EVER!! Presentation was semi OK, average for a NYC buffet. ALL our selections from hot and cold were very much, EXTREMELY over salted!!! Nothing stood out as good, eatable and/or refreshing. O EXCITEMENT here!! We all purchased Hot and cold selection. We agreed!!!! Not ever, NOT never again.

Wow, this restaurant has bold flavors and they don't hold back. The only gripe I have is that the roasted chicken that I got was incredibly dry and tough. However, it was packed with so much flavor that it was OK when paired with, their really delicious Dirty rice and their sweet green beans. The rice had sautéed peppers, spices, and sausage. It was really soft and super flavorful. Do not pass up on their green beans. I thought I would not like it as I usually don't care for the standard green beans. I get at American restaurants. I was pleasantly surprised to see that these were really sweet and juicy! Highly recommend. And as I mentioned at the beginning, their chicken was very tough and dry, but the flavor was there. I will give them a pass as it was pretty late at night, and that chicken probably was cooked earlier in the day.

I went to manna's restaurant on Sunday, August 17, 2025 . I purchased Five food containers and four drinks it came to $150.00 .The person who weighed the food, weighed all 5 food containers together. I felt like I got ripped off. Each food containers should have been weighed separately.The atmosphere is also unpleasant . The workers are very nasty and they have attitudes. Manna's restaurant lost me as a customer.

The name speaks for itself. Soul food, Caribbean, black food sold by the pound. So build a plate to your liking. Very clean buffet. It's a super buffet with spaghetti, chicken wings, oxtails, watermelon, salad, jerk chicken, mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, peach cobbler, deviled eggs, etc. there's so many options for every taste. Average customer service. Reasonable price. outdoor seating available. Great value!!!

I went there on Wednesday and had Collard Greens and ribs. The Collard Greens were not seasoned well, the ribs were really good, though I do not like them falling off the bone. Went back on Sunday for the chitterings (chitins) and Fruit Punch. The chitins were gross. I've had chitlins many times and though they often are not the most pleasant smelling, these appear to not be cleaned well. They are also expensive, $20 for a small cup and without any broth or flavor; just chitlins. I took two bites and couldn't finish. I tried adding copious amounts of hot sauce , and it didn't change anything. Absolutely horrid. The Fruit Punch tastes like a sugar water with red flavoring. Restaurant is basically just a buffet that has soul food.

I was so hungry that I totally forgot to take pics of my order. Clean establishment, service can use some improvement and my salmon , string beans and yams were tasty.

The owner of this restaurant, Betty, has been on media multiple times highlighting her dedication to black community in Harlem serving soul food. I watched one of those documentaries as a young kid back in Korea and always wanted to try when I get to New York. I finally got a chance to try today and I'm glad I tried. I tried little bit of everything but really enjoyed oxtail, fried fish, spicy fried chicken, spaghetti, and meat pasta. Everything was fresh and warm. Nothing was overly sauced or salted. Restaurant was clean and felt cozy. I was lucky to meet Betty in person and, she was a sweet lovely lady. I will definitely come back again next time I visit NY.

Food was good but a wee bit pricey in my opinion. The temperature of the food was warm on some dishes and kinda cold on others. My favorite was the honey fish. I just tried one because I didn't know how it would be but I wish I got more because that was amazing. All in all a great experience except paying $42 for it.

The food is good but waaaaay too expensive at the buffet!!! You get more for your money at Jacob's Restaurant but the food isn't as good. I doubt Manna's will ever lower the prices (although they need to be mindful of the community they serve!) but people should know beforehand that they will be spending a LOT of money there.

My husband loves Manna's too however, I noticed that the deviled eggs are extremely sweet, the cabbage is a bit sweet too. They must've changed chefs. I love the fried fish and the oxtails. The Mac n cheese is a lil sweet too. My family and I still love Manna's and we also love the new location.

Mac and cheese is horrible the potato salad is good the ribs is good the collards and cabbage is decent also , I feel with new location and maybe even new ownership or different cooks or something that the food be off. This is my 3rd try it's like a hit or miss with the buffet type of vibe but I had to leave review because the Mac and cheese is beyond trash. The Fruit Punch OMG its award winning "Fruit Punch Taste So Good Make You Wanna Slap Your Momma"

I took these pictures at Manna's Fabulous Soul Food Block Party. Manna's was established in 1984. Manna's Soul Food has been a staple in Harlem for the past three decades always delicious eats with lots of love. We have witnessed history in our corner spot throughout the years, but some things can always stay the same. The amazingly fresh and delicious soul food the chefs in the kitchen have been cooking since 1984. My grandmother started bringing me there when it opened at its original location. I especially love their ribs, fried chicken, cornbread, greens, and coleslaw. I'm getting hungry just writing about it. Manna's Soul Food specializes in delicious and fresh home-cooked soul food. For the past 33 years, the kitchen has served some of the best food the neighborhood has grown to love. It's mucho good.

I've frequented this spot a few times and have never been disappointed with the exception of my pockets, lol. The food selection is mostly soul food with a variety of side dishes buffet style. They have am area where you can wash your hands and/or use antibacterial. I usually go in and say I'm only going to get this and that. However, each and every time my plate is a lot heavier than i planned. My favorites here are the mac and cheese and collard greens. I usually get an assortment of the chicken options and go home and feast for two days. Please don't go in here starving because you will come out with a $30 plate. Lol. They do have a small seating area in the back but I see this place as a take out spot. You might have to double park like the other cars because parking in the area is tight. Whenever I'm in the area I don't hesitate to grab a plate of food to fill my tummy.

This restaurant is worth visiting. Buffet is amazing. Atmosphere is clean and beautiful. Definitely 5/5.

I was skeptical because not everyone can cook "soul food" BUT to my surprise the Food was very tasty. Everything was seasoned just right (At least three food I had). The steam veggies were hard. I like mines crunchy but on the soft side. The Caribbean rice was good, honey glazed fish had the right amount of flavor, salmon had bones But seasoned just right, and the plantation had this glaze to it, very tasty. Definitely would visit here again. Love that there is a variety for everyone taste buds. The cook kept the food coming out so the selection of food was well kept full and hot. A variety of salads and cold bar food. Fruit sweet and good. I would recommend this spot.

Manna's used to be good, but it isn't anymore. Nice new location with outdoor seating but its more so soul food interpretation vs actual soul food. There are other, tastier options in the area.

I was in Harlem visiting my Mom and happened to be walking by Manna's and decided to get something for us. I had seen this place a lot but never checked it out. They had a good buffet selection. But since it was my first time I kept it simple and just got some fried fish, fried chicken, collard greens and a salad. Everything tasted good and was seasoned well. Will definitely be back.

This place is soooo good. The staff are extremely nice and the food is next level amazing. My friend took me while I was visiting NY and I went back two more times before heading back home. Buffet style. Food is weighed. You can dine in or carry out. And don't miss out on the seafood that's located in the very back of the store. You can order shrimp or crab legs from there. Definitely check this place out - you may even run into a celebrity or two . #blackowned #soulfood

When you need real food this is your home food candy shop ! Healthy delicious friendly comfortable atmosphere harlem soulfood experience! We're are you going to find that , it's like coming home for breakfast lunch or dinner !

I've been a longtime customer of Mannas for about 20+ years. I started going in the year 2000. I remember when they were on 125th and Madison, 133rd and Lenox (which was my first stop when I moved back to Harlem). I popped in last night. I just went off. Piled on whatever tf I wanted. The guy said my total was $37. lmao. I said ok. I had baked ziti, mac & cheese, collard greens, fried chicken, bbq ribs, turkey, (cajun seasoned) in one container, and potato salad & deviled eggs in the other. The standout to me was the baked ziti.. mmmm. I was so glad I piled that on lmaooooo. I ate a portion last night, and saved the rest for later. This is my first time having the food at this location which is the newest one. I saw baked halibut and jambalaya rice.. I said oh damn, must go back.

Wandering along 125th street with classmates led us to this place. I had never heard of this place before, but my classmates insisted that this place was good. And they were right. We walked in, past the canopy, and into this small but lively place. There was food of different kinds here, many of which I found appealing. I decided to get some grilled turkey, plantains, potatoes, rice with beans, sweet potatoes, and fruit. The food was delicious! And even though I stuffed my face, the food did not leave me comatose. Rather, I got a good amount of energy, which was good considering we had to go back to school after lunch time. The staff here was friendly, and they place was decently kept. They played good music in the background, which added to the lively character of the place. A good pick, I would repeat.

This place is over priced and food not that tasty. I tried 3 different times within 6 months and no improvement. Black owned or not .. do better!! God forbid you order thru Doordash or Uber, order never correct!

Very good food..The price when they weigh the food make you wish you sat down at a luxurious restaurant it's Soo expensive!!Dont place a lot of food on your plate!

Place is known for good soul food which is why I came however something told me things were wrong when they charged me 2figures for a small plate of shake that ass! Food was terrible, new owner didn't give me a receipt then his employees gave me a hard time trying to return the food because the fried chicken was raw !! Instead of them giving me my money back (because they couldn't believe I paid so much for a small plate [my suspicions exact])) they instead weighed the left owners & determined that would be my refund amount as if I was gonna throw up their food once I got home (which in fact ended up happening). Disturbing, disgusting, money hungry, possibly gentrified. I was over the whole thing before it even stated.

Just here to say the food is Trashhhhh Crab cakes taste life stuffing patties Pepper steak TRASH Mind I'm starving and I'm still Highly disappointed . Wasn't able to finish the food such a waste

Food is solid here but pretty expensive. It's $9 a lb and the check in offer does not work. I wanted the 10% off and I spent $18 on lunch here. The fries chicken was good. I really like the avocado salad. They added a lot of oil and cilantro onions. They have a good variety but no oxtails. The cooks are in the back and this place is buffet style. You pay in the front. Rice and beans are good here and I think this place is Korean owned. I see a Korean lady running this place. Wish they would honor the check in offer though.

$17 for this much food. better deals in harlem. plantains we're hard and them scales be lying 100%

This place is often compared to Jacob's in the "buffet of soul food" game. I enjoyed my visit although you can't sit down right now during COVID19. Minus one star because their macaroni and cheese is just that- macaroni. Cheese. No roux.

Food doesn't taste good as it used to. Price is too high for not so good food. Better off going to Jacobs.

Absolutely Off the Hook food. Everything is off the hook. This is the best restaurant in Harlem. I have been going to MANNA'S for decades now. The Korean Lady that started MANNA'S did a excellent job. She knew who to hire to get her restaurant on the map. You need to go to MANNA'S . I challenge all people including President's , CEO's white peoples, Chinese people, African people ,every nationality. This is a food awakening for every ethnic group in New York State. The owner never brags , her food talks for her, NUFF SAID

ribs and honey chicken were hard, oxtail wasn't seasoned and fatty, salmon still had the skin on it. Mac and cheese greens, yams, and ham were the only good things they had. Overall food lacked seasoning and flavor. Will not be going back and if I were you I wouldn't go at all a waste of money. Couldn't even finish the plate‍

This is a steam table buffet. The selection here is very large and for the most part, the food that I tried was very good. Because I came here during dinner time, some of the food had been sitting out all day, so it had lost some of its goodness. The selection includes stuff like southern fried chicken, jerk chicken, mac and cheese, stewed meats, banana pudding, mashed potatoes, several kinds of rice and much more. There is also a salad bar as well. The baked chicken was very soft and moist. I also liked their rice with beans and the curried potatoes as well. However, the plantains were hard and dry, so avoid those later in the day. The meat in the BBQ ribs (despite being drenched in bbq sauce) were also very tough and hard.

Good food great price Idk if they changed the style but buffets should maybe enforce hand sanitizing and a smaller amount of ppl in restaurant

This place was good. A solid assortment of the usual suspects at these kinds of places. BBQ Pork Ribs Sausage Fried Chicken Fried Fish Chicken stuffing Sweet Potatoes Regular Potatoes Crab Salad Deviled Eggs Banana Pudding Mini Sweet Potato Pies The price is $7.49/pound. Or $8.49/pound for just meat. This definitely isn't the cheapest per-pound place in the neighborhood. Also, not the best selection. There was no oxtail, which was a disappointment. Use the Yelp Checkin for 10% off your order. Sometimes there is also a Groupon deal for this location. So you can get the price down to $5.39 per pound if you use both of these. Or $6.11 per pound for just meat. Not a bad deal. I got about 14.3 ounces of food. Just under a pound. It cost $4.80.

This place is "simply soul food/island food heaven." Everything is cooked fresh and tastes like grandmas cooking, that is if your grandma cooked an awesome mac n cheese and a spicy mean jerk chicken. Not accounting for one of the best banana puddings I've tasted. There is a few highlights about Manna's that I think are important. This is the place to go for that not-fancy soul food.... mac n cheese, fried chicken, banana pudding, and some amazing fresh Cesar salad. I usually hate greens but the dressing on the Cesar salad makes me rethink salad. Don't think that is all they have. The selection ranges from fish to intense seafood rices which I never ventured upon. There mac n cheese is just probably hands down in the top 5 mac n cheese I've had. Its just the perfect combination of crunchy cheese top meets oooooweey gooey messy inside. MUST TRY. If the tray is almost empty ask for a fresh batch from the back the guys that work there wont hesitate. The fried chicken is your perfect crispy exterior and juicy inside! The banana pudding well, that something special that your going to have to try for yourself and see just how bad your going to want to take the entire tray out the door with you. Its not overly sweet, fresh bananas, creamy pudding, crunchy lady fingers and that's the simple version. The jerk chicken BEWARE its not for those with a sensitive mouth. It is spicy, spicy but so good that I always have to put some on the tray even though I don't handle spicy well(that's how good it is). The way Manna's is designed is buffet style. You take as much of a portion as you want and you get charged per pound. My advice take a little bit of everything when you first go there and see what you like. The mash potatoes are a bit bland so I wouldn't really go with that, but all in all everything is fresh and home cooked. While there are many Manna locations around Harlem what makes this place so special is the staff. The cooks will come out occasionally and say hi to a familiar faces, and despite you not being there for a month the employees will greet you and treat you with such kindness and respect like family. While it can get pricey and you can easily pay 12-15 dollars for a tray its so worth it. It is in a bad location if your driving because of PARKING. NIGHTMARE, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE, AS LONG AS THERE IS NOT A FUNERAL HAPPENING ACROSS THE STREET because of the funeral homes location. Beware. I still am loyal to this location and having been to other Manna's this location offers freshness and good quality. LOTS OF LOCALS COME IN AND OUT, ITS A GREAT PLACE. NOT FANCY INTERIOR DECOR, SO LEAVE THE SUIT AND TIE AND HOME.

The food is A1 but it's a little crazy. A fight almost broke out. The homeless randomly come in there. Not a place to sit down and eat. More of take your food to go