The sizzle of hot skillets, the scent of spice-filled air, and the sound of laughter echoing from packed dining rooms — this week, metro Atlanta is alive with flavor.
Black Restaurant Week has officially returned, bringing with it a celebration of culture, cuisine, and community that stretches across the city. Running through August 17, the event shines a spotlight on dozens of Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, caterers, and culinary entrepreneurs — each with a story to tell and a dish to share.
For many of these businesses, the week offers more than just an uptick in reservations or mobile orders. It’s a chance to be seen. Heard. Tasted.
“We want people to come for the food, but stay for the stories,” said one organizer. “Every bite supports a dream, a neighborhood, a family business that’s been working hard behind the scenes.”
Marketing and visibility are often uphill battles for small, Black-owned culinary ventures — and Black Restaurant Week is helping level the playing field. Through digital campaigns, community outreach, and local partnerships, the event gives these businesses the platform they deserve.
From soul food staples to Afro-Caribbean fusion, vegan comfort food to classic Southern barbecue, each participating vendor is serving up something special. Many are crafting exclusive dishes just for the week — inviting Atlantans to expand their palates while rooting their dollars in the local economy.
Food trucks are pulling up to neighborhood parks. Cafés are buzzing with first-time visitors. And longtime favorites are getting the spotlight they’ve long earned.
“It’s about more than just a meal,” one restaurant owner said. “It’s about connection — sharing our culture, our heritage, and our creativity with the city we love.”
So whether you’re craving smoky ribs, savory jollof rice, plant-based plates, or peach cobbler that tastes like home, this week offers the perfect excuse to indulge — and invest — in the culinary heartbeat of Atlanta.
Black Restaurant Week isn’t just a celebration of food. It’s a celebration of resilience, excellence, and the rich tapestry of flavor that only Atlanta can serve.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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