Black-Owned Restaurants to Support Now & Always
Soul & Smoke
One of the best ways to show up for Black-owned businesses is supporting them directly. In honor of Black History month we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Black-owned spots in the city. So check out this list and support today, tomorrow and always!
Soul & Smoke {multiple locations; 847.859.2732}
Chef D’Andre Carter found his love for cooking in his grandma’s kitchen on Chicago’s South Side. Sunday dinners were sacred in Carter’s family and he spent most of those days helping his grandma cook food for family and friends. After graduating from his grandmother's kitchen and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, the chef made his way through Chicago’s fine-dining scene. With signature sauces that mix classic St. Louis flavors with his very own spice blend, you can’t go wrong with anything at his Evanston, Avondale, and TimeOut Market spots.
If you’re in the neighborhood make sure to grab these menu items:
Cajun Veggies & Grits: Cajun-spiced seasoned vegetables, buttery stone ground grits and scallions
Signature Mac & Cheese : Extra creamy three-cheese blend
Cajun BBQ Beans: Onions, peppers and celery
via Gary Adcock Studio
Mustard Seed Kitchen {43 E. Cermak Rd; 312.326.0062}
When a well-known neighborhood restaurant closed after 40 years, Chef Erick Williams had big shoes to fill. The chef and owner of Virtue in Hyde Park opened a new takeout-only restaurant, Mustard Seed Kitchen. Williams wanted a way to continue the previous owner's mission by offering quality and affordable meals.
Stop by and order:
Chicken Sandwich: Fried chicken thigh, pickles and seasoned mayo served on a brioche bun
Caramel Cake
Rotini and Shrimp: Rotini pasta tossed with asparagus, zucchini, onion and topped with Parmesan cheese; choice of sauce and garlic bread
Batter & Berries {2748 N Lincoln Ave; 773.248.7710}
Batter & Berries was founded by Dr. Tanya & Craig Richardson in 2012 as a way to bring quality and unique breakfast foods with an upbeat & invigorating atmosphere to the neighborhood. With most menu items made in house, locally-sourced poultry and the use of fresh fruits, you know this Lincoln Park eatery is always giving you their best. Batter & Berries is also known for partnering with other local businesses like La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Brown Sugar Bakery and more!
Grab your friends and try:
French Toast Flight: Strawberry, lemon, blueberry and caramel french toast
B & B Breakfast Wrap: Scrambled eggs, B & B cheese-crusted hashbrowns, bacon or ham in a tomato tortilla
Apple Belgique Waffle: Apple batter, cinnamon and spice-caramelized Granny Smith apples and cinnamon and sugar
Chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier
Frontier {1072 N. Milwaukee Ave; 773.772.4322}
Tucked away on the outskirts of West Town, here nature dictates what’s on the menu. Inspired by the pioneers who uprooted their lives and pushed for new beginnings in the American West, James Beard Award Semifinalist Chef Brian Jupiter gives you a taste of eating and drinking on the edge of civilization. Meals are served in a communal setting with plenty of food and drinks to go around.
Try out the:
Char-Grilled Oysters: 6 East coast oysters stuffed with herb-garlic butter, bread crumbs, and Parmesan
Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Sliders: House-smoked, pulled BBQ jackfruit, red cabbage slaw, and slider buns
Ahi Tuna Sandwich: Blackened tuna (rare), tuna tartare (raw), crispy onion, wasabi mayo and sprouts on sourdough
Caramel-Pistachio Date Cake: Date cake, pistachio-caramel and Jeni's honey vanilla ice cream
Taste 222 {222 N Canal St; 312.383.6620}
Located in the Fulton River District, Taste 222 is a chic, upscale restaurant with innovative trend-forward culinary creations prepared in their state-of-the-art kitchen. This spot is the storefront of Cleveland Avenue Headquarters, a venture capital and consulting firm that invests in food, beverage and restaurant concepts. With the opportunity to provide a supportive and experimental environment for entrepreneurs to create their own offerings, it’s the perfect place to try new things.
If you’re feeling exploratory try their:
The Fish Sandwich: Blackened catfish, Creole tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato served on a brioche bun
Grilled Jalapeño Dip: Fire-grilled jalapeños, artisan cheese blend, crispy pita
Key Lime Mini Pie: Florida Key lime custard, graham cracker crust, whipped cream, citrus zest
Demera
Demera {4801 N. Broadway; 773.334.8787}
Opened in 2007, Demera Ethiopian Restaurant is one of Chicago’s favorite Ethiopian restaurants. Situated in Uptown just down the street from The Green Mill, Demera serves Chicago residents and visitors daily with Ethiopian hospitality and a whole array of flavors. Growing up in Ethiopia, owner Tigist Reda learned about traditional Ethiopian foods from the elder women in her family.
Stop in this well-reviewed spot for the:
Sambusas: Fried dumplings filled with chicken, beef, spinach, cheese or lentil; served with a sweet and spicy honey awaze sauce
Yatkilt Wat: Carrots, green beans, potatoes and zucchini stewed with onions, garlic and ginger
Ethiopian-Style Tiramisu: Delicate ladyfinger cookies soaked in homemade Buna and brandy then layered with mascarpone cheese, and covered in ground chocolate
Soule {1931 W. Chicago Ave; 312.526.3825}
In West Town lies Soule, a modernized take on soul & Creole cooking. As a little girl head cook and owner Bridgette Flagg spent hours in the kitchen with her grandmother “Bea” and mother. Carrying on the legacies of the women before her, Flagg started out her love of cooking as an adult organizing huge dinner parties for friends and family. Soon the chef carried on the same traditions and mission as her grandma and mom– cook food with soul– and with that in mind Soule was born.
Stop over and try the:
Blackened Salmon Pasta: Fettuccine noodles tossed in homemade garlic cream sauce with multi-colored peppers topped with blackened salmon and shrimp
Catfish Po'Boy: Catfish filet topped with remoulade lettuce, jalapeño pickle and tomatoes
Peach Cobbler: Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Brown Sugar Bakery
Brown Sugar Bakery {328 E. 75th St; 773.224.6262}
Brown Sugar Bakery located on Chicago’s South Side is a southern-style bakeshop specializing in traditional sweet treats and custom cakes. Although she may be known for her caramel cake, Owner Stephanie Hart has also curated a line of gourmet hand-crafted chocolates after acquiring the Cupid Candies Factory that was established in 1936.
If you need something sweet try a:
Caramel Cake Slice
Turtle Cake Slice
Yellow Chocolate Jumbo Cupcake
By Madison Freeman | Special Correspondent
