Communities are only as powerful as the food they’re fueled by, and Orlando is full of Black-owned eateries worth a first-time try or a flavorful return. From classic Southern-style cooking to indulgent baked goods to Ethiopian, Nigerian, Jamaican and Caribbean flavors, here’s where to support local while supporting your neighbors all year round.
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719 Good Homes Road, Orlando
Owned by the irrepressible Joshua Johnson, Seana’s specializes in authentic, upscale Caribbean soul food and big flavors in West Orlando. Credit: Seana's/Facebook
534 W. Church St., Orlando
This Church Street mainstay has a massive bar and lots of American bar eats to chow down on, all in a lively atmosphere. Credit: The District Gastrobar/Facebook
247 E. Michigan St., Orlando
Sister Honey’s offers up award-winning pies, cupcakes, pound cakes, cookies and more at this South Orlando bakery. Menu items and bakery options change daily, so call ahead if you’re looking for something special. Credit: Sister Honey's/Facebook
2798 N. Hiawassee Road, Orlando
Find authentic Haitian cuisine at this longstanding eatery.
Credit: Antille's Cuisine/Facebook
5511 Oakfield St., Orlando
Sister Sister Soulfood is both a food truck and a catering service whipping up authentic Southern eats and a casual atmosphere. Credit: Sister Sister Soulfood/Facebook
307 West Kennedy Blvd., Orlando
This award-winning casual spot offers classic soul food mains, sides and sweets. Credit: Kookn With Kim/Instagram
7048 International Drive, Orlando
This cozy restaurant in the heart of the tourist strip is one of the best places in town to enjoy Ethiopian food — or to try it for the first time. Order a combo platter (meat or veggie) and scoop it with spongy injera bread instead of utensils. Credit: Photo via Nile Ethiopian/Yelp
2141 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando
D’Junction Island Bar and Restaurant specializes in Caribbean eats, plus live entertainment and plenty of themed events. Credit: D’Junction Island Bar and Restaurant
2528 W. Colonial Drive; 6922 Silver Star Road; 16112 Marsh Road, Orlando
This is no regular bakery. Caribbean Sunshine bakery offers a hefty amount of treats and sweets, plus plenty of savory dishes and combos. Credit: Caribbean Sunshine Bakery
457 Avalon Park South Blvd., Orlando
Traditional Caribbean food and barbecue creations, like braised oxtail, jerk salmon, Rock City BBQ ribs, island chicken, fried fish and plenty more — available to dine in or for catering services. Credit: Virgin Island Thyme/Facebook
114 Sanford Ave., Sanford
Negril Spice offers traditional Jamaican meals, drinks and a friendly atmosphere in Sanford. Credit: Google Maps
Locations in Sanford and Longwood
With dishes and flavors entirely inspired by Louisiana-style cooking, The Bayou Kitchen & Lounge is a casual spot to grab a bite of New Orleans cuisine and a taste of the city’s culture.
Credit: The Bayou Kitchen and Lounge/Facebook
2516 Sanford Ave., Sanford
Homestyle Southern dishes and barbecue at this quaint, laidback location. Credit: Angel’s Soul Food and BBQ/Facebook
1030 Oviedo Mall Blvd., Oviedo
Inside the Oviedo Mall, Mila’s offers its customers traditional and specialty baked goods, plus vegan and gluten-free pastries and treats. Credit: Mila's Front Porch/Instagram
2425 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
Established in 2019 as a food truck and then a brick-and-mortar shop, Chicken Fire has quickly taken Orlando’s foodie scene by storm. Their Nashville-style, soulful hot chicken can be enjoyed in five different heat levels. Credit: Chicken Fire/Facebook
1723 Rio Grande Ave., Orlando
What better way to eat than doing it while getting your car washed? That’s exactly what Eat N Wash was thinking when it opened its part-restaurant, part-carwash joint. Credit: Eat N Wash/Facebook
5494 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando
A traditional Ethiopian dining experience that has placed in Yelp’s national Top 100 Restaurants for multiple years. Offering authentic Ethiopian cuisine (traditionally eaten with the hands), Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine is known for its excellent food and friendly staff. Credit: Photo by Rob Bartlett
5742 Carter St., Orlando
Nikki’s Place has been cooking up all the Southern classics since 1999. The spot aims to offer classic soul food and a space to comfortably connect with others. Credit: Google Maps
927 S. Goldwyn Ave., Orlando
This takeout restaurants cooks so you don’t have to. P&D Soulfood Kitchen does comfort food classics best.
Credit: P&D Soulfood Kitchen/Facebook
5160 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando
Kalalou Caribbean Bar and Grill offers its diners authentic and diverse cuisine all wrapped up with some upscale Caribbean ambience. Credit: Kalalou Caribbean Bar and Grill/Facebook
3530 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
Specializing in authentic Nigerian cuisine, Flavors Nigerian Restaurant is owned by Ola Bello and her brother Zeke. In our 2020 review of the restaurant, Orlando Weekly commended the spot for its flavors and sense of community. Credit: Photo by Rob Bartlett
Several locations
While it is a chain, Golden Krust has long been the nation’s oldest Caribbean chain and is still owned by the Hawthorne family. Credit: Google Maps
8014 Conroy Windermere Road, Orlando; 11810 Glass House Lane, Orlando
This superfood cafe serves açai bowls and health-forward dishes at each of its two Orlando-area locations. Credit: Photo via Vitality Bowls/Yelp
4534 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando; 485 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando
This counter-service eatery specializes in Haitian and Caribbean cuisine. Stop by for breakfast, lunch or dinner at either of the restaurant’s two locations: one along Orange Blossom Trail and the other on Kirkman Road. Credit: Photo via Bon Appetit Grill/Instagram
10173 University Boulevard, Orlando
Mark’s offers authentic island food that’s good for your body and your soul, the restaurant says. Dine in or take out all the food you can handle. Credit: Photo via Mark's Jamaican Bar and Grill/Instagram
2615 N. Pine Hills Road, Orlando
StreetWise Urban Food offers catering services focused on big flavor and catering to customers’ personalized dining needs. Credit: StreetWise Urban Food
2700 Rio Grande Ave., Orlando
Oley’s specializes in authentic Southern soul food and Caribbean dishes, with a menu full of oxtail, jerk chicken, fried chicken and sides like collard greens and mac and cheese. Credit: Oley’s Kitchen and Smokehouse