5 Black-owned restaurants you need to try in Toronto

Black-owned restaurants are the heart and soul of Toronto, and there’s something for everyone when it comes to the cuisines offered at each of them. Caribbean, African and Southern food are all at your fingertips and ready to delight your tastebuds at these spots. What do they all have in common? Unapologetically bold flavours that keep you coming back for more.

Here are Black-owned restaurants you need to try in Toronto.

Afrobeat Kitchen

Head to Parkdale to dive into the flavours of West Africa with dishes like pepper soup, egusi, efo riro and jollof. Expect twists on traditional dishes with new flavours and techniques combining in unexpected ways. They’re also known for bringing the fun to any celebration with their catering.

The Heartbreak Chef

In search of top-notch fried chicken from a Black-owned restaurant? Look no further than this spot in Kensington Market serving “big ass” fried chicken sandwiches, plus mac n’ cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Scotthill Cuisine

Find traditional Jamaican comfort food like fried chicken, jerk chicken, oxtail, king fish and black cake at this restaurant on Avenue Road. Colourful drinks always keep the party going.

Roywoods

Some of the juiciest jerk chicken sandwiches in the city are available from this Caribbean restaurant with multiple locations. They’re so beloved they’ve even expanded to Miami. They also apply their jerk magic to wings and pork, and serve other familiar favourites like callaloo, escovitch fish and oxtail.

Taste Seduction

If you’re looking for rasta pasta, try this Jamaican fusion restaurant in the Junction that serves inventive items like ackee and callaloo bites as well as “blow wows,” which consist of either jerk chicken or oxtail with cheese wrapped in dough and deep-fried. They even have gluten-free options. And don’t forget to try their rum punch!