Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It’s packed with unforgettable adventures, iconic landmarks, and must-visit spots. You can explore Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed, or channel your inner Rocky Balboa by running up the famous steps of the Museum of Art.
While you’re soaking in all the history and culture, be sure to feed both your soul and your appetite at some of these Black-owned restaurants serving up some of the best food in the city.
Friday Saturday Sunday
The winner of the 2023 James Beard’s Outstanding Restaurant Award, Friday Saturday Sunday is one of the longest-running restaurants in Philadelphia. It’s been open for 40 years. However, the new concept was born in 2014 when married couple Chad and Hanna Williams purchased the restaurant. Locals and travelers love the evolving eight-course tasting menu curated by Chef Chad. Hanna runs the front-of-house to create the incredibly romantic ambiance that guests love to experience. Although they kept the original name, Friday Saturday Sunday has been completely reimagined into one of the best restaurants in the city.
- Location: 261 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone Number: (215) 546-4232
- Owners: Chef-owner Chad Williams and his wife, owner-manager Hanna Williams
- Type of Cuisine: New American
- Menu Spotlight: Eight-course tasting menu
- Before You Go: This restaurant is very popular and some folks say it’s difficult to snag a table. Be sure to make reservations well ahead of time if you want to dine at this Philly favorite.
Star Fusion Express
Created by owner and chef Darlene Jones, Star Fusion Express is an incredible dining concept where multiple cuisines collide into one. The restaurant has huge variety of wings, each flavor inspired by a different culture. There’s also a lot of Asian and Caribbean influence throughout the menu. There’s something for everyone here especially if you love Thai, Jamaican, or American-style cuisine. The restaurant also offers to-go and delivery through for those who want to dine in their hotel room.
- Location: 5178 Parkside Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
- Phone Number: (215) 307-3111
- Owner and Chef: Darlene Jones
- Type of Cuisine: Thai, Jamaican, and American fusion
- Menu Spotlight: Various specialty wings
- Before You Go: There are 17 wing flavors inspired by cuisines around the world.
Down North Pizza
With a team of Black men leading the way, Down North Pizza offers more than just pieces of cheesy pie. The restaurant has an eclectic menu also offering wings and specialty fries. The team works hand in hand with the community to help employ formerly incarcerated persons who need a second chance at life. A pizza parlor with the community at the forefront, Down North Pizza is the slice of cheesy goodness travelers didn’t realize they needed.
- Location: 2804 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19132
- Phone Number: (215) 377-9787
- Owner: Muhammad Abdul-Hadi
- Type of Cuisine: Pizza
- Menu Spotlight: The Flip Side
- Before You Go: Down North Pizza is a mission-led for-profit restaurant that gives a fair chance for employment to formerly incarcerated individuals.
Farina Pasta Bar
Farina Pasta Bar is a cozy spot just like a casual Italian eatery should be. Their team says passion is the secret ingredient. However, their handmade pasta noodles and sauces made from scratch play a major role in making this restaurant popular with locals and travelers. The culinary team at the restaurant is invested in providing the highest quality ingredients that keep guests coming back for more.
- Location: 132 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone Number: (267) 984-3816
- Owner: Daniel Lee
- Type of Cuisine: Casual Italian Eatery
- Menu Spotlight: South Philly Alfredo
- Before You Go: If you can’t get to Farina’s brick-and-mortar pasta bar, you can catch its food truck parked at different locations and events throughout the city.
Doro Bet
For delicious, authentic Ethiopian food, travelers must stop by Doro Bet. The restaurant is a part of a trio of eateries in Philadelphia serving Middle Eastern and Ethiopian dishes. Doro Bet is the tro’s Ethiopian chicken house with plenty of seasoned, fresh meats and sides for all. Battered in teff flours and seasoned to perfection, Doro Bet has the fried chicken game on lock. They also have an abundance of delicious sauces to add even more spice to your meals.
- Location: 4533 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
- Phone Number: (215) 921-6558
- Owners: Sisters Mebruka Kane and Hayat Ali
- Type of Cuisine: Ethiopian
- Menu Spotlight: Ethiopian fried chicken
- Before You Go: Doro Bet has many vegan and gluten-free options.
Two Locals Brewery
Located in the uCity Square neighborhood of Philly, Two Locals Brewery is the brainchild of two Black men coming together to make something greater. Owners Richard and Mengistu hope to change the lack of representation of people of color in the brewery industry. Their establishment became the first Black-owned brewery in Pennsylvania when it opened at the beginning of 2024. Its menu includes a variety of beers, lagers, wines, and cocktails perfect for happy hour outings when in Philly.
- Location: 3675 Market St Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Phone Number: (267) 969-3837
- Owners: Brothers Richard and Mengistu Koilor
- Type of Cuisine: American
- Menu Spotlight: Nubian Brown Ale
- Before You Go: Food is available at Liberty Kitchen.
Amina
Amina is a lovely restaurant that combines fine dining with soul food favorites. The owner and chef aim to reimagine the cuisine in a way guests have never experienced before. Dedicated to creating a remarkable journey through flavor and taste, Amina is a unique dining experience that is unforgettable when in Philly.
- Location: 104 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone Number: (267) 324-3745
- Owner: Felicia Wilson
- Type of Cuisine: West African, American Southern, Philly classics
- Menu Spotlight: Cheesesteak Beignets, deviled eggs
- Before You Go: Amina is only open for dinner during the weekdays. The restaurant opens at 10 a.m. on the weekend.
Bake’n Bacon
Before heading back home, travelers have to visit Philly’s first restaurant completely inspired by bacon. The restaurant has curated over 20 different sandwiches using thick-cut bacon slices and other fresh ingredients. Their bread is baked fresh daily and complimented with different cuts of bacon fused into every dish. They also have a food truck you may catch driving around the city.
- Location: 1148 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
- Phone Number: (267) 222-0084
- Owners: Chef Justin Coleman and Kelvin Alexander
- Type of Cuisine: American
- Menu Spotlight: Bacon Caramel Sauce, pound cake
- Before You Go: The restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Pretty Girls Cook
This Northern Liberties establishment is a brunch favorite. The vibe is stellar, the decor has doses of sophistication, and the food, as the restaurant promises, “looks good and tastes better.” The brunch “jawns” will deliver on taste and portions while delighting your tastebuds. Anyone who wants to enjoy seafood restaurants in Philly will likely fall in love with this spot.
- Location: 1016 N Marshall St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
- Phone Number: (215) 278-2260
- Owner: Dominique Shields
- Type of Cuisine: American comfort foods
- Menu Spotlight: Any dish with salmon or crab
- Before You Go: This restaurant is closed on Mondays and takes no phone orders. Also, be mindful that there are only high-top chairs.
Prime Fusion Afro Grill & Lounge
This is definately one of the best Black-owned restaurants in Philadelphia if you want delicious West African flavors. Brought to the Graduate Hospital area by way of the owner’s roots in Nigeria, patrons will enjoy classics of the cuisine like beef suya, puff puff, and egusi soup. If you’re feeling fancy, go for the “24K wings” covered in gold leaf. Visitors love the bartenders here, so stop by for an alcoholic beverage or mocktail.
- Location: 2425 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146
- Phone Number: (267) 708-6836
- Owner: Anthony Daramola
- Type of Cuisine: West African
- Menu Spotlight: Oxtails, jollof rice
- Before You Go: This spot serves hookah and is 21+ after 7 p.m.
Booker’s Restaurant & Bar
This is another of the city’s gems for good brunch. If you want to indulge in all of the weekend classics like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, or steak and eggs, this spot will be perfect. For those who enjoy alcohol, the Champagne Brunch includes a mimosa flight.
- Location: 5021 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
- Phone Number: (215) 883-0960
- Owners: Husband and wife Tracey and Cheri Syphax
- Type of Cuisine: American, Southern
- Menu Spotlight: Chicken and waffles
- Before You Go: Reservations are encouraged, particularly on the weekends.
SOUTH Jazz Kitchen
A list of the Black-owned restaurants in Philadelphia wouldn’t be complete without a mention of SOUTH Jazz Kitchen, one of the city’s finest places to dine, period. You can sit in the dining room, the jazz club, the courtyard, or the bar or lounge. In addition to the menus and high-level service, visitors return for the atmosphere, supplemented by live jazz.
- Location: 600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Phone Number: (215) 600-2049
- Owners: Brothers Robert and Benjamin Bynum, the latter of which is the executive chef.
- Type of Cuisine: Southern
- Menu Spotlight: The sweet potato cheesecake
- Before You Go: Get information on upcoming jazz performances and buy tickets on the establishment’s website. A 20% service gratuity is added to checks in the dining room, jazz club, bar, and outdoor courtyard. Avoid wearing sneakers, as you might not get in.
Jim’s West
This spot is an unmissable stop for cheesesteaks in Philly. Although the establishment has undergone controversy and some legal woes over the “Jim’s” name, there’s no argument that locals belove this place’s cheesesteaks, hoagies, and burgers.
- Location: 431 N 62nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19151
- Phone Number: (215) 747-6617
- Owner: Cortez Johnson, formerly the Proetto family
- Type of Cuisine: Philly cheesesteaks, quick eats
- Menu Spotlight: The cheesesteaks
- Before You Go: Other “Jim’s” cheesesteak locations aren’t owned by Johnson, so support Jim’s West if you want to show love to a Black-owned business.
Kilimandjaro
If you are in West Philly’s University City area, Kilimandjaro will delight your tastebuds with Senegalese food. You’ll leave with a satisfied stomach, as the menu includes jollof, halal meats, fried fish, plantain, and more. While there, also try the ginger-based drinks, which are raved about by many guests.
- Location: 4301 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Phone Number: (215) 387-1970
- Owner: Youma Ba
- Type of Cuisine: Senegalese, West African
- Menu Spotlight: Fried tilapia, ginger-based drinks
- Before You Go: If you’re going for the fish, you can choose between fried tilapia or red snapper.
Toast Cafe
This spot’s fun menu includes “Main Jawns,” “French Kiss” French toast options, and “Sneaky Links” that’ll slap your tastebuds with something good. Other things offered include signature drinks, kid-friendly plates, and Southern-inspired sides that are only available on Sundays. Come here for a cute breakfast or brunch.
- Location: 500 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19143
- Phone Number: (267) 603-1303
- Owner: Jae Roche
- Type of Cuisine: Breakfast
- Menu Spotlight: French toast, chicken and waffles, oxtail and grits
- Before You Go: This spot is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Philadelphia has a unique flair unlike any place in America. Rich with history and culture, it’s not a surprise the city has become a melting pot of cuisine and experiences. The city is overflowing with Black-owned restaurants ready to serve the best food and service. Depending on what you have a taste for, there are more than a few options to choose from on a trip to Philly. The many offerings include fine dining, West African cuisine, and brunch fare.
