From Facebook Plates to a Community Favorite: The Heart Behind Auntie Pearl’s Honey Pot is Full of Flavor

By Leeshia Lee

In South Charleston, Auntie Pearl’s Honey Pot is more than just a place to grab a meal. It’s a story about determination, personality, and a woman who turned a simple passion for making plates into a welcoming eatery for her community.

Owner Brushanda Ryles didn’t start out with a restaurant or a formal culinary background. Her journey began the way many modern businesses do—on Facebook. What started as cooking meals and selling plates online slowly grew into something much bigger.

Ryles taught herself how to cook, experimenting in her kitchen and learning through trial, patience, and a genuine love for feeding people. Friends, neighbors, and strangers who discovered her plates online quickly became loyal supporters. Her food spoke for itself, and so did her personality.

Anyone who walks into Auntie Pearl’s Honey Pot quickly notices the energy. Ryles greets customers with a warm smile and a bubbly spirit that makes people feel less like customers and more like family stopping by for dinner. The restaurant carries the kind of atmosphere that feels like a familiar spot—old school music playing in the background, laughter in the air, and the smell of flavorful food filling the space. Not only does the food bring comfort, but the experience makes you feel good before the taste even hits your tongue.

The menu showcases that same spirit. Each dish is made with bold flavor and love in mind—the kind of meals that remind people of home cooking. From the creative flavors to the seasoned sides, the Honey Pot has become a place where people can sit down, relax, and enjoy food that feels genuine.

For Ryles, the restaurant represents more than success. It represents faith in herself and the support of a community that believed in her long before there was a storefront. She is transparent about the struggles of being a small business owner—having to drive all the way to Columbus to source more affordable ingredients and needing more reliable workers who share a passion for cooking and creating meals. She hopes West Virginia continues to get behind small businesses like hers with more resources.

She also dreams of opening an event space that offers full-service catering, but right now her focus is customer satisfaction. Customers come in and ask for specific favorites—according to her, the dirty rice is leading the race. One patron proudly referred to herself as the “dirty rice girl,” grabbing her order with a smile as she hurried out the door.

What started as a few plates sold online has grown into a restaurant that now draws people from across the area. And while the business has grown, the heart behind it remains the same—a self-taught cook with a big personality, a love for people, and a space where everyone who walks through the door is welcomed.

Auntie Pearl’s Honey Pot is more than a restaurant—it’s a reflection of what’s possible.

Ryles continues to grow her business despite challenges, fueled by community support and a vision bigger than the kitchen. Her story is part of a larger movement across West Virginia, where food, entrepreneurship, and culture are creating pathways to economic independence.

Through Black By God’s Farmer on the Flag series, we’re highlighting Black farmers, cooks, and food entrepreneurs who are building something sustainable and showing what’s possible when communities are connected to opportunity.

What started as Facebook plates is now a growing Black-owned business and proof that in West Virginia, community still shows up for its own.

At Auntie Pearl’s Honey Pot, the food may bring people in, but it’s the spirit of Brushanda Ryles that keeps them coming back.

If you’re looking for a new twist on foodie favorites, pull up to:

📍 415 Central Ave, South Charleston, WV

🕒 Hours:

Mon-Tue Closed
Wed-Thu 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sun 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📱 Facebook: Facebook Page

🎥 Watch this story come to life on Foodie Fridays with Leeshia Watson—now on YouTube.