Black-Owned Restaurants in Pennsylvania

Food has always been an important way for the people from the continent of Africa to preserve and celebrate their cultural traditions. Native foods from Africa, such as the kola nuts, watermelons, yams, black-eyed peas, and okra, are common on American tables today and are also included in many recipes passed down through generations in African-American families.

Some modern North American dishes can be traced directly to the parts of African where Africans were captured and enslaved, including Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, and Ghana. Because more than 90 percent of enslaved African people were sent to the Caribbean Islands and South America, these cultural heritage foods from Africa are especially prominent in these regions 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 prevented Black people from visiting shops, hotels, restaurants, and more. This made travel – and many other aspects of life – extremely difficult for Black people in America. In response, books 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 law, but they should be remembered as one of the many symbols of the ingenuity and perseverance of Black Americans who sought freedom and equality.

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, cafes, and dessert shops.

If you are, or know of any Black- and multiracially-owned restaurants, bars, cafes, or dessert shops in the state of Pennsylvania not listed, please email us so we can include their organization.

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
Flagship City Food Hall, 508 State St, Erie, PA 16501
(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 #3125, 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
6108 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
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

Paprika
4167 Germantown Ave #1, Philadelphia, PA 19140
(215) 455-4663

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

Suya Suya West African Grill
400 Fairmount Ave #2808, 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