Oustanding Black Owned Restaurants in Louisville, KY
Restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky, are well-known for their savory southern cooking and unique regional flavors found in everything, from the iconic Hot Brown sandwiches to flavorful pulled pork BBQ dinners. And some of the best meals in Kentucky can be found in one of the many Black-owned spots in this southern town. Let’s take a look at some of the best Black-owned restaurants in Louisville to try next time you are in the Kentucky Derby’s hometown.
Southern Restaurant & Lounge
301 W Market St Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 632-1080
This upscale dining experience is located right in the heart of downtown. Southern Restaurant & Lounge serves up delicious lunches, four-course dinners or drinks and music in the lounge in the evenings. Locals and visitors who are lucky enough to find this gem can choose from tasty lunch options like shrimp and grits and rib tips while guests who join for dinner might be serenaded by the sounds of local jazz or blues live music while they nosh and enjoy this swanky spot.
Six Forks Burger
1039 Ash St Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 565-9750
This Germantown burger spot is located in a renovated old home and that just adds to the charm of a place that knows how to deliver a delicious burger. Six Forks caters to just about everyone with their vegan burger as well as a huge variety of meat options including the alligator tail burger, bison burger, salmon burger and of course the wagyu beef burger. A counter service, casual joint, Six Forks is one of the best Black-owned restaurants in Louisville that no one with a taste for good burgers could dispute.
Shirley Mae’s Cafe
802 S Clay St Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 589-5295
The historic building that Shirley Mae’s calls home has been the site of grocers and food bars since the early 1900’s, but its most recent turn as a soul food spot has been around since the late 1980s. This cash-only spot specializes in southern tastes like chitterlings, pigs feet, southern fried wings and hot water cornbread. Go early, and be prepared to wait because everything is made fresh to order here at one of the very best Black-owned restaurants in Louisville.
Four Pegs Smokehouse & Bar
1053 Goss Ave Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 634-1447
This historic Germantown spot has a back patio perfect for bringing along your pup to enjoy the atmosphere and tasty food at Four Pegs. As a gastropub and smokehouse restaurant, Four Pegs consistently serves up delicious foods proven by their chef and owner’s many culinary titles like the Food Network’s Big Bad BBQ Brawl. Get a taste of the winning ‘cue flavor with their smoked baby back ribs or their pulled pork sandwich. This is definitely one of the top places to get BBQ in Louisville.
Daddy Vic’s
4444 Cane Run Road, Louisville, KY 40216
(502) 365-3631
When it comes to soul food, there aren’t many cities that have it better than Louisville. Daddy Vic’s is one of the reasons why. This soul food spot puts some of the best homestyle southern cooking in front of its guests. Daddy Vic’s is the place where the food is self proclaimed as “soul good!” Whether you want dine in or carry out they’ve got you covered. What’s even better is this is the kind of place where no matter what you order, you know its going to be downright delicious. From fried chicken to brisket, mac & cheese to liver & onions, you’ll quickly find yourself with with an empty plate and feeling full.
Roof Top Grill
414 West Oak Street, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 618-2287
If you’re looking for authentic and delicious Jamaican cuisine then you absolutely have to try Roof Top Grill. Owner and operator Courtney Johnson hails from Jamaica and his passion for bringing the delightful flavors of his home country has produced one of Louisvilles real hidden gems. You won’t find a lot of fried food here but thats because not many people can top Johnson’s skills on a grill. The jerk chicken, rib tips, oxtail and curry goat are out of this world good. You can also find classic southern sides on the menu as well like potato salad and mac and cheese. If you’ve never tried Jamaican food, you need to check out Roof Top Grill ASAP!
Back Deck BBQ
801 West Kenwood Drive, Louisville, KY 40214
(502) 705-7662
Back Deck BBQ established itself in the Louisville food scene by having one of the best food trucks around. Now, they’ve finally been able to open their own brick and mortar and serve up their delicious BBQ to even more hungry guests. This spot pulls inspiration from different BBQ styles from around the country. You can find the likes of Texas-style brisket, Kansas City burnt ends, and Memphis dry rub delights. Back Deck will also occasionally runs specials like Burger Week where they take all of their BBQ acumen to grill up some of the best burgers in the city. Not only is Back Deck BBQ one of the best black-owned spots in Louisville, it also has some of the best BBQ.
Barry’s Cheesesteaks and More
5408 Valley Station Road, Louisville, KY 40272
(502) 618-2288
Patronizing Barry’s will give you more than just an unbelievably good cheesesteak. Barry’s also will renew your faith in humanity when you learn about the founder’s story of redemption and renewal and how his restaurants literally signaled the turnaround in his life. But be sure to snag a Big Barry to taste the real flavor of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and you might even have leftovers for later because of this of the restaurant’s generous portion sizes.
For more information on where to eat and drink in Louisville, visit our city page!
Editors Note: This article was originally published on September 14, 2022 and last updated on July 14, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
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