Black-Owned Businesses to Shop in San Francisco
San Francisco’s Black-owned businesses are more than just places to eat, shop, and gather — they’re essential parts of the city’s cultural and historical fabric. These restaurants, bookstores, and bakeries carry the weight of generations, preserving traditions while pushing the city’s food and arts scene forward. From soul-warming gumbo to groundbreaking literature, each business tells a story of resilience, creativity, and community. And yet, despite their undeniable impact, many of these businesses continue to face systemic barriers, rising costs, and the ongoing effects of gentrification.
Supporting them isn’t just about spending money — it’s about investing in the people and places that make San Francisco feel like home. Whether you’re craving Southern-style sweets, a perfect fried chicken sandwich, or a book that shifts your perspective, there’s a Black-owned business that has exactly what you need. And in a city that often erases the contributions of its Black residents, choosing to show up and support these businesses is an act of preservation in itself.
RADIO AFRICA KITCHEN (BAYVIEW)
You could drop Radio Africa Kitchen into the trendiest part of SF and it would still feel effortlessly cool. Chef Eskender Aseged’s Ethiopian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes are pure comfort, with slow-cooked meats, spiced lentils, and fresh, locally sourced produce. The Bayview spot is bright and welcoming, offering a casual yet refined dining experience that feels like the best kept secret. The menu changes daily — because why be predictable when you’re this good? If you’re lucky, you’ll land on a day when the salmon tagine is on the menu, its rich, slow-braised flavors melting into perfectly seasoned grains. You’ll leave full, satisfied, and wondering why this place isn’t talked about even more.
LITTLE SKILLET (SoMa)
If you’re anywhere near SoMa, you need to be at Little Skillet, period. This is the kind of place where the fried chicken is so good it should come with a warning label. The waffle-to-chicken ratio is perfect, the biscuits are flaky enough to make your Southern grandma proud, and the mac and cheese is the kind of creamy, cheesy masterpiece that makes you forget SF’s rent prices for a second. Order at the counter, grab a seat outside, and prepare to go into a blissful food coma. The seasoning on the chicken is next-level, with a crispy, golden crust that shatters in the best way possible. And if you’re really doing it right, you’ll order extra honey butter to slather over everything.
