Established in 2004 to honor the significant contributions of Black American entrepreneurs, National Black Business Month is celebrated every August.
After the Civil War, many Black Americans turned to enterprise, which led to booming Black business districts throughout the U.S., such as Durham’s Black Wall Street (Parrish Street). Today, North Carolina continues to be a thriving state for Black entrepreneurs, with a 2025 report by B2B Reviews citing the Tarheel State as the third best for Black businesses. North Carolina also has the nation’s second-highest survival rate for Black-owned businesses, at 60.7%, behind California.
One of the best ways to continue our state’s success rate is to shop and dine at Black-owned restaurants and establishments. For global food enthusiasts, it’s a win-win, as North Carolina’s many Black-owned restaurants offer flavors and cuisines representing the African diaspora around the world. From Ethiopian eateries to finger-licking fried chicken joints, North Carolina is home to a diverse variety of Black-owned restaurants worth reserving a table at.
Pure Soul in Durham
Vegan Southerners, rejoice: You can enjoy authentic soul food at Pure Soul, a completely plant-based restaurant that centers its menu around “kind comfort food.” Head chef and co-owner Nik Spaulding has been cooking for over 24 years, and through his previous experience at a Mediterranean restaurant, he perfected various plant-based recipes to cater to vegan customers.
Now Chef Spaulding’s goal is simple: “make the process more accessible for people who are considering reducing the amount of meat they consume.” Some menu highlights include Vegan Barbeque (sweet Western and tangy Eastern-style), Soul Mac, Philly Cheese Subs, Red Velvet Cake, and Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake. The menu also has a whole list of sauces, including the restaurant’s special “Hot Hunty” Sauce—a custom Hot Honey sauce.
Chef Spaulding says his menu is especially beneficial for people who are watching their cholesterol levels but don’t want to sacrifice flavor. Pure Soul also collaborates with Duke Athletics to provide nutritious and cruelty-free vegan meals to the university’s athletes.
Abol Ethiopian Restaurant in Durham
Coming up with an eatery that your whole group chat can agree on can feel like a Herculean task these days, but you can never go wrong with Ethiopian food, which features a diverse palette of meat, vegetarian, and vegan options. If you’re in Durham, make your next dinner plans at Abol Ethiopian Restaurant.
Four friends from Ethiopia got together and started the restaurant after missing the cuisine and community-based dining culture of their homeland. The restaurant serves traditional dishes such as Injera (a crepe-like flatbread made from sour, fermented batter), Sambusas (fried triangular pastries stuffed with savory fillings), and Doro Wat (chicken in a spicy berbere sauce). There are plenty of delicious options for vegetarians and vegans as well that pair with Injera, such as Misir Wot (cracked lentils in a “spicy red pepper sauce”) and Shiro be Kebe (a tomato and onion stew with ground chickpea base), among others.
Elle Et Moi Cuisine in Raleigh
If you’ve been looking for authentic, homestyle pan-African food in the Triangle area, look no further than Elle Et Moi Cuisine in Southeast Raleigh. Chefs Ives Sapu and Tete Sapu co-founded Elle Et Moi and source their ingredients from organic farms. Although the restaurant has a 4.8-star rating on Google, it’s still very much a hidden gem in the area that could use more hype.
TikTok duo Swollenbacks featured the restaurant in an episode to help attract more customers and rated every dish as a 10 out of 10. The duo enjoyed the Sambusas, Fufu (a West African dough-like ball made from cassava root and plantain), and Egusi Goat (a spicy goat stew with ground melon seeds).
Since the chefs specialize in West African cuisine, you also can’t go wrong by ordering a side of the Jollof Rice—a spicy tomato rice dish. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as the restaurant is also known for its sweets, like its Creme Brulee Cheesecake.
Trini Doubles n Tingz in Durham and Greensboro
If you’ve ever had Trinidadian doubles, then you probably miss the iconic Caribbean street dish—an issue that the owner of Trini Doubles n Tingz can relate to. Owner Kemba found that her family missed the spicy, tangy snack after they moved to Greensboro three years ago. That motivated Kemba to cook many of the Trinidadian staples and share the love with the Triad and Triangle community.
Kemba started a vegan food stand called Trini Doubles n Tingz that offers doubles, various pies, and pholourie. Doubles consist of bara (fried bread) infused with cumin and turmeric, a savory chickpea curry called channa, tangy mango chutney, and spicy scotch bonnet sauce. Pies consist of fried dough that is typically filled with spiced, mashed potato (aloo), but Trini Doubles n Tingz also offers other filling options such as vegan beef, savory pumpkin, and Bahgi (spinach and mushroom in coconut milk). Pholourie are deep-fried fritters made from spiced split pea batter and served with tamarind sauce.
Trini Doubles n Tingz is available at The Corner Farmers’ Market in Greensboro, and now The Black Farmers’ Market in Durham. Check out the Instagram page to see what dates the food stand will be at each location, and place your preorders here.
Mert’s Heart and Soul
Queen City residents can get a taste of the deep South at Mert’s Heart and Soul. The owners, James Bazzelle and his wife, Reneé, moved from Athens, Georgia. Since then, James has held several different food service roles in various parts of Georgia and in Charlotte.
Mert’s has welcomed former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, appeared on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and often ranks as a top restaurant in Charlotte. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority describes the menu as “Low Country and Gullah-inspired dishes such as shrimp and grits, Charleston red rice, and award-winning macaroni and cheese.” The menu also includes other Southern and Cajun classics like Fried Green Tomatoes, Homemade Low Country Okra Soup, Fried Catfish, Shrimp Creole with Rice, and Pound Cake. The menu also includes several vegetarian options, including the Southern Veggie Burger and Veggie Plate with Cornbread.
Abugida Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant
Charlotte also has great Ethiopian food available at Abugida Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant in Midwood Plaza. Abugida was recently named one of the three best restaurants in Charlotte by Delish and has a 4.7-star rating on Google. The menu features several traditional dishes, including chicken, red meat, and vegetarian options, plus additional gluten-free and vegan choices.
Make sure to order the appetizers, as the Lentil-Stuffed or Chicken-Stuffed Sambusas are a great starter, while the Tomato Fitfit will have your mouth watering with injera pieces, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, and spices. The Doro Wat with chicken, Potato Carrot Mixture, Yemisir Kik Wat (Misir Wot), and Mitin Shiro Wat (roasted yellow split peas cooked in berbere sauce and onions) also all make great entree options.
Luxe Soul Food in Greensboro
North Carolinians know there really is nothing like some old-fashioned Southern soul food, and Luxe Soul Food embodies just that. Located near downtown Greensboro, the restaurant offers a weekday menu from Tuesday to Friday, a Saturday brunch menu, and Soulfood Sunday.
Some highlights of the regular menu include the Luxe Chicken Sandwich, which consists of a fried or grilled chicken breast with the signature LUXE sauce and pickles; a vegetarian Portobello Mushroom Philly with onions, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and mayonnaise; and plenty of sides such as yams and collard greens.
Specialties from the Saturday Brunch Menu include the filling Southern Fried Fish n Grits and The Crowd Pleaser Red Velvet Waffle—which doubles as a decadent dessert. Soulful Sunday consists of a streamlined menu of no-frills, traditional Southern soul food bites such as fried chicken, potato salad, and peach cobbler.
African Avenue Food Truck in Winston-Salem
There’s good news for Triad residents who have been searching for authentic Nigerian food. African Avenue Food Truck offers traditional dishes such as Jollof Rice, Pounded Yam, and Egusi Soup. The award-winning food truck participates in several area festivals and pop-up events.
African Avenue is also open Thursday through Sunday at various locations, primarily in Winston-Salem and occasionally in Greensboro, with its schedule posted on Instagram.
The Spicy Noodles with pepper and Plantains are other menu highlights you won’t want to miss out on. If you’re looking to cater from African Avenue for your next event, the business can also customize its menu for your guests.
Voyce Bistro in Wilmington
The summer is arguably one of the best times to spend long hours by the beach, and North Carolina’s beaches are some of the best in the country. You can also enjoy Caribbean coastal cuisine that blends the “culinary traditions of Eastern North Carolina” on your next beach trip. Conceptualized by Chef Keith Rhodes, Voyce Bistro employs a “farm to table” philosophy and works with “local purveyors, fishermen, and farmers.”
Voyce Bistro has a 5-star rating on Google and was featured in Star News Online for its seafood specialties, including the Crab-Fried “Carolina Gold” Rice and Seafood Chowder. The “Carolina Gold” Rice is a standout ingredient as it was “an heirloom grain” that became a cash crop from the 1700s to 1800s. Other specialties include “shrimp wontons dusted with a West African peanut spice,” and “fish collards topped with North African pesto sauce.”
Chef Rhodes also volunteers in the community by holding seminars on “food deserts, sustainability policies, and food culture” at local schools and military bases. By supporting Voyce Bistro, you’re not only supporting a Black-owned restaurant—you’re also giving back to the Wilmington area.
Voyce Bistro takes walk-ins, but highly recommends reservations for dinner time.
Tiger Bay Cafe in Asheville
Like Durham, Downtown Asheville also was home to a thriving Black business district dubbed The Block. The area emerged during the Industrial Revolution and housed several Black-owned restaurants, among other establishments. During the Jazz era, the area became a Black entertainment hub attracting celebrities such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.
While urban revitalization efforts during the 1960s displaced several businesses in The Block neighborhood, the city of Asheville launched the “Boosting the Block” Project in 2024. Now, the area boasts several Black-owned businesses, including the highly rated restaurant Tiger Bay Cafe in West Asheville. Located in Ben’s Tune Up, Tiger Bay Cafe is a perfect pit stop during an exploration of The Block.
This Black woman-owned restaurant specializes in brunch items such as bagels, waffles, and paninis that feature cultural twists featuring “Southern, East Indian, and Latin” flavors. The Breakfast Panini is a great choice for bacon lovers, as the grilled sandwich comes with bacon, scrambled egg, cheddar, tomato, and herb mayonnaise. There are several vegetarian and vegan-friendly options as well, such as the V Bagel (a toasted everything bagel with jalapeño cream cheese and various vegetables), or the Vegan Burrito (rice, black beans, and veggies in a spinach tortilla).
Now that you have a whole list of delicious Black-owned restaurants throughout N.C., all you have to do is get your fork ready for a feast.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: 7 under-the-radar NC restaurants for a summertime meal you won’t forget
