Saltbox, Mama Dip’s, ORO + more: Black-owned restaurants in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill

Drew Jackson
·6 min read

The community of Black-owned restaurants in the Triangle includes a James Beard winner, nationally-known Southern spots, modern barbecuers and neighborhood favorites.

The News & Observer has compiled a list of Black-owned restaurants, meant to help readers and diners support these vital restaurants in the Triangle. This list has been developed over years, but we are always eager to expand it. If you know of one we’ve missed, let us know by emailing jdjackson@newsobserver.com.

Raleigh Black-owned restaurants

Black & White Cafe

Bon Fritay Truck

Boss of Vegan

Brookside Bodega

Chick-N-Que

The Chocolate Boutique

Cocoa Forte

Corner Boys BBQ

Creamed NC

Crema Cafe

The Dankery

Fat Tuesday

FatBoys Kitchen

Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant

Jack’s Seafood and Soul Food

Jamaica Jerk Masters

Jamaican Grille

  • 5500 Atlantic Springs Rd, Raleigh

  • 919-873-0200

  • Search “Jamaican Grille Raleigh” on Facebook.com

Lee’s Kitchen

Longleaf Swine

Mum’s Jamaican Food

Oak City Fish & Chips

The “We Found Wonderland” cocktail at ORO Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Raleigh is made up of Tanqueray No. 10, Cointreau, blackberry, lemon, vanilla, lavender and almond orgeat.
The “We Found Wonderland” cocktail at ORO Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Raleigh is made up of Tanqueray No. 10, Cointreau, blackberry, lemon, vanilla, lavender and almond orgeat.

ORO Restaurant

Premier Cakes

Premier Cakes Diner at the NC Museum of History

  • 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh

  • 9 a.m.-4 pm. Tuesday-Saturday

Sarge’s Chef on Wheels

  • Food truck

  • 919-827-7308

Sweetheart Treats

The Shrimp Truck

Your Pie Raleigh

Cary Black-owned restaurants

Awaze Cuisine

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Pure Juicery Bar

Try Seafood

Try Seafood Grill is in Cary’s Tryon Woods Shopping Center and offers land and seafood options. Pictured here are the 8-piece jumbo shrimp combo with fries, two pieces of fried catfish, buttermilk calamari rings, and Arnold Palmer.
Try Seafood Grill is in Cary’s Tryon Woods Shopping Center and offers land and seafood options. Pictured here are the 8-piece jumbo shrimp combo with fries, two pieces of fried catfish, buttermilk calamari rings, and Arnold Palmer.

Morrisville Black-owned restaurants

Sweet’s Smoothies

  • 2121 TW Alexander Dr, Suite 125, Morrisville

  • 919-428-3200

Apex Black-owned restaurants

The Fish House Eatery

The Mocha Room

Fuquay-Varina Black-owned restaurants

Joyce & Family

Holly Springs Black-owned restaurants

Bestow Baked Goods

Garner Black-owned restaurants

DeMario’s Classic Catering

Walking Crab

Wake Forest Black-owned restaurants

Black & White Cafe

Smith’s Smokehouse & Smoothies

Durham Black-owned restaurants

19Fifty-one

Anissa’s Spot

Beyu Caffé

Boricua Soul

Bull City Eatery

Capital Seafood

  • 1304 University Dr, Durham

  • 919-402-0777

  • Search “Capital Seafood” on Facebook.com

Chicken Hut is a soul food restaurant justifiably famous for its fried chicken which opened in 1957 as the Chicken Box and moved to the current location and changed its name in 1966.
Chicken Hut is a soul food restaurant justifiably famous for its fried chicken which opened in 1957 as the Chicken Box and moved to the current location and changed its name in 1966.

Chicken Hut

Congress Social Bar

Cosmic Cantina

Creative Caribbean Catering

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Ekhaya

Favor Desserts

Gojo by Goorsha

Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant

Goorsha

Indulge Catering

Jamaica Jamaica

JC’s Kitchen

  • 706 E Main St, Durham

  • 919-680-6227

  • Search “JC’s Kitchen” on Facebook.com

JJ’s Fish & Chicken

Let’s Eat Soulfood

Lula & Sadie’s

Melanated Wine

Mike D’s BBQ

Mr. Fries Man

Nzinga’s Breakfast Cafe

Ora Teahouse + Bakery

Piri

Polar Panda’s Snoballs

Proximity Brewing

Pure Soul

  • 4125 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Suite 1, Durham

  • 877-376-7685

  • puresoulff.com

QueDogs

R&B Grill

Rofhiwa Book Cafe

Safari Eatz

Customers dine outside at Saltbox Seafood Joint on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Durham, N.C.
Customers dine outside at Saltbox Seafood Joint on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Durham, N.C.

Saltbox Seafood Joint

Sho Nuff Seafood

Sophisticated Catering

Soul Fresh Spring Rolls

  • Food truck

  • 919-358-9155

  • Search “Soul Fresh Spring Rolls” on streetfoodfinder.com

Southern Lady Sweets

Tater Bread Café

  • 1106 Morning Glory Ave, Durham

  • 919-251-9265

Tea Bar Cafe

The Living Room

The Slush

TNT Fish & Chicken

True Flavors Diner/Debbie Lou’s Biscuit Shop

Zweli’s

Zweli’s in Durham serves a half chicken with a side of collard greens cooked with peanut butter and Jollof rice. Owners closed its original location on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard earlier this year. But owners Zweli and (new Durham Mayor) Leonardo Williams will reopen in Brightleaf Square next year.
Zweli’s in Durham serves a half chicken with a side of collard greens cooked with peanut butter and Jollof rice. Owners closed its original location on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard earlier this year. But owners Zweli and (new Durham Mayor) Leonardo Williams will reopen in Brightleaf Square next year.

Chapel Hill Black-owned restaurants

Blend of Soul Juice

Cosmic Cantina

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

Mama Dip’s Kitchen

Mama Dip’s Kitchen is photographed on Monday, April 10, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Mama Dip’s Kitchen is photographed on Monday, April 10, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Tonya’s Cookies & Bakeshop

Vegan Flava Café

Walt’s Grill

  • 111 S Merritt Mill Rd., Chapel Hill

  • 919-933-1744

  • Search for “Walt’s Grill” on facebook.com

Carrboro Black-owned restaurants

401 Main

Country Junction Restaurant

  • 404 W. Weaver St., Carrboro

  • 919-929-2462

  • Search “Country Junction Restaurant” on facebook.com

Hillsborough Black-owned restaurants

Big Bob’s City Grill

  • 584 Cornelius St., Hillsborough

  • 919-732-2953

Mighty Mike’s Rolling Bistro & Grill

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