Streetwise Urban Food 4434 Hoffner Ave., 407-367-5705 Streetwise offers upscaled versions of fast-food faves like burgers, tacos, and chicken tendies as well as healthy salads and bowls. They recently made Yelp’s national list of Black-owned Restaurants to Watch, so don’t sleep on this hometown hero. Photo via Streetwise Urban Food/website

Chicken Fire 2425 E Colonial Drive Chicken Fire offers a small menu, but ensures that only “All-Natural, Hormone, Steroid & Antibiotic-Free Chicken” is hand-breaded and fried. Owners and chefs Kwame and JeLyssa Boakye specialize in Nashville-style hot chicken and attempt to bridge the gap between cultures through food. If you’re not a fan of so much spice, Chicken Fire offers four levels of heat that allows customers to customize their meal. Photo via The Big Box/A La Cart

Mila’s Front Porch 407-815-4407 How can vegan, gluten-free, keto or paleo pastries be this delightfully decadent? You’ll have to ask the fine folks at Mila’s Front Porch that in between bites of their cupcakes, cookies and cakes. Follow their social media to see where they are setting up their pop-up bakery next, or contact directly for ordering. Photo via Unicorn cake/Facebook

Chef Eddie’s Catering Catering, 407-376-8918 Known for their crowd-pleasing menus of soul food classics, Chef Eddie’s has made a name for itself over the years. All you need to do is try any of their 10 different versions of fried chicken and waffles to see why. Currently, their mouth-watering Southern-style cuisine is available as catering for events of all kinds, but we hope they reopen a stand-alone restaurant soon. Photo via Chef Eddie’s/Facebook

Flavors Nigerian 3530 S. Orange Ave., 407-930-0988 Traditional Nigerian classics are on offer here like suya beef, goat pepper soup and, of course, jollof rice, considered Nigeria’s national dish. The fare is heavy and, more often than not, hotttt. Photo by Rob Bartlett

Island Thyme Caribbean Grille 457 Avalon Park S. Blvd., 321-804-5357 As “the premier Caribbean food restaurant in Orlando,” Island Thyme Caribbean Grille prides itself in offering high quality and tasty food. Although Island Thyme offers plenty of Caribbean dishes to choose from, a full menu featuring other cuisines is also available, with everything from jerk chicken to barbecue ribs and braised oxtail mac & cheese. Photo via Magens Bay Shrimp Taco/Website

Shantell’s Just Until… 503 Sanford Ave., Sanford, 407-878-7785 Shantell’s is the place to be if you’re looking for a good meal, or for a fun night out, or both! Open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, Shantell’s offers live entertainment every week, from comedians to live jazz bands. This BYOB joint is sure to get you hooked in on the good times. Photo via Shantell’s/Facebook

Sister Honey’s 247 E. Michigan St., 407-730-7315 The award-winning pies – seriously, try the country apple – cupcakes, pound cakes, cookies and more served at this South Orlando bakery are one of South Orlando’s hidden secrets. Offerings change daily, so call ahead if you’re looking for a whole cake or pie. Photo via Strawberry vanilla cake/website

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant 7048 International Drive, 407-354-0026 This is one place in Orlando where you can come to enjoy authentic Ethiopian food. From injera to tibs, right down to the elaborate coffee ceremony, this blue ribbon restaurant offers a taste of their hometown in a welcoming and relaxing environment that many have come to love. Photo via Nile Ethiopian Restaurant/Facebook

Nikki’s Place 742 Carter St., 407-425-5301 “The finer side of soul food, Southern cuisine,” is how Nikki’s Place self-describes. With a rich history that dates back almost 70 years, Nikki’s Place just knows how to do it. Conveniently only two minutes away from downtown Orlando, they offer quick service for people who want to be able to enjoy good food even during the lunch rush. Photo via Nikki’s Place/Facebook

Brick & Spoon Orlando 933 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-790-4345 With a mission to create unique meals with “a spoonful of Southern flair that comforts the heart and soul,” Brick & Spoon Orlando offers an accessible, yet upscale, breakfast, brunch and lunch experience. The breakfast and brunch menu features Shrimp and Tasso Mac and Cheese, crab cakes and Banana Foster French Toast. Just as tasty, the lunch menu offers a grilled veggie burger, Chicken Florentine Chicken and “eye opening cocktails.” Customers can even build their own Bloody Mary. Photo via Facebook

House of Chick’n 407-283-8538 Chris Burnham’s operation serves up 100 percent vegan chick’n that is in so many ways even better than the real thing, whether grilled, fried or BBQ style — and no less than Mo’nique herself has given him her seal of approval. Order online for weekly deliveries or pickups. Photo via Instagram ,

Foodies Cafe 436 S. Parramore Ave., 407-648-4343 Parramore coffee shop and breakfast/lunch spot offers all the requisite varieties of precious, precious caffeine but also chicken and waffles and decadent pound cake creations. Photo via Facebook

Something Fishy Seafood Restaurant 2107 E. Semoran Blvd., Apopka, 407-703-4850 Something Fishy specializes in fresh and classic seafood dishes and has won awards including the “Rising Star of Apopka” in 2016 and the “Best of Apopka” in 2017 and 2018. The current 2020 summer menu offers an abundance of choices with both meat and vegetarian options varying from tacos to fish and shrimp platters. Photo via Shrimp & Grits/Website

Vitality Bowls 8014 Conroy Windermere Road, 407-730-6358 Harold and Jackie Gattereau run this Orlando franchise of superfood chain Vitality bowls. If you’re looking for healthy and hearty eats, enjoy their endless variety of juices, smoothies paninis and acai bowls with zero guilt. Photo via Facebook

Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine 5494 Central Florida Parkway, 407-778-3119 Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine has been recognized for its “outstanding African cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff.” Dishes include “top of the line” Ethiopian culture plates and plenty of specials such as tegabino shiro and cornis. Enjoy a meaty meal with warm injera bread or choose from one of the various vegetarian and vegan dishes. Selam also offers numerous alcoholic beverages including Ethiopian beers. Photo via Selam Chicken Tibs And Veggie Combination Special/Facebook

Jesse’s Rib Shack 2202 W. Pine St., 407-501-9299 We’ll bet you’ve never had ribs like these. Jesse’s homemade “Magic Sauce” is known as the restaurant’s signature staple. The owner and staff focus on their food but also on their service, keeping up with their philosophy of Southern hospitality. Their website invites you to “make yourself comfortable, loosen your belt and enjoy!” Photo via Jesse’s Rib Shack/jessesribshack.com

Seana’s 719 Good Homes Road, 321-800-6846 Specializing in Caribbean soul food, Seana’s offers dishes such as Apple Butter Chicken and Alfredo Vegetarian Pasta. The restaurant also cycles through daily specials such as Fried Snapper and Fried Chicken. Pair everything with a side of their creamy, buttery mac and cheese and you have a perfect meal. Photo via Fried Chicken/Facebook

Soul Food Fantasy 521 E. Kennedy Blvd., 321-972-3050 Specializing in good old BBQ, seafood and soul food, Soul Food Fantasy offers a variety of comfort dishes for anyone with an appetite for good home cooking. In a rush? No worries. The staff is known for their hustle to get a fresh, hot meal out quickly that is sure to leave you satisfied and coming back for more. Photo via Soul Food Fantasy/SOURCE

Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill Four Central Florida locations Golden Krust is a chain with restaurants in 10 states, including four locations in our immediate area, started by Ephraim Hawthorne in Saint Andrew, Jamaica. They’re now based in the Bronx and restaurants are franchised, but they all serve the Hawthorne family recipes for nine kinds of patties, as well as ackee and saltfish, curried goat and braised oxtail. The bakery offers plenty of sugary delights such as carrot and coconut loaf cake, rum cake and bread pudding. Photo via Jerk Chicken/Website

Grandma’s BBQ Mobile food truck, 407-731-0353 The bright-red, Orlando-based food truck Grandma’s BBQ specializes in a variety of meats such as ribs, chicken and pulled pork. Pair it all with a side of mac and cheese, collard greens and baked beans and you’ve got yourself the perfect Southern meat and three. Grandma’s BBQ began by selling and serving the local community and homeless population on the streets. After the food truck became widely popular, the business came naturally. The food truck must be booked for an event, and you can stay updated with their upcoming location on their website, but they are also offering UberEats delivery. Photo via Beef Brisket Sandwich/Website

Mark’s Jamaican Bar & Grill 10173 University Blvd., 407-636-9290 Formerly known as Mark’s Caribbean Cuisine, the same dedicated chef cooks to please for any occasion, including catering events. Chef Mark is known for twisting Jamaican dishes into a healthy and elegant dining experience, while still offering a comfortable environment in which you can relax. No need to dress up, but you can if you like! Photo via Mark’s Jamaican Bar & Grill/Facebook

P&D Soul Food Kitchen 927 S. Goldwyn Ave., 407-730-3486 The P&D stands for “Paula and Dennis,” the married couple who cook together at this hot and fresh take-out spot. A favorite for people on the go and during lunch, this kitchen offers classic comfort soul food favorites like baked mac and cheese, chitterlings and oxtail. Taste the love in every bite, and if you come with a big party, although they are a take-out restaurant, they can work with y’all to be seated upstairs. Curious? Check them out! Photo via P&D Soul Food Kitchen/Facebook

Bon Appetit Grill Two locations Haitian food combines the best of island fare with a French twist, and Bon Appetit’s customers praise the stew turkey, fried chicken, oxtail and griot (fried cubed pork shoulder). Photo via Whole fried red snapper/website

W.A.R. BBQ & Soulfood 298 Geneva Drive, Oviedo, 407-542-0647 Soul food and BBQ excellence is what you’ll get at What A Rib, be it dine-in, take-out or delivery. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, mac and cheese, pig feet, catfish, it’s all here and more. Photo via Facebook

Eat N Wash 1723 Rio Grande Ave., 407-413-5028 There’s a place where you can mess your face and fingers up with saucy smoked ribs and snow crab and shrimp smothered in buttery Creole spice while you wait for your car to be detailed. Consider this our blunt statement of approval. Photo via Shrimp and crab/Facebook

B Cupcakes 3030 E. Semoran Blvd., Apopka, 407-788-2253 Apopka cupcake haven offers over 20 different cupcake flavors daily, all made from scratch! Even a glance at the Salted Caramel, Key Lime and Sweet Potato varieties had us positively drooling. Dine-in, takeout and catering options are all available. Photo by Rob Bartlett

Sunshine Soulfood Cafe 2528 W. Colonial Drive, 407-758-3108 This simple all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is mega popular with fans who appreciate home cooking at a great price. Photo via owner

Kim’s Kitchen 5500 Clarcona Ocoee Road, 407-435-3830 If you’re craving some proper soul food, Kim’s Kitchen will treat you like (hungry) royalty. You’ll find it all here, tucked inside a Citgo: smothered pork chops, collard greens, yams, fried chicken and turkey wings. Photo via Turkey, mac & cheese and collard greens/Facebook

Rooted Garden Cookhouse 419 S. Parramore Ave., 321-247-5999 Caribbean fare and soul food are the twin orders of the day at this Parramore eatery. Which leaves one with the dilemma: oxtails or a fish sandwich entree? Why not both! Takeout and delivery options available. Photo via Crab claws and shrimp/Facebook

Tasty Sweets 407-863-6638 All manner of customized sweets and confections delivered right to your door! Tasty Sweets dazzles with their delicious creativity: chocolate covered apples and strawberries, nut clusters, cookies, cakes, coconut macaroons. Step aside, Wonka. Photo via website

Caribbean Sunshine Bakery Three locations in Orlando The first thing you’re probably going to do when stepping inside Caribbean Sunshine Bakery is draw in a deep breath. The smell of warm, fresh-baked bread is sure to bring back memories of the islands for expats. After eating, the next thing you may do is shop, as the bakery has a convenient store to purchase groceries and other items in the back. Photo via Caribbean Sunshine Bakery/Facebook

DaJen Eats 323 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville, 407-775-5791 If you didn’t think it was possible to enjoy the delicious island flavors of Jamaica in vegan dishes, DaJen Eats will prove you wrong. Owner Jenn Ross decided to express her kindness toward human and non-human animals through her passion for cooking. Cooking classes are offered once a month to clients who want to become more comfortable in the kitchen, where anyone can learn to make dishes like their decadent Identity Crisis sandwich — a half buffalo, half jerk, fully amazing chik’n sandwich. Great place for little ones! Photo via DaJen Eats/Facebook

Support local journalism. Click here.

32 delicious Black-owned restaurants to try in Orlando

Related