Celebrating Grand Rapids means celebrating the people, traditions, cultures, and of course, food! This story was first published in 2018 commemorate Black History Month, and Experience Grand Rapids has updated it every year since. This year, I'm happy be the one to help to make current the list of outstanding (and delicious) Black-owned businesses that contribute to Grand Rapids' local food and beverage scene. If you know of a Black-owned restaurant that isn't on this list, please comment below so it can be added.
Keep in mind some establishments may have modified hours and services, so please check their listing or website for their current hours of operation.
Now, let's take a look at some beloved Black-owned restaurants in the Grand Rapids area:
Southern Cuisine and Comfort
If you’re looking for the kind of food that gives your soul and belly comfort or tastes almost like your grandma’s homemade dish (only because no one cooks better than grandma, right?) then you’ll want to give Grand Rapids’ southern cuisine and comfort restaurants a try. Be prepared to enjoy candied yams, collard greens, BBQ, macaroni and cheese, chicken, ribs, and more. My personal favorite? Forty Acres Acres Soul Kitchen. They have a catfish platter that is out of this world!
333 Hall St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 288-9412
Cuisine: Southern Comfort, BBQ
Serving southern cuisine to Grand Rapidians is the owner of The Candied Yam, Jessica Ann Tyson.
Photo by The Candied Yam
2305 44th St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 551-3509
Cuisine: Southern, Soul Food
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Catering
- Delivery
- Vegan/Vegetarian Meal Options
- Serves Breakfast
1553 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 214-7060
Cuisine: Southern, Soul Food
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Serves Breakfast and Sunday Soul Food Dinners
Owner-operators of award-winnning Daddy Pete's BBQ, Cory and Tarra Davis.
Photo by Daddy Pete's BBQ
2921 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 426-8439
Cuisine: Southern Comfort, BBQ
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Catering
- Food Truck (seasonal)
- Vegetarian Options
Owners, Darel Ross and Lewis Williams, opened Forty Acres Soul Kitchen in the Uptown neighborhood, an authentically American restaurant and bar with a resilient, unapologetic style.
Photo by Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
1059 Wealthy St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 723-9770
Cuisine: Southern; Soul Food
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Catering
- Vegetarian/Vegan Options
2521 Brookside Dr SE
Grand Rapids MI, 49507
(616) 329-4101 (call)
(616) 634-2903 (text)
Cuisine: Soul, southern comfort
Available Saturdays at the Fulton St. Farmer’s Market. They also have pop-ups occasionally, which are announced on their Facebook page.
Cuisine: Plant based, vegan
On-the-Go or Late-Night Bites
If you don’t have time to dine in, then grab a meal to-go! Many of these places serve classic American fare late into the night for additional convenience. Whether you have a craving for a juicy burger, golden fried chicken, or southern-style fish, then you’re sure to enjoy a meal from any one of these locations. You may notice a franchise restaurant or two, but they are being recognized for their Black ownership.
4319 Kalamazoo Ave SE Suite H
Grand Rapids MI, 49508
(616) 608-7498
Cuisine: Cheesesteaks, wings, fries
Cheniqua Pinder owns the Chicken Coop, a regional chain, on Kalamazoo Avenue.
Photo by Experience Grand Rapids
1156 Division Ave. S
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 245-8241
Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night
1936 Eastern Ave SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 278-3142
Cuisine: Fast Food, *Late Night
*Currently Cindy's Chicken Coop closes at 7pm but hours might update in the future for late night dining.
1325 W. Washington St.
Greenville, MI
(616) 536-1757
Cuisine: All American, Fast Food
- Mobile Food Trailer
- Take Out
- Order ahead option
Hall of Fame Burgers features a kids' menu.
Photo by Experience Grand Rapids
655 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 608-6748
Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night
3697 Alpine Ave. NW
Comstock Park, MI 49321
Cuisine: Breakfast, American
1721 Madison Ave. SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 258-8002
Cuisine: All American, Fast Food
- Takeout
- Dine-In
- Delivery
- Catering
1808 Monroe Ave Nw #2
Grand Rapids MI 49505
(616) 361-9222
Cuisine: Wings, Seafood, Chicken, American
1419 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 805-3353
Cuisine: All American, Fast Food
1117 Wealthy St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 233-9744
Cuisine: Seafood
1500 44th St.
Wyoming, MI 49509
(616) 530-3999
2020 Eastern Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 570-0245
Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night
1604 Diamond Ave NE.
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 279-2181
Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night
- Take Out
- Catering
- Delivery
Caribbean & African Cuisine
The Black food culture, just like the people, is not a monolith. The experiences and traditions of Black folks - whether they are of the African diaspora or from the motherland - vary greatly. Black culture is richly diverse and represented by some of the best cuisines from both inside and outside the United States. The spices, seasonings, and flavorful food from these Caribbean and African regions will leave you coming back for more, time and time again.
Visit these restaurants to enjoy some of your Caribbean favorites like jerk chicken, roti, festival or goat curry; or Ethiopian favorites like ziizil, tibs watt and injerra. These establishments have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too!
Dodlie Benoit, daughter of Olga Benoit, who founded the restaurant now oversees much of its operation.
Photo by Experience Grand Rapids
1441 Wealthy St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 233-4141
Cuisine: Caribbean, Haitian, Creole
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Catering
- Vegetarian Options
421 Norwood Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 459-3383
Cuisine: Ethiopian
- Dine In (Takes Reservations)
- Take Out
- Catering
- Delivery
- Vegan/Vegetarian Meal Options
4301 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 350-0009
Cuisine: Ethiopian
- Take Out
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Pictured is owner, Vincent McIntosh and his father. Irie Kitchen offers catering as well as dine in/take out.
Photo by Irie Kitchen
6630 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 512-4163
Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Catering
- Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten Free Options
530 Division Ave. S
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 458-7875
Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican
- Dine In
- Take Out
- Catering
- Delivery
- Vegetarian Options
956 Fulton St. E
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 222-1169
Cuisine: Ethiopian
- Dine In
- Cash Only
- Take Out
- Vegetarian With Vegan Options
1712 44th Street SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
616) 900-8817
Cuisine: Caribbean, African
- Delivery
- Take Out
- Online Ordering
- Catering
- Vegetarian Options
Specialty Food & Drinks
This craft beverage capital has several Black-owned businesses that can serve up your next cup of joe, boost your health with a juice cleanse, provide an ice-cold beer to pair with your dinner, or even please your sweet tooth with delicious popcorn or shaved ice. There is even a new Black-owned lounge in town! Check them out below.
Located in the Studio Park area, Jermale Eddie, co-owner of Malamiah Juice Bar, serves healthy and delicious smoothies, juices, and acai bowls.
Photo by Photographer: Teri Genovese
752 Fulton St W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 451-6061
Cuisine: Coffee Shop, Specialty Drinks, Breakfast/Lunch Menu
Terry Rostic (left) and Jamaal Ewing (right) of Black Calder Brewing, Co.
Photo by Fearless Brother LLC
Brewery with online ordering.
Cuisine: Offers a variety of beer styles focusing on imperial stouts, barrel and wood-aged beers, fruited ales, kettle sours, IPA’s, lagers, and craft ciders.
1507 Wealthy St. S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
616) 608-3579
Cuisine: Cereal and breakfast bar
35 Division Ave S.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 719-1191
Cuisine: Wine & Jazz Lounge
- Take Out (Curbside)
- Dine In
96 Monroe Center St. NW, Suite #100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 459-0082
Cuisine: Coffee Shop, Specialty Drinks, Breakfast/Lunch Menu
Cuisine: Shaved Ice
122 Oaks St. SW Suite 110
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 914-4043
Cuisine: Juice Bar, Specialty Drinks
- Take Out
- Dine-in
- Catering
15 Ionia Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 260-6466
Cuisine: Specialty Popcorn
1167 Madison Ave SE
Grand Rapids MI, 49507
(616) 427-3900
Cuisine: breakfast, lunch, coffee, tea
Robinson's Popcorn
1034 28th St. SW
Wyoming, Michigan 49509
(616) 734-6766
Cuisine: Specialty Popcorn
New to Grand Rapids. The South East Market offers produce from local, Black Farms and local, sustainably raised meat and poultry.
Photo by Experience Grand Rapids
More Food and Bev Options
Access to affordable fresh food is a scarcity in some of our urban corridors. However, shopping options are bubbling up in local food deserts making it easier to access "healthy food options through dignified means, education opportunities and community empowerment."
1220 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507
(616) 724-4404
Art & Culture
-
by Shayna Haynes Heard
photo by Leda Theres for The 49507 Project. Artist: E'lla Webber.
Must
Read
-
6 min story
The 49507 Project is a liberated public arts project unlike anything that I’ve seen in West…
Beer City
-
by Ben Darcie
photo by Fearless Brother LLC
Must
Read
-
12 min story
Amidst the chaos of 2020, Black Calder Brewing Company found itself in a supremely unusual position…
