The culinary landscape across America continues to be transformed by innovative Black chefs and restaurateurs who are honoring their heritage while pushing the boundaries of gastronomy. For the 2025 Travel Noire Awards, we’re celebrating excellence in Black-owned dining establishments that offer not just exceptional food but also meaningful cultural experiences. From century-old institutions to contemporary hotspots, these nominees for Best Black-Owned Restaurant represent the diversity, creativity, and resilience that define Black culinary entrepreneurship in America today.
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner – Marianna, Arkansas
Perhaps the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Arkansas and one of the oldest Black-owned restaurants in the South, Jones Bar-B-Q Diner is a testament to culinary perseverance. Dating back to the 1910s, this humble establishment began when Walter Jones served barbecue from his back porch on weekends. The business eventually moved downtown to a spot nicknamed “The Hole in the Wall” before settling at its current location in 1964.
Now run by James Harold Jones, Walter’s grandson, the restaurant maintains its simple approach with a menu focused solely on chopped pork, either by the pound or on a sandwich, with or without slaw. In 2012, Jones Bar-B-Q made history as Arkansas’s first recipient of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award, earning recognition in the “American Classics” category. After suffering a devastating fire in February 2021, the community rallied around the institution, enabling it to reopen just a few months later.
Kann – Portland, Oregon
Chef Gregory Gourdet’s Haitian restaurant Kann has quickly become one of America’s most celebrated dining destinations since opening in August 2022. Named after the Haitian Creole word for “cane” (a nod to Gourdet’s childhood memories of sugar cane vendors in Haiti), this wood-fired restaurant honors the chef’s heritage while embracing the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.
The menu showcases traditional Haitian flavors alongside dishes inspired by the cuisines of the African and Caribbean diaspora, featuring ingredients like Scotch Bonnet chili, coconut, plantains, and signature Haitian spices. Kann’s exceptional culinary achievements earned it the prestigious James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2023, with Gourdet delivering a memorable speech about Haiti’s history and resilience during the ceremony.
Tassili’s Raw Reality – Atlanta, Georgia
Since opening in Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood in 2011, Tassili’s Raw Reality has established itself as a pioneering force in the plant-based cuisine movement. This vegan raw food restaurant, founded by Tassili Maat, has cultivated a devoted following for its innovative approach to raw vegan food.
Beyond serving exceptional food, Tassili’s Raw Reality has become a cultural hub in Atlanta, hosting events such as the Annual Wonderful Wizards of Raw festival, which began in 2013 to introduce the community to the concept of raw vegan cuisine. What started as a small gathering has grown to attract over 500 attendees, featuring raw food chefs, conscious speakers, demonstrations, and entertainment. Tassili’s has also earned recognition as one of Atlanta Magazine’s 75 Best Restaurants.
Tatiana By Kwame Onwuachi – New York City
Located in David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi has rapidly ascended to the pinnacle of New York City’s dining scene. Named after the chef’s older sister, who helped raise him, this Afro-Caribbean restaurant with New York influences serves as Onwuachi’s love letter to his Bronx upbringing and multicultural heritage.
The menu draws inspiration from Onwuachi’s Nigerian roots, his mother’s Southern cooking, and global Afro-Caribbean flavors, featuring standout dishes like short rib pastrami suya, egusi dumplings, and braised oxtails. The restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere is enhanced by modern urban décor and a hip-hop playlist that pays homage to the chef’s childhood and the historically significant Black community that once thrived in the San Juan Hill area of Manhattan, now redeveloped around Lincoln Center.
Sun Chong – New Orleans, Louisiana
One of New Orleans’ most exciting culinary newcomers, Sun Chong represents the entrepreneurial vision of Larry Morrow, a restaurateur who aims to build “one of the largest Black-owned hospitality groups in the South.” Located in the French Quarter at 240 Decatur Street, Sun Chong opened in 2023 and is named after Morrow’s 69-year-old maternal grandmother, who immigrated to the United States from Korea at the age of 23.
The restaurant features Korean-inspired cuisine alongside other Asian-influenced dishes, with many recipes coming directly from Morrow’s grandmother, who works closely with chef Christian Green. The menu offers creative fusion items, such as crawfish fried rice, kimchi and pork dumplings, spicy Korean-style fried chicken, and a “baco,” an Asian bun stuffed with spicy pork, teriyaki beef, or fried shrimp on French bread.
Join us in celebrating the best Black-owned restaurants around the country. The winner of the 2025 Travel Noire Award for Best Black-owned Restaurant drops on Wednesday, September 17. Head to the Travel Noire Awards hub to see the nominees and winners shaping travel and culture.
