Chef Paul Pearson

This is the place to go to get a great Fried Chicken meal with whatever sides you can possibly think of… it’s all there… mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, greens, green beans. on and on… clean place and the food is just great. Really worth the money!

What a treat this restaurant is! The chicken is tender and moist. Its batter is crisp and flavorful! The cornbread tastes spongey and sweet. The mac and cheese tastes so yummy and is just cheesy enough. My son says the waffle is the best he has ever eaten! We could not stop licking our lips. The portions are huge. The servers are very sweet and helpful too. I recommend highly! I will be returning often!

Check out chef Paul’s in downtown, good food, great atmosphere and awesome service, the chicken is better than Popeyes or kfc,

The absolute best fried chicken ever! Greens are great, so are the Mac-​n-​cheese and the cobbler is to die for! We even had him fry up a turkey for Thanksgiving with all the sides and cobbler and sweet potato pie as well!

Excellent fried chicken and shrimp & grits. The fried cabbage is good too. Highly recommended. Don’t let the neighborhood put you off.

He catered by grandmothers funeral and not only was the food perfect but so was Chef Paul. Such an amazing person and AMAZING FOOD!!! He went above and beyond, even the priest at the church mentioned his kitchen had never been left so clean.

FRIED CHICKEN/​WAFFLES
Are you looking for one of the friendliest, cleanest, great food servin’ restaurants in Fresno? Look no further, Chef Pauls is it! My wife and I went in for a try, both of us had chicken, I had the chicken breast and waffle, she had an order of fried chicken, both were OUTSTANDING! I also ordered a side of eggs… aahhhhh the eggs… I didn’t realize eggs could taste that good! The chicken is done to perfection, moist and juicy with just the right amount of seasoning in the batter, PERFECT! The waiters made sure that everything was just right, they were able to anticipate our needs before we could, OFF THE HOOK! You must travel to Chinatown and try some of the best cooking in town, they are closed Mon-​Tues. open the rest of the week 11:30am-6:00pm. OUTSTANDING, PERFECT, OFF THE HOOK

I wanted to celebrate for finals and this place seemed good as any. I do not regret my decision at all!
This little shop exceeded all my expectations for soul food in Fresno. The restaurant is tiny with a beautiful mural art that covers have the wall.
For my meal I ordered the four piece fried chicken. This meal is HUGE. With the chicken you get two sides and corn bread. Honestly, that one meal is enough for two to share. For my sides I got the mac and cheese with potato salad. The chicken was just fried and it was hot and juicy and the seasonings worked. The mac and cheese was my favorite side!
Everything was rich and full of butter. I felt my body going into shock! It probably didn’t help that I also ordered the syrup water with lemon– excuse me, sweet tea. The «tea» was very very sweet and for some reason that worked for me.
The only thing I regret was not getting any peach cobbler, I have to come back for that.
I left Chef Paul Pearons in a huge food coma and it was worth every bite! I need to go back soon!

Had to have a pit stop and my boyfriend’s dad and wife were hungry for some soul food. CHEF PAUL’S was the perfect spot to get out of the cold in to eat some comfort food. The fried chicken seasoned just right and fried to get that crunchiness and it was moist and tender. I highly recommend the chicken to all the chicken lovers. Other sides and greens were also tasty. The sweet potatoes, lemonade, and collared greens are a must try. On top of it all, the customer service was top notch and made our dining experience even better. Customer service can do this. Special shout out to our waitress Monique who made sure we were taken care off. Thanks Chef Paul.

Well I have heard so much about this place! So I finally decided to check this place out, I took my lady friend there for dinner, we looked at the menu but my friend saw a sign that said gumbo for $ 19.95 I said haven’t had gumbo in a couple of years so I said I’m down lol we were a little sketchy about having gumbo because it has a lot of seafood in it… This gumbo was so good!!! I was really impressed I ate everything on the plate in the bowl everything!!! We will definitely will be back to chef Pauls… If your in the mood for soul food go down to chefs Pauls

Chef Paul is «the» only place to get real ‘soul’ food (or southern food) when in Fresno, since there aren’t too many choices around in Fresno, therefore maybe it’s the best in the area, because there aren’t competition. Despite the popularity among locals, I find myself heavily disappointed in the food I’ve tasted here on my last visit (and I wasnt really impressed previously either). As a foodie Ive been adventurous to try several southern varieties in California and other states, because I do find southern style of preparing food to be more flavorful than most american cuisine like burger and pizza for example. Chef Paul’s food is pricey, yet lacks in being flavorful, or perfectly delicious. Instead its over seasoned, and even inferior in my opinion. My critic serves not to hurt chef paul, but rather to be aware that the food he is so passionate about is not the way it should be.
My biggest disappointment is the gumbo for $ 20. The gumbo here was generously served with seafood (sizable shrimp, leg of crab and some chicken bits) topped on steamed rice, and a dark roux sauce that was as salty as sea water. Yes I did finish my meal, because I hate wasting any food, especially when its priced $ 20, but I did not enjoy my meal at all, each scoop was like eating a handful of salt. The crux of the problem, is the seafood used, frozen and probably purchased from costco. I find it rather disappointing that chef paul is using frozen seafood, when there is a fish market right behind it, supplying fresh seafood (central fish and co). You can’t charge $ 20 for gumbo when you use frozen seafood out of the bag. Also the flavor was really lacking, it doesn’t have the rich smoky taste that’s usually present in a gumbo, and it was bland, no spiciness and tanginess to it at all.
In relation to the seafood, even the grilled catfish was ultimately fishy in taste and disappointingly flavorless and cooked till the point of flakey dryness. There was no flavor or oomph. Ive had better catfish made at huckleberry’s, because it was fresh and done right. I think the problem is that Chef paul is purchasing seafood which is inferior in quality and charging them at premium prices.
The chicken and waffles was also disappointing for $ 10.50. I did enjoy the fried chicken, as it was flavorful, but the waffle reminded me of the reheated frozen waffle from the box, soggy and dry. A freshly made waffle should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the waffle here was missing those character altogether. And for $ 10.50, it came with ¼ breast and just the waffle– that price should include one side at least. Because I feel that the meal was overpriced for what it was.
Finally the peach cobbler would send a diabetic to the grave right away. It was cloyingly sweet. I did like the taste of the pie crust– buttery and flavorful, but the gravy was just so sweet it overpowered the peach cobbler, sometimes less is more when it comes to dessert.
My recommendation is for the food to have more passion, flavor and carefully crafted taste, while the prices to be improved (more than $ 10 per person feel expensive). The interior is nice to divey, it feels like I was in Louisiana with the art and memorabilia around– but the location is in the dodgy chinatown, so feels kinda scary, but the real issue is the food, which is in real need of urgent care, especially in the salt and sugar department.

Just tried Chef Paul’s today for the first time and it was sooo good! I had the fried chicken, yams, mac & cheese, and cornbread. Everything was off the hook! The chicken was hot, fresh, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and had just a little kick! KFC who? The cornbread was soft, and moist with a bit of sweetness. The sweet potatoes were hot, sweet, with a taste that reminded me of sweet potato pie! The mac and cheese was cheesy, moist, and flavorful. I had an excellent experience and look forward to trying more of the great items that they had on the menu! I even bought some gift cards so there’s some of my Christmas shopping done! Yummy food, great time, excellent environment and ambiance with great service. I would definitely go here again and again!

First off, if you’re gonna judge a book by its cover, don’t even bother. You might even ask yourself when you’re a block away, where the heck am I going? But Chinatown is home to some of Fresnos most iconic businesses, like Central Fish and Chris Meat Market. So keep that in mind when you’re driving past the group of homeless people down the street. So we pull up, and the place is literally a hole in the wall. We’re it not for Unilocal,I would know nothing about it, which is sad considering my background. So we come in, looks a dinner that’s been around for years. I see all types represented too, a good sign. I get the chicken and waffles, which doesn’t come with a side. Kind of disappointing cause I wanted to try the fried cabbage, but you do get a lot of food. Wife got the snapper, rice with gravy, and mac and cheese, with a sweet tea to drink. Everything was delicious! Well except my coffee. Probably the worst I’ve ever had. Instant coffee would have been more preferable. I think i overheard a few workers questioning my server, whether or not he could make coffee. It was probably his first time, so it was probably his fault it was horrible. I highly recommend Chef Paul’s, and next time, I’m getting the fried cabbage

Are you lookin’ for some SOUL food? Well you better make a stop at Chef Paul’s! Who knew this little gem would be so dang D E L I C I O U S ?!
Chef Paul’s is a great little place to grab chicken and waffles. Oh my goodness, the minute you step in, it’s as if you’ve taken a small step into the jazziest place you’ve ever been. There are booths along the ways and bar seating. The servers are very attentive. This place is poppin’! The environment and atmosphere really makes you feel good!
The menu offers multiple entrees with various choices of sides. The food portions are LARGE! I mean, for around $ 10 you get so much food! It’s great! The fried chicken is delicious. The crunchy batter is full of flavor and the chicken is so moist! Mashed potatoes are delicious, the chili is just the right amount of flavor and is savory. But my friends, PLEASE try Paul’s GUMBO! Oh my goodness, the gumbo is well worth the $ 19! It’s full of crab and shrimp. The chicken is moist and savory and the sauce is just a match made in heaven!
And did I mention these folks know how to make their Kool-​Aid? Their Sweet Tea is also delicious. Drop into Chef Paul’s and you will not be disappointed at all.

My foodie buddy Chuck and I finally got to eat here and let’s say it did not disappoint! The food is so good and full of flavor that we did not need to any seasoning — no salt, no pepper. The food was that on the mark, and the meatloaf was one of the top five I have ever had.
And the service was wonderful, nice servers, and can I please marry Chef Paul!!!

Chef Paul Pearson’s restaurant near the Fulton Mall is definitely a local gem! If you’re looking for great home cooking, soul food, and great family service you should definitely stop in to try the offerings here. In mainstream parlance, «soul food» usually refers to certain foods like fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, breaded veggies, and cornbread; however, it’s interesting to note that some of the history of southern soul food meant that it also represented a place to socialize and for communities to come together – like a warm family feel. That is definitely the vibe here at Chef Paul Pearson. The staff members are super friendly and when we went I saw lots of locals that they seemed to know. Another example of the atmosphere was the sink where you can wash up; it is also used by the staff and it kind of makes you feel like you’re in someone’s home rather than a stuffy business.
So how was the food? Overall, it was pretty damn good. We ordered the fried chicken plate with mashed potatoes and greens and also the tri-​tip sandwich plate with mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. Value for what you get is outstanding. The fried chicken was awesome, for the price they give you lots of pieces. It was moist, fresh, and crispy with that tiny bit of kick that lets you know it was made from a seasoned professional (pun!). The sides were really tasty as well. The mashed potatoes are probably some of the best I’ve ever had. The mac and cheese was also stellar too. Greens were very good. The tri-​tip sandwich tasted really good (bbq sauce was good) but it was rather small; I’d say in a city that is known for Tri-​trip sandwiches and beef brisket (hello dog house grill) you might be disappointed with the tri-​tip sandwich here. The restaurant itself is smallish; there were about 5 booths, a table or two near the back, and counter seating. Seedy neighborhood notwithstanding, I will definitely return to try some of the dessert, other dishes, and sides.

Best soul food in fresno period.
Chicken and waffles are the best since I lived near a Roscoes in Hollywood.
The meatloaf and oxtails are fantastic!
And the cornbread is great!

I had the pleasure of checking this place out last month and I was super excited about it!
All the reviews really had me hyped up.
I got the chicken wings & waffles with a side of Mac and cheese.
The waffles had a slight cinnamon taste to it, which I liked but they felt a bit undercooked.
I wish they were a bit more crispy.
The chicken wings were hot and yummy. They also tasted great with the syrup.
The Mac and cheese tastes homemade and fresh.
I didn’t finish my meal because I just couldn’t enjoy the waffle. Hopefully next time I can ask for the waffle more crispy and be able to update my review.
I really want this place to do well. Support local businesses !
They are located in Chinatown in downtown. A bit hard to find but I would stop by to try the food.

Finally a soul food spot that nailed it! We normally wait until we travel to southern CA for Roscoes chicken and waffles. No need for that anymore. The greens are the best greens I have tasted in my 35 years of life. It was my fav. Part of lunch we ordered the pork chops and a 3 meat plate with all the sides: mac n cheese, gravy rice, greens and cornbread. The customer service was excellent! I have a baby and she was asleep in her car seat they offered to move the fan to blow in an opposite direction so she can sleep in peace Very considerate. Going home with a full belly wishing I could sleep but I work today. Def will be returning to have chicken and waffles very soon!

I didn’t even know this place existed I stumbled upon it from a friend’s Unilocal bookmark, the staff was very friendly & the owner himself asked me was I enjoying my meal & of course I said yes! the food I ordered was delicious! fried chicken breast, waffle with a side of yams and mac & cheese, the seasoning on the chicken was real good & the waffle also was good, the yams were sweet just like I like em’ & the mac and cheese was pretty good, I cant believe this place has been open almost a year and I didn’t know about it, cant wait to go back and try something different maybe the 3 meat BBQ combo