Soul Food Restaurant Opens Up At Miami International Airport

Passengers traveling through Miami International Airport (MIA) can now enjoy soul food crafted from legendary family recipes thanks to a new restaurant. Jackson Soul Food, a popular joint in Miami-Dade County for nearly 80 years, officially opened its third location at MIA last week.

The restaurant is operated through a partnership with SSP America, a leading operator of food and beverage brands at airports worldwide. Becoming “The Soul Food Experience,” the restaurant is known for its traditional favorites such as fried catfish, ribs, collard greens, and candied yams.

From one to three

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held near the restaurant’s post-security location in Concourse E near gate E2 on February 20th. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other county officials joined Shirlene Ingraham, Jackson Soul Food’s Owner, to commemorate the opening. Michael Svagdis, the CEO of SSP America, and Ralph Cutié, MIA’s Director and CEO, were also in attendance.

Photo: Miami International Airport

Photo: Miami International Airport

Jackson Soul Food’s origins date back to 1946 when its first location opened in Overtown – a historic Black heritage neighborhood in Miami-Dade County. Its second location, Jackson Soul Food II, opened in 2015 near Miami Gardens in the city of Opa-Locka.

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As a Black-owned restaurant that has provided family recipes for many years, Cava spoke about the significance of opening its third location amid Black History Month.

“I am so proud to see how Jackson Soul Food has grown to become a thriving minority-owned business over the past 78 years and to now see them open a third location at our County’s largest economic engine. Millions of travelers from all over the world can now enjoy Jackson’s popular soul food and get another taste of what our diverse community has to offer. Being able to celebrate their ribbon-cutting during Black History Month makes this opening even more special.”

Photo: Miami International Airport

The MIA restaurant is branded as “Jackson Square” and also includes Jackson Soul Food’s Chick-fil-A franchise. Its convenient location allows easy access to travelers in both Concourse E and D, which primarily handles American Airlines flights.

“An important milestone”

Ingraham has been involved with cooking since the age of six and used to serve biscuits at her parent’s restaurant, Mama’s Cafe. She reflected on the monumental day and thanked those involved in the location’s opening.

“My team and I are so glad to bring the same family-oriented atmosphere and home-made food to the airport that we offer our guests at our Overtown and Opa-locka locations. The opening of our MIA location, along with the Chick-fil-A location mark, an important milestone in my life. I’d like to thank my family and all of our team members for their hard work and dedication.”

Comfort food for everyone

Over the years, Jackson Soul Food has garnered the attention of local residents and celebrities. Its mouth-watering menu features a number of comforting dishes, including meatloaf, fried okra, and macaroni and cheese. Now, more people from around the world passing through MIA will be able to partake in the cuisine.

“Opening a local restaurant like Jackson Soul Food is integral to who we are as a company—we’re all about bringing a ‘taste of place’ to passengers,” said John Clark, SSP America’s Senior Vice President of Development, Airports, and Airlines. “It’s an honor to partner with Shirlene and the Jackson team. We’re also incredibly proud to join Miami International Airport and intend to make a positive contribution to the MIA community.”

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