According to Yelp’s Economic Impact Report, nearly 24,000 restaurants have closed their doors nationwide since March 1, 2020. This pandemic has been brutal to the food and beverage industry, having an even greater impact on Black owned eateries because of the inability to access capital while navigating systemic barriers hampering the receipt of government backed financial resources.
Thankfully, there is some good news. Black America’s resiliency has been tried and tested over the past 400 years, and our ancestors have not let us down. Black Miami has adding a couple new comers to the list, but most of our town’s Black owned spots have held on strong.
As we approach our six-year anniversary, The Hungry Black Man Media (www.thehungryblackman.com) eagerly tallied the votes of our followers to select Miami’s Top 10 Black Owned Restaurants of 2021. There are some familiar faces, but the freshman class of newly opened establishments made this year’s a tad bit more exciting!
From top notch cocktail programs to chef inspired tastings, Miami’s Black food entrepreneurs showed out in 2021 by creatively providing foodies awesome options for socially distant date nights, opportunities to celebrate milestone family events outdoors, curbside lunch pickups, and even zoom luncheons.
Our team visited and dined at every single member on this list, in addition to over 1,000 other Black-owned eateries throughout the United States. This list is about the cornerstones of a pleasant, rewarding dining experience – food, quality, and service.
The list also contains true Miami spots. No outskirts or altering of locales, these are 305 Made in Dade spots that are delicious and indicative of our vibrant and exciting hometown.
Miami’s Black restaurant scene is a story of celebrity, nostalgia, explants, and cottage culinarians swirling together to create an incredible renaissance of culinary excellence presented with memorable entrees, culinary sophistication, cultural revival, and interior design.
Here are Miami’s Top 10 Ranked Black-owned restaurants of 2021.
Honorable Mentions
Little Greenhouse Grill
1300 NW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33136,
Phone: (786) 277-3582
Chef Karim Bryant and his business partner Nicole Gates, created the best restaurant in Overtown this year with my favorite dish, the Half BBQ Chicken ($14) with a side of turkey flavored collard greens, grandmamma approved mac and cheese, and cabbage that goes so quickly you need to get there when it opens if you want any. Honorable mention goes to the Dream Fire Shrimp and the Smoked BBQ Chicken Wings. Make sure you ask for Nicole! She’s the best. Look for big things from Lil Greenhouse in the coming year. Oh, and try their wine cocktails. Incredible.
Chick ‘ N Jones
1601 Drexel Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 335-0538
Chef Amaris Jones is one of the nation’s most innovative and skilled chefs specializing in elevating international comfort cuisine to unpatrolled heights. Most of Miamians know Chef Jones as the personal chef to Rick Ross, where her irresistible cooking helped the rapper drop an impressive 80 pounds. However, her newest concept is what Ross might have had on his cheat days! CHICK’N JONES is chef’s interpretation of modern southern fried chicken with delicious sides and a sweet potato biscuit that melts in your mouth! Many fans of Chef Jones have been patiently waiting on this brand to open after a series of successful pop ups throughout years past. Well, the wait is over. Her signature hot-honey crispy chicken sandwich piled with southern slaw on a brioche bun is a great companion to her fresh kale salad and her juicy grilled green tomatoes. Whether you’re a chicken sandwich type or a two piece and a biscuit type, Chik’N Jones has you covered.
Awash Ethiopian Restaurant
19934 NW Second Ave., Miami Gardens, FL
(305) 770-5100
Chef Eka Wassel and her husband Fouad opened Miami’s only Ethiopian eatery and they’ve been consistent and delicious. Armed with an exciting coffee ceremony experience and a cuisine packed with exotic and unique flavors from the horn of Africa, there is little not to like about this place. Beautifully designed with authentic Ethiopian furniture, art, and décor, this space in the heart of Miami Gardens has garnered international acclaim. My favorite entrée is the Ethiopian fried fish along with the beef or lentil sambusa. If you’re visiting for the first time, I highly recommend the Taste of Awash, which gives you a sample of almost everything on the menu. Oh, and don’t miss out on their honey wine, a beverage with a rich 2,000-year-old African history.
No. 10
Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar
1233 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 308-6200
I have eaten, I’m sure hundreds, if not thousands of animals from the land and sea in my lifetime. I’m thankful for their sacrifice in providing nutrition to my body and spirit, however, visiting Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar helped me see I’m more of an herbivore than I realized. The original Fat Ronnie’s is on Martha’s Vineyard. Miami was blessed with the second location in March, during the onset of the pandemic.
With over five generations of Black butchers and burger makers, this spot serves a fresh Maine Lobster Roll that was so meaty I honestly don’t understand how that item is remotely profitable to the company. Their Portobello mushroom burger has a texture that almost fooled me into thinking I was eating beef. And their cheeseburger is one of the best I’ve had in FLORIDA! The real stars to many are the super soft buns that the perfect companion for the high quality, grass fed, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef. Fat Ronnie’s was highly impressive for vegans as well, given the plethora of vegan burger options. The diverse menu also includes fried fish, chicken, wings and don’t forget about A FULL BAR that makes amazing mojitos.
No. 9
KC Healthy Cooking
11900 Biscayne Blvd #103, North Miami, FL 33181
(786) 502-4193
So, the chef here is literally a Harry Potter franchise type wizard because there is no other way to explain how he got healthy and vegan food to taste this damn good. Located across the street from North Miami’s Whole Foods, Chef Jerry Dominque is not afraid to compete with their hot bar, and he is winning! With over 25 years of culinary experience, it’s no wonder I went into a 30-minute food coma after dining at this astonishing hidden gem. Everything on the menu is healthy, but you wouldn’t know it by the naughty tasting entrees.
My favorites are the lalo, a regional Haitian stew comprised of beef, jute leaves, and blue crab served with white rice, and the Portobello mushroom burger served with lettuce, tomato, avocado and a house made basil pesto. Why the hell did Jerry do this? My addiction to both these healthy items is showing no signs of letting up. The deliciousness didn’t stop there because he takes Haitian staples and turns them into super healthy entrees, like his Djon Djon rice, Seda Cupcake and Vegan Legume.
No. 8
Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen
316 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127
(786) 334-5150
The location for our 8th Annual Juneteenth Festival, this eatery opened late in 2019 and has consistently improved its menu offerings and service. Serving as the only full service Black-owned upscale eatery in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, this restaurant has some of the area’s largest collection of Black art on its walls with beautiful murals painted both inside and out. The massive space has an outside patio area that can literally host a full-fledged concert.
With an eclectic Caribbean menu (my favorite items are the oxtails and the jerk corn) and now one of the most spirited brunches in the area, Dukunoo has quickly become a local staple and tourist destination. I find myself at this bar whenever I can get away from the grind, especially because there is an outside area great for social distancing. Their amazing mixologists are giving another of my favorites, Beaker and Grey, a run for their money with their sophistication and attention to detail in the construction of each cocktail.
No. 7
Bar One
520 West Avenue, Commercial unit 1, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 763-8323
Peter Thomas has successfully fused the sophistication and glamour of Miami Beach with the homestyle cooking of the deep south and the Caribbean. He has created an outstanding menu with a strong nod to the world-renowned bar scene of South Beach via a creative and bold cocktail program. On any given day, you are likely to see celebrities, superstar athletes and movers and shakers of South Florida dining at this beautiful waterfront establishment. Located in the heart of Miami Beach, Bar One has accomplished the need for a high-end BLACK OWNED restaurant on Miami Beach with breathtaking waterfront views, amazing services, and food that will have you ordering an entrée to go after finishing up your dine-in plate.
Combining over 300 years of African-American and Afro-Caribbean food pathways into his menu, diners can expect a culinary journey through the American low country, coastal and gulf regions with Caribbean flavor throughout. It is almost impossible for me to select an absolute favorite entrée, but among my favorites were the flavor packed Fried Salmon Bites —Alaskan salmon portions, fried in their signature breading w/ house honey mustard sauce, pickled veggie garnish, Whole Fried Branzino Escoviche served with a side of fried yucca, the Slow Braised Collard/Cabbage medley with smoked turkey and finally the Macaroni and Cheese Pie! Lord have mercy. Oh, don’t forget the Oxtails! Only spot on the Beach where you can get them. I enjoy them once a month for their AMAZING BRUNCH! Waterfront views, R&B, and chicken wings that are the BEST ON THE BEACH await you at this space.
No. 6
800° Woodfired Kitchen
2956 NE 199th St, Aventura, FL 33180,
(305) 902-4363
As one of two Black owned eateries in Aventura (the other is an amazing sub spot called Ike’s Subs), 800° is one of Aventura’s best restaurants in all the city. Chef Eddie has outdone himself with this spot, churning out a grilled Lamb neck so good I was almost licking the bone. I don’t care how you just judged me for saying that either. It was that good. The ribs, the Dwyane Wade burger, the half rotisserie chicken, and the cocktails are all exceptional. The space is classy and beautifully decorated with the best drinks in all northern Miami-Dade County period, thanks to Mr. Joey Sabato! Former Miami Heat superstars Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem have done an amazing job with Chef Eddie Donoso to create an internationally themed menu representative of Miami’s diverse and at times, chaotic culture. This spot is one of my regulars.
No. 5
Sundays Eatery
2675 NW 207th St, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
(305) 621-9600
Sunday’s Eatery is the brainchild of restaurant boss and businesswoman Latosia Colvin and her celebrity partner, Trick Daddy. I had the privilege to have eaten at the restaurant several times before it turned into a tourist attraction, dining in the beautiful Tiffany’s themed dining room. When I sampled the food, I literally remember telling Tasha that the dining room will simply turn into a waiting room, because the food was going to be flying out of the kitchen. The cuisine here is quintessentially Black Miami Soul Food. What is Miami Soul Food? It is the food of the deep south with a hint of Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic influences. Black folks from Miami are very familiar with the garlic, onions, red peppers, sour orange, scotch bonnets, in our soul food, which isn’t as prevalent when enjoying Black cuisine in the inner U.S. My pork chop was prepared by Trick and I must be honest, it was one of my most memorable fried pork chops. This brother can cook. However, most of the flavors and items were created by Tasha and it shows. The must haves here are the fried ribs, fried pork chop, collard greens, mac and cheese, and pigeon peas and rice. The banana pudding is also tasty. To reduce the wait time, I suggest going mid-day on weekdays.
No. 4
Rosie’s Pop-Up
1951 NW 7th Ave Unit 190, Miami, FL 33136
(305) 454-9065
I met Chef Akino West and his fiancée Ms. Jamila Ross years back, when they created Miami’s only Black-owned Bed & Breakfast, the Copper Door in the historic Overtown neighborhood. The good Lord used me to prophesize to this couple that they would open a restaurant because chef’s food was way too delectable to only be served to hotel guests. Folks everywhere needed to have chef’s cuisine, so I am thrilled that two years later they have opened Rosie’s, a Thursday – Sunday brunch and now, they are a full service daily restaurant churning out some of the city’s best southern food. I am so proud of this duo and look forward to seeing them expand as I continue to enjoy my twice monthly brunch visits.
No. 3
Blvd Bae’s Restaurant
7244 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
(786) 615-9661
You’d expect to find an eatery like Blvd Baes, with its open kitchen, tiny indoor seating and intimate outdoor dining in a small French countryside bed and breakfast. Thankfully, it’s located in Miami at 7244 Biscayne Boulevard. Kitchen samurai, restaurateur, and chef extraordinaire Barclay Graebner and her celebrity partner Richie Effs—one of the geniuses behind the 2002 cult classic Jamaican film Shottas— are a former husband and wife duo with three awesome children (14-year-old ballerina, 12 and 6-year-old skateboarding sensations) responsible for the deliciousness known as Blvd Baes. After experiencing this eatery several times, I feel more like an evangelist than a diner. Those of you who have followed us for a while know that when I go in like this, the spot is the TRUTH. From a culinary perspective, this space is incredibly special. My favorites are anything from the grill inclusive of the veggies and proteins along with their nostalgic brunch menu served all day. Blvd Baes has been my personal favorite restaurant of 2021, because I’ve gone there for the Salmon Cobb salad at least once a week.
No. 2
Dub N Grub
486 NE 167th St, Miami, FL 33162
(786) 403-9850
Miami’s best vegan cuisine right now is being created by the incomparable Chef Kris Kofi and his lovely wife Chef Macka. This husband wife duo cuisine embraces both chef inspired innovation with the simplistic touch of family style cuisine while exploring Asian, Mexican, and Afro-Caribbean with a nod to soul food classics such as Chef Macka’s outstanding vegan mac and cheese. Chef Kofi’s cuisine is soy free, dairy free, with gluten free options that embraces locally sourced fresh vegetables along with each sauce, cream, and even condiments being made in house. Chef is known for his vegan oxtails, tacos, and hibachi items. The food truck is perfect for those looking to dine outside and socially distance themselves from others. Oh, and I have no idea how Chef Kofi created an indistinguishable vegan Thai red curry that was even more delicious than many non-vegan versions. You will not go wrong with this delicious and sophisticated eatery with just about anything on the menu that is perfect for those who are vegan because of health reason or even those who simply want to be kinder to the planet. His cuisine is guilt free deliciousness that I am proud is a part of the Miami food and drink landscape.
No. 1
Red Rooster Overtown
920 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33136, (305) 640-9880
Derek Fleming, partner with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and Michael Simkins teamed up to open one of the country’s most dynamic restaurants in Red Rooster Overtown. This space is not only chef inspired greatness, but culturally important to the Overtown community. The design is breathtaking to say the least. If you are familiar with the HBO show Boardwalk Empire, think of its most opulent scene and make it Black excellence. That’s the interior of Red Rooster Overtown. Pure luxury.
With vast bars and dining rooms, both inside and outdoors, the restaurant is inviting to every type of patron imaginable. From the political elite, young children, families, romantic partners, business people, the place is a space for ALL people. Derek spared no expense in design and executive chef Tristen Epps, winner of the Food Network show, “Chopped,” has created entrees that invoke an incredible amount of emotion, nostalgia, and genuine happiness.
Focusing on foods of the African diaspora, Chef Epps grilled snapper, fried chicken, wagyu beef whole oxtail, and raw bar creations were true standouts. Everything is amazing, but my absolute favorite thing on the menu is a sweet potato. Yep, a sweet potato. When you try it, you’ll see why. This is a restaurant that all of Miami can be proud of. They have introduced both brunch and lunch, so you can come in all day now.
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