Support Black Restaurants on #NationalFoodDay
October 24th marks a special occasion for food enthusiasts across the nation - National Food Day. Below is are some of our favorite Black-owned restaurants to support today and all year-round. Make sure to comment what your favorite Black-owned restaurant is.
Jerk Shack - 1133 24th Ave, Suite N, Seattle WA 98122
Born and raised in Seattle, Trey Lamont knew from a young age that he wanted to be a cook, his passion sparked by early experience in his grandmother’s kitchen. Today, he is the owner and head chef at Jerk Shack, a Caribbean restaurant praised by the Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, and Zagat for its bold, authentic flavors and warm hospitality. The menu is inspired by Lamont’s Jamaican heritage, with a focus on made-from-scratch cooking using house-ground spices, smoked and fried to perfection.
Simply Soulful - 2321 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
Pint-sized, family-owned cafe serving up classic soul food dishes & desserts in a convivial setting.
Ezell's Famous Chicken - Multiple Locations
We don’t do things the easy way at Ezell’s Famous Chicken, and that starts with the chicken itself. It’s always fresh, top-quality, bigger than what you’ll find at other places, and fried with a secret method that seals in all the juicy flavor while locking out unnecessary oils.
And then there’s our famous sides and desserts: made fresh daily using the very same recipes our founders learned as teenagers back in Texas. One taste of Ezell’s Famous Chicken and you’ll understand why folks have been coming back for more since 1984.
Island Soul - 4869 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Island Soul is a family business opened 15 years ago at a location on Martin Luther King Way and Judkins. In 2007, the Martin family, purchased a building in Columbia City and established a new look for Island Soul. The food can be best described as Caribbean-inspired soul food. It is a fusion of native Caribbean foods with traditional soul food from Louisiana Bayou. Items you see from Caribbean side include plantains, mango, jerk, and habanero spicing, coconut milk, goat, and more. From the Louisiana side you see BBQ chicken, ribs oxtail stew, gumbo, catfish, collard greens, and chicken and waffles.
June Baby - 2122 NE 65th St, Seattle, WA 98115
Southern food’s humble beginnings embarfked when West Africans were taken from their home and were forced across the middle passage to North America. The term soul food originated during American slavery to not only describe a type of cuisine but also a period of time of oppression and overcoming hardships. It is traditionally cooked and eaten by African Americans of the Southern United States and merges influences from West Africa, Western Europe, and North America. As a result, America’s culinary history was built on corn, rice, peas, and the hog; many of the ingredients associated with Southern food.
Southern cuisine has always had and continues to have stereotypical connotations. Seen through the eyes of most Americans as inferior, unsophisticated, and unhealthy, Southern food reflects hard times and resourcefulness and is nothing short of beautiful. It is a cuisine to be respected and celebrated.
Metier Brewing - Multiple Locations
As beer enthusiasts, the MBC team is influenced by tradition, but not bound by it. We experiment with brews that are innovative and accessible. With our commitment to craft, we brew with intention and integrity, and we never compromise.
We are proud to be one of the few Black-owned breweries in the country. But we want to help build an industry where that’s no longer a novelty. At MBC, we’re expanding what craft beer has traditionally represented — from our suppliers to the artwork on our beer labels to the team serving up pints to the community of beer lovers.
Umami Kushi - 9099 Seward Park Ave S unit 2, Seattle, WA 98118
Umami Kushi is a producer of Japanese okazu pans, beignets, and yuzu kosho, operating from their Rainier Beach production kitchen. Their products are distributed at several cafes throughout Seattle, and they currently provide online ordering exclusively for pickup orders.
Boon Boona Coffee - Multiple Locations
Boon Boona has established long-lasting, sustainable relationships with coffee producers, exporters, and importers in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and various other African nations, with a particular focus on supporting woman-owned growers. This entails that they are not only capable of sourcing some of the finest coffee from Africa but are also able to share a larger portion of their profits directly with the growers, contributing to the development of the African coffee industry.
In line with the ethos of East African coffee shops, Boon Boona endeavors to cultivate a sense of community within their café, priding themselves on providing an inclusive space for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized individuals. They consistently brainstorm ways to support the local community, such as offering pop-up space to artists, non-profits, and small businesses, distributing complimentary coffee at Black Lives Matter events, and bringing essential resources like King County Libraries and the King County Health Care Plan Finder into the café for easy public access.
Catfish Corner - 2218 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
Terrell Jackson is the grandchild of Woodrow and Rosemary Jackson who opened "Seattle's Original" Catfish Corner in 1985. Terrell worked there since he was 14 years old. His grandparents sold the business in 2009. It has since closed its doors. He did not want his grandparents legacy to die which inspired him to reopen and rename the business as "Jackson's" Catfish Corner. He strives to make sure that each and every customer is greeted and treated equally. Jackson's Catfish Corner is a family owned business and we like to think of our customers as family also.
Central Cafe - 2509 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122
Central Cafe & Juice Bar is an eco-conscious cafe offering espresso coffees, fresh pressed juice lattes, smoothies, and teas alongside pastries and deli items.
Communion - 2350 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
A place where spirits, food, and culture collide, COMMUNION will open with a full takeout/delivery* dinner & cocktail menu, and the infamous TBGC! Black Eyed Pea Hummus. The grand opening celebration is slated to deliver an expert experience of this collision with a live DJ set from Seattle Hip-Hop Legend Vitamin D and an Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey pop-up to accompany Chef Kristi's "Seattle Soul" culinary creations. COMMUNION, a joint venture between owners Chef Kristi Brown and son Damon Bomar, is the pair's first brick & mortar restaurant. The duo also owns and operates That Brown Girl Cooks! (TBGC!) catering company. The "Seattle Soul" menu boasts fan favorites from Chef Kristi and delivers on new flavors and dishes. Bomar's Brown Liquor Cocktail Co. is the mastermind behind the bar, offering fresh-made juices and batched craft cocktails. The COMMUNION Market offers quick, grab & go options, including TBGC! classics - the Black-Eyed Pea Hummus, Roasted Collard Green Dip, and seasonal Po'Mi sandwiches (Chef Kristi's po' boy/bánh mì mashup), to name a few.
Fat's Chicken and Waffles - 2726 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122
Fat's is a southern style, New Orleans-influenced restaurant focusing on authentic & natural ingredients in the heart of the Central District. Serving fried chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, fried okra, red beans & rice, and as a nod to the building’s history, there’s also fried catfish. The chill and vibed-out atmosphere features a handpainted mural and handmade furniture made by local artists. The comfort food, art, sports & movie filled tv screen, and soulful sounds brings you right back to your family’s get-togethers growing up.
Poco Bar and Lounge - 1408 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122
poco bar & lounge is a casual, cozy neighborhood wine and cocktail bar, with a private lounge and outdoor patio seating, located in this two-story space in the capitol hill community in seattle. having established its roots in 2006 as a wine bar (formally known as poco wine room), poco has seen numerous changes, but has always remained true to its commitment to cultivating an inclusive space that features delicious food and drink.
Creamy Cone - 9433 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Lil Red’s Takeout and Catering - 4225 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Beau Legs Fish N Chips (Lacey, WA) - 8765 Tallon Ln NE suite g, Lacey, WA 98516
Beau Legs Fish & Chips is a seafood restaurant located in Lacey, WA, since 2009. The establishment specializes in catering and southern comfort food that's hard to find in the Pacific Northwest, offering jambalaya, gumbo, and seafood. The business was initiated to bring southern flavor to the area, and there are plans to expand the business to continue serving Lacey and the surrounding areas. Customers are cordially invited to visit for po'boys, fish and chips, wings, and more.
