Boston is a vibrant Massachusetts city with a ton of attractions for American and international tourists. It is known for its exciting sports culture, great arts and theater offerings, and impressive culinary scene. The city is one of the most diverse in the nation, a fact most evident in its wide variety of restaurants serving different types of delicacies. Many of these eateries are Black-owned and operated, welcoming foodies from all over the diaspora and beyond. Here are 11 Black-owned Boston restaurants to visit.
Restaurante Cesaria
This Cape Verdean eatery prides itself on serving high-quality, traditional food with impeccable service. The colorful ambiance features African wall art and bright murals. It’s a warm and welcoming compliment to the food. Adding to the authenticity of the atmosphere, artists and musicians perform morna folk music. The whole experience makes you feel like you’ve been whisked away to the sunny African island nation.
- Location: Dorchester
- Type of Cuisine: Cape Verdean Cuisine
- Menu Spotlight: Mandioca Frita
- Before You Go: Travelers can also enjoy live music and specially curated events at this Black-owned Boston restaurant.
Cafe Sauvage
From husband and wife Antoine and Anaïs Lambert comes this unique French bistro. Born and raised in France, the duo wanted to bring a taste of home to the States. Cafe Sauvage incorporates flavors from cuisines influenced by French food. You’ll notice influences from Moroccan, Italian, Tunisian, West African, Spanish and Vietnamese cuisine. Cafe Sauvage is a brisk bonjour with a sunny side up of Boston realness.
- Location: Boston
- Type of Cuisine: French
- Menu Spotlight: Ratatouille Lasagne
- Before You Go: If you’re looking for a French twist on brunch, check out Cafe Sauvage’s brunch special happening on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings.
Jamaica Mi Hungry
Chef Ernie Campbell fell in love with food as a young boy growing up in Jamaica watching his mother and sister cook. When he got older, he worked in the kitchens of resorts and hotels in Negril. After moving to the US in 2001, he longed for a taste of home, but soon realized there wasn’t much Caribbean food in Boston. In 2012, he began offering private chef services that would eventually lead to him creating his own restaurant, food truck, and full-service catering business. Customers rave about the restaurant’s curry goat, coconut chicken, and pulled jerk pork.
- Location: Southwest Corridor Park
- Type of Cuisine: Caribbean
- Menu Spotlight: Coconut Chicken
- Before You Go: Although Jamaica Mi Hungry has grown in popularity over the years, owner Chef Ernie is still in the back cooking up food like when the restaurant first opened.
Mida
Mida, an Italian word translating to “he gives me,” serves traditional Italian fare made using fresh seasonal ingredients. Chef Douglass Campbell has over 15 years of experience working around the world in places like Paris, New York, and Thailand. These experiences influence his culinary style and expertise in the kitchen. The restaurant has a location in South End as well as one in Newton and East Boston.
- Location: Multiple locations
- Type of Cuisine: Italian
- Menu Spotlight: Braised Pork Tagliatelle
- Before You Go: For a slice of Italian pizza greatness, check out Mida’s APizza location on Causeway Street.
Suya Joint
This sophisticated bar and lounge brings the exotic flavors of West Africa to Boston. The owner, Nigerian chef Cecelia Lizotte, came from a family of great cooks. Thus, she learned to create delicious meals as a youngster and further developed her skills over the years. Suya Joint prepares its food fresh from scratch and seasons it to perfection using authentic Nigerian spices and herbs. Try the popular Ayamase stew, Suya kabobs, or dry-fried goat meat.
- Location: Boston
- Type of Cuisine: West African
- Menu Spotlight: Beef Suya
- Before You Go: Suya Joint also has gluten-free options for guests visiting with food allergies.
Bred Gourmet
Deemed one of Boston’s favorite burgers by Good Morning America, Bred Gourmet is connecting guests through one of the country’s most beloved dishes. Everyone loves a good burger and Bred Gourmet has been doing it the right way for over a decade. They’ve perfected the smoked burger and a slew of other delicious sandwiches, sides, and beverages that inspire guests and fill bellies and hearts. The menu at Bred’s is standout and extraordinary with burgers topped with everything from smoked bacon to plantains. In 2021, the restaurant won the Best of Boston award for its incredible burgers that have made it a community favorite.
- Location: Dorchester
- Type of Cuisine: Gourmet Burgers
- Menu Spotlight: Kobe Sando
- Before You Go: If you can’t make it to Bred’s Lower Mills location, you can also find them at their pop-up location at the Innovation & Design Building in Boston’s Seaport area.
M&M BBQ
For delicious, down-home barbecue, there’s no better place in Boston than M&M’s. The restaurant was opened by a couple, Marion and Maurice, back in 1982. Years later, their grandson Geo elevated the family-owned brand from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar location in Dorchester, MA. Everyone in Boston knows M&M is the place to go for juicy, tender ribs. However, their menu has continued to blossom throughout the years to include an array of succulent meats, incredible sandwiches, and soul food-inspired sides. The restaurant has a partnership with the Dorchester Brewing Company and made its home there in 2020.
- Location: Dorchester
- Type of Cuisine: Barbecue
- Menu Spotlight: Geneva Ave
- Before You Go: The online reviews for M&M prove that the proof is in the sauce as people from across the country rave about their experience at the restaurant.
Boston Cookie Kitchen
For delicious pastries delivered right to your door while visiting town, the Boston Cookie Kitchen has you covered. The online cookie vendor has all of your favorite cookie flavors and a few you’ve probably never heard of before. They’re experts at creating new delicious cookie types including their Banana Pudding, Birthday, and Coconut Cream cookies. Every month they switch it up, providing a new group of specialty cookies for customers to choose from. Cookies are always the priority at the Boston Cookie Kitchen.
- Location: Online
- Type of Cuisine: Gourmet Cookies
- Menu Spotlight: Smores’ Cookie Box
- Before You Go: These Boston cookie-extraordinaires ship cookies nationwide. If you find something you like while in town, they will send it to your house to greet you when make it back home.
The Hut Island Vybes
The Hut Island Vybes has authentic Jamaican vibes and food when exploring Boston. The owner, Jermaine, handcrafted the menu and restaurant ambiance based on his experience growing up in Jamaica. Now, his restaurant is a local favorite. The menu sticks closely to the foundations of Caribbean cuisine. You’ll find your jerk and brown stew chicken along with oxtails, and a few fish and seafood dishes. Travelers can also get a piece of Coco Bread, fried festival, beef patties, and more.
- Location: Westwood
- Type of Cuisine: Caribbean
- Menu Spotlight: Curry Shrimp
- Before You Go: Online reviewers brag about the incredible experiences they’ve had at Hut Island Vybes and the restaurant has a 4.4 Yelp rating.
Breakfast Ninjas
Breakfast Ninjas are the nomads of the Boston food scene. You never know where this pop-up-style restaurant is going to be next. However, if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon one of their events, you’re in for a real treat. These culinary ninjas have perfected breakfast. Merging traditional American breakfast classics with elevated ingredients to create a new twist on breakfast. If you can find them, Breakfast Ninjas is the go-to spot for breakfast and brunch in Boston.
- Location: Pop-up Restaurant
- Type of Cuisine: Breakfast
- Menu Spotlight: Double Sammy
- Before You Go: Head over to the Breakfast Ninjas Instagram page and turn on your notifications to find out where the pop-up will be in Massachusetts.
Rock City Pizza
For the ultimate pizza vibes in Boston, be sure to slide over to Rock City Pizza. The Black-owned pizza parlor has everything a pizza-lover could dream of. They have exceptional service, delicious calzones, and a variety of specialty pizza pies. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, they also serve loaded wraps, wings, burgers, and more. A trip to Boston is incomplete without hitting up Rock City Pizza before heading home.
- Location: Boston
- Type of Cuisine: Pizza
- Menu Spotlight: Remix Pizza
- Before You Go: Rock City Pizza also has a second location in Randolph, MA about 40 minutes from Boston.
Boston is home to much more than historic tea parties. The Northeastern city has blossomed through the ages, and so has its Black-owned restaurant community. In one of the country’s most historic cities, these Black-owned restaurants are charting a new history and legacy in Beantown.
