Influencer Christina Petsos tours some of Orlando’s best Black-owned eateries.

Updated April 8, 2026

The Orlando food scene offers a world of diversity, including many fantastic Black-owned restaurants. For Black History Month, I wanted to showcase some standouts. Get inspired to try something new and support our local Black community during your next visit to Orlando.

Discover: Black History Month in Orlando

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Smokemade Meats + Eats

I have been a fan of Smokemade Meats + Eats since the owner, Tyler Brunache, started pop ups in Orlando back in 2021. After trying his brisket, he had a lifelong supporter in me. The brick-and-mortar location here in Curry Ford West achieved MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status in 2025, which is well deserved.

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Tyler began by cooking for his friends during college. He learned a lot about barbecue from well-known pit master Dylan Taylor. He and his team frequently travel to Texas and train with mentor Goldee’s BBQ to continue to hone their techniques and meats. Smokemade’s proteins are cooked slow and low for at least 14 hours with minimal seasoning, allowing the quality of the meat to speak for itself.

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There is a wide variety of meat available here at Smokemade Meats. My favorites are the brisket, the turkey and the ribs. You cannot go wrong with any of it, but these are consistently my go-to’s. The brisket cheesesteak is a specialty item that’s worth trying. They make all their sides from scratch. The cheese grits are my usual pick. On Sundays, they serve breakfast. The biscuits and gravy are also made from scratch. You can also get one as a breakfast sandwich that comes with brisket. Make sure to order the cinnamon roll, too.

Brappin Crabs

Brappin Crabs is one of the newest food trucks on the scene that’s making a big impression. Jamor and Kaleea Thompson are a young couple that owns this seafood-forward truck. They moved to Orlando from New York in August 2022 and quickly gained speed with their fresh seafood, homemade sauces and famous eggrolls. I remember seeing their food at their first 407 Food Fair, hosted by MAM Events, and thinking, “Wow, I must try that because it looks amazing.” My verdict: It is.

I tried their Banshee Fries, comprised of fried shrimp and lobster bites on top of French fries, topped with their secret brapp sauce, Asian zing and homemade cheese sauce. All these combined together for the most perfect flavor and I could not stop eating them. I was not sharing this meal with anyone. My next goal is to go back and try the Mac and Cheese Egg Rolls.

The Thompsons have only had their food truck for a few years and have already amassed a large following from being so present in the local community and providing exceptional food. They decided to move to Orlando after they graduated college because they loved it every time they visited. Kaleea actually started her food business when she was in college and worked hard to perfect her recipes for the seafood she makes. The couple is passionate about what they do, and I see them being a notable business in Orlando. Follow them on social media to see where you can find them next.

Donutste Doughnuts

Donutste Doughtnuts started as a small pop up at the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market. After gaining quite a few fans, they moved into a cottage and began selling donuts more often and with a larger selection. Chef Shalom comes to us from New York, where he learned his cooking techniques. Together, he and his wife, Chef Victoria, have created magic with their baked goods.

Donutste is all about love and I find their mission to be so beautiful. They’re known for their giant fluffy vegan donuts. One of my favorite things they’ve had available is their Everything Bagel savory donut. It has a nice butteriness to it that I hadn’t experienced from a donut before. They are currently operating out of an office building, Primavera Towers, with their main focus being cinnamon rolls while they wait for a fryer. The cinnamon rolls are giant and gooey, with changing and creative flavors. They also have a wide variety of coffee drinks and breakfast items.

KC Southern Kitchen

KC Southern Chicken is a soul food ghost kitchen from KC Cuisines. It’s located inside West Lakes Food Co., a West Lakes Market Street District food hall near downtown Orlando. They specialize in providing elevated comfort cuisine with dedication to utilizing quality ingredients. Chef KC’s tagline is “where the food speaks for itself,” which I’ve definitely found to be true!

Discover: Things to Do in the West Lakes Market Street District

KC Cuisines started as a food truck operation before moving into West Lakes Food Co. Today, only pickup and delivery options are available, as it is a ghost kitchen. The chicken is juicy and tender. The macaroni and cheese is perfection. It’s that type of baked mac and cheese I tend to crave all the time. The sweet potato mash is smooth and not overly sweet. Their wings have a great crunch. I tried the lemon pepper that had a nice acidity. Didn’t even need ranch, the sauce was great.

KC Cuisines also offers catering options for events and hosts Soulfood Sunday every week, featuring a rotating soul food menu that includes oxtails, turkey wings and turkey necks, available from 12 p.m. until they sell out.

Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine

Selam, meaning “hi” or “peace,” is the name of this unassuming — and MICHELIN Guide Recommended — business down the road from SeaWorld® Orlando. Selam is also the name of one of the co-owners of this wonderful restaurant. The other co-owner is her brother, Abraham. As children in Ethiopia, Abraham is the one who taught Selam how to cook. Selam is now the head chef here, while Abraham loves to entertain and socialize with their guests.

Opening a restaurant was a longtime dream for Abraham. When he immigrated from Ethiopia, he was originally living in California. He came to Orlando to visit family and decided he really liked it, so he decided to move here and open Selam with his sister. Abraham enjoys sharing the customs and traditions of his culture with his guests. For instance, Selam has a traditional coffee ceremony with authentic seating in the back of the restaurant. While here, I ordered Beef Samosas, the Coffee Ceremony, and the Selam Meat and Veggie Combination Special platter.

Ethiopian food is meant to be eaten with your hands, and each platter is served with injera, which is a type of thin bread made from teff flour. Teff is lower in calories and healthier than regular flour, as it is high in vitamins and minerals. The combination platter features red lentil, split peas, atalkelt wot (cabbage, carrots and potato), collard greens, timatim fitfi (made from injera), chicken, and two different types of beef. This platter, the Veggie Combination platter, and the Doro Wot are the most popular items at Selam. For a unique experience and flavorful food, stop by.

Sister Honey’s Bakery

Sister Honey’s Bakery in downtown Orlando’s SODO District is award-winning for a reason, right? Absolutely. I am actually eating one of their Magic Bars as I am sitting here typing this, thinking “wow” after every bite. In fact, the owner, Evette Rahman, has won the title of World Dessert Champion multiple times. So, what is her secret? The answer is simple: love.

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This little bakery with a big heart is named after Evette’s mother, whose nickname is Sister Honey. Evette learned how to bake from her mother, who used only the best quality ingredients — a tradition Evette continues to this day at Sister Honey’s. Every single item sold here is made from scratch daily on the premises. It is easy to taste when something is fresh and homemade, which you definitely get here.

I had a hard time deciding what I was going to get so I settled on five things. (Basically, I did not choose, ha ha.) I tried the famous Coconut Cake, Hummingbird Cake, Magic Bar, Chocolate Silk Pie, and Cookies & Cream Cupcake. Every single dessert was amazing, but the Coconut Cake really stole my heart. This cake is actual perfection, and I cannot sing the praises higher. It’s heavenly. Like, when I die, this cake will be waiting in Heaven for me, no doubt about it. They also sell full cakes, and I urge you to order your next cake from this female- and Black-owned bakery.

The eateries featured here are just the start of all Orlando’s delicious Black-owned restaurants. Check out Visit Orlando’s guide to Black American history and culture to discover more ahead of your next visit.

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