A (non-exhaustive!) List of Our Favorite Black-Owned Restaurants
Black-owned businesses are critical to our communities and local economies.
From soul food to vegan cuisine, these restaurants offer a wide range of delicious dishes that showcase the creativity and talent of black chefs and entrepreneurs. We'll be sharing some mouth-watering descriptions of their signature dishes, as well as some background on the restaurants themselves and the people behind them.
Pack Up + Go is committed to highlighting and sharing these amazing establishments with our travelers. In light of these recent times, Black-owned businesses need our support more than ever.
In fact, minority-owned small businesses struggled to gain equal access to PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan money in order to save their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As consumers + travelers, we can all do our part to support Black-owned businesses. These businesses help support local economic growth, foster job creation, and hold other companies accountable among other important reasons.
So whether you're a foodie looking for your next favorite spot, or someone who wants to use their purchasing power to support Black-owned businesses, this blog post is for you. Join us as we celebrate some of the most delicious and inspiring Black-owned restaurants out there. Here’s our (non-exhaustive!) list of some of our favorite Black-owned restaurants in our destination cities!
Written by the Pack Up + Go Team
Denver, CO
This cozy coffee shop is the one to visit while in Denver, CO.
Complete with a lending library and outdoor patio, Whittier Cafe is sure to satisfy your caffeine needs. Nicknamed “the activists’ coffee shop” Whittier proudly supports social justice causes and even has a fund to contribute to various movements and organizations. As if it couldn’t get better, Whittier Cafe holds an Ethiopian Coffee ceremony every Sunday at 2 PM!
Address: 1710 East 25th Ave Denver, CO 80205
Hours: Mon-Thu: 7 AM-7 PM, Fri-Sun: 7 AM-8 PM
Minneapolis, MN
Enjoy authentic Jamaican dishes prepared with French technique at Pimento Jamaican Kitchen & Rumbar.
Founded by a Jewish rapper from Minneapolis and a Jamaican executive, Pimento has won numerous awards including Food Network’s reality competition show, Food Court Wars, been featured on Andrew Zimmern’s Bucket List, and even appeared on I Heart Food also hosted on the Food Network!
Address: 2524 Nicollet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55404
Hours: Open Daily: 10 AM-11 PM
Ann Arbor, MI
Located just outside Ann Arbor, MI, 734 Brewing Company was founded by a group of quirky, diverse beer enthusiasts who wanted to serve up unpretentious brews in an inclusive environment (spoiler alert: they succeeded!).
Bring your own food and enjoy a cold one at this Michigan gem.
Address: 15 E Cross St Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198
Hours: Open Daily: 4 PM-12 AM
Chicago, IL
Be transported to NOLA at this unique Chicago outpost.
Enjoy Southern favorites like po’boys and fried chicken or patio drinks like the New Orleans classic, Sno-Balls! In fact, Ina Mae offers a to-go Sno-ball window if you’re in a hurry!
Clad with merch for sale and friendly workers, Ina Mae is dive bar-meets-corner store-meets-tavern. What more could you ask for?!
Address: 1415 North Wood St Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Tue-Thu: 5 PM-11 PM, Fri: 4 PM-2 AM, Sat: 11 AM-2 AM, Sun: 11 AM-10 PM
Boston, MA
Founded and owned by one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs in America, Douglas Williams, MIDA is Boston’s new hotspot for contemporary Italian fare.
Enjoy handmade pasta, delicious wine, and tasty apéritifs in its charming space! Located in the culturally rich South End, MIDA is sure to complete a night out in Boston!
Address: 782 Tremont St Boston, MA 02118
Hours:
Dinner: Sun–Thu 4 PM–10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM–11 PM
Brunch: Sat-Sun 10:30 AM–3:30 PM
Takeout: Mon–Fri 4 PM-9:30 PM, Sat-Sun 11 AM-9:00 PM
Portland, ME
Fast, casual, no fuss, exactly what you want from a coffee shop. Add in sustainably sourced ingredients directly from the country of Burundi, and you have the perfect recipe for a coffee shop!
Burundi Star does just that and more. Enjoy freshly baked pastries and sambousas to round out your experience at this Black-owned business in Maine!
Address: 261 St John St Portland, ME 04102
Hours: Mon–Fri: 7 AM–3 PM, Sat: 8 AM–3 PM
Phoenix, AZ
“You hungry, bitch?” is their motto and the answer to that question should always be “Hell yes!”
This Phoenix spot serves up early morning favorites like all-American cheesy hash browns, classic pancakes, and eggs any type of way.
Brunch is always a party at Breakfast Bitch and what other way to round out a trip to AZ than by eating your weight in biscuits?!
Address: 330 East Roosevelt St Phoenix, AZ 85004
Hours: Mon-Thu: 8 AM-2 PM, Fri-Sun: 8 AM-4 PM
Seattle, WA
Plum Bistro is Seattle’s favorite vegan restaurant. And for good reason.
Founded in 2009, Plum Bistro has been serving Seattle’s hip Capitol Hill neighborhood plant-based deliciousness for over 10 years.
In addition, owner Makini Howell was recently recognized as a Top Chef Changing Food in America!
Address: 1429 12th Ave Seattle, WA 98122
Hours:
Lunch + Dinner:
Mon: 11 AM-8:30 PM
Tue + Wed: 11 AM-9 PM
Thu + Fri: 11 AM-9:30 PM
Sat: 4 PM-9:30 PM
Sun: 4 PM-8:30 PM
Brunch:
Sat + Sun: 10 AM-3 PM
Austin, TX
Farm fresh is synonymous with Austin’s Emmer & Rye.
The restaurant features a menu that changes daily to focus on seasonal and local ingredients. Enjoy small plates off-the-menu chosen from circulating carts and freshly pickled vegetables from the restaurant’s in-house fermentation program!
Need any more convincing? Emmer & Rye is a carbon-neutral restaurant and works with Zero FoodPrint to help offset their carbon emissions!
Address: 51 Rainey St Suite 110 Austin, TX 78701
Hours: Tue-Thu + Sun: 5:30 PM-10 PM, Fri + Sat: 5:30 PM-11 PM
Year-round, Pack Up + Go encourages travelers to support Black-owned businesses during their Trips. From restaurants and bookstores to art galleries and boutiques, supporting these businesses not only contributes to the local economy but also promotes a greater understanding of the diversity within our communities.
When you travel with Pack Up + Go, you can request in your Pre-Trip Survey to have Black-owned businesses added to your list of activities. We will research and tailor our recommendations to your particular interests and passions to make your visits fulfilling and exciting.