Three Black Restaurants You Must Visit While in Chicago

Diners are seen here enjoying their experience at Demera Restaurant in Chicago, which serves traditional Ethiopian cusine and has a bar that features wine from Africa. First opened in 2007, it now has two locations in the city and has carved out a market for itself in the tough restaurant climate in a city known for world-class cuisine. The city is also home to a significant number of African and Caribbean immigrants. Photo by Jcoydenreports.

If you’re headed to Chicago anytime soon and are looking for some good, local, Black-cultural cuisine, you will have plenty to choose from. Chicago is one of the best cities in the world for food. The Black culture here is deep and that means the food options are endless. Whether you are looking for soul food, Caribbean dishes, vegetarian options or something else from the African diaspora, you are sure to find it in Chicago. However, here are three places I would highly recommend you visit that are located in three different parts of town, outside of the typical tourist areas.

Demera Restaurant (4801 N. Broadway)

If you are looking for some tasty Ethiopian cuisine, Demera is the place to go. Chef Tigist Rema has been cooking up tasty meals since 2007 at this North Side dining spot, located on one of Chicago’s busiest streets. Just across from The Riveria Theater, Demera provides a meal full of substance and flavor at a good price for Chicago standards.

There is nothing on this menu that will not satisfy. Be sure to have a glass of Tej (honey wine) Demera’s homemade wine at the bar. You can also have this sweetened wine to accompany your desert. Made from a family recipe, it is a light, sweet taste on the palate on one of the most popular items sold. They also have a local house white wine and two selections from South Africa to get you started should you so choose to partake.

Chef Tigist Rema (right) shows a diner how to make injera during a recent event at the North Side Ethiopian restaurant. Photo by Jcoydenreports.

Moving on to the appetizer menu, Sambusas are fried dumplings that come in chicken, spinach, beef, cheese or lentil served in a sweet and spicy honey sauce. If you don’t want anything fried, the Kay Seer Salata is a nice vegan or vege option. It is comprised of beets served with onion, sliced and seeded jalapeño with fresh lime vinaigrette salsa that is sure to get you primed for the meal to come.

Now, I gotta admit, I’m a sucker for the lamb and beef options Demera offers. Injera (bread) along with lamb, spinach, yams and onions is one of my personal favorites. The good thing about Ethiopian food is you can do so many different mixes along with the spices and herbs used in the recipes, that will just add enjoyment to your meal. Beef, chicken, seafood and vegan options are also available with any meal you choose.

Be sure not to miss out on dessert if you still have room left in your stomach. The flourless chocolate torte is a great gluten-free option. Ethiopian style tiramisu however is arguably the best dessert available. It is delicate ladyfinger cookies soaked in a homemade Buna and brandy, that is then layered with mascarpone cheese, and covered in ground chocolate. Delicious.

Lior’s Café (10500 S. Halsted)

Lior's Cafe on Chicago's South Side brings all of the flavors, art and music of Haitian culture to life in one location. Photo by Jcoydenreports.

Travel on out to the South Side to the Washington Heights community and get a little taste of Haitian cuisine at Lior’s Cafe. Chicago was founded by Jean Baptise Pointe DuSable, a Haitian and French-Canadian man who set up shop along with the banks of the Chicago River. That Haitian culture is seen throughout the city including in the vast dining options.

Chef Daniel Aurel has laid out a fine dining experience that rival many of the most expensive restaurants in the downtown area, right in the heart of the Black community. Lior’s serves as a testament to the resilience, passion, and dedication of the Haitian community, while also introducing the wider Chicago community to the rich tapestry of Haitian flavors.

The ambiance at Lior’s begins before you even enter. The two large hand-painted murals on the outside walls welcome you for what is about to come. Inside you will find more authentic Haitian art work adorning the walls. Accompanying the art is the music and scents of Haiti, which transforms diners to the Hispaniola Island nation. The smell coming from the kitchen helps build the anticipation as your professional waiters bring you your meal.

Get the party started with appetizers like Accra (Crispy Malanga Fritters) or the mouth-watering Shrimp Bombs, which is comprised of five Jumbo Shrimp, lightly fried, tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce, then served with the secret bombs sauce.

Your main entrée will come in two courses. In the first course you have the option of an island salad, soup Joumou, legume, in which you can add shrimp or the chicken dumplings. The Joumou soup is a Haitian styled pumpkin soup to which you can add beef or shrimp. The unique flavors blend together nicely.

I won't tell your spouse if you decide to have some dessert after your meal at Lior's. I mean who can resist this delicious cookies and cream offereing from Shawn Michelle's Homemade Ice Cream. Photo from Shawn Michelle's. 

For your second course there are six options to choose from. The Haitian Wings that you can get in a traditional or breaded style are served in a mustard sauce that will give Harold’s Chicken a run for its money. It wouldn’t be Haitian cuisine without an oxtail option, braised bone-in along with butter beans. Griot is a tender Haitian fried pork but the Cabrit Pot Pie is arguably the best item on this menu. It is pulled goat in a creamy mushroom sauce that comes cooked to a flaky butter crust. There is also a slow cooked stewed chicken or the incredible Haitian Red Snapper that is fried whole and smothered with red onion, bell pepper and topped with a red reduction sauce.

Whatever you do, don’t leave without having some of Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream for dessert. Another Black-owned business that was born on the South Side and has been thriving ever since it opened its doors in the Chatham community. Now located as a stand-alone store in the Bronzeville community, and in suburban Olympia Fields, the addition of Shawn Michelle’s flavorful ice cream to Lior’s menu is the definition of Black businesses benefitting one another by working together. Cooperative economics is also one of the seven principles of the Kwanzaa holiday.

Watta Potato (5202 W. Washington Blvd)

If you think you can handle it, try the Yogi's Soul Food potato. Sweet potato, mac & cheese, greens and two chicken wings comprise this beast of a potato that is not for the faint of heart. Photo courtesy of Watta Potato. 

So, you say you want something quick, fulfilling and tasty so you can hurry up and get back to seeing the city? No problem. I got you covered. Get yourself over to the West Side, and head on over to Watta Potato. Here you can feast on a potato that is probably bigger than your appetite.

This place doesn’t mess around. If there is something that can be put in a baked potato, they have done it. With so many options it will make your head spin when you read the menu. This fairly new eating experience leaves you more than full. Prepared by people in the community, and cooked to order, the Seafood Sensation and The Chicago standout as top picks. Each consists of a perfectly baked potato with the Seafood Sensation adding two lobster claws and jumbo shrimp smothered in bearnaise garlic butter sauce topped with sautéed spinach. The Chicago features Italian Beef meat, nacho cheese, giardiniera peppers. There is also a vegetable only option as well.

If you are one of those people who just have to have it your way and can’t choose from the nine available options, you can choose to build your own. But be warned, I’ve seen some strange combinations come from the build your own side, so give your stomach a heads-up before you choose.