Fall is soup season. For me, nothing beats a hot bowl of soup on a crisp autumn evening.
When I thought of where one could get a bowl of hot soup in our city – I had no idea there were so many spots. I could not even begin to try them all!
Here are my favorite spots in Cedar Rapids for a yummy bowl of hot soup:
Kava House and Café – Swisher
122 2nd Street SE – 6:30 AM-3 PM – Tuesday through Saturday
Nestled in the heart of Swisher, Kava House offers at least two flavors of soup that rotate daily. You can find them on their Facebook page or by just stopping in. They do offer a breakfast and lunch menu as well, but my focus was soup. The ham & potato soup I had was divine and tasted homemade. This spot is a winner if you live in that area, or are looking for just a new spot to try and don’t mind a small jaunt down to Swisher.
Nelson’s Meat Market & Deli – northeast Cedar Rapids
1140 Old Marion Road – 11 AM -2 PM – Monday through Friday- deli only
Nelson’s has been around for what feels like forever. According to their website, it has been around for eight decades! They also update their Facebook page daily with the daily specials of two varieties of soup and a sandwich. Flavors seen include beef & cabbage, mac and cheese, cheeseburger chowder, and beans & weenies. This is a nice change from your standard flavors of soup (which are also rotated in regularly). BONUS -they offer their soups frozen as well! You won’t be disappointed here.
Lu’s Deli – NewBo
1010 Third Street SE – 8 AM-3 PM Monday through Saturday (till 7 PM on Wed)
Right in Newbo: Lu’s Deli is next door to Fong’s Pizza and has that small-town feel even though you’re right in downtown! They do not have their menu online nor do they post daily specials so you’ll have to call or just go in and be surprised! The soups are made homemade daily and you can taste it. My favorite is definitely the Beer Cheese soup.
This is a great spot for moms of kids as they serve PB&J AND have Donutland donuts (especially if you’re looking for something local)! You can also order delivery on CHOMP. Something I noticed in the past was that because it was Lent -they had a sign indicating which items were Lent-friendly which I thought was a nice touch. Lu’s definitely has that family feel and has great options for everyone!
West End Diner – Marion
809 Sixth Ave – Marion – 7:30 AM- 2 PM – Monday through Saturday
Just down from the library construction in Marion. West End Diner is a charming old house that’s been renovated and feels like you’re sitting in your grandmother’s kitchen. They offer breakfast and lunch that include four soups. Flavors that are consistent include a yummy tomato bisque and a delicious chicken wild rice, all of which are served with a crusty baguette for dipping. They do not update their Facebook page every day, but they have their menu posted and have online ordering through Toast!
I have to sneak in that they offer brisket on Wednesdays that reminds me of my Jewish mother-in-law’s! They also offer a wide variety of hot drinks and coffee flavors! It’s a great little out-of-the-way spot.
We also cannot forget the old standbys – Panera Bread and Chick-Fil-A.
Panera has the famed Broccoli Cheddar that I have come so close to perfecting (a copycat recipe is simmering on my stove as I write this)! They also serve various flavors that change out with each season – such as Ten Vegetable or Vegetarian Autumn Squash.
Chick Fil A offers its no-fail chicken soup with big chicken chunks and just seems to have that “cure” for when you feel icky. They also offer a seasonal chicken tortilla soup that has a huge following, and I will agree is pretty yummy!
So there you go: my favorite spots to get a hot bowl of soup in Cedar Rapids. While this is not a comprehensive list – this is a good place to start! Where do you find your favorite bowl of soup?
Make sure you never miss out on a parenting or community-related blog post: sign up to receive Cedar Rapids Moms posts in your inbox. While you’re at it, join our VIP List to ensure you’re one of the first to know about upcoming Cedar Rapids Moms’ events and promotions!!
