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The Ultimate Guide to Black-Owned Restaurants Across America (By City)

Discover the best Black-owned restaurants in major U.S. cities. From soul food to vegan eats, here’s your ultimate guide to eating Black in 2025 — city by city.

Author

Dale Harris
April 06, 2025

A colorful 16:9 landscape image showcasing a collage of signature dishes from Black-owned restaurants across the U.S., including Southern fried chicken, Jamaican jerk wings, plant-based bowls, and seafood gumbo. Each dish is presented on a dark wooden table with warm, natural lighting that enhances the rich textures and vibrant ingredients. Centered bold text reads “Black-Owned Restaurants to Try Across the U.S.,” highlighting the cultural and culinary diversity celebrated in the roundup guide.

Black-owned restaurants have long been the heart of our neighborhoods — dishing out more than just flavor, but also culture, legacy, and community pride. Whether you’re a foodie on a mission or just want to support Black-owned businesses in your city, this guide has you covered.

We’ve compiled some of the best Black-owned restaurants across the country, broken down by city. From comfort food in Atlanta to plant-based magic in Chicago, bookmark this roundup and come back often — all of these guides are live and ready for you to explore.

Let’s eat.

Black-Owned Restaurants by City

Atlanta

A vibrant 16:9 landscape image showcasing iconic Southern soul food from Black-owned restaurants in Atlanta. The spread features golden fried chicken, creamy mac and cheese, collard greens, shrimp and grits, and warm cornbread, all arranged on a rustic wooden table. Rich, warm lighting highlights the textures and savory tones of each dish. Bold text at the top reads “ATLANTA” and “10 Must-Try Black-Owned Restaurants,” capturing the essence of Atlanta’s dynamic Black food culture.

🔥 7 Must-Try Black-Owned Restaurants in Atlanta
From legendary brunch spots to late-night bites, Atlanta’s food scene is overflowing with Black culinary excellence.
👉 Read our full guide to Black-owned restaurants in Atlanta

Chicago

A 16:9 horizontal image blending Chicago’s iconic skyline with a showcase of food from Black-owned restaurants. On the left, a colorful vegan salad with mixed greens, chickpeas, avocado, and roasted vegetables sits in a rustic ceramic bowl. On the right, a golden, cheesy deep-dish pizza is served in a cast iron pan. Behind the dishes, the Chicago skyline glows at golden hour, with warm lighting enhancing the textures and flavors. Text reads “Where to Eat Black in Chicago.”

🍽 Where to Eat Black in Chicago: A South & West Side Guide
From deep-dish with a twist to healthy vegan bowls, Chicago's got it all.
👉 Check out our list of Black-owned restaurants in Chicago

New York City

A 16:9 horizontal image featuring iconic Black-owned restaurant dishes in New York City set against a twilight skyline. In the foreground, a vibrant Caribbean jerk chicken platter and a gourmet soul food dish with candied yams and cornbread are artfully plated on a textured table. The NYC skyline—including the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center—glows in the background, with city lights reflecting off the East River. Bold text reads “NYC’s Best Black-Owned Food Spots.”

🥘 NYC’s Best Black-Owned Food Spots You Need to Try
Whether you're Uptown or in Brooklyn, the city’s flavor comes alive at these joints.
👉 Discover the best Black-owned restaurants in New York City

Los Angeles

A vibrant 16:9 horizontal image featuring Black-owned restaurant dishes from Los Angeles set against a sunset skyline with palm trees and downtown LA in the background. In the foreground, a plate of street tacos with grilled meat and fresh toppings sits beside a Southern brunch dish of crispy fried chicken and golden waffles. Warm, golden-hour lighting enhances the rich textures and colors. Overlay text reads “Black-Owned Restaurants in LA You Can’t Miss.”

🌴 Black-Owned Restaurants in LA You Can’t Miss
From street tacos to Southern-inspired brunches, LA brings the vibes and the heat.
👉 Explore our picks for Black-owned restaurants in Los Angeles

Houston

A high-resolution image of the Houston skyline at golden hour, with the city’s skyscrapers glowing in soft sunlight. In the foreground, vibrant dishes from Black-owned restaurants are artfully arranged: crispy fried chicken with mac and cheese, a pulled pork sandwich, and seasoned shrimp. The rich colors and textures of the food contrast with the sleek urban skyline behind, capturing Houston’s diverse and flavorful Black culinary scene.

🌶 Top Black-Owned Food Spots in H-Town
BBQ, seafood, soul food — Houston’s got it all and then some.
👉 Browse the top Black-owned restaurants in Houston

Memphis

🎶 Top Black-Owned Restaurants in Memphis (Where Culture Meets Flavor)
From legendary ribs to vegan soul food, Memphis restaurants reflect the city’s deep Black history and community roots.
👉 View our full list of Black-owned restaurants in Memphis

Birmingham

A vibrant image collage featuring the Birmingham, Alabama skyline at golden hour, with iconic buildings illuminated by warm light. In the foreground, three signature dishes from Black-owned Southern restaurants are displayed: crispy fried chicken with sides, a pulled pork sandwich stacked high with sauce, and a bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese. The blend of rich food textures and the historic urban backdrop captures the city's rising Black culinary scene and cultural pride.

🔥 Best Black-Owned Restaurants in Birmingham, AL
This Southern city has a rising food scene with historic Black-owned eateries and bold new chefs putting their stamp on the South.
👉 See the best Black-owned restaurants in Birmingham

Jacksonville

A vibrant food scene unfolds in front of Jacksonville’s skyline at dusk, with the glowing Main Street Bridge and city buildings reflecting off the St. Johns River. In the foreground, plates of Black-owned restaurant staples are showcased: crispy fried shrimp, tender stewed oxtails, and a golden fish sandwich. The golden hour lighting enhances the warmth of the food and the calm city backdrop, highlighting Jacksonville’s rich and underrated Black culinary culture.

🌴 Where to Eat Black in Jacksonville: A Hidden Gem Food Guide
Florida’s largest city is home to soulful seafood, authentic Caribbean plates, and underrated gems you’ll love.
👉 Find top-rated Black-owned restaurants in Jacksonville

More Cities to Explore

We’ve already covered even more cities across the U.S. — from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast. Check out these additional guides to discover even more Black-owned gems near you:

Detroit, MI An inviting image of Detroit’s Black-owned food scene featuring smothered pork chops, cornbread, and loaded fries, set in front of the city skyline with the Renaissance Center lit up at dusk.
Philadelphia, PA A vibrant spread of Black-owned Philly eats including cheesesteaks with a twist, fried chicken, and sweet potato pie, set against the city skyline featuring City Hall and Liberty Place under a cloudy sky.
Dallas, TX Southern comfort dishes like fried catfish, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese are placed in the foreground, with the Dallas skyline and Reunion Tower shining under a vivid sunset.
Washington, D.C. Colorful plates of Caribbean jerk chicken, seafood boils, and plantains dominate the foreground, while the Capitol dome and Washington Monument rise behind in the early evening light.
Baltimore, MD A seafood-heavy display with crab cakes, hush puppies, and creamy grits is paired with a view of the Baltimore Inner Harbor and the city skyline reflecting off the water.
Miami, FL Fresh seafood, Cuban-influenced Black dishes, and tropical drinks shine in the foreground, with palm trees and the glowing Miami skyline along Biscayne Bay setting the vibe.
Charlotte, NC A hearty Southern meal featuring fried chicken, pimento mac, and peach cobbler is shown in front of Charlotte’s modern skyline, with Bank of America Stadium faintly visible in the distance.
New Orleans, LA Cajun classics like gumbo, beignets, and jambalaya steal the scene as the French Quarter and New Orleans skyline come alive under golden hour lighting.
Jacksonville, FL Juicy oxtails, shrimp platters, and fried green tomatoes from Black-owned eateries sit against a scenic view of the Jacksonville skyline and Main Street Bridge glowing at dusk.
St. Louis, MO St. Louis-style ribs, toasted ravioli, and BBQ wings are spotlighted with the Gateway Arch and downtown skyline rising behind under a cloudy, dramatic sky.
Cleveland, OH Midwestern soul food like stuffed cabbage, creamy mashed potatoes, and saucy wings fill the frame, with Cleveland’s skyline and Terminal Tower lit up during twilight.

Discover the best Black-owned dining spots nationwide! Sign up now for our FREE guide, "50 Black-Owned Restaurants You Need to Know Around the U.S."

Why Support Black-Owned Restaurants?

When you spend money at Black-owned restaurants, you’re not just enjoying great food — you’re investing in Black chefs, entrepreneurs, and communities. These businesses fuel local economies, provide jobs, and preserve culinary traditions that might otherwise get overlooked.

Every bite you take is a vote for representation, ownership, and generational wealth.

Bookmark This Page

We’ll be updating this list monthly as we discover more standout restaurants across the country. If you know a Black-owned restaurant that deserves a feature, DM us on Instagram @thebfacollective or email us at [email protected].

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