Since 1983
Our story
43 years on Centinela Avenue, and three generations of one family in the kitchen.
In 1983, Harold E. Sparks left his job at General Motors in Hamilton, Ohio, and opened a soul food restaurant in Inglewood, California. He wanted a place with good food where everyone who walked in felt like family.
His daughter and her husband took over in 2004. In 2022, his grandchildren Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane bought the restaurant from their parents. They've kept Harold's recipes, and the way he treated people.
More than forty years later, we're still on Centinela Avenue serving breakfast and lunch every day. Whether it's your first visit or your hundredth, you're welcome here.
James Beard Foundation
America’s Classics, 2026
In 2026, The Serving Spoon received the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics Award. The award goes to beloved local restaurants with timeless appeal that reflect the character of their communities.
It means a lot to our family, and to everyone in Inglewood who has eaten with us over the years.
Three generations
How we got here
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1983
Harold opens the doors
Harold E. Sparks leaves his job at General Motors in Hamilton, Ohio, and opens a soul food restaurant in Inglewood.
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2004
The second generation
Harold's daughter and her husband take over the restaurant and keep his recipes.
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2022
The third generation
Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane buy the business from their parents and start growing it into new neighborhoods.
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2026
America's Classics
The James Beard Foundation gives The Serving Spoon its America's Classics Award.
Inside the restaurant
Friends and family gather here
Come eat with us
We're at 1403 Centinela Avenue. Open weekdays 8 AM to 2 PM and weekends 8 AM to 3 PM.