If there’s one thing Houstonians love, it’s food. One of Houston’s home-grown celebrations is Black Restaurant Week, which draws attention to black contributions to the restaurant industry. From April 16 to April 29, you’ll have the opportunity to visit restaurants that feature cuisine from Africa, the Caribbean, and right here in the United States.

Cafe Abuja - Oak Park Ridge

Photo courtesy of Cafe Abuja

If you’ve never had a taste of Nigerian food, there’s no better time to try some than Black Restaurant Week. Featuring Nigerian dishes such as fried yams and egg, plantains, and oxtail with rice, Cafe Abuja is a frequent destination for residents on the west side of Houston, especially loved by local diners living in nearby neighborhoods like Briar Village, Clayton, and Oak Park Ridge. Chosen by Houston Press as the Best African Restaurant in 2016, Cafe Abuja should be on your list of stops during Black Restaurant Week.

Alley Kat - Midtown

Photo courtesy of Alley Kat

Alley Kat replaced the long popular Mink back in 2012. Since then, Alley Kat has made a name for itself by featuring live jazz music alongside popular local DJs playing old school hip-hop. Though it’s a popular destination for drinks on the weekend, Alley Kat’s also got a delicious menu that includes cheese-stuffed empanadas and classic, southern fried chicken strips. The Alley Kat continues to be a hot spot for residents in Midtown on just about every day of the week.

Reggae Hut Cafe - Third Ward

Photo courtesy of Reggae Hut Cafe

Reggae Hut Cafe has been a staple of Houston’s Third Ward for over a decade. Established in 2005, the restaurant has perfected its unique Caribbean cuisine. The choices are diverse, and guests can choose from dishes such as beef patties, curry chicken, curry goat, jerk shrimp, and Creole snapper. Reggae Hut Cafe also features musicians on certain days of the week, including both guitarists and steel drummers. If you’re looking for a Caribbean vibe, then this local gem will quickly become a favorite stop of yours. 

Lucille’s - Museum District 

Photo courtesy of Lucille’s

Since 2012, Lucille’s has been serving up classic southern cuisine with a refined spin. Guests have plenty of options that range from seared scallop to pork and beans, fried fish, braised lamb, or shrimp and grits. That’s not all that’s on the menu, and Lucille’s offers up options for vegetarians to committed meat lovers alike. Lucille’s is a cozy restaurant located in the heart of the Museum District, not far from some of the most acclaimed destinations in the city. If you’re hoping to spend a day exploring some of Houston’s most popular museum attractions and parks, make sure to stop into Lucille’s while you’re out.

These are only a few of the many restaurants that will be featured during Black Restaurant Week, which will be adding more restaurants as the week approaches.