Soul 2 Go restored my faith in Columbus fried chicken

• A new Gahanna location is soft opening this month.

The vibe: The new restaurant is pretty barebones, with just a few counter seats, some tables outside and ordering kiosks.

• That's OK with me — I was here for the food.
• Putting "2 Go" in the name should tell you what they're about.

The menu: There's a lot to choose from — bowls, dinner platters, sides and à la carte options.

• The "soul food" genre covers more ground than you might expect — lemon pepper chicken, catfish, spaghetti, jerk chicken, pork chops, red beans and rice, creamed corn and much more.

What I ate: A Soul Food Bowl ($19) packed with a buttermilk fried chicken breast, mac and cheese, collard greens and candied yams.

• I added an order of four wings ($10) seasoned with their "signature blend of spices."

Best bite: You can still get great fried chicken in Columbus.

• Bites of the breast with mac and cheese were delicious.
• But the wings — I've been thinking about these ever since.

Pro tip: Bowl ingredients really are packed together — if you can't handle your foods touching, go à la carte.

📍 Stop by: Open daily noon-9pm at 134 N. Hamilton Road, Gahanna. Menu. Other locations.