When we reflect on the African Diaspora’s history, appreciate Black Americans’ accomplishments, and strive for racial justice and equality. One of the most effective methods to achieve real, continuous progress is to support Black-owned individuals and enterprises.
What better way to enjoy a delicious meal that is also ethically sourced. If you’re looking for a delicious and unique dining experience, San Diego is home to many black-owned restaurants.
These establishments offer amazing food and top-notch service. Plus, you can feel good about supporting businesses that are owned and operated by members of your community.
We will highlight 10 of our favorite black-owned restaurants in San Diego. So, if you’re looking for a delicious and unique dining experience, be sure to check out one of these spots!
Streetcar Merchants
Address: 4002 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-546-9010
Hours: 4:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday), Closed (Tuesday), 12:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. (Saturday), 12:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Website: www.streetcarmerchants.com
The chicken on the menu is available in a variety of ways, including as an entire bird (nuggets, tenders, or drumsticks) or in a sandwich. It’s signature russet-brown, Southern-style cult classic is Nashville hot and buttery maple; honey-dipped and smothered are also options by the piece.
Grit Fritters, Chicken Skin, Gizzards, and Jumbo Bar Wings are all on the menu at this North Carolina BBQ spot. Naked or tossed in a variety of sauces, your favorite wing flavors can be found here.
A large number of sweet choices will delight your sweet tooth, including a half-dozen varieties of cheesecake, as well as pies, sky-high layer cakes, and chocolate chip cookies baked to order and served hot from the oven.
Rhythm’s Chicken and Waffles
Address: 1136 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 858-246-6276
Hours: Closed (Monday), 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. (Tuesday – Thursday), 11:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M. (Friday – Saturday), 11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Website: www.rhythmssd.com
The Chicken and Waffle Truck became a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Pacific Beach, California, by taking a basic chicken and waffle sandwich and adding bacon and cheese.
You may still get the original, or try chicken sliders or tenders instead. A selection of sandwiches, loaded fries, burgers, and hot dogs are available. The Rhythm Poppers Deep-fried chicken and waffle bites topped with syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar are ideal for any time between noon and three o’clock.
Louisiana Purchase
Address: 2305 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-396-2316
Hours: Closed (Monday – Tuesday), 3:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Wednesday – Thursday), 3:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. (Friday), 2:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Saturday), 12:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. (Sunday
Website: www.louisianapurchasesd.com
This cocktail bar, which is located on Louisiana Street in North Park and was created with the charm and character of New Orleans in mind, combines creative touches of personal effects for guests to feel warmth, community, and fun.
Louisiana Purchase has you covered with lemon pepper wets, gator bites, a savory alligator-andouille cheesecake in crawfish cream, and all the appropriate sides for your own personal Fat Tuesday celebration whether or not you’re going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
With a Fleur-de-Lis or an earthy saffron-infused gin and passionfruit, pair your meal with Abasolo Corn Whiskey, espresso balsamic, and a mezcal rinse on Sunshine, which features Abasolo Corn Whiskey, oaxacan coffee liqueur, and other ingredients.
Surf and Soul
Address: 7229 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115
Phone: 619-439-8801
Hours: 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. (Monday – Wednesday), Closed (Thursday), 12:00 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. (Friday – Saturday), Closed (Sunday)
Website: www.surfandsoulspot.com
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are known as the restaurant’s “Surf Days,” when you’ll find classic catfish, shrimp, and wing baskets with fries and garlic toast, blackened shrimp, crab rolls, popcorn shrimp, and grits.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays, it’s “Soul Days,” when comfy plates of catfish, wings, or pork chops are served alongside smoked turkey collard greens, baked macaroni and cheese, or bay rice with smoked turkey gravy. It’s accompanied by cornbread and ice cream for dessert from the ever-changing selection: hope for the return of the old butter pound cake.
Hanna’s Gourmet
Address: 2864 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
Phone: 619-280-5600
Hours: Closed (Monday – Saturday), 2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Website: www.hannasgourmetsd.com
Hanna’s Gourmet is a casual dining restaurant established in the center of Normal Heights. Hanna’s cuisine has been recognized for its cosmopolitan twists on traditional American dishes.
For the past ten years, Chef Hanna Tesfamichael has been a mainstay of the Adams Avenue culinary scene, bringing you Polish cuisine one week, Tunisia the next, and eventually Georgian food on subsequent weeks.
These days, you may still enjoy Moroccan Chicken with apricots, dates, and olives over couscous, or Meat Lasagne smothered in Bolognese sauce, ricotta, spinach, tomato, and creamy pesto sauce. Do treat yourself to a slice of cake: Hanna’s unique version is not to be missed by carrot cake fanatics.
Note, that they are not currently open for in-service dining but offer a curbside menu. The hours above are for the pickup.
Chula Vista Brewery
Address: 294 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: 619-616-8806
Hours: 4:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Monday – Tuesday), 12:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. (Wednesday – Thursday), 12:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M. (Friday – Saturday), 12:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Website: www.chulavistabrewery.com
Chula Vista Brewery, founded by Tim and Dali Parker, is a local San Diego craft brewery known for its award-winning brews. The Parkers opened Chula Vista Brewery nearly five years ago, winning over beer lovers across California with their award-winning beers.
A second location in Eastlake was established in 2021, with a kitchen that produces succulent ribs, tri-tip, hot links, and other barbecued dishes served as plates or as loaded fries or baked potatoes.
The list of taps includes hazy West Coast IPAs as well as a chocolate porter and a handful of ales, including the bronze medal winner Browner Than Ivan Brown Ale.
Bankhead Mississippi Style Cooking
Address: 8300 Paradise Valley Rd Suite 102-103, Spring Valley, CA
Phone: 619-773-7269
Hours: Closed (Monday), 12:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. (Tuesday – Sunday)
The best-kept secret of Spring Valley is hidden away in a strip mall, but don’t let the modest appearance deceive you. Chicken is fried, baked, smothered, or BBQ’d, while fish is baked Mississippi-style or fried; all dishes come with two sides (black-eyed peas, collard greens, and candied sweet potatoes), cornbread, and a drink.
Nomad Donuts
Address: 3102 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-431-5000
Hours: Closed (Monday – Tuesday), 7:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. (Wednesday – Sunday)
Website: www.nomaddonuts.com
You adore their donuts, which are available in a variety of internationally inspired flavors like Ube Taro Coconut and Tamarind Banana Caramel, but you can’t overlook their Montreal-style bagels, which are prepared fresh daily in their wood-fired oven.
Choose from a range of sweet and savory toppings or use one as a basis for an egg or house-cured salmon sandwich.
Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen
Address: 2432 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-295-1125
Hours: 12:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Monday – Saturday), Closed (Sunday)
Website: www.gihonsd.com
Mercy, the restaurant’s owner, is a single immigrant out of her 11 siblings who came to the United States from Ethiopia. She and her mother ran Gihon in North Park for 22 years (this week they celebrated the anniversary), and all the spices used in their dishes are hand-picked and dried by her brothers and sisters in Ethiopia before being sent to San Diego.
Their most popular dish is tibs, which comes with your choice of meat (chicken, lamb, salmon, ribeye, filet mignon) cubed and sautéed in spices with onions, jalapenos.
They also have a vegan selection on the menu, including platters of slow-cooked chickpeas in berbere sauce and stewed red lentils, as well as roasted eggplant. They also offer a coffee ceremony with Yirga Chefe beans, lightly sweet popcorn, and vegan baklava for dessert.
Shadow Ridge Spirits Company
Address: 3044 Industry St #107, Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: 858-633-7146
Hours: Closed (Monday – Friday), 11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. (Saturday), 12:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Website: www.srdistilled.com
Sean Hallman, a former US Navy veteran, and his wife, Lisa Ireland, are the creators of Shadow Ridge Spirits Company in Oceanside, California. The company specializes in grain-to-glass bourbon, rye, peated single malt, and American single-malt whiskeys with specialty grains and malted barley that have been aged in charred white oak barrels.
They also have a silver and a barrel-aged rum on the market, as well as a gin with hand-picked botanicals that was just released.
Conclusion for 10 Delicious Black-Owned Restaurants in San Diego
Despite these encouraging increases, Black company owners confront a disproportionately high number of problems, including limited access to financing, which has just gotten worse owing to the Covid-19 epidemic. There are numerous difficulties that small enterprises are facing throughout the United States, as well as how severe their effect has been on Black-owned businesses.
This year’s celebration of Black History Month offers an opportunity for a needed concentration on supporting Black-owned enterprises. It’s critical to create a long-term impact by fostering consistent, widespread support for these firms throughout the year.
To help you find black-owned restaurants in San Diego, we have offered these 10 choices but be only limited to these offered! We hope that you will join us in that effort year-round!
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