Chicagoans Remember Chef Royce, Soul Prime Owner Who ‘Always Had A Smile On Her Face’

WEST TOWN — Family, friends and customers are remembering Shonya “Chef Royce” Williams for her elevated soul food at her West Town restaurant Soul Prime and the kindness she showed her community both in and out of the kitchen. Tributes poured in for the chef after her restaurant announced her death last Monday, with many remembering her “genuine kindness” and “beautiful spirit.” “It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Chef Royce,” the restaurant wrote in a social media post. “Her love, light, and legacy will forever be a pillar of our family and remain at the heart of Soul Prime.” The restaurant asked the community to respect her family s privacy as they mourn their loss. Williams opened Soul Prime on Halsted Street in Lincoln Park in May 2023. The restaurant gained widespread attention months later when popular TikTok food critic Keith Lee visited and shared a review of some of her signature dishes, including collard green dip, c