J’s Place, located on the corner of Ming and New Stine is a tucked-away southern and soul-food restaurant filled with unsuspected culinary talent.

The menu consisted of everything you would expect to see in a soul-food restaurant, such as chicken, waffles and cornbread. It was also nice to see other southern dishes included, such as enchiladas and tacos.

What was surprising was the amount of food you get for a low price. The entrées came with two side dishes and a slice of cornbread for less than $20.

I never would have guessed that I would enjoy the strange combination of a fried chicken leg on top of a waffle with maple syrup, yet it was the contrast of these items, savory and sweet, that made this dish so delicious.

The southern enchiladas were packed with spice and flavor and went surprisingly well with the greens and black-eyed peas as a side dish, even though the greens tasted slightly over pickled and the peas were scorching hot.

The small restaurant was very relaxed with a comfortable and hospitable atmosphere. It was relatively clean and simple with not much decoration. Food was definitely the focus of this place.

The service was quick and friendly, and the meals were served promptly without any problems.

The one slightly negative thing I could say is this restaurant is not necessarily kid friendly. There was no special menu with smaller portions for children, and only one high chair was available.

This restaurant is great for someone who wants to experience Bakersfield southern food, but it is very genre specific. For those who like to stick to American cheeseburgers, this is not the place for you but if you want soul food at its finest, go to J’s Place.