Dulan’s Soul Food Finds Strength in the Community That Built It, and The Future is Sweet

For more than three decades, Dulan’s Soul Food has been a cornerstone of South Los Angeles, a place where generations have gathered for Sunday meals, celebrations, and comforting dishes like fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and smothered pork chops. Most recently, the soul food spot found itself in the headlines during a financial crisis that nearly shuttered its doors after an extensive renovation.

By Philtrina Farquharson | Contributing Writer

For more than three decades, Dulan’s Soul Food has been a cornerstone of South Los Angeles, a place where generations have gathered for Sunday meals, celebrations, and comforting dishes like fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and smothered pork chops. Most recently, the soul food spot found itself in the headlines during a financial crisis that nearly shuttered its doors after an extensive renovation.

The news sparked an outpouring of community support that even owner Gregory Dulan didn’t see coming. “My fraternity brothers came out with 100 guests. The church community showed up. Even people I hadn’t seen in twenty years came in saying, ‘I saw you on the news, and I came to support,” said Gregory Dulan, owner of Dulan’s on Crenshaw Soul Food Restaurant.  

That support helped keep the doors open and reignited something deeper. 

“I didn’t realize we had that kind of impact or stature in the city, people were saying, ‘You’re part of LA history,  you can’t go anywhere.’ I never thought of it like that, but I see now that Dulan’s means something special,” said Gregory. 

Gregory’s late father, Adolf Dulan, opened his first restaurant in 1975. He and his wife, Mary, ran multiple businesses at once, including a nursery school and a hamburger stand, before growing into a family empire known for generous portions and heartfelt service.

“I remember riding in the car with my father as a kid, hearing him talk about owning his own business one day,” Gregory recalled. “They knew that being entrepreneurs was the only real way to get ahead. Those early days inspired me to follow in their footsteps.”

Gregory opened Dulan’s on Crenshaw in 1992, just weeks after the Rodney King uprising delayed his original opening. At the time, the neighborhood was struggling with high crime, gang violence, and limited investment. Over the years, Gregory witnessed the neighborhood’s transformation. 

Today, Dulan’s is not only recovering but reinventing. The restaurant recently completed a major renovation that includes a large outdoor patio, modernized kitchens, and expanded event spaces for everything from yoga classes to political fundraisers.

“This is their restaurant, I renovated it for the community. I just wanted to build something nice for the neighborhood in what most would describe as a food desert,” said Gregory. 

He’s also innovating how Dulan’s reaches customers. The restaurant is expanding its heat-and-serve meal line through grocery stores like Vallarta Supermarket, and recently signed a deal with DoorDash’s DashMart, which allows Dulan’s meals to reach new neighborhoods without opening more brick-and-mortar locations. The first DashMart location will launch in Torrance, followed by downtown Los Angeles, marking a new era of accessibility for Dulan’s loyal customers.

Despite the challenges, Dulan’s continues to serve good food with love and pride. For many in South LA, Dulan’s represents more than just a restaurant; it’s a gathering space, a living piece of cultural history, and a reminder that community sustains what money can’t.

“Dulan’s doesn’t just belong to me, it belongs to the city of Los Angeles and the people who’ve been coming here for decades. We’re preparing for the next chapter. Our goal is to be here another 30 years, keep growing, keep feeding, and keep representing Los Angeles,” said Gregory. 

As he looks ahead, Gregory sees the road forward with optimism, much like those early drives with his father, imagining what could be. The difference now is that the dream is already real, and it belongs to everyone who’s ever pulled up a chair at Dulan’s.