13% of 61 verified Electro-Harmonix Soul Foodowners don't recommend it, and 1 describe specific problems — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
For balance: 72% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score
“Sounds great but I could not tame the loud click it made turning on and off. Tried a bunch of recommendations but nothing worked.”— Shirtarm on Reddit
“I noticed the honk, yes. Some might like it, I really didn't. I gave it a couple months of forcing myself to use it to make sure it wasn't something I would come around to, and I never did. Took it off my board and replaced it with a BD-2.”— MadDocHolliday on Reddit
“It lived on my board for a solid month. I never fell in love. I went back to my tried and true OCD stacked with a TS 808.”— No_big_whoop on Reddit
“When the pedal is engaged, I love the tone. The inability to play while bypass is engaged ruins it.”— No-Hawk9280 on Reddit
“I still hold it in reserve, but I replaced it on my board with another, quieter, klon style pedal.”— CheesyGC on Reddit
“Yes I noticed the same “honk” types of tones as well. Honestly, I don’t like it”— fifaapamen on Reddit
“I tried the Soul Food when I got into pedals and just didn’t love it. I recently retried it (after about 2 years of playing) and still don’t like it. It adds color (mids) more than any of the blues breaker style pedals so if you’re trying to keep your amps sound you might not love it.”— drdiamedic on Reddit
“I found mine to be quite noisy.”— dan---zero on Reddit
Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.
“the Soul food has either a buffered bypass or true bypass mode, ensure it's in true bypass mode or ensure it's powered while in buffered bypass mode”— MrRecon on Reddit
“Thank you, I solved the problem just moving the selector variuos times quickly between the two positions. No spray added. Updated: the issue is back, but now it works in the opposite way, only when the light is red.”— Federal_Weather_5553 on Reddit
“Also, the tone knob actually adds gain, but a treble boost sort of gain. This is very apparent if you set it higher than noon. The drive knob is also important in adding meat to the tone so I wouldn't put it lower than 9.”— polstevheissu on Reddit
“This was my first ever pedal, bout 10 years ago, because it was dirt cheap. Now I have a hot wax so I mostly use this as a low OD boost.”— YummyTerror8259 on Reddit
“If it’s not set to true bypass, the sound is cut when the battery dies. Not an issue with true bypass, though.”— tonetonitony on Reddit
“Anyone else think it sucks a lot of low end? Maybe because I'm comparing it to my Orange's drive sounds.”— ekovv on Reddit
“I boost a 5150 and JCM 800 on occasion with one. I'm sure it'll sound killer with an Orange”— Carl_of_Doodie on Reddit
“I had this exact issue and opened up the back and sprayed deoxit contact cleaner on the true bypass / buffer switch inside. Flicked it back and forth a few times. Problem solved!”— scluryb on Reddit