From hearty Southern-style breakfasts to traditional West African dishes, açai bowls to barbecue and elevated craft beers, Cincinnati’s Black-owned eateries are a vital part of our foodie landscape. Whether you want to grab a coffee and ice cream with a friend or feed your body and soul with homestyle cooking, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and food trucks from local Black restaurateurs you can check out and support.

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. Ollie’s 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. Chow down on a variety of burgers and metts, chicken, turkey, fish and a selection of barbecue all for under $10. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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.” Photo: Catie Viox
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Just Q’in 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Owned by Matt Cuff, Walnut Hills barbecue joint 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 Photo: Lindsay McCarty
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. Photo: Elizabeth Davis
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). Photo: facebook.com/BOL
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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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. Photo: facebook.com/Katch The Kitchen Restaurant & Bar
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
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. Photo via Facebook.com/CreamandSugarCoffeehouse Photo via facebook.com/Cream+Sugar Coffeehouse
Island Frydays 42826 Vine St., Corryville Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives 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 Jamaican native Leo Morgan. You really owe it to yourself to stop by and taste its curry and jerk dishes or go all the way Jamaican with escovitch snapper (a sort of island ceviche), an oxtail dinner or curried goat with a side of plantains. Photo via Facebook.com/IslandFrydays Photo: facebook.com/Island Frydays
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 Photo:facebook.com/Alabama Que
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. Photo: facebook.com/Drip Coffee Lounge
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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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. Photo: facebook.com/Wing Champ
Habesha Restaurant and Cafe 5070 Crookshank Road, Covedale Habesha is a great hidden-gem restaurant offering Ethiopian dishes and an Ethiopian-style coffee ceremony. While it looks like a hole-in-the-wall from the outside, the cuisine is on par with Ethiopian eateries in Washington, D.C. — which is saying a lot. Photo: Liz Davis Photo: Liz Davis
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. Photo: facebook.com/King's Way Cafe
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. Photo: facebook.com/6 'N the Mornin'
9. Teranga Restaurant 8438 Vine St., Hartwell ”Wanted to check out a new place during Black Restaurant Week and this did not disappoint. It’s tucked away in a plaza, but pretty easy to find. Delicious authentic African food right in Cincy, who knew?!? The dibi was cooked to perfection and the red snapper is enough for a family and perfectly grilled. The jerk chicken was so flavorful and spicy! The only miss were the beignets for dessert, but I think it’s because I had high expectations based on my previous experiences in New Orleans. Please check this place out, it’s a great meal!” — Leah S. Photo via Teranga Restaurant’s Facebook Photo: facebook.com/Teranga
Flavors of the Isle 1807 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Findlay Market welcomed Jamaican soul food restaurant Flavors of the Isle to its fold in October. The restaurant and bar is owned by Detroit-native-turned-long-time Cincinnati resident Ebony Williams and specializes 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. Photo: Provided by Findlay Market
Triple J’s Bar-B-Que Triple J’s Bar-B-Que dishes out soul food specialties from their food truck all around Cincinnati. The menu offers a variety of smoked meats from ribs and smoked wings to fish, burgers and a classic barbecue sides. Photo: facebook.com/Triple J's Bar B Que
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. Between breakfast platters, double decker sandwiches and fish dinner specials, Burnett’s has something for everyone. Each day they have a new soul food special, so there is something different to try every time. Photo via Facebook.com/Burnetts-Soul-Food Photo: facebook.com/Burnetts Soul Food
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 try their famous chicken and waffles. Photo via Facebook.com/ExpressWings513/ Photo: facebook.com/Express Wings
Saturday Morning Vibes 3539 Reading Road, Suite 101, Avondale If you crave those memories of grabbing a bowl of cereal and plopping yourself in front of the TV to watch Saturday morning cartoons, this new cereal bar can help you relive those days. The nostalgia is real at Saturday Morning Vibes as it features cereals from around the world, as well as toppings like strawberries, whipped cream and more to add to your bowl. Their menu also has avocado toast, waffles, muffins, bagels, fresh fruit and local coffee. Photo: Facebook.com/Saturday Morning Vibes Cereal Bar
Darou Salam 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside Although humble in appearance, it is the place for authentic African food. Darou Salam offers Senegalese cuisine from Lamb Dibi — grilled lamb paired with an onion-mustard sauce — to Firir — fried whole tilapia with the head on, 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 Photo: Contributed by Owner to Google Photos
Pluto’s Cafe 1817 Galbraith Road, North College Hill On Pluto Cafe’s menu, you’ll find homestyle favorites like catfish, meatloaf and chicken tenders, as well as combo meals like their Game Time (whiting, wings and fries). Add some regular sides, like green beans, fries or coleslaw, to your plate or level up to the premium sides of mac & cheese or yams. Photo: facebook.com/Pluto's Cafe
Divine Appetite Cafe 8982 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester There are not many places in Cincinnati where you can go and get authentic African cuisine. Divine Appetite Cafe features traditional dishes like Waakeye – African stewed tomato sauce, chicken, fish and a hard-boiled egg; and Banku, cornmeal dumplings served with okra sauce which includes fish, blue crab and beef. Photo: facebook.com/Divine Appetite Cafe and Catering