*Last updated March 13, 2025
Los Angeles is filled with fantastic Black-owned restaurants serving all kinds of food. This list features approximately 75 of them. It's divided into 12 categories because we needed to give it some semblance of order. But cuisine, like culture, is a fluid thing. Not every restaurant fits neatly into a single culinary genre.
Beyond that, this list only scratches the surface. For more resources on finding Black-owned restaurants in Los Angeles, go here:
Upscale
Keith Corbin, the James Beard Award-nominated executive chef and co-owner of Alta Adams, hard at work at his restaurant. Photo credit: Nick Muncie
Alta Adams - West Adams
5359 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams.
At Alta Adams, chef and co-owner Keith Corbin serves up fancified versions of soul food staples such as pimento dip, smoked brisket, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, oxtails and vegan gumbo alongside a terrific wine list. Like what you're drinking? The wine shop next door offers many of the bottles you see on the menu. Born in 1980 in Watts, Corbin grew up around gang violence and began living on his own by age 15. By his 20s, Corbin was in and out of California’s prison system and served 10 years. As a free man, he got a job as a kitchen manager at LocoL. He describes his journey in his memoir, "California Soul: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival." Or listen to his full interview with Evan Kleiman.
Barsha - Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach
1141 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach.
917 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach.
Husband and wife duo Adnen and Lenora Marouani have two ventures under the Barsha name — a full restaurant in Hermosa Beach and a wine bar and bottle shop in Manhattan Beach. At both spots, Tunisian and Mediterranean flavors guide the menu. Their bruschetta includes tuna, mashed chickpeas and a soft boiled egg on crusty bread. The lamb meatballs are served in stewed couscous, the mac and cheese is spiced with tabil (a blend of coriander, chili, garlic and other spices) and the shakshuka features Tunisian stewed vegetables. At the Hermosa location, you'll find several beers on tap as well as a craft cocktail list. The Manhattan Beach shop, you'll find cheese, crackers, jams, chocolate, salami, and honey as well as a thoughtful array of wines and spirits.
Linden - Hollywood
Joyce - Downtown LA
Somerville - View Park-Windsor Hills
Brunch, Cafes, and Comfort Food
The Bangin' Breakfast Sandwich at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen. Photo credit: Jakob Layman.
Coffee and Plants - Pasadena
Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen - multiple locations
4427 W. Slauson Ave., View Park-Windsor Hills
170 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood
4247 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock
718 S. Hill St., DTLA
After successfully launching popular West Hollywood sports bar The Parlor, Ajay Relan and Yonnie Hagos turned their attention to South L.A., where they wanted to see more dining options. In August 2018, they opened Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhood. The goal? Hire from the community and establish a gathering spot for locals. It's been so successful, Hilltop now has four locations, including their most recent spot in downtown Los Angeles. They describe their fare as "conscious comfort," which translates to acai bowls, cornbread, breakfast burritos and sammies, a Cobb salad, a crispy chicken sandwich and the Smoked Salmon Droptop, a thick slice of multigrain bread topped with dill cream cheese, pickled red onions, capers, hard boiled eggs and cucumbers. And, of course, there's plenty of coffee.
Lou, the French on the Block - Burbank
Laurent "Lou" Correa played professional basketball for seven years. After his sports career ended, he came to the US and became fascinated with baking. He taught himself to bake by watching YouTube videos and earned money by catering birthday parties and graduations for the French parents of the Lycée International. At his Toluca Lake bakery, he makes fabulous croissants — so fabulous, they made our list of LA's best croissants.
Obet & Del's - Los Feliz
Patria Coffee Roasters - Compton
Poppy + Rose - DTLA
765 Wall St., DTLA.
Silverback Coffee Of Rwanda - Downtown LA, El Segundo
Simply Wholesome - View Park - Windsor Hills
4508 W. Slauson Ave., View Park - Windsor Hills
Sip & Sonder - Inglewood, Downtown LA, Downtown Disney
108 S. Market St., Inglewood
11 S. Grand Ave., Downtown LA (at the Music Center)
1569 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim
Super Domestic Coffee - Culver City
Two Hommés - Inglewood
Undergrind Cafe - Beverlywood
2713 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverlywood.
Vegan
Baba's Vegan Cafe - South L.A.
6619 S. Western Ave., South LA
Berbere - Santa Monica
510 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
Crystals Soul Cafe - Willowbrook
12823 Avalon Blvd., Willowbrook
Stuff I Eat - Inglewood
114 N. Market St., Inglewood
Ethiopian
An assortment of stews at Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian restaurant in Inglewood. Photo by Elina Shatkin/KCRW
Rosalind's Ethiopian Cuisine - Fairfax
1044 S Fairfax Ave., Fairfax
Fekere Gebre-Mariam, known locally as Mr. Fekere, brought the first Ethiopian restaurant to Fairfax Ave. when he opened Rosalind's in 1988. He had come to the United States from Addis Ababa in 1971, to finish his education. After launching Rosalind's, he encouraged other African businesses to set up shop on the street. That's how he earned the nickname "the Godfather of Little Ethiopia." In 2002, the area was officially designated Little Ethiopia, making it the first neighborhood in the world to be named after an African nation. For more, check out Shaka Mali Tafari's three-part series, "Exploring Africa in LA: A Little Ethiopia story."
Meals By Genet - Fairfax
1053 S. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax
Lalibela - Fairfax
1025 S. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax
Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant - Fairfax
1036 1/2 S. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax
Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Fairfax
1041 S. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax
Queen of Sheba - Inglewood
630 N. La Brea Ave., #106, Inglewood
Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine - Fairfax
1047 S. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax
Caribbean
Two rotis from Bridgetown Roti. Photo by Kennedy Clark.
Bridgetown Roti - East Hollywood
858 N. Vermont Ave., East Hollywood
In 2024, Rashida Holmes turned her James Beard-nominated pop-up into a casual brick-and-mortar spot. At Bridgetown Roti, she specializes in two things — roti and patties. The former is a dish that came to the Caribbean in the 1800s, when British colonialists moved southern Indians to the islands to work on plantations. The latter is a hand pie. Holmes offers roti filled with curry chicken, goat, shrimp, sweet potato or pumpkin. Her patties are filled with oxtail, curry shrimp, eggplant or (our favorite) curried yam and mango. among other options, as well as crisp fried cod cakes, cabbage salad and fried potatoes. Don't forget to get the Curry Channa Doubles, open-faced rounds of puffy, deep-fried dough topped with sweet-hot curried chickpeas, and a side of plantains, which are coated in a tangy-sweet tamarind and turmeric glaze.
Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine - Leimert Park
4305 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park
Caribbean Gourmet - San Gabriel
264 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel (inside Blossom Market Hall)
Caribbean Soul Kitchen- Mid-Wilshire
5354 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
Island Boy Cafe - Mid-Wilshire
5025 W. Pico Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
Jerk Stop - West LA
Jerk Kitchen - Jefferson Park
2502 W. Jefferson Blvd., Jefferson Park
The Jerk Spot Jamaican Restaurant - Culver City
9006 Venice Blvd., Culver City
Tev’s & Family Kitchen - Vermont Square
Who's Hungry - West Adams
Wi Jammin Caribbean Cafe - Inglewood, Mid-Wilshire
441 E. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood
1359 S. Redondo Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
BBQ
Kevin Bludso says because rib tips are not in the historical canon of barbecue, they are the most underrated cut. Photo by Eric Wolfinger.
Bludso's Bar & Que - Fairfax, Santa Monica, Van Nuys
609 N. La Brea Ave., Fairfax
1329 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
13631 Saticoy St Van Nuys, CA 91402 (takeout & delivery only)
Big Ant's BBQ - Glassell Park
2207 N. San Fernando Rd., Glassell Park
The Memphis Grill - North Hollywood
Chicken
Fried chicken: Resistance is futile (if you’re a meat eater). Photo by Lucas Andrade/Unsplash.
Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles - multiple locations
Founded in 1985 by Harlem native Herb Hudson, Roscoe's has become a Southern California juggernaut with seven locations, from Anaheim to Pasadena. It delivers what its name promises, a sweet-and-savory partnership of crisp fried chicken alongside thick, fluffy waffles. Even former POTUS Barack Obama paid a visit and reportedly ordered three wings served with two waffles (you'll find it on the menu as Obama's Special). The menu also includes biscuit breakfast sandwiches, chicken livers, grits and sides such as candied yams, greens and red beans.
Honey's Kettle - Culver City
9537 Culver Blvd, Culver City
Willie Mae's - Venice
324 Lincoln Blvd., Venice
Burgers, Tacos, Fish, and Pizza
A double burger sits next to a pile of fries. Photo by Jonathan Borba/Unsplash
Brandoni Pepperoni - Culver City
Earle's on Crenshaw - Leimert Park
3864 Crenshaw Blvd., Leimert Park
Hawkins House Of Burgers - Willowbrook
11603 Slater St., Willowbrook
Oh My Burger - Gardena
2142 W. El Segundo Blvd., Gardena
Sky's Gourmet Tacos - Mid-Wilshire, Marina Del Rey
5303 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 1, Mid-Wilshire
4333 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey
Creole & Cajun
Jambalaya with sausage and shrimp. Photo via Shutterstock
Harold & Belle's - Jefferson Park
2920 W. Jefferson Blvd., Jefferson Park
Need your fix of filé gumbo, oyster po'boys, catfish nuggets, jambalaya, cajun meatloaf and Louisiana hot links? Head to Harold & Belle's, opened in 1969 by Harold Mary Belle Legaux. The restaurant is now in the hands of the third generation of the Legauz family and still serving delicious New Orleans staples.
Stevie's Creole Cafe - Mid-Wilshire
5545 W. Pico Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
Darrow's New Orleans Grill - Carson
Bayou Grille - Inglewood
Soul Food & Southern
Most of the sides at My 2 Cents are gluten-free, including the mac & cheese and "gries" (grit fries). Photo by Gary George.
My 2 Cents - Mid-Wilshire
5583 W. Pico Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
Growing up in a household in Los Angeles where her family ate together every night, Alisa Reynolds always loved food. As an adult, she moved to New York to train under David Burke then returned home to start her own venture. "I wanted to create a restaurant that felt like a hug. We welcome you when you come in, we thank you when you leave, we dance when it’s your first time. It’s my little piece of heaven in LA," she tells Good Food. At My 2 Cents, she ushers Southern comfort foods into a modern diet, creating gluten-free versions of fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. The menu also features plenty of vegan options.
Dulan's on Crenshaw - Hyde Park
4859 Crenshaw Blvd., Hyde Park
Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen - Inglewood, Gramercy Park
202 E. Manchester Blvd. Inglewood
1714 W. Century Blvd., Gramercy Park
You can't talk about soul food in Los Angeles without mentioning Dulan's, which Adolf Dulan opened in 2001 after running several other restaurants including an Orange Julius stand, the Hamburger City chain, and Aunt Kizzy's Back Porch. Adolf passed in 2017 but his legacy continues. His children now run Dulan's on Crenshaw as well as two Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen outposts. All three spots are known for classic soul food dishes such as fried fish, smothered pork chops, candied yams, fried chicken, and black eyed peas. One of Adolf's sons, Greg Dulan, has earned multiple James Beard nominations for Outstanding Restaurateur, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, he and Kim Prince, the chef and founder of Hotville Chicken, launched the popular Dulanville Food Truck. Since January 2025, the Dulanville Truck has been showing up to feed people displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Fixins Soul Kitchen - DTLA
800 W. Olympic Blvd., A150, DTLA (at LA Live).
Georgia's Restaurant - Long Beach, Anaheim, Irvine
4101 McGowen St., Suite 155, Long Beach
440 S. Anaheim Blvd., #209A, Anaheim
732 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine
Blaqhaus - North Hollywood
Wine, Beer & Cocktails
Laughing and enjoying wine, it's a nice way to spend a Wednesday. Photo via Shutterstock
Pip's on La Brea - Mid-Wilshire
1356 S. La Brea Ave., Mid-Wilshire.
A large patio, live music and good drinks… what's not to like about Pip's, a longtime haunt for jazz fans? The menu runs the gamut, offering everything from wings, caesar salads and calamari to pizzas, rack of lamb and linguine. On Winedown Wednesdays, get half-off on all bottles of wine.
1010 Wine and Events - Inglewood
1010 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood
Lost Rooftop Cocktail + Taco Bar - Downtown LA
Dessert
Red velvet cupcakes.Photo by Owen Bruce/Unsplash.
All About the Cinnamon - Downtown LA
Coco's Lip Smacking Cupcakes - Lakewood
Crustee's - View Park-Windsor Hills
Fleurs et Sel - West Adams
The Gourmet Cobbler Factory - Pasadena
33 N. Catalina Ave., Pasadena
Gwen's Specialty Cakes - Inglewood
Harriet's Cheesecakes - Inglewood
1515 Centinela Ave., Inglewood
Ms. Ruby's Bakery - Inglewood
Southern Girl Desserts - Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw