300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

LAFeature

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA

Support LA's Black-owned restaurants.

One important—and tangible—way to stand in solidarity with Los Angeles' Black community is buying Black. Showing up at Black-Owned restaurants, like Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen, The Serving Spoon, and newcomer Berbere, and either dining, taking out, or, if you're not local, buying their merch and products online. Tip generously, be kind. It's been unbelievably difficult for restaurants over the past few years, so it's more important than ever to support the people and places that continue to feed us.

So we’ve put together this list of LA’s Black-owned restaurants, organized by neighborhood. There are also plenty of other great resources you can use to find and support Black-owned restaurants in your neighborhood, including Black Book LA and the EatOkra app. We’ll be updating our list often, so please email us at losangeles@theinfatuation.com to let us know which restaurants should be included, and we’ll add them accordingly.

Please also consider donating to organizations fighting for racial justice, like the ACLU, NAACP, George Floyd Memorial Fund, Know Your Rights Camp, Black Visions Collective, Reclaim The Block, as well as the The Peoples’ City Council Freedom Fund. For a longer list of organizations to support, click here.


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AGOURA HILLS

  • Boar Dough Tasting Room: A quaint bistro serving comfort foods like prime hanger steak, beignets, and organic fried chicken. Gift cards also available for purchase. Follow their Instagram for the latest updates.

ALTADENA

  • Little Red Hen Coffee Shop: An adorable family-run coffee shop serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Call (626) 791-1614 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • UEDF Fish & Chips: A Halal fish & chips joint serving catfish, whole chickens, and their world famous bean pie. Call (626) 794-0277 to place an order.

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Banadir Somali, shot by Krystal Thompson

ANAHEIM

  • Georgia’s Restaurant: A warm, charming family restaurant serving Southern dishes like fried green tomatoes, fried green tomatoes, and tri-tip salad. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Iconic soul food chain that's 100% earned its fame. Have visitors in town who want to eat somewhere classically LA? Go with Roscoe's. Their merch store can be found here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

ATWATER VILLAGE

  • Chicken N Chips: Inspired by the chicken and chips in Adelaide, Australia, these are rotisserie chickens coated in signature dry rub, made in-house daily. Check the Instagram for the latest details.

AZUSA

  • Keith’s Kettle Corn: Gourmet goodies that come in over 55 flavors. Available for takeout and national shipping, head to their website to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

BALDWIN HILLS

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Photo by Jakob Layman

  • Hotville Chicken: Owned and operated by Nashville hot chicken royalty Kim Prince, Hotville Chicken opened its doors in late 2019 and immediately became one of the best places to eat hot chicken in LA. And don’t get us wrong, the chicken is fantastic and absolutely what you should come here for, but if you leave without getting one of the hot fish sandwiches, you need to turn around and go back. Crispy on the outside, the whitefish itself basically melts in your mouth, but also acts as an ideal agent (along with the excellent slaw) to cut through whatever heat level you choose.

  • Post & Beam: South LA's food scene is arguably the oldest in the city, but it was Post & Beam that got a new generation of diners hooked on updated versions of traditional soul food dishes like jerk catfish, shrimp and grits, and more. Purchase a gift card here.

  • Southern Girl Desserts: This dessert company offers cupcakes, cakes, pies, sweet tea, and more. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The Court Cafe: A breakfast spot in Ladera Heights, Court Cafe is a definite cut above the usual greasy spoon diner. The portions are all big enough for two, especially the multiple-pound Ocho Burrito with fried shrimp, lobster, chorizo, potatoes, and eggs - it’s as good, massive, and out-there as it sounds. We also like the shrimp and grits and the taco omelette, with spiced ground chicken, guacamole, and cheese sauce. We suspect they use a dozen eggs in this thing, so make sure you’re ready for leftovers.

  • Yordanos Ethiopian Restaurant: An Ethiopian restaurant serving geba weta, tender awaze tips, and fish kitfo. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

BELLFLOWER

  • 2nd Healthy Eatery: A full-service deli offering sandwiches, plus meats and cheeses by the pound.

  • Hambone’s Smokehouse: A wonderful BBQ smokehouse serving po'boys, tri-tip dinners, and more. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The Nest: A breakfast joint with Southern-style brunch favorites, from pork chops to biscuits & gravy. To check out their merch store, click here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

BOYLE HEIGHTS

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Photo by Jakob Layman

  • Mama D's African Cuisine: Mama D's offers a masterclass in balance—every dish at this Cameroonian restaurant, from ndole to jollof rice, and classic African lunch, are intense and vibrant, packed with flavors that deliver a punch straight to the tastebuds.

  • Silverback Coffee of Rwanda: Created in 2017, Silverback Coffee of Rwanda donates a portion of its profits to organizations that build schools in local Rwandan areas, as well as provides services to widows and orphans who have been impacted by the country’s massive genocide in 1994.  You can also purchase coffee through their online store.

BURBANK

  • King's Deli: Pastrami, pastrami, and more pastrami. Kings Deli is in the shadows of the Warner Brothers lot and gained an overnight following for cranking out incredible New York-style deli sandwiches and house-made pastrami. Gift cards can be purchased in-store or over the phone.

  • Lou, The French On The Block: Two years after studying at the French School of Les LILA,  Chef Laurent "Lou" & Karima opened their dream restaurant—a French bakery in Burbank. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

CANOGA PARK

CARSON

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Darrow's Grill, shot by Krystal Thompson

  • 3Stakx Kitchen: A seafood counter and food truck, 3Stakx serves pans of lobster, double crab, and shrimp. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Belly’s Sliders & Wings: Throwing a party? Planning an event? Belly's has you covered—the catering company offers succulent finger foods at outdoor events. Merch can be purchased here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Darrow’s Grill: Darrow’s does a lot of things really well - including fried catfish, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and po’ boys. But they make a really damn good bowl of gumbo. The star of that bowl is the meat - from the imported Louisiana Blue Crab to the chicken sausage and andouille, each piece is impeccably seasoned and complements the thick, gravy-like roux perfectly. Make sure to get the filé gumbo ya ya - unlike the regular filé gumbo, this one comes with a mountain of jambalaya and French bread.

  • Family Fish Market: Found in a nondescript building, this stand sells dish, shrimp, and oysters by the pound.

  • Fresh and Meaty Burgers: A burger joint making cooked-to-order turkey, veggie and beef burgers, and more. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Juice-C-Juice: Here to satisfy your juicing needs, this juice counter offers drinks for cleansing, meal replacement, and coffee replacement. They also have various programs set up (that you can donate to), including a Do 4 Self Entrepreneurship Academy, Eat to Live Reading Gardens, Send Book Bundles to your Young Readers. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Ken’s Ice Cream: Available for takeout, call (310) 715-6716 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details

  • R & R Soul Food Restaurant: Informal spot for BBQ & Southern-style classics like oxtail, mac 'n' cheese, black-eyed peas & more. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

CHATSWORTH

COMPTON

  • Alma’s Cookies and Company Restaurant: A soul food restaurant serving smothered catfish, turkey chops, and more. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Billionaire Burger Boyz: Counter-serve outpost of a popular food truck doling out hefty burgers & chicken sandwiches. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Cliff’s Burritos: Call (310) 609-2755 to place an order.

  • Crystal’s Soul Cafe: Crystals Soul Food Café in the South Bay feels like a Barbie dream house, one where plants hang from every available space, and hot-pink lighting and colorful art are everywhere. You’ll find plant-based dishes like the psychedelic soul plate with fresh lion's mane mushrooms and thyme herbs, vegan chili with parmesan corn cake, and more.

  • Fish Bone Seafood: Call (310) 933-8868 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Fun Diggity: The first virtual funnel cake shop in the city. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

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  • Happy Ice: Philly native Lemeir Mitchell brought his hometown treat to LA in 2017 when he opened Happy Ice as a roaming dessert truck, and over time, built a rabid following. Their merch store can be found here.

  • Johnson Brothers BBQ: Call (310) 933-8803 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Mom’s Burger: Call (310) 632-6622 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Patria Coffee: Founded by neighborhood locals Deanna and Geoffrey Martinez, the two opened Patria after a successful Indigegogo campaign and now serve their house-roasted coffee out of a cozy storefront on Alameda Street. Their seasonal dark roast is heavy and perfect for a French press, while their espresso beans are tinged with a fruity sweetness. Gift cards can be purchased here.

  • Plate Of Hue: Available for catering, call (323) 205-5283 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Smakk’D Refreshers & Teas: Call (424) 785-4212 or place an order through their website. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Trap Kitchen: Call (503) 442-0748 or order through their website. Purchase their cookbook here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

CORONA

COVINA

  • BB’s Cafe: Available for takeout, call (626) 888-4960 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

CRENSHAW

CULVER CITY

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  • Beyond Vegan: A cafe and nutritional program that includes two meals per day, plus breakfast smoothies, fruits, snacks, and fresh-pressed juices. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Delvigne Croissant: Call (213) 326-4404 to place an order. Check out their Instagram for more information.

  • Honey’s Kettle: This Culver City spot has been cranking out supremely crunchy fried chicken for nearly 20 years. You can’t go wrong with any of their chicken combos, but we love the spicy wing basket—the skin is beyond crispy, the meat is moist, and they’re coated in a sweet and spicy sauce you’ll be licking off your fingers until halftime. Purchase their buttermilk biscuit, pancake, and waffle mixes here.

  • Industry Cafe + Jazz: Call (310) 202-6633 to place an order. Check out their Instagram for more information.

  • Janga By Derrick’s Jamaican Cuisine: Call (310) 837-6838 to place an order. Check out their Instagram for more information.

  • JR’S BBQ: JR’s BBQ has been operating in Culver City since 1998, and is one of the few spots in LA where you can get real-deal Memphis-style BBQ. The meat is cooked with a custom dry rub and served with house BBQ sauce. 

  • Milk and Brookies: Available for delivery, order through their website. Check out their Instagram for more information.

  • The Jerk Spot: The standout element of their jerk chicken is the spicy sauce that comes on the side with every order. Honestly, if they sold it by the bottle, we’d buy it in bulk. And yes, we’ve asked.

DOWNEY

  • L.A. Buns: Call (562) 923-9038 to place an order. Follow their Instagram for the latest details.

DOWNTOWN LA

  • A Beautiful Life: Call (213) 972-9900 to place an order. Shop their merch store here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Bohemian House of Espresso + Chai: Created by Farah A. Hagar, author of Blackie Bohemian: Book of Questions, this Downtown LA coffee house is a sensory explosion of 1960s cultural icons.

  • Boketto Cold Brew: Founder Benjamin Westly teamed up with some of North America’s best roasters and sommeliers to create a roster of cold brew espressos, teas, and flat or nitro-charged kegs that can even be delivered directly to your house. 

  • Cecilia’s Caribbean Cuisine: Over in Downtown LA, Cecilia's Caribbean Cuisine offers Zabiha Halal food—they're one of the only Island restaurants in the city to do so. Dishes here embed owner Sean Romeo’s vision of fine dining Caribbean food, which includes ackee and saltfish, organic escovitch snapper, curry chicken patties, and more, served out of a trendy, modern space on W. 11th Street.

  • Coffee by Kofi: Available for delivery, call (213) 949-7632 to place an order. Click here to purchase a gift card. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Comfort LA: Available for takeout and delivery, call (213) 537-0844 or text COMFORT to 33733 to place an order. Purchase their signature hot sauce and merch here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Fixins Soul Kitchen: Inspired by his Grandma Glady’s famous peach cobbler and the BBQs he grew up going to as a child, Kevin Johnson, NBA All-Star and Mayor of Sacramento, created Fixin’s Soul Kitchen along with his wife Michelle. There are two locations—the original is in the Bay Area—and both serve soul dishes like deep-fried deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, black-eyed peas, and pork chops smothered in roux brown gravy and pickled onions.  

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Woodspoon, shot by Jayme Burrows

  • Funculo: Available for takeout, call (213) 325-3013 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Nimbus Coffee: If you’re looking for coffee served with a side of nostalgia and magic - check out Nimbus Coffee, the brainchild of mother and daughter-duo, Shawn and Eviana Farrar. Located in Downtown LA, this Harry Potter-inspired shop has everything a caffeine-deficient wizard, witch, or magical creature could want.

  • Poppy+Rose: Available for takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining, call (213) 995-7799 or order through their website. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Rumba Kitchen: After years of running LA’s only Puerto Rican food truck, chef Omayra Dakis opened Rumba Kitchen in Little Tokyo. You’ll find an entire menu dedicated to mofongo here, including a classic version, one with grilled skirt steak, shrimp, chicken, or sweet plantains. Located in a lush space filled with tropical wallpaper and neon signs, Rumba Kitchen serves codfish fritter cakes, hand-cut tomahawk pork chops, pollo guisado, and canned Puerto Rican sodas. 

  • Vurger Guyz: Available for takeout, call (213) 298-1724 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Woodspoon: The Downtown neighborhood spot has fantastic Brazilian food across-the-board (including the best chicken pot pie we’ve ever eaten) and a colorful space that looks like the Parisian flat everybody dreams about during recruiting meetings.

  • Zac’s Sweet Shop: Available for delivery and shipping check their Instagram for the latest details.

ECHO PARK

  • Silverback Coffee of Rwanda: Created in 2017, Silverback Coffee of Rwanda donates a portion of its profits to organizations that build schools in local Rwandan areas, as well as provides services to widows and orphans who have been impacted by the country’s massive genocide in 1994.  You can also purchase coffee through their online store. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

17 Black-Owned Coffee Shops Across LA image

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EXPOSITION PARK

  • Barbara Jean Soul Food: Available for takeout, call (213) 419-9465 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Jack’s Family Kitchen: Available for takeout and delivery, call (323) 926-5215 to place an order. Follow their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Tracy’s Belizean Restaurant: Available for takeout, call (213) 419-9465 to place an order.

  • South LA Cafe: This family-owned shop is on a mission to build community through coffee, culture, and connection. Owned by husband and wife duo, Celia and Joe Ward-Wallace, the two have returned to the neighborhood they grew up in to offer fresh, affordable, and healthy food options in an area where there are typically few. 

The Best BBQ In LA image

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FAIRFAX

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Bludso's, shot by Benji Dell

  • Bludso’s: Bludso’s is one of the most well-known restaurants in LA and a place that sits firmly in our city’s pantheon of great BBQ. Originating in Compton, Bludso’s now resides in a large, shiny space on La Brea in Hollywood that’s become one of the most dependable (and affordable) big group dinner spots in the area. Their party tray feeds up to 12 people and comes with brisket, pulled pork, ribs, half chicken, hot links, and a heap of sides for only $230 (or about $19 per person). Now that we’ve done the math for you, all you have to do is sit back, grab a beer off their excellent tap list, and watch whatever sports team in currently imploding on the TV out of the corner of your eye.

  • Sweet Chick: Call (323) 592-3423 to place an order. Purchase a gift card or browse through their merch shop. Follow their Instagram for the latest details.

Florence

Gardena

GARDEN GROVE

GLASSELL PARK

GLENDORA

  • The Reverse Orangutan: Glendora’s leading purveyor of “serious gourmet sh*t”, The Reverse Orangutan is a local coffee roasting company with locations in both Claremont and along Route 66. Open since 2018, co-owners Jamil Radney and Geoffrey Clark are working to bring unique and exceptional coffees to their neighborhood and beyond.

GRAMERCY PARK

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Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen, shot by Krystal Thompson

  • Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen: A revered soul food spot with two locations in Inglewood (and one in Crenshaw), Dulan’s is an LA institution. Nothing can compare to the uninhibited joy that comes from digging into their plates of pork chops, fried chicken, and incredible mac and cheese. There’s truly no wrong way to order here, though our go-to is the chicken, which tastes like it’s been marinated for days and then gets fried until it’s golden brown.

  • Happy Ice: Philly native Lemeir Mitchell brought his hometown treat to LA in 2017 when he opened Happy Ice as a roaming dessert truck, and over time, built a rabid following. Their merch store can be found here.

GRANADA HILLS

HAWTHORNE

HERMOSA BEACH

HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN

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Bloom & Plume, shot by Tara Pixley

  • Bloom and Plume: From the bright violet accents to the glowing neon sign out front, this Historic Filipinotown coffee shop feels like someone pumped saturation straight into its walls. Run by the incredible Maurice Harris (who also owns the neighboring floral studio of the same name), Bloom & Plume is more than just a place for caffeine—it’s a form of magic and resistance.

Maurice Harris On How Bloom & Plume Is A Form Of Magic And Resistance image

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HOLLYWOOD

  • Jerk Kitchen: Aside from Captain Americas and people in Elmo costumes wearing backpacks, Jerk Kitchen roams the streets of Hollywood. But instead of overpriced photo ops, this Caribbean food truck serves rib tips, oxtails, jerk burgers, garlic mashed potatoes, a featured punch of the day, and rasta pasta. All dinners come with two sides of your choice and on Tuesdays, $2 jerk tacos are served until 3am.

  • Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Iconic soul food chain that's 100% earned its fame. Have visitors in town who want to eat somewhere classically LA? Go with Roscoe's. Their merch store can be found here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

HUNTINGTON PARK

HYDE PARK

INGLEWOOD

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Blessed Tropical, shot by Krystal Thompson

  • 1010Wine: 1010 Wine is Inglewood’s first and only wine bar. Run by two sisters who grew up in the neighborhood (one a luxury wedding planner, the other an attorney), 1010 Wine is both a community space and a great place to grab a drink. There’s a huge, unmatched selection of Black-owned wines as well as small bites like kobe beef sliders, grilled steak, and pesto linguine. Plus, they usually hold various special events throughout the week - check 1010 Wine’s Instagram for all the latest details.

  • Aduke Nigerian Cuisine: It started as a catering company, but now Aduke African Cuisine has a fantastic full-service restaurant at Pico and La Cienega. The menu is composed of traditional Nigerian food - jollof rice combos, yam porridge, and a whole section of African soups. The pumpkin seed-based egusi is our favorite, but no matter which soup you order, get a side of fufu to go along with it. It’s basically a giant ball of boiled yuca flour, and the ideal dipping device for the spicy and fragrant egusi. The portions are quite large here, so make sure you bring some friends and coworkers.

  • Banadir Somali Restaurant: Banadir Somali is a family-run restaurant and community institution just south of downtown Inglewood. The bare-bones space feels like you’re in the basement of a neighborhood rec center, and everybody inside treats it as such. Big groups gather around large tables, eating massive platters of tremendous Somali food. Goat is the house specialty here, and it’s so packed with flavor it’ll ruin most other versions you’ve ever had. If you arrive around 11am, you’ll be able to order from both their breakfast and lunch menu, which is ideal, because the shakshuka, ful (bean stew), and crepe-like anjero bread are all just as good as the goat.

  • Bayou Grille: Call (310) 673-0824 to place an order. For more information, check out their Instagram.

  • Big Daddy’s Kickin’ Chicken: If Big Daddy’s Kick’n Chicken sounds familiar, that's because it used to be a mini-chain with locations across South LA and in the San Fernando Valley. The owner of this charbroiled chicken spot opened his first location on Slauson back in 2000. Years after closing up shop, Big Daddy's Kick'n Chicken reopened in 2019, with a tiny takeout-only operation in Inglewood. You can order their plump, flame-grilled chicken by the half or whole, along with sides like red beans and rice, macaroni & cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. It also happens to be a short drive away from Sofi Stadium, so keep this spot in mind if you're looking for a quick meal under $15 before the next big game.

  • Big Fish Market: Call (323) 750-6000 to place an order. For more information, check out their website.

  • Blessed Tropical Jamaican Cuisine: Located directly across the street from the new SoFi Stadium, Blessed Tropical is a family-run Jamaican restaurant that serves jerk chicken worth driving long distances for. The portions are massive, prices are affordable ($12-14 for combo plates), and even if you order several different things, you can be in-and-out in under 20 minutes. And no matter how good the jerk chicken is, let us be clear - you should definitely be ordering other things on the menu, too. Whether it’s marinated oxtail that falls off the bone or a spicy goat curry we’ll happily eat alone in our car before going back into work, this is some of the best food in Inglewood.

  • Cobblers, Cakes & Kream: Call (323) 455-1224 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Country Style Jamaican Restaurant: Country Style is one of the newest Jamaican restaurants in Inglewood, and it’s also one of our favorites. The jerk chicken itself is a perfect blend of spicy and salty, but it’s the balance of the whole combo plate together that sticks out most. The sweetness of the plantains cuts through the heat of the chicken, while the potato salad and festival bread on the side are among the best you’ll find in the neighborhood. If you’re looking to truly feast, the oxtail and curry chicken are also excellent.

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Country Style Jamaican, shot by Talia Mayden

  • Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen: A revered soul food spot with two locations in Inglewood (and one in Crenshaw), Dulan’s is an LA institution. Nothing can compare to the uninhibited joy that comes from digging into their plates of pork chops, fried chicken, and incredible mac and cheese. There’s truly no wrong way to order here, though our go-to is the chicken, which tastes like it’s been marinated for days and then gets fried until it’s golden brown.

  • E & J Seafood: Call (310) 673-0113 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Emma Habesha Restaurant: Inglewood’s Emma Habesha is among the best Ethiopian spots in the city. Our favorite dish here is the special kitfo - minced raw beef - which is served with a super spicy butter, ayb (Ethiopian cottage cheese), and fantastic braised collard greens. The vegan platter is also very good - there are five different kinds of vegetables, including some excellent green beans and a lentil stew. It’s great for a fun lunch with your coworkers, or as a casual date night - but no matter when you’re there, be sure to end your meal with their fantastic coffee service.

  • Fish Bone Seafood: Call (310) 673-6452 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Harriet’s Cheesecakes Unlimited: Call (310) 419-2259 to place an order.

  • Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen: Co-owned by Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen is a cafe driven by a mission to bring quality ingredients and a sense of community to their three locations in View Park, Inglewood, and Eagle Rock. 

  • Jamz Creamery: Call (424) 351-8217 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Karuba’s Yardy Kitchen: This Jamaican spot on Centinela is a popular place for takeout dinner and lunch in Inglewood. You’ll find a crowd of people who work nearby coming in to get their fix of saltfish or jerk chicken. Their jerk chicken combo plate is our go-to move here every time—it’s definitely spicy, but the roast plantains and rice and beans on the side balance it all out nicely. Be sure to order the oxtails, too - they’re fantastically tender, fall right off the bone, and come in a thick, fragrant gravy that we always scoop up with a spoon when we’re finished.

  • Kenny Q’s BBQ: Call (424) 312-1105 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Lavender Blue Restaurant Lounge: Call (424) 227-6712 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Lee’s Caribbean Restaurant: Call (310) 419-6550 to place an order.

  • Little Belize Restaurant: The first thing you notice walking into this family-run Belizean restaurant is that it’s a party. Whether you’re here for a quick lunch, a family dinner, or a karaoke event, expect Little Belize to be crowded, festive, and always a great time. As far as the food goes, start with the panades (fried masa stuffed with fish hash) and garnaches (crispy tortillas topped with fried beans, tomatoes, and onions), and end with either chicken or oxtail stew. Both are immensely savory, but it’s the fried plantains on the side that you’ll be talking about–and eating–on the way home.

  • Mingles Tea Bar: Call (424) 704-2777 to place an order, and check out their Instagram for more information.

  • Ms. B’s M&M Soul Food: Ms. B’s is an Inglewood institution, and though they recently moved out of their original location on Manchester Blvd. to Imperial Hwy, the Southern soul food spot hasn’t missed a beat. The food is still very good and the new space is even better for large groups. The breaded catfish will always be our go-to here, but frankly, as long as you choose the mac and cheese and their house yams as sides, there’s no such thing as a bad meal here. Skip the sweet tea in lieu of The Obama - a lemonade-and-peach-tea mixture that puts the Arnold Palmer to shame.

  • Nkechi African Cafe: Call (323) 541-1265 to place an order.

  • Red’s Flavor Table: Call (323) 751-6000 to place an order. Check out their website for menus or their Instagram for more information.

  • Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Iconic soul food chain that's 100% earned its fame. Have visitors in town who want to eat somewhere classically LA? Go with Roscoe's. Their merch store can be found here.

  • Rusty Pot Cafe: Call (310) 412-5901 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

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The Serving Spoon, shot by Andrea D'Agosto

  • Sip & Sonder: Established in 2017, Sip & Sonder in Inglewood is not only the area’s first specialty coffee house—they also function as a publisher, creative studio, event space, and bonafide community hub. Their flagship outpost on S. Market St. now has limited outdoor seating, where you can enjoy a variety of espressos, hot teas, and pastries. They also have an online store, donation page, Coffee Donation Program for local Inglewood hospitals, and a monthly digest.

  • Stuff I Eat: Inglewood isn’t the best neighborhood to eat in if you’re a vegan, but luckily, Stuff I Eat is picking up a lot of the slack. This all-vegan restaurant in the heart of Market St. is one of the most popular restaurants in the neighborhood—with the lunchtime crowds to prove it. The menu leans mostly Tex-Mex, with everything from breakfast burritos to an enchilada pie, but our favorite dish is the soul food platter, complete with yams, mac and cheese, kale greens, black eyed peas, cornbread, and BBQ tofu. If the spicy chili is on the specials board, order that, too. Also, they have an amazing theme song, which you can hear on their site.

  • Sumptuous African Restaurant: Call (310) 654-3145 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Sweet Red Peach: Call (310) 671-2253 or order through their website. Click here to purchase a gift card. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The Nile Bar: Welcome to The Nile Bar, a sports bar in Inglewood within walking distance from SoFi Stadium and The Forum. They have everything needed for a night spent screaming at the TV, praying to a higher power (Tom Cruise?) for your team to win. Screens are stacked up, next to, and diagonally across from each other. There are also multiple floors, a stage for DJs, and Happy Hour specials Monday through Saturday from 3-7pm. Bar snacks include garlic truffle fries, beef sliders, and buffalo shrimp, plus plenty of beers and specialty cocktails.

  • The Sammich Shop: Call (424) 331-5128 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The Serving Spoon: Walking into this classic diner on Centinela is like walking into the center of the neighborhood– families, big groups of friends, and solo diners who have been coming every week for 35 years, all clamoring to get The Serving Spoon’s Southern breakfast into their lives. No matter what day of the week you come here, expect lines out the door, but on the other side of that 45-minute wait are tremendous plates of fried catfish, chicken drumettes, and our favorite waffles in town. If you can snag a seat at the counter, do it and be treated to an endless conversation with the waitstaff.

  • The Wood Urban Kitchen: Text (310) 466-9741 to place an order, and check out their Instagram for menu and more information.

  • Veronica’s Kitchen: A meal at Veronica’s feels like you’re eating inside someone’s house, not an actual restaurant. The simple space has a few scattered tables and a grainy TV in the corner, but what it lacks in objective charm, it more than makes up for in tremendous Nigerian food. Whether you’re familiar with the cuisine or not, your first order of business here needs to be the egusi. It’s a rich, fragrant stew made from dried melon seeds, pumpkin leaves, palm oil, onions, and your choice of protein on top. We usually do a mix of chicken and goat, with a giant ball of fufu (pounded yam and plantains) on the side.

  • Wingopolis: Call (310) 910-0291 to place an order, and check out their Instagram for more information.

The Best Restaurants In Inglewood image

LA Guide

The Best Restaurants In Inglewood

JEFFERSON PARK

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

Harold and Belle's, shot by Andrea D'Agosto

  • Harold and Belle’s: LA’s favorite Creole restaurant went under the knife in 2020, but now it’s back and looking better than ever. Most of the big leather booths inside are still filled with regulars who seem like they’ve been coming here for massive portions of crawfish etouffee since it first opened. This 50-year-old South LA staple feels like a small slice of New Orleans, so expect incredible gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets. If you visit Harold & Belle’s on a Friday or Saturday night, you’ll probably catch a live jazz band jamming for diners in the restaurant’s bar and lounge area.

  • Lucy’s Ethiopian Restaurant: Available for takeout and delivery, call (323) 795-0869 to place an order. Follow their Instagram for the latest details.

LA CIENEGA HEIGHTS

  • Undergrind Cafe: Located in La Cienega Heights, Undergrind Cafe is a relaxed neighborhood coffee shop serving all-day breakfast foods like flavored lattes, sweet cream pancakes, and veggie wraps. Owned by husband and wife duo, Rachel and Ron Sazon, the two started Undergrind Cafe in the summer of 2018 after a successful round of crowdfunding, in an effort to craft a greater sense of community in the area.

LAKEWOOD

LANCASTER

LA PALMA

LEIMERT PARK

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Ackee Bamboo, shot by Talia Mayden

  • 5 Star Kitchen: Call (323) 316-8576 to place an order. Follow their Instagram for the latest updates.

  • Ackee Bamboo: For years, this fantastic Jamaican restaurant in Leimert Park has been one of our go-to spots for jerk chicken and beef patties. And truthfully, we haven’t tried one thing at Ackee that we didn’t love. But our favorite dish is the brown stew chicken, which is like a meaty pile of brown gravy and sweet bell peppers. The portions here are massive, so if you’re flying solo, just go for the small–every order comes with plantains, steamed vegetables, festival bread, and a huge helping of rice and peas. Keep this place in mind when you’re looking for somewhere to pick up food before a picnic at Leimert Park Plaza around the corner.

  • Azla: Available for curbside pick-up - check out their Instagram for more information.

  • Baba’s Vegan Cafe: After eight years of running a plant-based catering company, owners Baba Wo’se Kofi and Lauren “Anu” Wolley Ross built a brick-and-mortar shop in the Historic Crenshaw District. The two combined their skills—yoga, social work, community service for Lauren, and years of culinary experience at Stuff I Eat for Baba—to create a vegan powerhouse. It’s now a place to eat BBQ tofu, lentil fritters, potato chowder, and chocolate cake slathered in cashew frosting. The specialty here is the vegan veggie patties—a Jamaican-style dish sold by the dozen, and stuffed with curry potato, cabbage, sweet yam, savory hibiscus, and more.

  • Castle’s Catering: Call (818) 724-4866 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Dulan’s on Crenshaw: A revered soul food spot with two locations in Inglewood (and one in Crenshaw), Dulan’s is an LA institution. Nothing can compare to the uninhibited joy that comes from digging into their plates of pork chops, fried chicken, and incredible mac and cheese. There’s truly no wrong way to order here, though our go-to is the chicken, which tastes like it’s been marinated for days and then gets fried until it’s golden brown. At the moment, the restaurant is just operating from its takeout window on Manchester Avenue, but don’t worry, the soul food here tastes just as good in the passenger seat of your Camry.

  • Earle’s On Crenshaw: Call (323) 299-2867 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Harun Coffee: A first-class coffee shop serving smoothies, cold-brews, and teas. But there's more than just coffee here—Harun is a community hub, where you'll find galleries filled with Black artwork, free panels hosted by entertainers and influencers, and a very, very cool lifestyle clothing brand. Click here to check out their merch. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Hot & Cool Cafe: At Leimert Park’s Hot & Cool Cafe, owner Tony Jolly is working to build a community through coffee. Originally from Washington D.C., Jolly works with farmers directly to increase their visibility in the specialty coffee marketplace, like a 50-acre, woman-owned farm in Ethiopia whose beans he now imports to their storefront on Degnan Blvd. 

  • Swift Cafe: Call (323) 815-4418 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Taco Mell: Call (844) 822-6635 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The District by GS: Call (323) 306-5444 to place an order. Follow their Instagram for the latest updates.

  • Treme Kitchen: Call (323) 863-5738 to place an order. Click here to purchase merch. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

LITTLE ETHIOPIA

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Messob, shot by Jakob Layman

  • Annie’s Soul Delicious: Call (323) 424-7402 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Awash Restaurant: Just around the corner from the main Fairfax strip on Pico, Awash is an old-school Ethiopian restaurant that revolves around one thing - meat. They offer vegetarian selections, of course, but stick to the beef and poultry here. Particularly, the Special Kitfo - an Ethiopian-style steak tartare mixed with garlic, onions, and jalapenos.

  • Buna Ethiopian Restaurant & Market: Directly next door to Merkato is another market and restaurant, Buna. With about six tables in the whole joint, this is easily the smallest restaurant on the block, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in everything else. The delicious food and cheap prices are one thing, but what really sets Buna apart is their open kitchen, allowing you to sneak a peek at how the whole operation goes down. And it’s awesome. Our move at Buna is the meat combo, involving both the lamb and beef stew, and all the injera one can handle.

  • Lalibela: Forcing yourself to eat vegetables can be like doing any other forced activity: pretty unpleasant. Unless you’re ordering from Lalibela. We usually get the “Veggie Utopia,” a giant spread of 14 different plant-based dishes, such as spicy chickpea stew, collard greens, and split peas, all served upon on soft and spongy injera —which just so happens to be perfect for mopping up the occasional tear.

  • Meals By Genet: If there’s a crown jewel of Little Ethiopia, it’s Meals By Genet. This tiny spot isn’t just tops in Little Ethiopia, it’s one of the must-visit restaurants in Los Angeles. Yes, it's takeout only, but guess what? It’s worth it. The food is truly top notch (the spicy chicken dorowot is a must) and perfect for a date night—or any meal when you can’t handle another bowl of pasta.

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Meals by Genet, shot by Jakob Layman

  • Merkato: Like its name suggests, Merkato is very much a functioning market. But there’s also a tiny adjacent dining room that’s cranking out some of the best and most affordable food in the neighborhood. Our move is to always to go vegetarian at Merkato because frankly, it’s too good to pass up. Their Vegi Combo is a must-order, with gigantic helpings of four different vegetarian options clocking in at a cool $11.99. Grab yourself a quick glass of Ethiopian honey wine and have yourself a lunch.

  • Messob Ethiopian Restaurant: For more three decades, Messob has been a Little Ethiopia staple - one that perfectly combines the upscale, romantic feel of Meals By Genet and the festive atmosphere of Rosalind’s across the street. And that means it’s also an ideal casual date spot. The food is as good as it gets, but at Messob, the art of gursha (hand-feeding your lover) is taken quite seriously. So roll up that ball of injera, stuff it with lentils, and put that baby right into your date’s mouth.

  • Rahel: Ethiopian cooking certainly doesn’t shy away from fish and meat, but that’s not to say there aren’t outstanding vegetarian and vegan options. And Rahel is here to prove it. The only all-vegan restaurant in Little Ethiopia, Rahel has developed a cult following with its vegetable-focused menu and a yemitin shiro wot (chickpea stew) we can’t get enough of. And every day from 11am-3pm they host an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet. See you there.

  • Rosalind’s Ethiopian Restaurant: Rosalind’s is where you go when the party comes to Little Ethiopia. The food is good, but Rosalind’s large space caters better to your big-group dinner than anywhere else in the neighborhood. The interior is colorful and festive, with individual thatched roofs attached to the walls, and a crowd that’s enjoying the tiny dance floor and live music on the weekends —plus a full bar stocked with all the traditional Ethiopian beer and wine you can handle. Let’s party.

  • Taco Bar: Call (323) 433-7000 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

Where To Eat In Little Ethiopia image

LA Guide

Where To Eat In Little Ethiopia

LONG BEACH

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

Sal's Gumbo Shack, shot by Krystal Thompson

MALIBU

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

Malibu Farm, shot by Jakob Layman

  • Malibu Farm: Malibu Farm continues to be one of Malibu’s better lunch/dinner options, but its tiny cafe-sister at the far end of the pier is the even-more-casual version, and perfect after breaking a sweat in the canyons all day. The menu is simple (with everything from a fried egg sandwich to a kale Caesar), but everything on it is quite good. And, as a plus, you’re on the tip of a pier in Malibu.

MANHATTAN BEACH

MARINA DEL REY

MACARTHUR PARK

  • Larayia’s Bodega: Call (818) 357-9114 to place an order. Shop their merch store here, or send them money on either Venmo (@lunchonme) or Cash App ($lovewithoutreason). Check their Instagram for the latest details.

MID-CITY

  • DD’z Treatz: Call (310) 845-6152 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Little Amsterdam Coffee: At Little Amsterdam, owner Joshua Mock works with CBD to combat stress, depression, inflammatories, and pain. From caramel macchiatos to cold brews to a lengthy menu of teas, many of the drinks at this Mid City cafe can be infused with CBD.

  • Melkam Ethiopian Restaurant: Call (323) 734-3182 to place an order.

  • Natraliart Jamaican Restaurant: Serving the Mid-City area for over 35 years, Natraliart is one of the oldest Jamaican restaurants in LA—and also one of the very best. The menu is stacked with tremendous dishes like oxtails, saltfish, and curry shrimp, but for us, the jerk chicken will always be the star of the show. Unlike many spots on this list, Natraliart doesn’t lean on a heavy marinade or sauce to carry the dish - it’s the chicken itself that does the talking here. Tender, perfectly cooked meat with a smoky-spice flavor that’ll stay on your lips for hours, the jerk chicken at Natraliart should be on everyone’s priority list.

  • Phillips Bar-B-Que: Phillips Bar-B-Que is all business. The sign out front at the Southern-style spot reminds you that it’s to-go only (although there’s a spare table in the parking lot, if you’re lucky). Ordering and pick-up lines are separated, the former is organized by an efficient divider. Which is all to say, expect things to get busy. Very. Around mealtimes, the entire West Adams community pours in for their excellent smoked meat, like succulent pork ribs and rib tibs smothered in a thick, glistening sauce. Everything can be served either a la carte, in a sandwich, or combined with a few sides, but the sleeper hit here are their chicken links. The sausage is sliced into air hockey puck-like rounds, tasting spicy and gritty from the ground meats. Order this by the pound.

  • Simply D’Licious: Call (562) 326-6863 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Wi Jammin Cafe: Call (323) 936-1039 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

MID-WILSHIRE

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

Stevie's Creole Cafe, shot by Krystal Thompson

  • Caribbean Soul Kitchen: Under a bright yellow awning on Wilshire sits Caribbean Soul Kitchen. The Panamanian restaurant makes brown stew chicken, fried red snapper, hearty sancocho stews, and yuca balls—deep-fried and golden, topped with parmesan cheese. It’s run by chef RJ, who uses traditional Panamanian cooking techniques, and a mix of African, Spanish, and Native American flavors. Check in for their latest juice flavors, which have rotated between tamarind, mango, cucumber, sorrel, and hibiscus.

  • Flavors From Afar: Available for takeout and delivery, call (714) 623 - 9420 to place an order. Click here to purchase a gift card, and here to donate to their Happy Hour For The Frontliners program. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Island Boy Kitchen: Out of a colorful Mid-Wilshire space, Island Boy Café brings together Caribbean and French food. In the morning, you’ll find croissant egg and cheese sandwiches, French toast made with multi-grain brioche, and organic orange juice; then at night, stewed lamb over aromatic basmati rice, Trinidadian curry chicken, and Fisherman’s Soup, a delicious broth of swordfish, vegetables, and dumplings.

  • My Two Cents: If you’re a fan of crab, you’re going to be a fan of the gumbo at My Two Cents. There’s basically an ocean’s worth of meat in this Pico Blvd. spot’s version of the dish, and you get excellent, fatty shreds of crustacean in every single bite. There’s also fresh scallop, giant hunks of okra, and tasty bits of shrimp to balance out the crab. And while this soul food spot’s roux is on the thin side, it’s packed with seafood flavor, and the French bread on the side soaks up the broth beautifully.

  • Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Iconic soul food chain that's 100% earned its fame. Have visitors in town who want to eat somewhere classically LA? Go with Roscoe's. Their merch store can be found here.

  • Sky’s Gourmet Tacos: Call (323) 932-6253 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Stevie’s Creole Cafe: This might just be the Holy Grail of LA gumbo. The roux is dark, rich, and impossibly silky. It’s thick enough to coat a spoon and packs just the right amount of heat - enough to remind you that it’s there, but never so hot that it overwhelms the rest of the flavors at work here. And the meat—juicy, plump pieces of shrimp, crab, and sausage - comes well-seasoned, making for a properly hearty stew. Served over a bed of white rice and with some seasoned French bread, this is the kind of comforting, nourishing meal you need to get you through the cold, bitter days leading up to the release of Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari.

MONTEREY PARK

MORNINGSIDE PARK

NORTH HOLLYWOOD

  • Black Bottom Southern Kitchen: Call (818) 856-8532 to place an order. Click here to sign up for their rewards program. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • BlaqHaus NoHo: Call 818-332-0500 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • It’s All Rice: Visit their truck from Wednesday-Sunday, 2pm-9pm to place an order. Follow their Instagra for the latest details.

  • Kale My Name: During trips to Chicago, Tabitha Brown fell in love with vegan restaurant, Kale My Name—so much so, that the actress approached the owner and brought it to Encino. You can now find fun, plant-based dishes, like “brunchpanadas” filled with cream cheese and guava, jackfruit lox, oyster mushroom wraps, cauliflower wings and waffles, plus sweets from Southern Girl Desserts.

  • Lotus Vegan: Call ​​727-549-1688 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The Original Coley’s: Call (818) 261-7680 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • The Memphis Grill: Call (818) 738-9993 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

PALMDALE

PASADENA

  • Bonnie B’s Smokin BBQ Heaven: Call (626) 794-0132 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Leberry Bakery: Call (626) 993-9898 to place an order. Check out their Instagram for more information.

  • My Place Cafe: Call (626) 797-9255 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Pasadena Fish Market: Call (626) 792-9233 to place an order.

  • Perry’s Joint: There are few things more cathartic than sitting in silence with a good sandwich and listening to jazz music, which is why it’s hard to skip Perry’s anytime we’re in Pasadena. The nearly 20-year-old sandwich shop isn’t jazz-themed per se, but as you walk in and spot portraits of famous musicians adorning the walls and hear Duke Ellington emanating from the loudspeaker, it’s clear that music is a priority here. That and delicious sandwiches, of course. The menu is pretty wide-ranging with everything from straight-forward turkey clubs to tuna melts to hot pastrami with pepperoncini, but if it’s your first time, the Hey Joe! is a must. Filled with hot roast beef, pastrami, a hotlink, cheese, onion, diced peppers, mayo, and mustard, this is by no means a light sandwich, but it’s very well-balanced. It’s spicy, savory, and salty with a perfect crunch in each bite courtesy of that hotlink.

  • Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Iconic soul food chain that's 100% earned its fame. Have visitors in town who want to eat somewhere classically LA? Go with Roscoe's. Their merch store can be found here.

  • The Gourmet Cobbler Factory: Call (626) 795-1005 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

PICO-UNION

PLAYA VISTA

POMONA

POP-UPS

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

Bridgetown Roti, shot by Jakob Layman

  • All Flavor No Grease: One of LA’s most popular food trucks, All Flavor, No Grease is where you come for the quesadillas, and stay for everything else on the menu. Truck locations change constantly, so check their Instagram for the latest.

  • Anjahles: Even though the menu at this Jamaican fusion pop-up is constantly changing, they’re always serving up exciting versions of Caribbean dishes. Past menus have included burritos made with oxtail, jerk chicken served over rice, and “mosschata,” an Irish moss horchata sweetened with agave nectar. 

  • Billionaire Burger Boyz: Another LA fave, they’re serving burgers, wings, chicken sandwiches, and jambalaya fries. Weekends you can find them in Lancaster, San Diego, and San Bernardino. Check their Instagram for the latest info and locations.

  • Bridgetown Roti: Operating out of Crafted Kitchen commissary in the Arts District, Bridgetown Roti is run by chef Rashida Holmes, and specializes in Caribbean street food highlighting her Bajan heritage. The food of Barbados has many influences - including Indian, African, Creole, Irish, Portuguese, and British - and Bridgetown Roti’s menu shows off all of those cuisines and flavors. There’s the slightly spicy, turmeric-laced patty that comes stuffed with callaloo greens and crab meat, savory curry chicken roti wraps, or house dipping sauces that range from lime pepper tomatillo to Fresno mango masala.

  • Chef Kiki’s Kitchen: Chef Kiki’s Kitchen is your one-stop-shop for all your catering and private chef needs, including caramelized boysenberry pies, lobster and steak served over asparagus, and trays of Korean BBQ beef prepped for the entire week. Run by executive chef, Kierstin (Kiki) Hadley, this pop-up offers an array of services, including catering, personal chef work, private parties, custom meal preps with dietary restrictions, cake orders, and more. 

  • Cobbler Mania: Inspired by the recipes made by her aunt, Shae Seward founded Cobbler Mania in 2004. Selling directly at farmer’s markets, she began offering a variety of baked goods “so good you’ll (want to) slap somebody,” including ones sweetened with agave and filled with white peaches, blueberries, strawberry-rhubarb, and pear-apple — all while never using artificial preservatives or flavors. You can find Cobbler Mania at the Torrance, Culver City, La Cienega, and Hollywood Farmer’s Markets. Follow their Instagram for more information.

  • de Porres Dinner Series: For seven years, Pablo Osorio and Danielle Bell staged intimate dinner parties across the U.S. Now, they’ve launched a weekly delivery service, featuring an always-changing menu of dishes inspired by Osorio’s native Peru, and desserts inspired by Bell’s time in the South. That means gravy-smothered quail, Peruvian vegan causa filled with potatoes, and caramel pound cake.

  • Fleurs et sel: After being furloughed from her job at Nordstrom at the start of the pandemic, CEO and founder of Fleurs Et Sel, Lara Adekoya, turned to baked goods. All of her flavors, like soft oatmeal raisin cookies made with fine chopped walnuts, pistachio and raspberry amours peppered with hints of white chocolate, and Yaya’s Birthday Cake cookie, a white chocolate and sprinkles confection perfect for any celebration (birthday or not).

  • Island Flavors Caribbean Cuisine: This food truck serves traditional Haitian specialties like patties, legume stew, and Haitian-style meatballs known as boulèt. Check their Instagram for the latest.

  • LA Grind Coffee & Tea Bar: In what originally began as a side-hustle, LA Grind Coffee & Tea Bar is a way for owner Vanessa Punche to connect with other people, provide high-quality products, and inspire young women of color to follow their dreams. The mobile coffee and tea catering business sources their beans from Cameroon, which have a creamy body and caramel, chocolate, and black currant notes.

  • Melnificent Wingz: This LA chicken pop-up is “bringing the South to your mouth” with wings that are bathed in jerk sauce, baked with lemon pepper sprinkles, and prepared sweet and crispy in the style of Korean dakgangjeong. It’s all being made by Melissa Cottingham, a private chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur, who’s also known as Mel, “The Queen of Wings.” 

  • Munchie Madness: Whether it’s lobster tacos, honey-glazed lamb chops, catfish served with a three-cheese mac and cheese, is there anything Deon Steward can’t cook? Apparently not. He’s the chef and owner of Munchie Madness, a pop-up restaurant located in Compton. They drop a new menu of offerings every morning on Instagram, ranging from double-layer nachos to honey BBQ chicken wings served with Cajun fries. 

  • Pastry by Jazymne: As a mom and professional hip hop dancer by day, pastry chef by night, chef Jazmyne Jenkins does it all at her Valley Village pop-up, Pastry By Jazmyne. The custom-order bakeshop offers super-cute confections in the shape of dinosaursjungle animals, and even famous whistle expertPeppa Pig. All the options are perfect for a birthday treat, dessert at home, or something to pick you up after a long day of staring at your clean, unfolded laundry.

  • Shad’s New Cali Catering: This truck serves spicy fried chicken sandwiches and soul food. Check their Instagram for the latest.

  • Smok N Joe’s Chili: More of a cart than a truck, this family-owned business operates daily in Crenshaw, as well as the Melrose Place Farmers Market on Sundays. And yes, their chili is some of the best in town. Check their Instagram for the latest.

  • Sugah Rush Bar: If you’re in the mood for sweets (or pissing off your dentist), place an order from Sugah Rush Bar. Run by pastry chef Jamiella Roberts, she’s trained at The Art Institute of Los Angeles, and creates beautiful, custom-order desserts that look just as good as they taste.

  • The Bléu Kitchen: On the road Tuesday-Sunday, The Bleu Truck is famous for their surf and turf garlic noodles, as well as other specialties like rice balls and egg rolls. Check their Instagram for their daily location.

  • Voodoo Vegan: Created by chef Sharde Jackson, Voodoo Vegan is serving traditional Southern food with a plant-based twist. From vegan seafood gumbo to a tangy, sweet kale slaw and fried oyster mushrooms, this pop-up brings the Louisiana flavors of Creole and Cajun cuisine to South LA.

16 New Black-Owned Restaurants In LA image

LA Guide

16 New Black-Owned Restaurants In LA

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

Caribbean Gourmet, shot by Jakob Layman

  • Caribbean Gourmet: One of our favorite pop-ups in the entire world, Caribbean Gourmet, now has a permanent spot in the San Gabriel Valley. They opened in Blossom Market Hall early 2022, and here, Guyanese chef Yonette Alleyne serves Jamaican patties, jerk chicken rubbed in freshly roasted cumin, tender oxtail stew, and a number of specials. On any given day, expect salted cod sprinkled in garlic and onions, baked mac and cheese, or pholourie, a fritter-like snack popular in Guyana and Trinidad.

  • Nola Cajun and Creole: BLVD Market’s newest addition, Nola Cajun and Creole, specializes in Southern dishes like fried catfish po’boy sandwiches, spicy jambalaya, gumbo and andouille sausage. It’s run by chef Keiven Cross, a seasoned restaurant veteran. He’s now created the colorful stall in the Montebello food hall, and there’s plenty of fried shrimp and collard greens to share, plus room to sit on their sunny patio. Oh, and they sell their signature hot sauce by the bottle.

  • Wilson’s Bbq Rib Shack: A BBQ catering service that covers in the Inland Empire and the surrounding areas. Call (323) 457-0258 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

SANTA MONICA

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  • Berbere: Berbere, the BYOB counter-service spot run by chef Tezeta Alemayehu (the person behind T&T Lifestyle at Smorgasburg), is home to incredible plant-based Ethiopian dishes that are easy for just about anyone to love. Yes, even your friend who’s built her whole personality around carne asada. Our favorite here is the Eat The Rainbow, a combination meal that comes with legumes, vegetables, and a few rolls of injera. Both the red lentil and turmeric garbanzo stews are creamy and rich, while the purple cabbage with potatoes and sauteed greens smell like a well-stocked spice cabinet.

SAWTELLE

  • Jackfruit Cafe: Available for takeout and delivery, call (818) 481-4111 to place an order. Purchase a gift card here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

SHERMAN OAKS

  • Fat Tuesday: Call (818) 208-9838 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Lettuce Feast: Call (424) 261-3659 or order through their website. Click here to purchase a gift card. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • My Fish Shop: Call (888) 469-9980 to place an order. You can donate to their Restaurant Survival Fund here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

SOUTH GATE

SOUTH LA

300+ Black-Owned Restaurants Across LA image

27th Street Bakery, shot by Andrea D'Agosto

  • 27th Street Bakery: Open since 1956, the original 27th Street Bakery on Central Avenue has become a household name thanks to its sweet potato pies. To make each personal pan pie, they fly in sweet potatoes from Louisiana and use a secret family recipe that’s been passed down over three generations. While most people come here to try these rich desserts, 27th Street Bakery also makes a bunch of other options like red velvet cake, peach cobbler, and mini pecan pies by the dozen. If you want to skip the line, order ahead through their website.

  • Coffee Del Mundo: Call (323) 455-0285 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Hall’s Krispy Krunchy: Call (323) 305-3059 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Pepper’s Jamaican Cuisine: Call (323) 389-8053 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Iconic soul food chain that's 100% earned its fame. Have visitors in town who want to eat somewhere classically LA? Go with Roscoe's. Their merch store can be found here.

  • Texas BBQ King: Call (323) 750-1064 to place an order. Click here to purchase their merch. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

22 Great Black-Owned Restaurants In South LA image

LA Guide

22 Great Black-Owned Restaurants In South LA

SILVER LAKE

  • Say Cheese: Whether you’re headed to a picnic at Silver Lake Meadow or just want to bathe yourself in vintage goudas, Say Cheese has all the dairy, charcuterie, and freshly baked bread your heart could ever desire. The cheese menu here is tremendous, filled with over 60 different choices, including harder-to-find options like bright-orange Shropshire Blues or smoky, French cheeses that have been aged for nearly two years. There are also pickles stuffed with anchovies, baked sandwiches made to order, and custom gift baskets that have been curated by the shop owner himself.

  • The V Tree: This soul food restaurant serves brunch like you’d have it in the South—biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, maple bacon, and chicken and waffles pack the menu. The twist? It’s all vegan. In May 2021, chef Velvet Jacobs turned her plant-based pop-up into a restaurant and now offers some of the best soul food around. If it’s your first time here, get the soul plate. It comes with all the heavy hitters, like plant-based chicken, shrimp, unbelievably creamy ma

STUDIO CITY

THAI TOWN

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  • Obet & Del’s Coffee: Opened by Heather Knox and fiancé Joshua Oliveros, this very cool, retro-themed coffee shop in Thai Town is the perfect place to get your fix of cold brews, cortados, and their signature “golden milk cappuccino,” made with turmeric, milk, honey, and coconut sugar. Purchase a gift card here. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

VAN NUYS

VENICE

WATTS

  • Hawkins House of Burgers: Hawkins House of Burgers has been a neighborhood institution in Watts since 1939. And over 80 years later, the menu still involves a mix of classic hamburgers chargrilled to perfection, piled high with bacon, or stuffed with pastrami. Whether you order a simple cheeseburger or “The Leaning Tower Of Watts″ stacked with three patties, hot links, and chili, you’ll leave as a much happier and greasier version of yourself. Recently, Hawkins has come under attack by CalTrans, which is attempting to tear down part of their building which they claim is “encroaching on state land.” Hawkins is currently in the process of fighting the case and purchasing the land that CalTrans is after. They have a Gofundme page up to help raise money for the legal fees and land acquisition.

  • Watts Coffee House: More of a community center than a cafe, Watts Coffee House’s origins can be traced all the way back to 1965, when a group of local teens converted an abandoned building into Watts Happening Coffee House—a community arts space that later became an epicenter for Black artists, activists, and residents. Today, owner and chef Desiree Edwards, a Los Angeles native, uses that space to serve soul food like Cajun fried lobster tail, shrimp po'boys, and buttermilk biscuits smothered in turkey sausage gravy.

WEST ADAMS

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Alta Adams, shot by Jakob Layman

  • Alta Adams: If you’re looking for all the charm and hospitality of a casual dinner in the South, but don’t particularly feel like leaving the Pacific time zone, head to Alta Adams. Their versions of Southern classics are great–specifically, the black-eyed pea fritters and the shrimp and grits–and the staff is very friendly and attentive. So book a table on one of the best backyard patios in LA and make sure to try a few of their signature cocktails. They’re that perfect mix of sweet and refreshing, not to mention strong enough to make you forget about that white hair you found this morning.

  • Chef Marilyn’s: Available for takeout and delivery, call (323) 737-8101 to place an order.

  • Just Turkey: Available for takeout and delivery, call (323) 591-0277 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

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Brandoni Pepperoni, shot by Krystal Thompson

  • Brandoni Pepperoni: The “Brandoni” behind this Carthay Circle pizza pop-up is Brandon Gray, a chef who used to cook at Providence and Trois Mec. It’s easy to see the fine-dining influences on these excellent pies. You’ll find topping options like house-made sausage, triple crème Brie, and Spanish octopus, and each pizza has a firm, blistered crust that texturally fall somewhere between a New York slice and a Neapolitan pie. Our favorite is the “Straight Up Menace” with house-made lamb sausage, wild arugula, and pickled peppers—it’s the ideal balance of savory and spice.

VIEW PARK-WINDSOR HILLS

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Simply Wholesome, shot by Andrea D'Agosto

  • Crustees: Call (323) 815-9910 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen: Co-owned by Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen is a cafe driven by a mission to bring quality ingredients and a sense of community to their three locations in View Park, Inglewood, and Eagle Rock. 

  • La Louisanne: Call 323-293-5073 to place an order.

  • Little Kingston Jamaican Restaurant: Call (323) 295-5596 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • Simply Wholesome: Simply Wholesome is one of the most crowded spots in View Park-Windsor Hills. It’s a health food grocery store with a restaurant inside and a huge patio outside, where you can enjoy their smoothies, burgers, and vegetarian tacos. Those smoothies are the reason we’re here most often–they come out quickly and are packed with fresh fruit and sherbet but if you’re having a full meal, the turkey burgers are your best bet.

  • The Snoball Shop: Call (323) 292-3145 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

  • T ’N Irie Jerk Shack: Call (310) 213-7616 to place an order. Check their Instagram for the latest details.

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