Did you know that August is National Black Business Month? Well now you know! Throughout August, I will be highlighting Black businesses that I have been supporting throughout the past couple of months. One easy way I have been supporting more Black businesses is by eating at Black owned restaurants. It takes some extra thought to support these restaurants but I promise, it is worth it. Here are the three easy steps that I take to find Black owned restaurants near me.

Apps Are Your Friend

The easiest way to find Black owned restaurants is using the EatOkra app. It is basically a Black Yelp. You simply put in your location and you will find what types of cuisine are offered around you and if they are offering dine-in or delivery options. If you are exploring a new part of town or visiting a different state, this app can be extremely helpful in navigating the Black food scene. If you are at home and tempted to order UberEats for the third time this week, try EatOkra instead.

Browse a Directory

I know it sounds old school but nothing is better than a good old directory. Most directories are created by locals so you are getting an authentic look at what the city has to offer. You will also find more mom-and-pop shops on directories than you would on a major foodie blog or publication. Bon Appetit even compiled some directories for major cities if you are looking for your first directory. In the DMV my go-to directory is from Feed the Malik. Once you find one that you like, bookmark the page and it will make dining a breeze.

Follow Follow Follow

If you want to be a food trend setter and take your friends to new restaurants in your area, I recommend following hashtags and foodie accounts on social media. If you didn’t already know, you can follow hashtags on Instagram and they will curate content with that tag to be featured on your main feed. This means that if you are following #blackownedrestaurant, then you’ll start to see some delicious food porn on your feed. This is also a great way to find some Black food bloggers in your area and follow them as well.

Success Stories

Using these three methods, I have visited some great restaurants (and a lot of bakeries) this summer. Throughout this month, I’ll be reviewing the places that I have visited so that you can add them to your dining rotation. Give these steps a try and let me know what places you discover. Do you have any tactics to finding new Black owned restaurants to support? Let me know in the comments below.