Chicago is home to some of the best food in the country, so next time I’m in town I’m visiting these top Chicago black-owned restaurants to support small, minority-owned businesses!
From authentic Southern cooking to creative twists on classic Caribbean flavors, Chicago truly has everything a foodie could dream of.
Here are my top 11 Chicago black-owned restaurants I recommend visiting next time you’re in the Chicago area.
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Top 11 Chicago Black-Owned Restaurants
Sweet Maple Cafe
If you’re searching for the best breakfast in Chicago, look no further than Sweet Maple Cafe!
This charming cafe is styled like a 40’s diner and has been serving breakfast staples since 1999.
Owner Laurene Hynson followed in her mother’s footsteps by gathering beloved family recipes and creating new dishes that capture that authentic homemade taste everyone loves.
Some of Sweet Maple Cafe’s most iconic dishes include their sweet milk biscuits and Dr. Glenn’s scramble made with eggs, ham, cheese, and veggies.
Talk about yum!
The Burger Point
You’ve probably worked up quite the appetite after a full day exploring Chicago, and nothing hits the spot better than a thick, greasy burger, like the kind they serve at The Burger Point.
This Chicago staple does not disappoint, whether you’re looking for a classic cheeseburger or something a little more inventive like their Dirty South Burger which is served on a yummy pretzel roll.
No matter what burger you choose, you know it’s going to be hot, juicy, and cooked to perfection.
Burger Point prides itself on using grass-fed hamburger meat that always tastes fresh and flavorful.
Soul Veg City
For all my vegetarian and vegan friends out there, this one’s for you!
Soul Veg City—also known as The Original Soul Vegetarian—is a culinary paradise that specializes in vegan soul food, and its menu is filled with delicious veggie-based dishes.
I know you might be a little skeptical about an all-vegan restaurant but trust me, this place is insanely good!
With everything from “shrimp” and rice to meat-free wings and incredible veggie sides, there’s a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy at Soul Veg City.
Brown Sugar Bakery
Brown Sugar Bakery is the perfect Chicago spot if you’re craving something sweet and delicious.
This Southern-style bakeshop specializes in cakes and handmade chocolates, and their treats are divine.
With indulgent desserts like turtle cheesecake and double dark chocolate cake, there’s plenty of variety at Brown Sugar Bakery.
They even offer nationwide shipping for their cakes and chocolates if you just can’t resist!
Batter & Berries
Next up on this list of the best Chicago black-owned restaurants is Batter & Berries.
This cozy breakfast and brunch spot has been a favorite with locals since the day it opened in 2012.
Batter & Berries has become known for its signature omelet dishes, flapjacks, and all-day breakfast classics like biscuits and gravy.
If you’re only able to sample one dish at Batter & Berries, it has to be their world-famous French toast flight.
This legendary menu item lets you try their mouthwatering strawberry, lemon, blueberry, and caramel French toasts—I don’t know about you, but I’m drooling!
Soule
Soule is one of the best restaurants in Chicago for Creole-inspired soul food that will make your heart and belly happy with every bite.
Stepping into this restaurant will immediately transport you from Chicago to New Orleans, where food is full of flavor and cooked with love.
The inviting aroma of collard greens and fried chicken will have you feeling right at home and once you take that first bite of Soule’s flavorful food, you’ll never want to leave!
Everything at Soule is amazing but their banana pudding is some of the best I’ve ever tasted, so don’t forget to leave room for dessert.
Virtue Restaurant
Located in trendy Hyde Park, Virtue is one of the top Chicago black-owned restaurants that offers classic Southern cuisine.
From the moment you walk through the doors at Virtue Restaurant, you’ll be blown away by the comforting ambiance and trademark Southern hospitality.
The menu consists of locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients that take Southern dishes like catfish, collards, and mac and cheese to the next level.
Virtue Restaurant was even awarded Best Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 2022, so you know it’s legit.
Make sure to come hungry—it’s hard to resist trying everything on the menu!
Garifuna Flava
For some of Chicago’s tastiest Caribbean flavors, Garifuna Flava is the place to beat.
This restaurant is named after the Garifuna people of Central America and specializes in blending indigenous dishes with Caribbean and Latin American cuisine.
From classics like jerk chicken to unique offerings like oxtail stew and conch fritters, every dish is full of spices and flavors that make this spot a must-try.
Enjoying a meal at Garifuna Flava also allows you to learn more about Caribbean culture and the restaurant’s heritage, which I consider a win-win.
Luella’s Southern Kitchen
One of the best Chicago black-owned restaurants for Southern food is Luella’s Southern Kitchen, named after the chef’s great-grandmother who moved from Mississippi to Chicago in 1943.
Whether it’s fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, or their signature fried chicken, you can count on Luella’s to deliver a fresh and flavorful experience.
I’m serious when I say my mouth is watering just looking through their menu—their fluffy, powdered-sugar-covered beignets especially caught my eye!😍
With their Southern hospitality and amazing cuisine that always tastes fresh and homemade, Luella’s Southern Kitchen makes every guest feel like family.
B&B Ice Cream and Candy
B&B Ice Cream & Candy is a family-owned sweet shop turned nationwide sensation that’s the perfect destination to satisfy your sweet tooth.
They have an almost endless selection of homemade ice cream and old-fashioned candy that will make anyone feel like a kid in a candy shop.
B&B has been around since the 1980s when Grandma and Granddaddy Brazley (how adorable!) started a food shop and game room in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham community.
Though this location eventually closed, a new shop was opened in 2016 by the couple’s granddaughter, Ellen.
I love the story behind B&B Ice Cream and Candy and the fact it’s been owned by the same Chicago family for almost 40 years!
Jerk Villa
Rounding out this list of the best Chicago black-owned restaurants is Jerk Villa.
This spot is no-frills and might not be the most Instagrammable restaurant in Chicago, but it is one of the tastiest!
Their menu features plenty of traditional Jamaican favorites and some special dishes like curry goat and lobster tail if you’re feeling adventurous.
Jerk Villa is the perfect place if you’re craving a casual Jamaican lunch that’s full of flavor.
Believe me, it was so hard to narrow down this list of the best Chicago black-owned restaurants to just 11 picks because there are so many amazing options in Chi-Town.
Make sure to drop a comment below or tag me on Insta (@wtfab) if you get to try one of these awesome restaurants!
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FAQs
Yes! Chicago is known for being one of the best towns for foodies in the US.
Garifuna Flava and Jerk Villa are some of Chicago’s best Jamaican black-owned restaurants.
Soul Veg City and Luella’s Southern Kitchen are two Chicago black-owned restaurants known for their amazing Southern food.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
