Jbj Soul Kitchen

Staffed by volunteers who are prompt and friendly. We had the winter menu - salmon, chicken and beef bolognese. It is a 3-course dinner. Salad/soup + main + dessert. The quality of food is 2 thumbs up. Delicious with generous portions. Definitely will return to try the other dishes on the menu. No fixed price on their dishes. $30/pax is recommended. You can also pay-it-forward by giving extra as donation to cover for a meal or two for those who need it. There are merchandise on sale if you would like to have their t-shirt, tumbler or spices packs.

A dining experience that leaves your heart as full as your belly! Don’t think twice, just go. You won’t regret it. It lives up to its mission and the people here make sure absolutely everyone who walks through the door feels like a VIP. On top of it, the menu has something for everyone. As a vegan, I was overjoyed to see a coconut milk-based soup and cauliflower steak offered. A relative visiting from Spain read about the restaurant online and requested we go here for her birthday. At dessert time, they presented her cake with a candle and the whole place sang happy birthday. We can’t wait to come back in the summer to experience the gardens and outdoor dining.

Third experience at the JBJ Soul Kitchen and every time, we are blown away by the quality of the food! Everything was awesome. We even had the chance to share our table with a very nice couple who were there for the first time. This concept of paying forward is amazing... we always pay double the suggested donation and bring home some souvenirs such as mugs but also the amazing spices and seasonings they use in the kitchen! If you've never been there, let me explain the concept. Everybody is welcome (their motto is All are welcome at our table) so whether you can pay or not, you're still welcome to get a good meal. Those of us who can afford to pay can pay the suggested donation but could also give more to pay the meal of somebody who can't pay. People who can't pay also have the option of volunteering at the restaurant (waiters, gardeners, etc.) in exchange for their meals. Fun fact: we first went in 2013 and a wonderful woman volunteering there took a photo of us. Her name was Gina... yeap, you can't make this up! When we went back last April, our waiter John told us Gina was still working there! Went back last September and guess what? We finally got our picture taken with her! We only visited JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, Monmouth, the Tom Rivers location is on our bucket list. It is worth the detour, just make sure you check the schedule as it is not opened all day, every day. This is not your regular restaurant, it is a place of kindness and compassion where you sometimes share your table with strangers and you're happy about it! This place makes you feel good!!!! And I can't understate enough the quality of the food, kuddos to the amazing executive chef Emily!

Another great meal had by our group with very friendly servers and staff helping out the shrimp. Kebabs were fantastic. The Mexican corn salad was good. The best part was the dessert. I believe it was some kind of blueberry poundcake with all the blueberries down at the bottom, it was deliciousmuch success, and I will be back hopefully for the chili cook off.

Absolutely incredible experience at JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank! We went today, and I can honestly say every single person we met was friendlier than the last — just when I thought, “There’s no way anyone could be kinder than this person,” the next one proved me wrong! The gentleman behind the counter went above and beyond — he gave our daughter crayons, a huge coloring book, and even a stuffed animal. He was so warm and polite. Then every staff member we interacted with — all volunteers, mind you — were just as kind and genuine. You could feel the love and care in everything they did. Our server, Moe, was the best — such a down-to-earth, cool person who made us all feel so welcome and cared for. And the food? Spectacular. Absolutely delicious. Every bite was full of flavor and made with love. This place isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a beautiful experience filled with heart, kindness, and amazing food.

The restaurant is warm and inviting with a very homey feel. The staff was friendly and attentive. I had the soup and my partner had the salad. We both had the pork chop with mashed potatoes and green beans. We also both had the carrot cake for dessert. The salad was perfectly dressed and my soup was rich and thick. The pork chop was very thick and well seasoned. The mashed potatoes were rich and buttery and the gravy was flavorful. Each component was delicious but a bite of the three was sublime. The carrot cake was fragrant and not-too-sweet and the cream-cheese icing was the perfect counter-balance. I have paid a lot more than the suggested donation for meals that weren't this good. My partner and I enjoyed our meal very much and plan to return.

I can’t say enough about how wonderful this place is!! I have been wanting to go to a JBJ location and it finally worked out when I was in town for work. I showed up alone, they sat me with two wonderful new friends who work at another location. The food was wonderful, Gina was an amazing server and my heart was full! It’s truly good for the Soul. My grandfather used to tell stories of Jon visiting our hometown of Erie, Pa in the summers and hanging with his nephew. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s a good family story :). He’s a local legend and love to see him and Dorothea doing so much good!

What an experience! We literally flew in from Wisconsin to see and experience the Soul Kitchens. We wanted to see and feel first-hand how the JBJ Soul Foundation was helping people through the Soul Kitchen restaurants. We did Tom's River for lunch and Red Bank for dinner. Both meals were exceptional. Farm to table, chef created, healthy and beautifully presented meals. Fabulous food, but the real vibe is love. And hope. And connection. We were a party of 2, so the hostess asked if we were open to dining with others at our 4 top. Of course we were! We were paired with a young man who had come to the Soul Kitchen 2 years prior as an addict. First he ate, then he volunteered (and still does) and then he rebuilt his life piece by piece over the next 2 years. He got clean, found housing...all through resources and connections he made through the Soul Kitchen. We literally dined with the living embodiment of the mission. We were deeply touched, and transformed. Thank you JBJ Foundation for your heart and work in the community. Every community across this country should have a Soul Kitchen. Thank you Dorothea and Jon for the vision and execution to address hunger and housing insecurity. What a legacy!