Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week returns for its second-annual event, celebrating 24 black-owned and -operated restaurants and offering dining specials across the city.

Hosted by Urban League Young Professionals of Southwestern Ohio and Cincy Soul, the event takes place from Nov. 18-24. During that period, participating restaurants will offer discounted menu items and prix-fixe meals under $30 per person. Some will offer percentages off the total bill.

Diners can look forward to enjoying bites from local favorites like Conscious Kitchen, Just Q’in, Island Frydays, BlaCk Coffee, Ollie’s Trolley, Sugar, K&J Seafood and more.

This year’s event tripled in size from last year’s inaugural event, which included eight local eateries.

For specific information about each restaurant’s specials, reach out to individual participating restaurants.

For more information about the event, visit ulypgso.com.

Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week, Nov. 18-24.

Just Q’in 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Just Q’in is “committed to the mission of Faith, Love and BBQ,” and offers their smoked brisket, ribs, chicken and more coupled with classic barbecue sides. Photo: Lindsay McCarty
Ollie’s Trolley 1607 Central Ave., Over-the-Rhine/West End Located in a bright yellow and red trolley car, Ollie’s Trolley is a soul food staple in the Cincinnati area. The eatery serves a variety of smoked pork, including ribs, rib tips and pulled pork, plus plenty of sides, like collard greens, buttered corn and potato salad. Get a pulled pork sandwich, side and a slice of pie for under $9. Photo via Facebook.com/OlliesTrolleyCincinnati Photo: Facebook.com/OlliesTrolleyCincinnati
Goodies BBQ 7440 Hamilton Ave., Mount 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 and cheese. For those not tempted by the sauce, there’s the fish sandwich or fried okra. Peach cobbler and sweet potato and chess pies are available. Photo via Facebook.com/Goodiesbarbeque Photo: facebook.com/Goodies
BlaCk Coffee 824 Elm St., Downtown This new coffee shop is from the owners of BlaCk OWned. BlaCk Coffee’s coffee is supplied by La Terza and their house “Wakanda” blend is a mix of Ethiopian, Rwandan and Brazilian beans. All of the food served at BlaCk Coffee comes from black-female-owned businesses in Cincinnati; pastries are provided by Sweet Petit Desserts, the cakes are from Shana’s Sweet Treats and sandwiches are made by personal chef Chanel Jordan of Chanel’s Upscale Homestyle Cooking. Photo: Liz Davis
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. Photo via Facebook.com/IslandFrydays
Conscious Kitchen 2912 Short Vine St., Corryville Located on Short Vine near the University of Cincinnati campus, this health-conscious eatery offers a chef-crafted menu of items like salmon, turkey or veggie burgers; veggie or “aquatic” egg rolls; hearty salads; and more. Photo via Facebook.com/ConsciousKitchen513
Alabama Que 2733 Short Vine St., Corryville Alabama Que proudly boasts on their website that they are the “home of the turkey tips.” This restaurant was founded by Dwan Ward in 2008, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. 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, of course, the famous turkey tips. Photo via Facebook.com/AlabamaQueFanPage
Davis Cookie Collection This local sweet shop specializes in gourmet desserts, offering over 15 varieties of cookies, in addition to brownies and cookie cakes — all created without any additives or preservatives. Varieties range from chocolate chip to strawberry shortcake. They also offer vegan and gluten-free options. The bakery is in the process of opening a brick-and-mortar location in Bond Hill, but offer their cookie collections (sold by the dozen) online. During Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week they are offering a 10 percent off of online orders by using the code “Blackrestweek19” at checkout. Photo via Facebook.com/DavisCookieCollection
Aunt Flora’s 9501 Colerain Ave., Colerain (inside of Northgate mall) Aunt Flora’s Colerain location can be found inside of Northgate mall. The eatery offers Southern dishes and is open Thursday through Sunday. They will be offering a different special each day of Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week they are open. Photo via Facebook.com/AuntFloras
Sweet Petit Desserts 1426 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Army veteran Taren Kinebrew comes from a family of bakers. She used the family pastry knowledge passed down for generations to open Sweet Petit Desserts in August of 2009. Her petite treats are small in size, but pack a huge flavor punch and are designed to enjoy, but not over indulge. Find old favorites like Rice Krispy Treats or discover a new love like her petite fours, which is pound cake covered in a confectioner’s glaze. Photo via Facebook.com/sweetpetitetk/
K&J Seafood Co. 2516 Clifton Ave., Clifton/University Heights This local restaurant offers fresh, Louisiana-style seafood with a large menu that satisfies non-fish eaters as well. During Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week they will have a different special every day. Photo via Facebook.com/KJSeafoodCo
Burnett’s Soul Food 1012 E. McMillan Ave., Walnut Hills If you love soul food, hearty sides and delicious desserts, you can find it all at Burnett’s. Photo via Facebook.com/Burnetts-Soul-Food
Copa Lounge 1133 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine Copa Lounge is a nightclub and eatery located in Over-the-Rhine. On weekends, they offer a brunch buffet with bottomless mimosas. Photo via Facebook.com/COPAOTR
Express Wings 7617 Reading Road, Roselawn Express Wings doesn’t just do wings well. Enjoy their chicken sandwich that rivals some of its corporate competitors, or their famous chicken and waffles. Photo via facebook.com/ExpressWings513/
Jazzy Sweeties 1006 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Jazzy Sweeties is a bakery that can bust out custom cakes or be your sweets supplier for cookies, cupcakes, cheesecakes, brownies, donuts and more. With 20 different cake flavors, 10 different fruit fillings and 10 different gourmet fillings, the possibilities are almost endless. Photo via facebook.com/JazzySweetiesBakery/
Mango’s Tropical Oasis 7121 Dixie Highway, Fairfield Mango’s keeps the beach close to home and when you need a tropical getaway with good food and frozen drinks, you can find it in Fairfield. Find Southern classics like shrimp po’ boys and fried fish, or spice it up with a chicken baja enchilada or a bowl of their popular clam chowder. Photo via Facebook.com/MeetMeAtMangos
Sweets & Meats 2249 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington Sweets & Meats is a food truck-turned-brick and mortar in Cincinnati that offers carry-out and catering. Their menu features smoked meat options including a pulled pork sandwich and baby-back ribs all the way to homemade sides like sweet potato casserole and loaded baked potato salad. There are family-sized options as well so you can share some of that sweet, smoked goodness with the whole crew. Photo via Facebook/SweetsandMeats
Teranga Restaurant 8438 Vine St., Hartwell An African/American fusion restaurant with a diverse and affordable menu. Find $6 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. Photo via Facebook.com/Teranga
Triple J’s Bar-B-Que Triple J’s Bar-B-Que is dishing out soul-food specialties out of their food truck all around Cincinnati. The menu offers a variety of smoked meats from barbecue chicken and smoked wings to holiday specials like a whole smoked turkey or spiral ham. Photo via
Talis Southern Bar & Grill 5579 OH-741, Mason Formerly known as Area 513, this eatery is getting new life with a “brand new vibe” and Southern-inspired menu. Diners can enjoy fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, fried chicken dinner and more. Photo via
Sugar 6 W.14th St., Over-the-Rhine Andrea Sutton Lee turned her baking hobby into a business by opening Sugar in January of 2016, recently opening a storefront in OTR earlier this year. Sugar has specialty cupcakes available in packs of four, six or 12. Some of the flavors include: birthday cake, Twinkie, peanut butter cup, salted caramel brownie and Fruity Pebbles. Photo via Facebook.com/Sugar513
Darou Salam Restaurant 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside Darou Salam from the outside may seem small. Underneath trees with a bar sharing the same building, you may even miss it at a quick glance. Although humble in appearance, this is Cincinnati’s best kept secret for authentic African food. Darou Salam offers Senegalese cuisine ranging from Lamb Dibi — which is 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. Photo via Contributed by Owner to Google Photos
Millie’s Place 5923 Madison Road, Madisonville Millie’s Place has been a staple soul-food eatery in Cincinnati since opening in 1993. The classic after-church restaurant serves up fried chicken, fried fish, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, collard greens and other Southern favorites. Great soul food at a great price. Photo: Google Maps
Wing Champ The King of Wings 2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville Wing Champ offers hickory-smoked Swank Wings with nine different types of sauces. Some of their sauces are: hotlanta peach, pineapple Caribbean mango, zesty orange, mild Buffalo and spicy garlic. If mouthwatering wings are not for you, they also offer salads, soups, sandwiches and more. Photo: Provided