Life & Travel
The first time I was in Atlanta, I couldn’t get over how many great restaurants the city had to offer. Whether you’re looking for a soul food brunch spot, a late-night pizza joint, or a cozy place to grab a creamy latte, you’re in luck because Atlanta seems to have it all.
Frequently referred to as “The Black Mecca” because of its reputation as a hub for Black culture and history, Atlanta is also home to many Black-owned restaurants. Many of these restaurants are owned by HBCU grads, who have also made it their mission to give back to the community by creating job opportunities or setting up education funds for Atlanta’s youth.
If you’re looking for restaurant recommendations for your next trip to Atlanta, here are five great spots that are not only Black-owned but also owned by HBCU alumni.
1. The Black Coffee Company
Owned by Xavier University grads Chris Bolden, Jamin Butler, Branden Cole, Gino Jones, and Leonard Lightfoot.
If you’re looking for a place to get a great cup of coffee, start your day at Black Coffee Atlanta, owned by The Black Coffee Company. The company was founded in 2018 by five high school friends and graduates of Xavier University in Louisiana as a way to create resources and job opportunities for their community. The Black Coffee Company started by serving organic coffee sourced from coffee plants in Ethiopia, and since then, it has expanded to include beans from places like Kenya and Brazil.
The coffee shop has two locations in Atlanta: one in the Lakewood Heights area and a second on the campus of Morehouse College. The owners also donate a percentage of profits to their educational fund, which goes towards providing educational and financial resources for area youth.
Serving authentic Neapolitan pizzas made with fresh ingredients, Dough Boy Pizza has earned a loyal following among Atlanta pizza lovers. The company has two locations: one at the Lee White Food Hall and one in the Decatur neighborhood. Some crowd favorites are the Piled Up Pepperoni Paulie and the Big Meech, made with shrimp, steak, and a savory pesto drizzle. The restaurant caters to different diets: the pizza crusts are vegan, and the menu also offers several vegetarian pies (or you can build your own pie).
The owner, Erika Barrett, a Clark Atlanta alum, is no stranger to the food industry. Besides the Dough Boy Pizza restaurants, Chef Barrett, the CEO of Southern Culture Foods, also opened SOCU Southern Kitchen & Oyster Bar, in her hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
3. Slim & Husky’s Pizza
Owned by Tennessee State University Grads Clint Gray, Derrick Moore, and EJ Reed.
Another great Atlanta pizza spot is Slim & Husky’s Pizza, where each pizza, including the pizza sauce, is made from scratch. The menu is full of pies that pay homage to classic hip-hop songs and artists. The Cee No Green is a take on a meat-lovers pizza with Canadian bacon, sausage, and pepperoni. There’s also a California Love vegetarian pizza, and the Red Light Special is a red sauce and mozzarella pie.
The restaurant also offers homemade cinnamon rolls and wings. Founded by three Tennessee State alumni, Slim & Husky’s Pizza has seven locations in Tennessee, two in Atlanta: one on Metropolitan Parkway and the other on the Morehouse College campus.
Considered one of the best restaurants in Atlanta, Busy Bee Cafe received a James Beard Classic Award in 2022, an award that recognizes local restaurants that “reflect the character of the community.” The no-frills diner offers quintessential Southern food like BBQ ribs, chicken and waffles, fried pork chops, and oxtails. The restaurant also has a rich history in Atlanta.
Founded by Lucy Jackson in 1947, the restaurant became a meeting place for Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights Movement. Busy Bee Cafe was sold to two local businessmen in 1968, who later sold it to Milton Gates in 1981. Today, Milton’s Gates daughter, Tracey Gates, an Alabama A&M alum, is the owner and head chef and has even added a few family recipes to the menu.
Slutty Vegan started when Clark Atlanta graduate Pinky Cole decided to fill the demand for delicious, vegan burgers. The budding entrepreneur first sold her fresh, ready-made vegan burgers from a shared kitchen and fulfilled orders through Instagram. In a few weeks, she was selling burgers across Atlanta from a food truck. After building a loyal following, Cole opened her first Slutty Vegan restaurant in 2018 in Atlanta’s West View neighborhood.
There are currently six other locations around Atlanta, including on the Spelman College campus. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its burgers, piled high with vegan patties, bacon, and cheese. The burgers come drizzled with the custom “Slut Sauce,” and if you’re still hungry, you can complete your order with the hooker fries: vegan beef, cheese, jalapenos, onions, and tomatoes stacked on a bed of hot fries.
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