Community Highlights: Meet Shante Bell of Soul’s Kitchen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shante Bell.

Shante, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We transitioned into a completely vegan lifestyle in 2019. We unfortunately, have loss too many family members to count due to heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. We became vegan to combat the overwhelming odds that we had against us and our community. I came from a family that loved to cook and loved to eat delicious food. My Nanny (grandmother) and my Aunt Sue (her sister) were the undisputed best cooks in the family. When I was a little girl, I would tell them after a good meal that I was going to get rich one day and buy them a restaurant and they would remind me of this as I got older. My Nanny passed in 2011 and my Aunt Sue passed in 2022 both in their early 60s and both from illness that may have been prevented by a change in diet and lifestyle. I began to veganized all of the amazing food that I came up on and when it passed the deliciousness test of my family, I knew for sure I was on to something. My husband I have always loved to travel and go to festivals, but once we became vegan would often leave hungry. Then, Soul’s Kitchen was born. We were able to pay homage to my Nanny and my Aunt Sue while creating a healthier alternative to our community.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The community welcomed us with open arms, and for that, we’re endlessly grateful—this journey has truly been an answer to prayers for many and a dream come true for us. However, stepping into the vegan food truck business was no easy feat. While we were both confident in our cooking skills, neither of us had any prior experience in the restaurant or food truck industry. We were learning everything from the ground up—menu planning, sourcing ingredients, navigating health codes, building a brand, and understanding the logistics of running a mobile kitchen.

One of our biggest challenges early on was figuring out our market. It wasn’t enough to simply show up with good food—we had to deeply understand where our audience was, what events made sense for our mission, and how to anticipate demand in completely different settings. Each event came with its own lessons, and some with hard losses.

To add another layer, our food truck a converted bus. That choice gave us creative freedom and a unique aesthetic, but it also came with its own set of mechanical and structural issues. From unexpected electrical issues to plumbing modifications and forgotten kitchen equipment that had to be reimagined on the fly, maintenance has been an ongoing journey. Some days we were chefs, other days mechanics, and most days, both.

Despite all the obstacles, each challenge has shaped us into better business owners, more agile problem-solvers, and more connected members of our community. This path hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every bump in the road.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Soul’s Kitchen?
We are a completely vegan soul food truck. We create delicious vegan cuisines inspired by our favorite cultural dishes. We do our best to reduce our carbon footprint. Soul’s Kitchen is more than just a food truck—it’s a movement toward a healthier, more compassionate world. Our brand highlights bold flavors, sustainability, and community impact. All of our dishes are fan favorites with special emphasis on our Oyster “Shroom PoBoy and Smackin’ Mac Bowl. The fact that we make everything in house with whole food ingredients and tons of love is what sets us apart. When you come to our truck you feel like you are family, and you feel how honored we are to be able to serve you. I am most proud of the Soul of Soul’s Kitchen, the integrity, love, commitment, and family.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulskitchen1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulskitchenvegan/
• Other: https://streetfoodfinder.com/soulskitchenvegan