Celebrating Grand Rapids means celebrating the people, traditions, cultures, and of course, food! This post was initially published in 2018 commemorating Black History Month, we've updated this this post to make current this list of outstanding (and delicious) black-owned businesses that contribute to our local food and beverage scene. Due to the restrictions from COVID 19, some establishments may have modified hours and services, so please check their listing or website for their current hours of operation. 

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. Yum!

Back Door BBQ

333 Hall St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 288-9412

Cuisine: Southern Comfort, BBQ

  • Take Out
  • Catering
Jessica Ann Tyson, Owner of The Candied Yam

Serving southern cuisine to Grand Rapidians is the owner of The Candied Yam, Jessica Ann Tyson.

Photo Credit: The Candied Yam

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

Boston Soul Cafe

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.

Owner-operators of award-winnning Daddy Pete's BBQ, Cory and Tarra Davis.

Photo Credit: Daddy Pete's BBQ

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.

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 Credit: Forty Acres Soul Kitchen

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

LT’s BBQ

1636 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 285-8586

Cuisine: BBQ, Southern Comfort

  • Catering

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.

Cheniqua Pinder owns the Chicken Coop, a regional chain, on Kalamazoo Avenue.

Cheniqua Pinder owns the Chicken Coop, a regional chain, on Kalamazoo Avenue.

Photo Credit: Experience Grand Rapids

Chicken Coop

1156 Division Ave. S
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 245-8241

Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night

  • Take Out

Cindy's Chicken Coop

1936 Eastern Ave SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 278-3142

Cuisine: Fast Food, *Late Night

  • Take Out

*Currently Cindy's Chicken Coop closes at 7pm but hours might update in the future for late night dining.

Detroit's Original Coney Island

Multiple address in Kentwood, 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.

Hall of Fame Burgers features a kids' menu.

Photo Credit: Experience Grand Rapids

Hall of Fame Burgers

655 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 608-6748

Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night

  • Take Out

IHOP

3697 Alpine Ave. NW
Comstock Park, MI 49321 

Cuisine: Breakfast, American

  • Dine In
  • Take Out
  • 24/7

Load A Spud

1721 Madison Ave. SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 258-8002

Cuisine: All American, Fast Food

  • Takeout
  • Dine-In
  • Delivery
  • Catering

The O&E Eatery

1419 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(​616) 805-3353

Cuisine: All American, Fast Food

  • Take Out 

Southern Fish Fry

1117 Wealthy St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 233-9744

Cuisine: Seafood

  • Take Out

Wing Heaven

1500 44th St.
Wyoming, MI 49509
(616) 530-3999

2020 Eastern Ave. 
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 570-0245

Cuisine: Fast Food, Late Night

  • Take Out
  • Delivery 

Wing Kingz

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 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 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!

Owner/operator Olga Benoit in her restaurant, Chez Olga.

Owner/operator Olga Benoit in her restaurant, Chez Olga.

Photo Credit: Brian Kelly Photography

Chez Olga

1441 Wealthy St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 233-4141

Cuisine: Caribbean, Haitian, Creole

  • Dine In
  • Take Out
  • Catering
  • Vegetarian Options

GoJo Ethiopian Cuisine & Deli

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

Gursha Ethiopian Restaurant

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.

Pictured is owner, Vincent McIntosh and his father. Irie Kitchen offers catering as well as dine in/take out.

Photo Credit: Irie Kitchen

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

Jamaican Dave’s

530 Division Ave. S
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 458-7875

Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican

  • Dine In
  • Take Out
  • Catering
  • Delivery
  • Vegetarian Options

Little Africa Ethiopian Cuisine

956 Fulton St. E
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 222-1169

Cuisine: Ethiopian

  • Dine In
  • Cash Only
  • Take Out
  • Vegetarian With Vegan Options

Tropicala Taste

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. Check them out below.

Malamiah Juice Bar & Eatery

Located in the Studio Park area, Jermale Eddie, co-owner of Malamiah Juice Bar, serves healthy and delicious smoothies, juices, and acai bowls.

Photo Credit: Photographer: Teri Genovese

The Bitter End Coffeehouse

752 Fulton St W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 451-6061

Cuisine: Coffee Shop, Specialty Drinks, Breakfast/Lunch Menu

  • Takeout
  • Dine-In (24/7)

Black Calder Brewing

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.

  • Take Out 
  • Delivery

Eastown Cereal Cafe

1507 Wealthy St. S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
616) 608-3579

Cuisine: Cereal and breakfast bar

  • Take Out

GRNoir Wine & Jazz

35 Division Ave S.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 719-1191

Cuisine: Wine & Jazz Lounge

  • Take Out (Curbside)
  • Dine In

Local Mocha Coffee

96 Monroe Center St. NW, Suite #100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 459-0082

Cuisine: Coffee Shop, Specialty Drinks, Breakfast/Lunch Menu

  • Takeout

Kona Ice of West Michigan

Cuisine: Shaved Ice

Malamiah Juice Bar

122 Oaks St. SW Suite 110
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 914-4043

Cuisine: Juice Bar, Specialty Drinks

  • Take Out
  • Dine-in
  • Catering

Mosby’s Popcorn

15 Ionia Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 260-6466

Cuisine: Specialty Popcorn

  • Take Out
  • Catering

Robinson's Popcorn

1034 28th St. SW
Wyoming, Michigan 49509
(616) 734-6766

Cuisine: Specialty Popcorn

  • Take Out
  • Catering 
South East Market

New to Grand Rapids. The South East Market offers produce from local, Black Farms and local, sustainably raised meat and poultry.

Photo Credit: Experience Grand Rapids

More Food and Beverage Options

Access to affordable fresh food is a scarcity in some of our urban corridors. However, shopping options are bubbling up in local food desserts making it easier to access "healthy food options through dignified means, education opportunities and community empowerment."

The South East Market

1220 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507
(616) 724-4404 

 

 

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