The beauty of L.A.’s dining scene is its never-ending bowl of independently owned restaurants, often nestled in strip malls, sometimes operating as roaming establishments, and supported by their communities with a fervor envied by larger chains. Black-owned coffee shops, pop-ups, restaurants, and bars have dotted a large swath of the L.A. landscape from when we relied on the Thomas Guide to today’s Google-populated lists of newbies. Here’s a short list of our favorites, from classic hangs to newly minted James Beard awardees:
We’ve been here…
A model of L.A.’s independent restaurant group, Dulan’s operations have been a part of family gatherings and post-game rituals since Shaq joined the Lakers (this writer got engaged at Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch, his fourth restaurant). Walk into either of Dulan’s locations in Inglewood or on Century Blvd. and bask in their famous hospitality.
Rahel Woldmedhin has been serving vegan stews and salads alongside stacks of injera from multiple storefronts in Fairfax’s little Ethiopia for over 30 years. Her wraps have made their way to local grocers for years and can be picked up throughout Southern California from Erewhon to Mother’s Markets.
Percell Keeling opened Los Angeles’ most beloved natural foods store on Slauson when WF was just a twinkle in a Texas eye. This hub of healthy eating, community-building, café, grocery, and supplements has been a home for L.A.-based food upstarts since its inception.
Bur first… Coffee!
Grab a stool at their Slauson location and feel the vibes from this fast-expanding group of cafes started by L.A. natives. Their second location on La Brea is in birds-eye view of Wonder-ful KJLH, and their DTLA Hill St. location will have you sliding into their red booths for more chatter than laptops (cheers to that!). There is also a Hilltop located in the heart of the laid-back, eclectic neighborhood of Eagle Rock.
French basketball star Lou Correa arrives in L.A. and infuses this Valley village with dunk-worthy croissants. The fervor with which Lou played on the court can be tasted in this self-taught baker’s pastries in this Paris-style café in Burbank.
This triple-threat roaster, coffee shop, and coffee ground retailer, helmed by Jonathan Kinnard, is dedicated to selecting and sourcing coffee beans worldwide. His dedication to roasting coffee beans is akin to our fervent attention to the perfect cacao bean roast for bean-to-bar chocolate. Beans can be purchased on his website to grind at home or sipped in-house at their flagship shop in South Central Los Angeles four days a week.
“Come for the coffee, stay for the culture” is this women-owned coffee empire’s mantra, and we’re here for it. You can feel the giveback vibes from the moment you walk into this duo’s Inglewood location and know that the ties to this Market Street shop go well beyond their support of other makers. Visit one of their other satellite locations, including at The Music Center, or purchase their curated coffee line at one of a half dozen stores.
Come Find Me
There is no kinder, harder-working chef in L.A. than Rashida Holmes. We don’t know how she gets her superpowers, but you’ll feast on a killer roti at a UCLA pie contest one day, sip on her soup in a rando warehouse art show in DTLA the next, and find her doing an oxtail pizza collab on the eastside at a later date. Chef’s Caribbean roots are in full play in all her dishes, making street food (and you) feel like a million dollars.
And now… We Toast!
Sip on this: owner Keith Adams and his wife Leslie had a legacy in the restaurant business, came to L.A. to pursue the screen dream, opened a restaurant… and Covid hit the day they opened. Walking into this Sherman Oaks restaurant, bar, and live jazz establishment, I feel none of those blues.
We’ve followed this duo’s story since its inception, marveling at their tenacity as they built Inglewood’s first black, woman, and veteran-owned brewery. Find a can at local shops on their website’s Beer Locator. We’re here for it the moment their doors open!
Walk into this wine bar any night of the week, and you can taste California’s largest selection of black-owned wines. For decades, it will be known where a bride was celebrated, girlfriends gathered, and app meetups first took place. Inglewood’s first wine bar was opened by neighborhood natives Leslie and LeAnne Jones. They also have a killer brunch menu brought by chef Kyndra McCrary.
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