Soul Food Returns to the Reading Terminal Market With Ma Lessie’s Chicken and Waffles!

Soul Food Returns to the Reading Terminal Market With Ma Lessie’s Chicken and Waffles!

Reading Terminal Market today announced a new soul food merchant set to open this month. Ma Lessie’s Chicken and Waffles will be owned and operated by Perry Ison, former manager of KeVen Parker’s Soul Food Café, and his cousin Stacy McCarthy. The restaurant will serve flavorful comfort food including fried and baked chicken wings, baked mac and cheese, collard greens and smoked turkey, and peach cobbler.  

“Perry brings the desirable combination of industry experience, arsenal of authentic recipes, and understanding of Reading Terminal Market to this role,” said Annie Allman, CEO and General Manager of Reading Terminal Market. “We anticipate customers will be excited to hear someone who knew and learned from KeVen Parker will be continuing the tradition of excellent soul food at the Market. We look forward to having visitors enjoy Perry’s take on soul food.”

Ison left his management role at KeVen Parker’s Soul Food Café in 2019 to open Ma Lessie’s Chicken and Waffles as a food truck, which is also set to open for business in the coming weeks. Following Parker’s death, Ison and McCarthy submitted a proposal to Reading Terminal Market for a brick and mortar Ma Lessie’s location. 

“It’s an honor to open this business after working with KeVen for so many years. He was a dear friend and colleague and I hope to make him proud, starting by bringing back the chef and much of the staff from KeVen Parker’s Soul Food Café,” said Ison. “Loyal customers will find the familiar flavors they’ve loved for years and new visitors will enjoy classic comfort food with a twist. We want to provide our guests with the comfort and nostalgia of their grandmother’s kitchen with the culinary techniques of a high-end restaurant. Customers will get a complete dining experience with us.”

Ma Lessie’s is named after Ison and McCarthy’s grandmother, Ma Lessie Collins, and the menu will feature soul food dishes inspired by recipes she passed down through the family. Additional menu highlights include fruit-infused waffles, baked southern turkey wings, rice and gravy, and a waffle ice cream sandwich. The restaurant is targeted to open in mid-August, will be open seven days a week for dine-in and take out, and will have its own seating area designed by Ison.