Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe

A destination lunch for citizens from all social strata, Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe is a concrete bunker that usually gets mobbed shortly after opening at 11am. But don’t worry if you have to wait. Just sniffing the food from this kitchen makes the time joyful. This is one of the best-smelling restaurants we know.

What to eat at Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe in Phoenix, AZ

The menu is a roster of southern-style soul food, including smothered pork chops, catfish, and crunch-crusted fried chicken, always accompanied by hunks of cornbread. On the side come such vegetables as creamed corn, escalloped cabbage, stewed tomatoes, and salubrious, greens — all of which, the menu advises, are cooked without meat. For dessert, spoon into a bowl of warm peach cobbler or fork up sweet potato pie.

We love the do-it-yourself décor of this ramshackle little eatery, where strangers instantly feel right at home. The menu is written on the wall and no checks are given at the end of a meal. Simply go to the register and tell the cashier what you’ve eaten. She rings it up and you pay (cash only). It’s not dirt-cheap — full lunch, with dessert and drink, can top $20 — but the satisfaction to be found on Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe plates is priceless.