If you fancy yourself a foodie and like to frequent restaurants, you’re in luck. There is no shortage of Black-owned spots across the country that deliver incredibly tasty meals that reflect the rich and diverse culinary history of the Black diaspora. From coast to coast to coast, this list is just a start and a great way to support local, Black-owned restaurants.
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Juke Fried Chicken
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Located in Vancouver’s Chinatown, Juke Fried Chicken delivers on its namesake promise; while Southern style fried chicken is certainly the spot’s specialty (the waffle combo also looks tempting), the team offers other items such as BBQ pork ribs, peanut sesame slaw, crispy fried brussels sprouts, jalapeno cheddar cornbread, hand cut chicken nuggets and its line of specialty sauces, among other options.
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PG’s Jamaican Restaurant
Location: White Rock, British Columbia
Jamaican food is known for its spicy, bold flavours. And while Canada (and Toronto especially) is rich with Jamaican restaurants, you’ll quickly discover each person has their own go-to favourites. PG’s Jamaican Restaurant is one such spot, located just outside of Surrey, British Columbia in White Rock. It’s been in business since 1992 (so you know it’s good) and has been dishing out quintessential Jamaican staples such as Ackee and Codfish (sometimes called saltfish), Curry Goat and Oxtail Stew. You can now also find crispy fried chicken on the menu too.
Boukan
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Best-rated Haitian restaurant in Toronto, Boukan is spearheaded by culinary creative, Marc-Elie Lissade. Noticing a void in the city’s bustling food scene, Lissade stepped in to fill a void in December 2019 with his French-Creole street fare. If you’re unfamiliar with Haitian food, discover next favourites such as chicken fritay with plantains, Haitian beef stew (Bouyon) and the delectably sweet beignets.
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Aunty Lucy’s Burger Shop
Location: Toronto, Ontario
If you live in Toronto and know your burgers, Aunty Lucy’s Burger Shop is likely already on your radar. Known for making comfort favourites, but with a personal touch, Aunty Lucy’s offers up the likes of grilled cheese, but with Kelewele (pronounced Kay-lay-way-lay) — a spicy fried plantain side dish that’s also a popular Ghanian street food. If veggie eats are more your speed, the Labadi burger is a great option, so-named for a popular beach in Ghana. It includes fried plantain, caramelized onion, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and Aunty Lucy’s secret Labadi sauce – all between a potato bun.
Baccanalle
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
This award-winning spot will satiate your hankering for Caribbean staples such as jerk chicken, or curried options. Offering up family-style eats, Baccanalle also has a robust vegan menu (the vegan curry feast looks delish). Bonus: Baccanalle also offers meal kits, gifts, and catering, as well as some artisanal pantry staples you can buy at local farmer’s markets.
Mokili
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Voted one of Complex Canada’s best new restaurants for 2021, Mokili not only brings the diverse street food flavours of the African content to Montreal, it also prioritizes using farm-to-table, locally-grown African greens for its delectable dishes. These grown and harvested by Congolese farmers from the Montreal area. The Mayebo dish, pictured below, for example includes whichever green is in season; from amaranth leaves to basella vine leaves to sweet potato leaves, any of these work with the dish’s grilled oyster mushroom and yam purée. Find dishes from Ghana to Senegal and Mali to Sudan, you’re sure to find memorable options that linger in your memory as much as on the palette.
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Tropikàl Restobar
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Top Chef Canada Season 9 veteran and Wall of Chefs judge, executive chef Jae-Anthony Dougan is behind Montreal’s vibrant Tropikàl Restobar. Focusing on Caribbean, West African and Afro-Latin fare is not only one way to unify the Black diaspora colonialism has artificially divided, but Chef Dougan’s work is an intentional pushback on an industry not traditionally known for its diversity or giving BIPOC cuisines their due. Expect to find items such as rasta pasta with with 6 ounce lobster tail or oxtail tacos on its menu.
Duo de Chef
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Those who know, know: with Montreal being the likeliest destination for Canada’s Haitian diaspora, the city is ripe with incredible restaurants serving the island’s staple dishes. Duo de Chef is a must-visit on this list and the restaurant has earned a reputation for its warm hospitality, tasty eats, and generous portions. Expect classic comfort food favourites, like its Mac ’n Cheese and ribs, but with a unique island twist.
Mary’s African Cuisine
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Located right in Halifax’s downtown centre, Mary’s African Cuisine sees Chef Mary Nkrumah tapping into her Ghanian heritage to deliver layered and customizable dishes such as spicy Chicken Yassa, Juicy Goat Stew, flavourful Groundnut Soup (a peanut soup served with gari fufu, yam fufu or abolo – types of dumplings) and Egusi Stew (pumpkin seed and spinach).
R&B Kitchen
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
This family-owned restaurant in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia dishes out a fusion of soul food, Caribbean flavours and traditional east coast staples. While R&B Kitchen is primarily a take-out restaurant, the takeaway offerings are no less impressive. The menu changes but the heart of R&B Kitchen won’t: sample offerings include its “Soul Bowl” Fried Chicken, Mac and Cheese, and Collard Greens, Jerk Oxtail, Curry Goat and more.
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