If you’re looking to support Portland’s Black-owned businesses here are some delicious options. It’s a tasty way to celebrate Black History Month.
Freelance reporter and self-proclaimed foodie Jenni Moore picked some of her favorite Black-owned restaurants, cafes, and bars:
☕ Deadstock Coffee (Old Town)
A coffee shop with a sneaker theme, Deadstock serves its mochas with a Nike-shaped design on top, though you can request one on other drinks. (It’s not a hangout spot, but the neighborhood has another option for that ⬇️)
☕ Café UNITED (Old Town)
This is a community hub in Old Town, in the old Floyd’s Coffee space, but now with better music. There are regular community and arts events.
🎨 L'Atelier Yaffe (East Burnside Bridge)
This is a coffee shop by day and a cocktail bar by night. It focuses on the arts, with a full lineup of music and other events.
🍴 Po' Shines Cafe De La Soul (Kenton neighborhood)
This is your destination for a knockout catfish burrito. It’s known for its southern Creole and soul food. (This spot isn’t vegan-friendly.)
🥬 Dirty Lettuce (Cully neighborhood)
This is a delicious spot for vegan fare. Try their fried green tomatoes. They’ve just put out new menus for brunch, happy hour, cocktails, and zero-proof options.
🍴 Grits N’ Gravy (Downtown)
It’s a classic place for southern cuisine and a good brunch. Tip: Order the grits and their chicory coffee.
🍽️ Akadi (Southeast Division Street)
The chef, originally from the Ivory Coast, offers a rare opportunity to enjoy some West African cuisine in Portland. Tip: Order the whole fish (but expect to get a look at the head and the tail). It’s also got a great vegan menu. “ It's a great place to order family style,” says Moore.
🍝 Amalfi’s (Cully neighborhood)
One of the first Portland restaurants to serve pizza when it opened in 1959, Amalfi’s has your spaghetti, pasta carbonara, pizza, and chicken parmigiana needs covered. “It's cool to have variety — not every Black-owned spot is gonna be soul food, southern food, or Creole,” says Moore.
🍺 Alberta Street Pub (Alberta Arts District)
Moore says it may be the sole Black-owned events venue in Portland. They’ve got live music, comedy, and bingo. Tip: the fish and chips are delicious.
🇪🇹 Enat Kitchen (North Killingsworth St.)
Portland has a ton of Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants. This is City Cast Portland podcast host Claudia Meza’s pick for the best of them. (It offers plenty of vegan options.)
🍸 Olive or Twist Martini Bar (Pearl District)
It’s a fancy spot that’s been around for a couple decades. ”There's only a handful of martini bars in town,” says Moore. “ It's a good date night outing.” Moore recommends their hazelnut chocolate martini.
🧁 Fat Cupcake (Woodstock neighborhood, Happy Valley, and Oregon City)
They have excellent cupcakes (and cakes) with a ton of different flavors. (They also have wheat-free and vegan options on the menu.)
Kann is a sought-after reservation, so it may be too late to plan for a meal there during Black History Month. But it’s possible to find last-minute cancellations. Or get in at Sousòl, the associated bar, which serves some of the same food.
For more tasty ideas:
- 📰 Check out some delicious options that Moore wrote about recently.
- 🎧 Or check out her conversation with the City Cast Portland podcast.
