Singer Jim Morrison wrote the lyrics as a tribute to the soul food restaurant Olivia's in Venice Beach, California.
[8] Music journalist Stephen Davis characterized it as a hard rock track,[2] while Gillian G. Gaar called it "funky blues-rock".
"[11] David Fricke noted that with the "crisp funk" of "Soul Kitchen", the Doors "perfected an airtight resolution of their live prowess".
[13] On June 24, 2021, The Guardian published a list with "The Doors greatest songs", in which "Soul Kitchen" was placed as the sixth.
The album was produced by Doors organist Ray Manzarek, whose attention had been caught earlier by seeing X play a live cover of "Soul Kitchen" at the Whisky a Go Go.