February is often described as the month of love, the shortest month, and most importantly Black History Month! Let’s take a step back and focus on our love language by tapping into food that’s good for the soul. In the city of Philadelphia alone, there are over 50 Black Owned Restaurants that take our taste buds to new dimensions, our minds to new worlds, and opens our hearts to new recipes.
Rooted in the south, soul food has become a staple in the African American community for centuries. The term soul food had first been used in 1962 by famous civil rights activist and poet Amiri Baraka as a way to pinpoint Black American recipes that originated from previous generations. The basics of soul food include greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and some type of meat whether it’s fish, chicken or even pork.
Food is a delicacy in the African American community and must be handled correctly or not handled at all. With a heavier hand on the portions, seasoning, and love, soul food is often known to bring people together in times of trouble, triumph, and happiness. With that being said, here are some of our favorite Black Owned Restaurants in Philadelphia that will touch your soul.
Breakfast / Brunch
- Win Win Coffee Bar With the help of coffee, everything is a Win Win! Welcome to Win Win coffee bar where your favorite coffee is served hot or cold. No matter if you prefer cold brew or coffee you can just take home, Win Win provides you with everything you need at a price that’s just right! You can’t go wrong with the smell of French Vanilla to start your day.
- Golf and Social Your favorite brunch spot is located in Philadelphia! Golf and Social is known to have the best drinks, food, and atmosphere to jumpstart your Sunday. Looks may be deceiving, but there is no golfing here. At Golf and Social, you don’t want to be late to the party and miss all the fun!
Lunch
- 48th Street Grill Ready to take your tastebuds on a trip? If so, you have to check out 48th Street Grille. This Caribbean & American style restaurant has a variety of flavor and recipe combinations you just cannot miss. From chicken and waffles to Braised oxtail, the 48th Street Grill is serving home cooked meals hot just to keep you coming back.
- JD’s Soul Food Kitchen Located in West Philadelphia, JD’s Soul Food Kitchen made its mark by serving up meals that will keep you coming back for more. Being known for their mouth watering and crispy chicken wings, JD’s Soul Food Kitchen has to be on your “Must Eat” list when driving through the city.
- Down North Pizza Who doesn’t like pizza right? Not just any ole pizza, Down North Pizza. The demand for quality, taste, and overall presentation is high especially when it comes to pizza. Located in North Philadelphia, Down North Pizza hits the mark with its outstanding recipes and ingredient combinations.
- The Better Box Welcome to The Better Box, where everything just gets better! Known for its irresistible sandwiches, The Better Box will leave you speechless. It honestly will make you want to go home grab all your friends and come right back to try everything on the menu.
Dinner
- Booker’s Restaurant & Bar With a mission to serve the community while providing the freshest ingredients at the best quality, you’ll see why Booker’s Restaurant & Bar is the place to. Serving dinner Monday – Friday 5-9 there are plenty of options to choose from. From Vegan to Vegetarian to Gluten-Free, Bookers Restaurant ensures you with a dining experience you won’t forget.
- Reggae Reggae Vibes Life doesn’t get any better than this! Another mix of Caribbean & American cuisine is in North Liberties, Philadelphia. Reggae Reggae Vibes is home to the tradition Oxtail, Curry Chicken, and Jerk Chicken! The right spice combo will send your taste buds on a journey to the islands.
Whether you’re looking for something tasty to start or end your day, the City of Brotherly Love is the place to do it! From Breakfast and Brunch to Dinner and Drinks, celebrating Black History Month in Philadelphia is your answer! Next week, Philly PR Girl is highlighting some more Black Owned Businesses as we continue our Black History Month coverage!