33 Black-Owned Greater Cincinnati Restaurants You Need to Try ASAP

Pata Roja Taqueria

52 E. Court St., Downtown
Taqueria Pata Roja got its start in 2019 as a food truck that could typically be found behind Bar Saeso in Pendleton. From there it grew in popularity, becoming known for its authentic street tacos and Mexican dishes. With this success, owner Derrick Braziel decided to put down roots in downtown Cincinnati. In February, Braziel opened Pata Roja in its new brick-and-mortar spot in Court Street Plaza. Pata Roja’s new space is modeled after the iconic taquerias of Mexico City, with colorful tiles and a central focus of the trompo, a meat rotisserie that’s front and center in the kitchen, which will be used to roast pork for the authentic tacos al pastor. On the menu, guests will find a variety of street tacos, including the al pastor and the popular campechano, which combines several meats into one taco, as well as frozen margaritas and fresh salsas.

Nolia Kitchen

1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine
Bringing New Orleans-style flair and fare to Over-the-Rhine, Nolia offers diners an upscale, yet approachable, experience. The exposed brick and bold floral wallpaper add a bright and airy feeling to the intimate setting, and the menu features delectable Southern-inspired dishes like the River Catfish, served with grits, meunière and crawfish, or the Pork Shank. And while you shouldn’t expect Nolia to play zydeco music or serve hurricane cocktails in novelty cups, the restaurant’s drink menu will truly laissez les bon temps rouler, non?

Sewovi Foods

607 Shepherd Drive, Lockland
Sewovi Foods is a new ghost kitchen (meaning you can only order for carryout or delivery) that specializes in West African dishes, specifically those from the country Togo. Founder Etse Sewovi wanted to use his kitchen to bridge his love of food from his homeland with the opportunity to also aid Togolese farmers who are struggling to sell their produce by connecting them with U.S. buyers. Their produce is featured in Sewovi’s dishes, like the Ademe Dessi (a soup featuring meat or fish with jute leaves), Nugbagba (tomato stew) and the Poisson Frit (locally sourced tilapia marinated, spiced and deep-fried). For dessert, try a the Zowey, a West African treat of spicy peanuts and corn, rolled into a ball and sweetened with date sugar.

Big Jays Place

930 Hempstead Drive, Finneytown
Big Jays Place in Finneytown offers a menu bursting with flavor from its Caribbean comfort food dishes, like the Soul Food Plate, featuring jerk chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and cilantro rice, or the half-pound Jerk Burrito, which comes with a choice of shrimp, jerk chicken or salmon. But what Big Jays is best known for is its oxtail, which Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives host Guy Fieri got to try on his recent visit there, saying, “If you don’t like oxtail, then come on down here to the oxtail conversion program.”

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

9039 US-42, Union
Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey is inspired by the trappings of the American frontier and California's 19th-century gold rush. The restaurant 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, Creole or goetta gravy.

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, its seasonal (and vegan) chicken pot pie, fried whiting and catfish. On the side, there’s mac 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.

Muse Café

3018 Harrison Ave., Westwood
This Westwood coffee and wine bar offers up cafe items like frappes and smoothies, plus a sizable food menu that includes breakfast, lunch, tapas and cheese plates. Speaking of cheese, do not sleep on the paninis. Muse is more than a cafe with delicious meals and drinks, however; you also go for the experience: gathering with friends to catch up, unwinding after a long day with a glass of wine or taking in the live music performances or local art displays.

Midwest Best BBQ & Creamery

669 Justice Court, Loveland
Using locally sourced and all-natural ingredients, Midwest BBQ offers some of the freshest, tastiest barbecue in town. Founded in 2009 to sell its MB Simply Sweet BBQ sauce, the restaurant quickly evolved into a popular barbecue joint. Their menu boasts entrees including a chopped chicken sandwich; a smoked turkey wrap; smoke-fried wings; chopped chicken, pulled pork, smoked turkey and beef brisket by the pound and gluten-free options. They also serve delicious sides like creamy slaw and baked beans. They like to pair their barbecue with ice cream, offering 12 flavors of Hershey’s hand-dipped ice cream as dips, shakes and malts, sundaes and more.

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).

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. 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 the arepas, cachapas and empanadas served at Maize.

Just Q’in BBQ

975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills; 5903 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Owned by Matt Cuff, this 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? Even U.S. President Joe Biden gobbled up Just Q'in's brisket, mac & cheese, jalapeño cornbread and peach cobbler during a visit to Cincinnati. Grab it all by the plate or by the pound for catering.

Conscious Kitchen

2912 Short Vine St., Corryville
After a brief hiatus, Short Vine eatery Conscious Kitchen is back open and serving up its delicious, but healthy, meals once again. The restaurant offers a chef-crafted menu of items like the portabella mushroom burger; "aquatic" egg rolls with salmon spinach and feta; hearty salads; and even carrot fries.

Island Frydays

2826 Short Vine St., Corryville
Island Frydays is the definitive restaurant to break out of culinary monotony, featuring authentic Caribbean cuisine made by former University of Cincinnati football captain and Jamaica native Leo Morgan. Though the restaurant has a petite and unassuming interior, they pack a whole lot of flavor. Their Carribean jerk chicken and spicy snapper were approved by Fieri on the show.

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.

Catch Me If You Can

6112 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Catch Me If You Can is a new restaurant that opened in Pleasant Ridge’s former Casa Figueroa space in November. The eatery offers up a fusion of Southern-style comfort food and new-American fare, with a menu featuring wings, fried chicken and grilled salmon tacos, Southern-fried fish fries and, in a nod to Cincinnati cuisine, turkey chili coneys, smothered in cheddar cheese.

Wing Champ

2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville
Wing Champ offers hickory-smoked Swank Wings with 15 different types of sauces and nine dry rubs. Some of their sauces include HotLanta Peach, Plum Loco, Thai Chili and Spicy Maple; for the dry rubs, try the Chipotle Pepper for some heat or the Mojito Lime for some bright, citrusy tang. If mouthwatering wings are not for you, they also offer salads, soups, sandwiches and more.

Flavors of the Isle

1807 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
This Jamaican soul food restaurant and bar is owned by Detroit-native-turned-long-time Cincinnati resident Ebony Williams. Specializing in its famous Jamaican jerk chicken, Flavors of the Isle got its start as a member of the Outdoor Market and Findlay Kitchen, a nonprofit supporting local food entrepreneurs, and was started as a way to address the shortage of ethnic eateries in Cincinnati, says Williams. Apart form the jerk chicken, you’ll also find other Caribbean fare like oxtail, curry, brown stew chicken and a vegan platter of rice, peas, stir-fry cabbage and fried sweet plantains.

Yard Vybz Nyaminz

9536 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester
West Chester restaurant Yard Vybz serves up authentic Jamaican food and good times. Owner David Williams says what sets his restaurant apart from other Jamaican restaurants are the authenticity of the food and the service. The restaurant is family-owned and operated, with David; his wife, Nicole; and their son working tirelessly to provide good food and good vibes to the community, David says. On the menu, you’ll find classic Jamaican cuisine like jerk chicken, oxtail and plantains, as well as vegetarian and seafood options.

Darou Salam

4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside
Darou Salam is Cincinnati's best-kept secret for authentic African food. It offers Senegalese cuisine ranging from Lamb Dibi, grilled lamb paired with an onion-mustard sauce; Firir – fried whole tilapia (Yes, with the head, but don’t be scared; it’s tasty) and Bissap Sorrel, a famous Hibiscus juice and Senegalese favorite.