Black-Owned Restaurants in Pennsylvania

Food has always been an important way for people throughout the world to preserve and celebrate their cultural traditions, and perhaps none more so than for those whose origins are from the continent of Africa. You can often find native African foods, such as kola nuts, watermelons, yams, black-eyed peas, and okra, on American tables today and included in recipes passed down through generations of African-American families.

Several modern North American dishes can be directly traced to what are today’s African countries of Angola, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, and Ghana, i.e., the parts of Africa where an estimated 12.5 million people were captured and enslaved for centuries in North, South, and Central America starting in the 1400s. Because more than 90 percent of enslaved Africans were sent to the Caribbean Islands and South America, Africa-based cultural heritage foods are especially prominent in these regions where today you can easily find African influences in dishes of countries such as Brazil and Jamaica.

Black- and multiracially-owned restaurants, bars, cafes, and dessert shops represent independence, entrepreneurship, and resistance. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, segregation laws enacted in the U.S. prevented Black people from entering most shops, hotels, restaurants, theaters, amusement parks, and other attractions. This made travel–and many other aspects of life–extremely difficult for Black people in the U.S. In response, books and guides listing businesses that welcomed Black people were developed.

These travel guides include Hackley and Harrison’s Hotel and Apartment Guide for Colored Travelers (1930–31), The Travel Guide (1947–63), Grayson’s Guide: The Go Guide to Pleasant Motoring (1953–59), and The Negro Motorist Green Book (1936-67). The need for these guides disappeared with the implementation of anti-discrimination laws, but they should be remembered as one of the many symbols of the ingenuity and perseverance of Black Americans who sought freedom and equality.  

That ingenuity and creativity lives on today in the menus you’ll find at the many Black- and multiracially-owned restaurants bars, cafés, and dessert shops where you can find get a delicious taste of their African culture and heritage. In thinking of the historical network of Black-owned restaurants in Pennsylvania and what that network looks like today, let us visit, enjoy, and learn from these Black- and multiracially-owned restaurants, bars, cafés, and dessert shops.  

If you are, or know of a Black- or multiracially-owned restaurant, bar, café, or dessert shop in Pennsylvania that’s not listed below, please email us so we can include their business in the directory.

Allentown

Happy Sandwich Caribbean Cuisine   
123 S 7th St, Allentown, PA 18101   
(610) 432-1325   
 

Island Bay Grill - Caribbean Restaurant   
231 Tilghman St, Allentown, PA 18102   
(610) 776-4001   
 

Nkasso   
44 N Eighth St, Allentown, PA 18101   
(484) 221-1926   
 

Bethlehem

The Bayou   
702 Hawthorne Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18018   
(610) 419-6669   
 

Chester

Aunt B’s Country Kitchen   
2300 W. 4th St, Chester, PA 19013   
(484) 474-6779   
 

Coatesville

Jam Rock Caribbean Cuisine   
144 E Lincoln Hwy, Coatesville, PA 19320   
(610) 850-9118   
 

Richie's Water Ice   
332 E Lincoln Hwy, Coatesville, PA 19320   
(484) 355-3165   
 

Easton

The Bayou   
64 Centre Sq Cir, Easton, PA 18042   
(610) 829-1700   
 

Erie

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro   
1402 W 10th St, Erie, PA 16502   
(814) 454-0700   
 

Taste & See Fruit | Veggie Bar   
702 Raspberry St, Erie, PA 16501 
Opening at this new location in fall 2024; send text to order until then.  
(814) 925-0772   
 

Glenolden

Shugar Shack Soul Food   
45 N Chester Pike, Glenolden, PA 19036   
(610) 255-2155   
 

Harrisburg

Hookers Seafood Joint   
405 Walnut St, Harrisburg, PA 17101   
(717) 850-8779   
 

Isabelle's Southern Cuisine   
306 Reily St, Harrisburg, PA 17102   
(717) 412-4475   
 

Hatfield

Be Still Nutrition   
317 S Main St, Hatfield, PA 19440   
(267) 649-7839   
 

Lancaster

Blazin' J's   
15 E King St, Lancaster, PA 17602   
(717) 945-7197   
 

Caribbean Wave Jamaican Jerk Restaurant   
701 E Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17602   
(717) 945-6311   
 

Lansdowne

Foose Grill   
2 N Lansdowne Ave, Lansdowne, PA 19050   
(267) 275-8282   
 

Off the Hook Seafood & Grill   
629 E Baltimore Ave, Lansdowne, PA 19050   
(610) 284-4800   
 

Meadville

McClure's Fish House & More   
964 Park Ave, Meadville, PA 16335   
(814) 807-1946   
 

Philadelphia

48th Street Grille   
310 S 48th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(267) 244-4764   
 

Abyssinia   
229 S 45th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104   
(215) 387-2424   
 

Aksum   
4630 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(267) 275-8195   
 

Alif Brew & Mini Mart   
4501 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(215) 315-8427   
 

All the Way Live Cafe   
6107 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144   
(215) 821-7298   
 

Amina   
104 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106   
(267) 324-3745   
 

Angry Deekin BBQ 
1019 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA 19123   
(215) 769-7427

Atiya Ola's Spirit First Foods   
310 S 48th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(215) 939-3298   
 

Booker's Restaurant & Bar   
5021 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(215) 883-0960   
 

Buna Cafe Philly   
5121 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(610) 615-8575   
 

Caribbean Feast Cuisine   
1338 Rising Sun Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19140   
(215) 223-2665   
 

Cray Taste   
3865 N 7th St, Philadelphia, PA 19140   
(267) 687-7611   
 

Cray Taste Old City   
118 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106   
(267) 886-9014   
 

Dahlak Paradise   
4708 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(215) 726-6464   
 

Dibbs BBQ   
5617 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131   
(215) 876-6500   
 

Doro Bet   
4533 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143   
(215) 921-6558   
 

Down North Pizza   
2804 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19132   
(215) 377-9787   
 

Friday Saturday Sunday   
261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103   
(215) 546-4232   
 

Halal Fusion Chinese Restaurant   
2748 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19133   
(267) 541-2808   
 

Level Up Bar & Lounge   
1330 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107   
(215) 545-1959   
 

Lou & Choos Lounge   
2101 W Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19140   
(215) 228-7281   
 

Salam Cafe   
5532 Greene St, Philadelphia, PA 19144   
(215) 660-9780   
 

Suya Suya West African Grill   
400 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123   
(267) 704-9033   
 

Pittsburgh

African Eats Cuisine   
2032 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217   
(412) 307-0294   
 

Carmi Soul Food Restaurant   
1825 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203   
(412) 231-0100   
 

Casa Brasil   
5904 Bryant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206   
(412) 404-7573   
 

Everyday Cafe   
532 N Homewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208   
(412) 727-2169   
 

Tana Ethiopian Cuisine   
5929 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206   
(412) 665-2770   
 

Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen   
4501 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201   
(412) 683-7474   
 

St. Clair Social | Pittsburgh Restaurant & Bar   
302 S St Clair St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206   
(412) 600-1572   
 

Pottstown

Island Pride   
149 E High St, Pottstown, PA 19464   
(814) 401-3078   
 

Uptown Flavors   
300 E High St, Pottstown, PA 19464   
(484) 300-4581   
 

Welcome To The Avenue   
107 E High St, Pottstown, PA 19464   
(484) 752-4076   
 

Scranton

Chef Von & Mom   
501 Linden St, Scranton, PA 18503   
(570) 955-0368   
 

Upper Darby

Fanta African International Restaurant   
57 Garrett Rd, Upper Darby, PA 19082   
(610) 734-0746   
 

West Chester

Blazin' J’s   
139 W Gay St, West Chester, PA 19380   
(484) 266-0156   
 

Mabel’s Barbeque   
607 E Market St, West Chester, PA 19382   
(610) 701-0288   
 

Wilkes-Barre

Hartman Jerk Center   
72 S Main St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701   
(570) 871-3013   
 

Staggers Southern Cuisine   
78 S Main St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702   
(570) 793-2088   
 

York

Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro   
221 W Philadelphia St, York, PA 17401   
(717) 893-2111