ExcellentBlack-Owned Restaurants in San Francisco
One way to experience Black culture in SF is with your meals. Across the city, you'll find Black-owned restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.
These San Francisco restaurants owned by people of color showcase the undeniable spirit of San Francisco and our love for the perfect bite. These chefs and owners are serving up a diverse array of culinary creations, from soul food to Mexican and everything in between. Find your new favorite and support these local Black icons of the San Francisco food scene.
Bayview
Gumbo Social
5176 3rd Street
At Gumbo Social, gumbo is a way of life. Try their namesake gumbo, either chicken, turkey, or vegan. They even have po-boys, hoe cakes, greens, and vegan pork rinds to complete the experience.
Heart of the City: Bayview
Learn from the residents and business owners of the Bayview about why this neighborhood is the heart of the city.
ExploreCivic Center
Moya
121 Ninth Street
Moya serves up modern Ethiopian-American fair in a light and airy space. One of their most popular dishes is the Dorho Tibsi, a chicken breast marinated and stir-fried with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and berbere. Don't forget that Ethiopian food is best eaten with your hands!
Z Zoul Cafe
295 Eddy Street
"Zoul" means friend in Sudanese; but once you sample some of Chef Aref Elgaali's traditional recipes at Z Zoul Cafe, you'll feel more like family. Aref's wife and co-owner, Dalia, is famous for her irresisitable rice pudding.
Embarcadero
Peaches Patties
San Francisco Ferry Building
Located inside the iconic Ferry Building, Peaches Patties serves up some of the most delicious Jamaican patties, jerk chicken, plantains, and other Jamaican favorites.
Queen's Louisiana Po-Boys Cafe
33 The Embarcadero
Louisiana native Danielle Reese brought her favorite childhood dishes to San Francisco with Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Cafe. Try her favorites like seafood gumbo, cajun fish tacos, or a po-boy sandwich. She also included a few local SF favorites like clam chowder, the Wharf Fiesta, and delicious garlic fries.
Teranga
4 Embarcadero Center
Teranga, which means hospitality in Senegalese, is precisely what you'll find here. One of Teranga's most popular dishes is maafe, a traditional Senegalese peanut stew that features kabocha, butternut, sweet potato, and carrots served with new crop Jasmine rice. Experience their contemporary African cuisine in this simple and welcoming restaurant.
Fillmore
Sheba Jazz Lounge
1419 Fillmore Street
Visit Sheba Jazz Lounge for a taste of delicious Ethiopian food in a cozy setting. With live music Wednesday through Sunday, the lounge's rhythmic melodies and energy-filled environment are sure to enchant every visitor. Paired with the piano's song, the Ethiopian dishes and inspired cocktails will elevate your tastebuds to new heights.
Mission District
Anthony's Cookies
1417 Valencia Street
If it's sweets you want, you have to visit Anthony's Cookies on Valencia Street. Favorites among patrons include cookies and cream, chocolate chip, and toffee chip. They'll even serve you a glass of ice cold milk to wash your selections down.
Bissap Baobab
2243 Mission Street
Enjoy West African food at Bissap Baobab. This restaurant's colorful atmosphere, reasonably priced dishes, and live music and dance make it a place where 'teranga' — which means hospitality in Wolof — truly flourishes. The dancing keeps customers buzzing, but it's the tender, flavorful lamb that fuels their moves all night long.
Cafe Ethiopia
878 Valencia Street
You can enjoy East African food at Cafe Ethiopia. Vegetarians love the plant-based focus of their menu, while everyone appreciates their generous portions.
El Nuevo Frutilandia
3077 24th Street
For authentic Afro-Caribbean cuisine, get whisked away to the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico with El Nuevo Frutilandia's bold Caribbean spices and tropical-inspired menu items. Customers rave about the mofongo, which is sure to silence your stomach's growls.
Mission Bowling Club
3176 17th Street
Mission Bowling Club serves up your favorite bar bites while you and your friends compete for a few frames on one of their six bowling lanes. Even if you decide not to bowl, the club's selection of both high-quality food and drinks — far beyond what you'd expect at a typical bowling alley — makes this spot a must-visit.
Nob Hill
Meski
1000 Larkin Street
NBA champion Draymond Green is making an entry into San Francisco's culinary landscape with his restaurant, Meski, located in Nob Hill. MESKI showcases contemporary Afro-Latin cuisine with Ethiopian influence .Green has partnered with restaurateur Guma Fassil and Top Chef alumnus Nelson German to create the 92-seat, multi-level space. Guests can enjoy an adventurous bar program and a subterranean lounge, ideal for intimate gatherings.
Richmond
Osteria Bella
3848 Geary Boulevard
Dive into delectable pizzas and antipasto plates at this Richmond eatery. Osteria Bella is also known for its wide selection of vermouth, giving you endless cocktail options.
Taquerias Los Mayas
331 Clement Street
You can create your own tacos at Taqueria Los Mayas. They are known for their panuchos, crispy tacos that are a specialty of the Yucatan.
Tastebuds
600 Fifth Avenue
If soul food is what you're after, Tastebuds is the place to go. Serving Southern staples such as fried chicken and waffles, southern shrimp and grits, and chicken fried biscuits for breakfast and lunch, Tastebuds is the place to be for an exceptional brunch experience. Let's not forget the bottomless mimosas that customers can't stop raving about!
SoMa
International Smoke
301 Mission Street
International Smoke can't be missed, both for its menu and its pageantry. Certain dishes are served beneath a glass dome so that none of the aromas can escape on their way to your table.
Little Skillet
360 Ritch Street
Tucked away on a tiny side street just minutes from Oracle Park is Little Skillet. Known for its deliciously extensive menu and famous chicken and waffles, Little Skillet will silence any fried chicken craving.
Local Kitchen
330 First Street
Local Kitchen has an eclectic menu, offering everything from fried okra to a burrata salad, pizzas, and yellow curry.
Sextant Coffee Roasters
1415 Folsom Street
Sextant Coffee is the perfect place for a pick-me-up, with its strong brews sourced primarily from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Colombia. Many of the farmers Sextant partners with are their family and friends, ensuring the sustainability of both the source and cultivation process. This roastery caramelizes its beans at a specific rate so the roast is neither too light nor too dark, highlighting the unique attributes and complexities of each coffee.
Sunset
New Eritrea Restaurant
907 Irving Street
Close to Golden Gate Park, you'll find New Eritrea Restaurant, serving up fantastic homestyle dishes from the Horn of Africa. Customers consistently praise the flaky beef sambusas, hearty platters, and spongy injera bread. If you're a vegetarian, you'll be pleased to see plenty of meat-free options available.
Sunset Cantina
3414 Judah Street
Closer to the beach, be sure to stop at Sunset Cantina for flautas, tortas, or the Machete: a giant, machete-shaped cheesy taco, stuffed with your choice of meat.
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