There’s no question about the profound impact that Black chefs, restauranteurs, and innovators have had on all types of cuisine we know and love in America. In honor of Black History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on Black-owned food and beverage businesses in 22 cities across the country (including some in the Qwick network!) From the rich history they represent to the ways they're innovating and shaping the landscape moving forward, these establishments are definitely ones to visit.
Please join us in supporting these Black-owned F+B businesses throughout February and far beyond. Find your city on the list below, and keep this post handy for future travels.
Ready to start exploring? Let’s kick things off with the West Coast…
San Francisco
- Rize Up Bakery - Rize Up Founder, Azikiwee Anderson, started making sourdough during COVID-19 quarantine as a way to channel energy into something healing during a time of social unrest. He hasn't stopped, and his popular sourdough inspires and feeds the SF community one loaf at a time.
- Voodoo Love - Not only is this a great spot to enjoy a range of delicious creole nouveau dishes, but you can enjoy them knowing they were sustainably produced. Win, win!
Los Angeles
- 1010 Wine and Events - An upscale wine bar in the heart of Inglewood offering the largest selection of Black-owned wines in California.
- Post & Beam - Known for casual fine dining and California comfort food. Catch one of their Black Pot Supper Club dinners for an intimate dinner that guides you through the historical origins and relevance of African-American cuisine.
San Diego
- Chula Vista Brewery - Now with two locations, this award-winning brewery is a great place to grab a pint and enjoy live music.
- One WorldBeat Cafe - Located inside the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park, this vegan-friendly cafe serves up fresh Caribbean-inspired dishes.
Phoenix
- Cafe Lalibela - Family-owned and operated for more than two decades, Café Lalibela Ethiopian Cuisine has introduced many newcomers to an authentic, aromatic, and artful Ethiopian dining experience.
- SugarJam - A Southern-inspired restaurant, bakery, and bar in North Scottsdale with a lively atmosphere.
Denver
- Novel Strand Brewing Co. - Whether you like your beer hoppy, sour, or classic, there's a brew for you to love here.
- Le French - From pastries to dinner, enjoy elevated modern Parisian cuisine with global influences in a relaxed atmosphere.
San Antonio
- Tanks Pizza - Serving San Antonio since 2011, Tanks is a local staple and a great place to indulge in pizza, wings, calzones, and more.
- Weathered Souls Brewing Co. - This 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bar is definitely one to visit if you get the chance. They also started Black is Beautiful—a collaborative effort to raise awareness for the injustices people of color face daily and raise funds for police brutality reform.
Austin
- Crimson Creek BBQ - Crimson Creek prides itself on bringing Oklahoma-style "smoky spicy pig parts" to Texas. Find them at the Deep Eddy Vodka tasting room!
- The Kibanda - If you've ever wished for a private chef, Chef Eva Wambui is making those dreams come true for lucky Austinites who get to experience her Kenyan-influenced cooking.
Houston
- Bungalow - This upscale restaurant features a wide array of chef-driven dishes from prime steaks to fresh seafood and decadent desserts. Be sure to check out the rooftop!
- Sweet Mustard - Created to introduce the masses to a plant-based diet, this casual counter-service joint gives homestyle Southern favorites a plant-based spin.
Dallas
- Southern Gourmet Kitchen - Find all of your favorite Southern classics made from scratch daily at this home-style kitchen.
- Invasion - Chef Airric Heidelberg treats guests to gourmet creations that are fresh, flavorful, and fast! Plus, they're open for the late-night munchies.
Chicago
- Turner Häus Brewery - A microbrewery specializing in high gravity beers made with their ancestors in mind. Each beer is named after women in their family!
- Carver 47 - This cafe and wellness market celebrates the legacy of agricultural scientist and inventor, Dr. George Washington Carver. Check out the fun space and enjoy a nourishing breakfast or lunch.
Nashville
- Germantown Pub - A neighborhood watering hole serving up casual American pub fare.
- Dinner With Friends - A fine-dining restaurant in the West End offering a unique, nonalcoholic four-course dining experience.
Atlanta
- Aye Tea Elle - This chic College Park dinner lounge is a perfect place to enjoy elevated tapas and live music.
- Cheesecaked - Not only can you find some incredible cheesecakes here, but all sorts of over-the-top treats!
Tampa Bay
- Pop Goes The Waffle - Authentic liège waffles made from pearl sugar and brioche-style dough. Is your mouth watering yet, or is it just us?
- Grain and Berry - You'll find award-winning acai bowls and other healthy eats at this superfood cafe.
Miami
- Hats Off to Dining - Why not spend a night learning how to cook from a seasoned chef? Or better yet, enjoy a private in-home dining experience! Plan a night with Hats Off to Dining, and either way you can count on good company and a delicious meal.
- Troy’s BBQ - Serving Palm Beach since 1996, this family-owned business is loved for its tasty barbecue and friendly service. Visit one of two locations, and keep an eye out for their food truck, too.
Orlando
- Sister Honey’s - It's easy to say something is "baked with love", but at this Orlando bakery, it's actually true. Make sure to try their award-winning pies!
- Island Thyme Caribbean Grille - Stop by this fast-casual restaurant to enjoy jerk chicken that will transport you straight to the US Virgin Islands.
Jacksonville
- Pink Salt Restaurant - This restaurant is the place to go for locally sourced, flavorful food in the San Marco neighborhood.
- Silkie’s Chicken & Champagne Bar - You don't want to miss Chef Kenny Gilbert's signature fried chicken, made even better by pairing with a champagne cocktail!
Charlotte
- Bird Pizzeria - Gourmet east-coast style pizza in Optimist Park for your enjoyment.
- Galloway’s Plates - Weekly meal prep, grab-and-go lunches, and catering from a husband and wife duo with over 30 years of culinary experience. Plus, it's all inspired by their grandfather, Alonzo Galloway, who was a head chef in the US Army.
Washington, DC
- Flavorture - Known for their exceptional food experiences, Chefs Pinkey Reddick and Llewellyn McAlister just opened their new restaurant in Woodley Park.
- Fish Scale - A must-try for Seafood lovers, Fish Scale serves up fresh, sustainably-caught fish burgers, cheesesteaks, tacos, and more.
Baltimore
- Angie’s Seafood - A lively spot for all things seafood in Upper Fells Point.
- Cloudy Donuts - While the flavor lineups change each week (there are over 40!) you can count on a delicious, 100% vegan donut every time. There are two locations in Baltimore, and one in Brooklyn as well.
Philadelphia
- Rock N’ Rolls - What started as a fundraiser for her mother's cancer treatments, Shamaya Oberlton's sweet and savory egg rolls were so loved by the community that they blossomed into a full-time business on a mission to feed people and make the world a better place.
- Friday Saturday Sunday - Enjoy a seasonally-inspired, eight-course tasting menu by chef Chad Williams. But be warned, the food is so beautiful you might not want to eat it.
Pittsburgh
- Cornbread - You'll find more than just amazing cornbread at this fast-casual restaurant. Their savory soul food is always fresh and locally sourced.
- Hazelwood Cafe - Don't miss the seasonal lattes at this cozy cafe in the Hazelwood neighborhood.
New York City
- Milk & Pull Coffee - Warm coffee and speciality sandwiches await you at all three of Milk & Pull's cozy cafes across the city.
- Fieldtrip - Founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef JJ Johnson out of a realization that rice connects all of us, this rice bowl shop celebrates shared cultural experiences.
Thanks for exploring these Black-owned F+B businesses across the country with us. If we missed your favorite, let us know by sending us a note on social media. You can find us at @QwickShifts!
