32 delicious Black-owned restaurants to try in Orlando

From Haitian and Ethiopian cuisine to island specialties to good old soul food, super-healthy to super-indulgent, Orlando's Black-owned restaurants are shaping the culinary scene and keeping the people fed. Check out these essential places to visit while supporting the local community, and let us know your favorite restaurants serving African, African-American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino dishes.

If you spot a missing restaurant, you can add your own here.

Gallery by Lillian Hernández Caraballo and Caroline Silva

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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

32 delicious Black-owned restaurants to try in Orlando

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

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