From soul food to Caribbean dining to fancy cocktail bars, Black-owed and operated eateries are the backbone of D.C.’s great dining culture. Whether you're looking to celebrate Black History Month or just try someplace new, here are some of our favorite Black-led eateries in the city.
Open Crumb (Anacostia)
A casual West African-inspired cafe that makes all of its bread and desserts in-house. It also has one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in the city.
Providencia (H Street NE)
This 22-seat bar was opened by a group of local bartenders and chefs including Afro-Latina baker Paola Velez. The creative cocktails are backed by a small but mighty menu, with dishes like Japanese curry tamales and plantain and hojicha tiramisu.
Cane (H Street NE)
The lunch menu at this Caribbean street food restaurant is outstanding, with warm bowls of stewed oxtail and Trini-chinese-style chicken.
Trini chicken bowl at Cane on H St. NW. (Kaela Cote-Stemmmermann/City Cast DC)
MLK Deli (Congress Heights)
One of our favorite spots to eat in Congress Heights, this small deli in the basement of a rowhouse serves an outstanding crabcake sandwich along with other casual items like sandwiches, wings, and mumbo sauce.
Doro Soul Food (Shaw)
This takeaway-only spot serves up my personal favorite fried chicken in D.C.,perfectly seasoned with a berbere spice blend. Get sides like biscuits, collards, and potato salad.
Sost (Shaw)
This hybrid concept has three levels; a cafe, restaurant, and vinyl lounge. The founders — a Eritrean-Ethiopian sibling trio — wanted the space to celebrate the African diaspora, which comes out in dishes like the Berber-Q chicken and akara fritters. They also have live music or DJs most days.
The dining room floor at Sost. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Dukem (U Street NW)
Family-owned and operated, this longstanding Ethiopian restaurant was given a well deserved shoutout by food influencer Keith Lee last year for its classic Ethiopian platters. (It was one of the few places he liked, actually.)
Grounded Cafe (Anacostia)
This new cafe has a fully plant-based menu and focuses on wellness, with a selection of golden and matcha lattes, pastries, and teas. They also have a wellness space with yoga and classes.
Dōgon (The Wharf)
Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s new Afro-Caribbean restaurant inside the Salamander DC hotel draws on D.C.’s history. This results in dishes like “Ben’s Bowl” created with Ben’s Chili Bowl, or doro wat-inspired chicken and rice.
