30 Essential Black-Owned Restaurants in Greater Cincinnati You Need to Try

Soul Secrets

1434 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
This OTR spot doesn’t just offer soul food – their recipes tell the story of owner Candice Holloway’s family. "Our recipes – that's what we bring to the table. They're historic, they're traditional, they are original, they're from scratch, they are made with love,” Holloway told CityBeat. A look at the menu shows entrees that, in a lot of the South, would just be called good ol’ home cooking, like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, fried whiting and catfish. On the side, there’s macaroni and cheese, collard greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread — the kinds of dishes prepared for the family and that you’d hope for when someone offers to “fix you a plate.”

Ollie’s Trolley

1607 Central Ave., West End
Located in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollie’s Trolley is a soul food staple in Cincinnati. This little trolley serves a variety of smoked meats, including ribs, turkey tips and pulled pork, plus metts and burgers. They also offer plenty of sides, like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. For dessert, get a slice of their lemon pound cake or chess pie, or take a whole pie or cake home to share.

Nolia

1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine
Nolia opened in April 2022, adding some Southern flair to Cincinnati’s foodie landscape. Their unique dishes are inspired by Chef Jeff Harris’ upbringing in New Orleans, but at the same time, they stay authentic to Harris rather than to his hometown’s traditional cuisine. The dining environment is upscale, yet approachable, offering a menu stacked with dishes like delectable roasted chicken, cider-braised greens and andouille-crusted redfish. All of the side dishes are vegan, and while you should not expect them to play ragtime or serve hurricane cocktails in novelty cups, their drink menu will truly laissez les bon temps rouler, non?

Just Q’in

975 E McMillan St., Walnut Hills; 5903 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Owned by Matt Cuff, this Walnut Hills barbecue joint is "committed to the mission of Faith, Love and BBQ. On the menu, you’ll find smoked brisket, ribs, chicken and more. And don’t skip on the classic barbecue sides. Need more convincing? U.S. President Joe Biden gobbled up Just Q'in's brisket, mac & cheese, jalapeño cornbread and peach cobbler during a recent visit to Cincinnati. Grab it all by the plate or by the pound for catering.

BlaCk Coffee Lounge

824 Elm St., Downtown
This coffee shop is from the owners of BlaCk OWned. Their popular house “Wakanda” blend is a mix of Ethiopian, Rwandan and Brazilian beans, and you can even buy a bag of it to brew at home (U.S. vice president Kamala Harris enjoyed the Wakanda blend during a 2021 visit). They also offer bag and brewed teas, cold-pressed juices and other coffee drinks like espresso, cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos, which can all be made with non-dairy milk alternatives. If you're hungry, their small menu features sandwiches and pastries.

BOL

2165 Central Ave., Unit A, West End
As Cincinnati’s first açaí bowl bar, BOL has a mission to bring people together through a shared love of fresh, healthy and tasty food. They have both a mobile food truck you’ll find around the city, as well as a stationary truck on Central Avenue in the West End. You can create your own bowl with fruits, granola and a variety of toppings, from peanut and almond butters to bee pollen and goji berries. BOL also has several pre-created bowls on their menu that you can modify, like the Jujitsu BOL (which comes with strawberries, banana and honey) or the Queen City BOL (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pineapple, raspberries, chia seed and honey).

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

9039 US-42, Suite H, Union
This restaurant is inspired by the trappings of the American frontier and California's 19th-century gold rush and is helmed by chef Christian Gill, who has appeared on several cooking competition shows. At Boomtown, the true delight comes plated. The signature biscuit isn't a run-of-the-mill, thousand-layer, flaked baked good: it's a buttery, soft disk with a close crumb and a browned, lightly bubbled top that no breakfast chain can compete with. Order the Gold Shoes to get this delightful biscuit topped with delicious sawmill, peppercorn, mushroom or goetta gravy.

Esoteric Brewing Company

918 E McMillan St., Walnut Hills
Esoteric Brewing believes craft beer should be as elegant as fine wine, and master brewer Brian Jackson has spent years cultivating his skills. This brewery’s beer menu pays homage to traditional Belgian, English, German and American styles, but with some Old World flair. The space features an Art Deco speakeasy vibe, with lounge chairs and cocktail tables. Because the brewing equipment is housed in the basement, a viewing space has been carved out so customers can look down into the brew hub.

Katch the Kitchen Restaurant & Bar

4172 Hamilton Ave., Northside
After operating as a food truck for some time, Katch opened a brick-and-mortar breakfast, lunch and dinner spot in Northside in March 2021. Their menu consists of everything from French Toast Roll Ups with a vanilla cream cheese glaze to the 4 Cheese Alfredo with your choice of shrimp, lobster, chicken, steak, salmon, lamb chop or veggies. And for just $6, you can get a delicious breakfast burrito loaded with eggs and bacon.

Goodies BBQ

7440 Hamilton Ave., Mt. Healthy
Goodies knows their pork butt: pit-smoked slowly ’til the fat has completely dissolved and a crunchy, caramelized crust has formed on the outside. Lip-smackin’ rib tips and Buffalo wings are complemented by standard Southern sides of collard greens, red beans and rice or mac & cheese. For those not tempted by the sauce, there’s the fish or fried okra. peach cobbler, sweet potato pie and chess pie are available for dessert.

Cream + Sugar Coffeehouse

3546 Montgomery Road, Evanston
Serving up locally sourced organic coffee and tea, Cream + Sugar also offers breakfast and lunch with a focus on local and plant-based ingredients. Owned by longtime friends Taren Kinebrew and Crystal Grace, the coffee shop is designed to evoke a calming vibe, with shades of blue and teal and window seating, as well as lounge space for larger groups.

Island Frydays

2826 Short Vine St., Corryville
Featuring authentic Caribbean cuisine made by Jamaica native and former University of Cincinnati football captain Leo Morgan, Island Frydays is the definitive restaurant to break out of culinary monotony. Though the restaurant has a petite and unassuming interior, they pack a whole lot of flavor. Guy Fieri visited Island Frydays in September 2014 with Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, and you can try the same meal he had: the jerk chicken dinner.

Alabama Que

2733 Short Vine St., Corryville
Alabama Que was founded by Dwan Ward, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and former UC football player, in 2008. An Alabama native, Ward’s restaurant oozes Southern charm and a food truck was added to the business to keep up with growing demand. Some meat options include smoked chicken, beef ribs, smoked salmon and their famous turkey tips. Add some of their sides like the green beans, yams or mac & cheese for a hearty barbecue meal, and top it all off with a dessert: peach or apple cobbler, lemon or chocolate cake or banana pudding.

Drip Coffee Lounge (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

2927 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Sporting a multicultural African-fusion menu with a modern spin, Drip Coffee Lounge features a full coffee bar with locally roasted specialties. But coffee isn't the only thing on the menu. The shop also has teas, wine and cocktails in addition to quick bites such as sambusas, suya-spiced chicken wraps and Puff Puff-African Beignets served with mint and mango puree.

Maize OTR

1438 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Maize specializes in a unique fusion menu that honors traditional recipes from across Latin America, with an emphasis on Venezuelan cuisine and comfort food. The restaurant takes its name from maize, a corn flour dating back some 10,000 years and first utilized by indigenous Mexicans. The flour serves as the basis for their arepas, cachapas and empanadas.

Wing Champ

2343 E Sharon Road, Sharonville
Wing Champ offers hickory-smoked Swank Wings with 14 different types of sauces and 10 dry rubs. Some of their sauces include HotLanta Peach, Plum Loco, Thai Chili and Spicy Maple. If mouthwatering wings are not for you, they also offer salads, soups, sandwiches and more.

Habesha Restaurant and Cafe

5070 Crookshank Road, Western Hills
Habesha is a great hidden-gem restaurant offering authentic Ethiopian dishes. The restaurant serves traditional meals like Kiffo, a dish that features spiced minced meat with butter and mitmita — a seasoning mix made with chili peppers, cardamom, cloves and salt — topped with seasoned cheese.

King’s Way Cafe

3550 Montgomery Road, Evanston
King's Way Cafe is a breakfast and lunch spot in Evanston that serves tasty dishes like the Royal King (French toast puffs or a biscuit with bacon, eggs, sausage and potatoes and a side of fruit), a breakfast burrito and a variety of sandwiches. They even have a Vegan King made with vegetables and topped with avocado and fried carrot strips.

6 ‘N the Mornin’ (Temporarily Closed)

Moving to 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills
You can get your day started right with breakfast or brunch at 6 ‘N the Mornin’. Dishes are inspired by classic Southern favorites with a twist, and their menu names feature cities from across that region, like the New Orleans Shrimp ‘N Grits or the Nashville Kickin’ Chicken with waffles (which can also come as red velvet). Add a glass of Rise ‘N Reach Peach Juice to complete the most important meal of the day.

Teranga Restaurant

8438 Vine St., Hartwell
This African-American fusion restaurant offers a diverse and affordable menu. Find inexpensive meals, like the Senegalese Senburger, or full dinners like grilled tilapia and Jamaican oxtail with rice and peas. It’s a great place to try West African dishes such as Michoui Gigot (stuffed lamb leg with onion sauce). Sides range from couscous and French fries to fufu and attiéké.