Restaurants &amp; Food

Restaurants & Food

400 Degrees Hot Chicken

Nashville, TN

At 400 Degrees, we bring you real Nashville hot chicken the way it was meant to be: fresh, fried to order, and dialed in to exactly the heat you can handle. Chef and owner Aqui Hines opened our doors in 2006, and our story starts the same place a lot of Nashville hot chicken stories do, standing in line at Prince's. Aqui grew up eating hot chicken every week, fell in love with it, and set out to build on that tradition with her own recipe and her own twist. Today we are proud to be a family-owned, Black-owned staple on Clarksville Pike, and a co-founding force behind the Nashville Hot Chicken Festival. Our name is our promise. We measure heat in degrees, so you order to your comfort level, whether that is a mild 100 for folks who want flavor without the fire or the full-on 400 (and hotter) for those who like to sweat. Either way, the crust stays crackly, the meat stays juicy, and the seasoning goes all the way through. There is more to us than chicken, too. Pick your protein, from chicken breast, wings, and tenders to pork chops, fish, and colossal shrimp, then round out the plate with classic sides like potato salad, baked beans, seasoned fries, or cool, crisp coleslaw to balance the burn. Every combo is built to satisfy. We have been lucky to share our food with the whole country, with features on the Travel Channel, the Cooking Channel, Food Network, and Great American Country, but our heart is right here in North Nashville. Come see us at 3704 Clarksville Pike, order at the counter, and grab a seat inside. You can also call ahead or order online for pickup. Whether it is your first taste of hot chicken or your hundredth, we will get you exactly the level of heat you are after, cooked fresh and served with Nashville pride. How hot can you handle?

Restaurants & Food

7th + Grove

Tampa, FL

In the heart of historic Ybor City, 7th + Grove has become one of Tampa's most talked-about tables, and one of its warmest. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Vondalyn Crawford, Dr. Jamaris Glenn, and Khalilaa McDuffie, the restaurant grew from a simple observation: Tampa had all the soul of the South, but few places serving truly authentic Southern cooking. Their answer is a menu of elevated comfort food threaded with Guyanese influence, plates that feel like a family gathering and look like art. The kitchen leans into the classics and then pushes them somewhere new. Braised oxtails, the dish guests come back for again and again, arrive fall-apart tender. Collard green egg rolls, fried catfish and Gulf shrimp, smoked gouda grits, and pimento cheese fritters round out a menu that treats Southern staples with real care. It is food meant to be shared, lingered over, and remembered. The space matches the plates. Bold murals, teal velvet seating, and an open kitchen give the dining room an energy that carries from a weekday lunch into a late-night weekend crowd, where a thoughtful cocktail program takes over. The name says it best: Eat. Vibe. Flourish. 7th + Grove is Black-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ+ owned, and it wears that identity as an invitation. Community sits at the center of everything here, from the way the room fills with regulars to the owners' belief that food is a universal storyteller with a way of bringing people together. Whether you are stopping in for shrimp and grits at midday or gathering friends for oxtails and cocktails after dark, you are welcomed like you belong, because here, you do. Next door, the same team runs Roast on 7th, a coffee shop and bakery, making the block a small hub of Southern hospitality in Ybor City.

Black-ownedWomen-owned

Restaurants & Food

Asian Mint

Dallas, TX

Asian Mint is a chef-driven, woman-owned Thai restaurant that has been a Dallas favorite since 2004. Founded by Chef Nikky Phinyawatana, a Thai-Texan chef born and raised in Bangkok, the restaurant blends classic Thai cooking with a fresh, modern point of view she calls New Bangkok-style cuisine. What began as one neighborhood spot has grown into a beloved Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant group with five locations, and our Forest Lane home at 11617 N Central Expy remains one of the busiest and most loved of them all. Chef Nikky brought a real culinary pedigree to the table. After graduating from The Hockaday School and earning a business degree in entrepreneurial studies and marketing from Babson College, she trained at El Centro College Culinary School in Dallas. That mix of business grit and kitchen craft shaped Asian Mint into a place where hospitality and flavor matter equally, and where guests are treated like family. Our menu celebrates the bright, layered flavors of Thailand. Start with shared plates like Shrimp Rangoon, Fried Calamari, or the signature Mint Platter, then move on to the dishes that keep regulars coming back: our Original Pad Thai, aromatic Tom Yum soup, House Fried Rice, Pad Kee Mow, and Cashew Chicken. We cook with fresh ingredients and balance the sweet, sour, salty, and spicy notes that make Thai food so satisfying. Whether you are here for a quick lunch, a relaxed dinner, or happy hour with friends, there is something on the menu to love. Beyond the plate, Asian Mint reflects Chef Nikky's commitment to community and to lifting up other women in food. She has served as president of Les Dames d'Escoffier International, mentoring the next generation of women in the culinary industry, and has been honored with awards including Women That Soar Business of the Year. In 2024 she released her first cookbook, sharing her Thai flavors and personal stories with home cooks everywhere. We offer dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, and reservations, along with a rewards program for our regulars. Come taste why Asian Mint has become a Dallas institution: authentic Thai flavor, warm hospitality, and a genuine love for bringing people together over great food.

Women-ownedAsian-owned

Restaurants & Food

Belén de la Cruz Empanadas and Pastries

Atlanta, GA

Hi! I'm Belen de la Cruz, a passionate Argentinian mom and entrepreneur, and this is my story, our story. I grew up in Buenos Aires, where my mom set a beautiful table and cooked for our family every single day. I credit her amazing cooking and hospitality as my inspiration to prepare fresh, delicious food and to share the flavors and culture of my native Argentina. When I moved to Atlanta, GA, I obtained a Food Cottage license to sell my pastries and began teaching others how to prepare traditional Argentine recipes. My cooking lessons were a hit, and before long people were asking where they could buy my empanadas and baked goods. That is how the dream of Belen de la Cruz Empanadas and Pastries was born. With the support of my brother and the encouragement of my family, I opened our first location in February 2020 in Johns Creek. Opening day was a smashing success, with our empanadas selling out like hot, well, empanadas! Shortly after, Covid hit, and I will always be grateful for the community's support that carried me and my team through the pandemic. From there we kept growing, opening several locations around Georgia, including here in Atlanta, and expanding our wholesale and catering business. Not bad for a self-taught cook from Argentina. Everything we make is baked with love. Our Argentine empanadas are prepared with high-quality ingredients and no preservatives, with meat, chicken, cheese, vegetarian, and gluten-free options folded and pinched by hand. Alongside the empanadas you will find custom cakes made to order, traditional Argentine pastries, dulce de leche treats, and cheese and charcuterie boards perfect for sharing. We still teach the recipes that started it all, because passing on the flavors of Argentina is at the heart of what we do. I love our community of customers who continue to cheer for our small business, and I am proud that we have captured the spirit of sharing a satisfying meal with friends and family around a nicely set table, just like my mom used to do. We truly love to have you over. Come visit us, and taste a little piece of Buenos Aires right here in Atlanta.

Women-ownedLatino-owned

Restaurants & Food

Boycott Bar

Phoenix, AZ

Welcome to Boycott, Arizona's last lesbian-owned bar and one of the only Latina-led queer venues in the country. Since 2004, we have held down a corner of Phoenix's Melrose District gayborhood on 7th Avenue, and we are still here because our people keep showing up for one another. Founder Audrey Corley built this place on a simple idea: everyone deserves somewhere they can walk in, exhale, and be exactly who they are. That is what we are, a chosen family and a safe space wrapped inside a good old-fashioned neighborhood bar. We like to say Boycott blends dive-bar charm with feminine energy and great dancing. Cold beer, well-mixed cocktails, and a dance floor that fills up fast. Some nights it is drag, some nights it is a DJ spinning the music you love, and some nights it is pool or bingo in the back room with friends who feel like family. There is always something on the calendar, from themed dance nights to our Under the Rainbow prom and game-day watch parties. Whatever brings you through the door, you will find good drinks, good beats, and good people. Lesbian bars across the country have been fighting to survive for decades, and the pandemic hit our kind of place harder than most. We take real pride in still standing, not as the last of something ending, but as proof that queer community in Arizona is here to stay. Every pour, every dance, every late night is a small act of keeping this space alive for the folks who need it. We are woman-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, and unapologetically ours, but our doors are open to all. Whether you are a longtime regular, new to Phoenix, or just looking for a spot where you belong, you are welcome at Boycott. Come as you are. Bring your crew or come solo and make some new friends at the bar. We are closed Mondays and open the rest of the week into the early hours, so there is plenty of time to find your people on the dance floor. Pull up a stool, order a drink, and stay awhile. This is your bar too.

Restaurants & Food

Catalyst Café

Everett, WA

Welcome to Catalyst Cafe, a bright teal corner on Hewitt Avenue in the heart of downtown Everett. We are a proudly queer-owned coffee shop built to be more than a place to grab a drink. From the day we opened our doors, our mission has been simple: create a sober, family-friendly community space where LGBTQ+ folx, QTBIPOC, and our allies all feel genuinely at home. Order at the counter and settle in. Our baristas pour freshly brewed coffee, espresso classics, matcha lattes, and house italian sodas topped with whipped cream. If you are hungry, we serve breakfast sandwiches and a rotating case of pastries, including cookies and treats from local favorite South Fork Baking Co right here in Everett. We keep vegan and gluten-free options on hand, because everyone deserves something good to eat. Look around and you will see who we are. Local art lines the walls, origami cranes hang near the restroom, and a trans pride flag greets you as part of the furniture, not a seasonal decoration. Shelves of books invite you to stay a while, whether you are catching up with a friend, working through an afternoon, or meeting the neighborhood for the first time. Catalyst is also a gathering place after the coffee cools. We host local performances, karaoke nights, and game nights that turn the room into a small, welcoming stage for Everett's creative and queer community. It is the kind of spot where regulars know each other's names and newcomers are folded in quickly. We believe a cafe can be a catalyst, a starting point for connection, conversation, and community that reaches past the front door. So pull up a chair, try a matcha or a cortado, grab a cookie, and stay as long as you like. However you identify and whoever you bring with you, there is a seat here for you. Come find us on the corner of Hewitt, look for the turquoise siding and the Catalyst sign, and come say hello. We saved you a spot.

Restaurants & Food

Cocina Chiwas

Phoenix, AZ

Welcome to Cocina Chiwas, our love letter to Chihuahua, the northern Mexican state where we both grew up before our families brought us to Arizona as kids. We are Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, and our story started with a single conversation at an ASU party, when we discovered we shared the same roots and the same dream of opening a restaurant one day. In 2016 we chased that dream with fifty dollars in our checking account and a little taco shop called Tacos Chiwas. People believed in us, Phoenix embraced us, and that first counter grew into a family of restaurants across the Valley. Cocina Chiwas is the fullest expression of where we come from. We opened these doors as the culinary anchor of Culdesac, a walkable neighborhood in Tempe, to serve regional Chihuahuan cooking the way we remember it: familiar yet unexpected, traditional yet modern, with a little bit of Arizona woven in. Our kitchen leans on wood fire, house-made masa, and the flavors of the Sierra and the high desert, from tender braises to salsas built layer by layer. Chihuahua is cattle country, chile country, and comfort-food country, and you will taste all of that on the plate. As a chef couple, we have poured our heritage and our marriage into this place, and it means the world to us that our work has been recognized, from James Beard consideration to being named one of USA Today's best new restaurants of 2024. But the honors we care about most are the regulars who become friends and the first-timers who leave planning their next visit. Our dining room is warm, unpretentious, and made for lingering, whether you are here for a weeknight dinner, a celebration, or happy hour with people you love. We built Cocina Chiwas to be a place where everyone feels at home, and we are proud to be a woman co-owned kitchen led by Nadia alongside Armando. Come hungry, come curious, and let us share the food, the culture, and the hospitality of Chihuahua with you. From our family to your table, gracias for pulling up a chair.

Latino-ownedWomen-owned

Restaurants & Food

El Merkury

Philadelphia, PA

We are El Merkury, a Central American street food staple in the Philadelphia foodie scene. Our story starts with our founder, Sofia Deleon, a Guatemalan immigrant who came to the United States in 2012 to study and later stayed to chase a dream. After years working the corporate side of the food industry, in 2017 she decided to quit her job and follow her heart, opening a business that would share the flavors she grew up with and celebrate the food and people of Central America. What began as a series of pop-ups and a virtual kitchen found its permanent home on May 5th, 2018, at 2104 Chestnut Street near Rittenhouse Square. Today we also serve our neighbors from a stall inside Philadelphia's historic Reading Terminal Market. We are proud to be a Latina and immigrant-owned business, and prouder still to bring our community together through food. Our menu blends the flavors of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, the countries that shaped our table. Everything is made from scratch. We hand-press pupusas, roll crispy taquitos, and build loaded tostadas piled with fresh toppings. And then there are the churros, our pride and joy: foot-long, fried to order, dusted in cinnamon sugar, and stuffed or dipped in fillings like our Mayan chocolate. Whether it is a quick handheld snack or a churro sundae you did not know you needed, we want every bite to taste like home. Mornings start early with us, because good food should not have to wait. Stop in for breakfast, grab lunch on the go, or order a combo of a pupusa, a tostada, and two sides when you want the full experience. We also cater, ship coffee, and craft churrobouquets and churrograms for the moments worth celebrating. More than a restaurant, El Merkury is a love letter to Central America and to the city that welcomed us. We are here to show Philadelphia that our street food deserves a seat at the table, one pupusa and one churro at a time. Come hungry, come curious, and leave part of our familia.

Latino-owned

Restaurants & Food

Ezell's Famous Chicken — Lynnwood

Everett, WA

Ezell's Famous Chicken is one of the Seattle area's most beloved and enduring food institutions, and its Lynnwood location at 3925 196th Street SW brings that four-decade legacy of fried chicken to Snohomish County. Founded in 1984 by Ezell Stephens, Lewis Rudd, and family who relocated to Seattle from East Texas, the first Ezell's opened across the street from Garfield High School after the founders spent six years overcoming redlining and financial hurdles to make their dream real. What started as a single storefront grew into a homegrown chain built on a simple promise: a difference you can taste. The recipe is what made the name. Every order of chicken is hand-breaded and cooked fresh, available in the signature Original or Spicy styles that regulars swear by. Beyond the classic bone-in pieces, the Lynnwood kitchen turns out crispy tenders, Southern-style sides, and made-from-scratch desserts, all rooted in the same recipe that put Ezell's on the map. It is comfort food done with consistency, the kind of meal that has kept generations of Pacific Northwest families coming back. That map got a lot bigger in 1989, when Oprah Winfrey publicly declared Ezell's her favorite fried chicken on national television and later had it catered to her Chicago birthday celebration. The endorsement turned a neighborhood favorite into a regional legend, and the reputation has only deepened in the decades since. In 2024 the company celebrated its 40th anniversary, a milestone few independent, community-rooted restaurants ever reach. Ezell's has always been more than a restaurant. As co-founder Lewis Rudd put it, just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to raise a business, and that spirit of giving back runs through everything the company does. The Lynnwood location carries that ethos forward, offering a wheelchair accessible entrance and welcoming service for the diverse neighborhoods it serves near Seattle. Whether you are stopping in for a quick lunch, feeding the whole family, or introducing someone to the fried chicken so many locals grew up on, Ezell's Famous Chicken in Lynnwood delivers a genuine taste of Seattle history. Open seven days a week, it remains proof that great food and deep community roots can stand the test of time.

Restaurants & Food

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina

Pittsburgh, PA

At Gaucho Parrilla Argentina, everything begins with fire. We are an Argentine parrilla in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District, on Sixth Street, where quality cuts of meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables are cooked the way they have been cooked across the pampas for generations: over an open, wood-fired grill. Our kitchen is inspired by family heritage rooted in Argentina, Uruguay, and South America more broadly. That heritage shapes how we source, season, and cook. We keep it simple and let the ingredients speak. Fresh ingredients, delicious flavors, and the deep, smoky character that only real wood coals can give. From marinated skirt steak to grilled vegetables and house chimichurri, every plate carries the honesty of the parrilla. We want your visit to feel unhurried and generous. Come in at lunch for something quick and satisfying, or settle in for dinner and let the meal unfold. Our bar keeps the same spirit, and during Happy Hour we pour drink specials and offer half off our pequeños, the smaller plates made for sharing while you sip and talk. Walk-ins are always welcome, and reservations are recommended if you are planning ahead or bringing a group. Pittsburgh has embraced Gaucho, and we have embraced Pittsburgh right back. Being downtown in the Cultural District means we sit at the center of the city's energy, a short walk from theaters, galleries, and the riverfront. Whether you are here before a show, meeting friends after work, or simply craving something cooked over live fire, there is a seat for you. What you will find is not fussy or complicated. It is food built on good technique and better ingredients, served with warmth. That is the tradition of the gaucho, and it is the promise we make every day we light the grill. Eat. Drink. Enjoy. Then come back and do it all again. We will keep the fire burning and a place set for you at the table.

Latino-owned

Restaurants & Food

Hammered Lamb

Orlando, FL

For more than a decade, The Hammered Lamb poured cold beer and stiff Bloody Marys on the corner of Orange Avenue and the train tracks in Ivanhoe Village, and Orlando loved us for it. We were the neighborhood's loud, welcoming, wonderfully weird patio bar, a place where the drinks flowed until 2am every night and nobody cared what team you rooted for or who you brought home. Our banner said it plainly: great drinks and really great food, booze and eats until close. Weekends belonged to brunch. We built what regulars swore was the best Bloody Mary bar in Orlando, and we backed it up with $5 mimosas, $5 red sangria and $8 Bloody Marys from 10am to 4pm every Saturday and Sunday. Beer people had it good too. Twenty drafts on tap, more than seventy-five beers to choose from, and a dollar off every draft Monday through Thursday from 7pm to 2am. Happy hour ran 4 to 7, Monday through Friday, and if the freight train rolled past while you were on the patio, that meant free train shots for the house. The patio was the heart of it. String lights strung over the palms, a fenced yard just off Orange Ave, room to sprawl with friends and strangers who quickly became friends. We threw ourselves into the community that made us, hosting Equality Florida nights and standing proudly as one of the area's LGBTQ+ friendly gathering spots. Live music, holiday parties, charity fundraisers: if it brought people together over a good drink, we said yes. The food matched the mood, honest bar fare done right, from weekend brunch plates to late-night eats meant to soak up whatever you had been drinking. We were never fancy, and that was the point. The Hammered Lamb was a come-as-you-are kind of place. Please note: after more than ten years in Ivanhoe Village, The Hammered Lamb served its final day on January 25, 2025, and has permanently closed. The website is no longer active. We remain grateful to every guest, bartender and neighbor who made 1235 N. Orange Ave feel like home. Thanks for all the mornings, all the nights, and every train shot in between.

Asian-ownedTrans-ownedWomen-ownedLGBTQ-owned

Restaurants & Food

Jennivee's Bakery

Chicago, IL

At Jennivee's Bakery, we believe everyone deserves good cake. What started as one woman's lifelong love of baking has grown into one of Chicago's most welcoming sweet spots, tucked into the Lakeview neighborhood and open to absolutely everyone. Our founder, Jennivee, is a proud transgender Filipina baker who opened these doors in 2017 to share her confections and to build a space where the LGBTQ community and its allies always feel at home. We are proudly trans-owned, and that spirit of inclusion is baked into everything we do, from the people we welcome at the counter to the care we put into every order. Step inside and you will find cases full of temptations. We are known for our cakes and cupcakes, with more flavors than you can count, alongside brownies, bars, sweet rolls, cheesecakes, cookies, and fresh breakfast pastries. Filipino-inspired favorites like ube, mango, and tres leches sit right beside classic chocolate and vanilla, so there is something for every craving and every celebration. Need a custom cake for a birthday, wedding, or just because? We love turning your ideas into edible art. We are also one of the few bakeries in the city that keeps the lights on late. On weekends you can satisfy a midnight sweet tooth with us, because a good dessert should never have to wait until morning. Grab a cupcake and a coffee, settle in with friends, and enjoy the easy, friendly vibe our regulars rave about. Over the years we have been honored to share our story on television and to see neighbors, first-timers, and out-of-towners become part of our extended family. Every slice we serve carries the same message: you are welcome here, exactly as you are. So whether you are picking up a dozen cupcakes, ordering a showstopping custom cake, or simply popping in for a late-night treat, come indulge responsibly with us. We cannot wait to send you home a little sweeter than you arrived.

Restaurants & Food

Kalaya

Philadelphia, PA

Kalaya is our love letter to Trang, the province in Southern Thailand where chef and owner Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon grew up watching her mother cook. We named the restaurant for her, and everything we plate carries that lineage forward: fragrant curries pounded from fresh paste, herb-driven salads, delicate dumplings, and dishes built to be shared around a full table. We opened in 2019 as a small BYOB in South Philadelphia, a 32-seat room where Nok cooked the food she had missed for years. Word traveled fast. In 2022 we moved to a larger home in Fishtown so more guests could gather, and the heart of the kitchen never changed. Nok, a woman-owned and immigrant-owned business, cooks the Southern Thai food of her memory without softening it. The flavors are bold and fragrant, layered with the chilies, herbs, and seafood that define the region, and we make no apology for their intensity. Along the way Nok has been honored as a James Beard Award winner, named to the TIME100, and recognized on the Forbes 50 Over 50 list. Her story reached wider audiences through Netflix's Chef's Table, and her cookbook drew praise from The New York Times and Bon Appetit. Those honors matter to us, but they are not the point. The point is the plate in front of you and the person who cooked it. Dining at Kalaya is meant to feel generous. We encourage ordering across the menu, passing plates, and letting the meal build in waves the way a Thai table should. Curries arrive perfumed and deep. Salads land bright and sharp. Whole fish and slow-simmered braises reward a long, unhurried evening. We cook this way because it is honest to where Nok comes from and to the woman who raised her. Every dish is an attempt to carry Trang across an ocean and set it down, steaming, in a Philadelphia dining room. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to share. We saved you a seat.

Asian-owned

Restaurants & Food

Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles

Phoenix, AZ

Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles is one of Phoenix's best known soul food destinations, and its flagship restaurant sits at 1220 S Central Avenue, just south of downtown. The concept was started by Larry "Lo-Lo" White, who grew up in the kitchen of his grandmother's legendary Phoenix eatery, Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe. What began as a small counter operation has grown into a name synonymous with Southern comfort food across Arizona, and the Central Avenue location remains the heart of the brand. The draw, as the name promises, is the pairing of crispy, well-seasoned fried chicken with golden, fluffy waffles. Google describes it simply as a laid-back restaurant fixing up fried chicken and soul food accompanied by hearty sides. Beyond the signature combo, the menu leans into classic soul food: smothered chicken, catfish, shrimp, grits, mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, cornbread, and other down-home sides that round out a plate. Portions are generous, and the vibe is casual and welcoming, making it a favorite for both locals and visitors looking for an authentic taste of the culture. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, with a friendly, community feel that has helped build a loyal following over the years. It has earned a strong reputation, holding a 4.2 star rating across more than 7,600 Google reviews, with a typical spend in the range of 20 to 30 dollars per person. The restaurant offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery, so guests can enjoy the food in the dining room or take it to go. The Central Avenue kitchen keeps convenient hours, opening at 10 a.m. on weekdays and running until 9 p.m., staying open later on Friday nights, and opening early at 8 a.m. on weekends for those craving chicken and waffles for breakfast or brunch. Sunday service wraps up in the early evening. The location offers a wheelchair accessible entrance. Whether you are a first-timer or a longtime regular, Lo-Lo's delivers a satisfying, soulful meal that reflects the family roots and Phoenix pride behind the brand.

Latino-ownedFamily-ownedImmigrant-owned

Restaurants & Food

Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant

Everett, WA

Welcome to Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant, a family-run spot in the heart of downtown Everett at 1325 Pacific Ave. We opened our doors to bring the flavors of Mexico's Pacific coast to Snohomish County, and every day we cook the dishes we grew up with, made from scratch and served the way our families always have. Start with warm chips and our house salsa while you settle in, then dig into the plates that keep our regulars coming back. Our molcajete arrives at the table sizzling in a traditional volcanic stone bowl, loaded with grilled meats, cactus, cheese, and roasted peppers. If you are after something lighter, the sirloin salad piles tender steak over crisp greens, and our lunch menu keeps midday visits quick and satisfying. Fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and sizzling combination platters round out a menu built for sharing. No meal here is complete without a drink from our bar. Our margaritas are a house favorite, and the Jalisco Mule has become a signature pour, served cold and bright alongside a full lineup of tequilas and Mexican beers. Whether you are stopping in for a weekday lunch, gathering the family for dinner, or meeting friends for cocktails, our dining room is set up to make you feel at home. We take pride in generous portions, friendly service, and a lively, colorful atmosphere that reflects the warmth of Mexican hospitality. Our team knows many guests by name, and we love welcoming both longtime neighbors and first-time visitors exploring downtown Everett. You will find us open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. That gives you plenty of time to swing by for an early lunch, a late dinner, or a weekend celebration. Reservations are easy, takeout and delivery are available, and our parking makes visiting simple. Whether it is a craving for authentic Mexican food, a cold margarita after work, or a special occasion with the whole family, Mazatlan is ready to serve you. Come see why we are one of Everett's favorite places for Mexican cuisine. We look forward to sharing a meal with you. Call us at (425) 404-3084 to plan your visit.

Restaurants & Food

Michael's Cookie Jar

Houston, TX

At Michael's Cookie Jar, we bake happiness daily, one cookie at a time. From our shop in Houston's Weslayan Plaza, we have grown into a neighborhood favorite for gourmet cookies that cover the full range, from warm, soft-baked chocolate chip to delicate hand-decorated shortbread. Our Oven Fresh Cookies are exactly what they sound like, baked throughout the day so there is always something warm and ready when you walk in. Cookies are all we do, and we love the variety. Our regulars come back for signatures like The HTX Cookie, the snickerdoodle, and our loaded peanut butter cookie packed with peanuts, Reese's Pieces, and caramel popcorn. We bake to the season too, with fresh flavors and themes that rotate through the year, so the case always has something new to discover. Beyond the everyday case, we are proud of our custom and decorated work. Our decorators hand-ice shortbread into wedding cakes, bridal dresses, baby onesies, birthday cakes, and cupcakes, and we love a Texas theme, from spring bluebonnets to Houston Texans and Rodeo cookies. We create custom decorated cookies, custom logo cookies for businesses and events, and custom cookie cakes that make a birthday or celebration feel special. Many of our decorated designs can be ordered straight from our gallery, usually with about two weeks of lead time so we can get every detail right. Everything is baked with love, and that is not just a saying. Walk through our door and you are met with the smell of cookies in the oven and a team that genuinely wants to help you find the perfect treat, whether it is a single cookie for the road, a dozen for the office, or a showpiece cookie cake for a big day. We offer takeout and delivery, plus online ordering, so it is easy to get your favorites however you like. You will find us Monday through Saturday at our Weslayan Plaza bakery, with a second location serving downtown Houston. Come see why so many Houstonians keep their cookie jar full with us. However you take your cookies, warm and simple or decorated and dressed up, we would love to bake them for you.

Restaurants & Food

MoKaBe's Coffeehouse

St. Louis, MO

We are MoKaBe's, South City's queer owned and operated coffeehouse, sitting at the corner of Arsenal and Grand right across from historic Tower Grove Park. For years we have been the kind of place where you can settle in for the whole afternoon, whether you are cramming for an exam, catching up with old friends, or just needing a warm mug and a window to watch the neighborhood go by. The rainbow flag out front is not decoration. It is a promise that everyone has a seat at our table. Our coffee is made with locally roasted Chauvin coffee, and we pour it every way we know how. Order a classic latte or cappuccino, try our house Flagstaff with espresso and coffee together, warm up with a London Fog or a chai, or cool off with a Vietnamese iced coffee, a specialty iced latte, or an ice cream shake or float. If you need a jolt, our Zinger and Mudslide have you covered. We serve breakfast and lunch daily, and we take real pride in feeding everybody. That means plenty of vegan and vegetarian options right alongside our heartier plates, plus a rotating case of delicious desserts for whenever you have earned a treat. Breakfast runs every morning until noon, so there is no rush to catch it. Comfort here is not just about the food. We are fully accessible, with ramps, seating, and restrooms designed so that getting in and getting settled is easy for everyone. Out back you will find our dog-friendly patio, because a good coffeehouse should welcome your whole crew, four legs included. More than a cafe, we have always thought of ourselves as a gathering place and a home for community. This corner of St. Louis has room for study groups, first dates, activists, artists, parents with strollers, and folks who just want somewhere kind to be. That spirit is baked into everything we do. Find us Tuesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 3 PM. We are closed on Mondays so our team can rest and come back ready to pour you something good. Stop in, grab a cup of Chauvin, and stay a while. You belong here.

Restaurants & Food

Nikki's Place

Orlando, FL

Welcome to Nikki's Place, a soul food kitchen rooted in the heart of Orlando's historic Parramore neighborhood. Our story is a legacy of soul and flavor. It began generations ago at his aunt's restaurant, where a young Nick Aiken first learned to cook under the woman who gave him his start, Mama Rosser. Over the decades that followed, Chef Nick built a place of his own and named it for his daughter, Nikki. Today Nikki's Place stands as one of Orlando's most beloved soul food destinations, still cooking Southern cuisine the way it used to be. Step through our doors on Carter Street and you will find warm yellow walls, family photos, and tables that have hosted neighbors, church families, and travelers from far away. We are proud of Parramore, a community that has carried so much of this city's Black history, and we consider ourselves keepers of a table that has fed it for a very long time. Everything we serve is made with love. Here, food is more than a meal. It is comfort, tradition, and care on a plate. Our meat-and-three plates are the heart of the menu, generous helpings of Southern favorites paired with the sides you grew up on. Chef Nick's hands have decades of practice behind them, and every dish comes out rich, balanced, and honest. Save room for a slice of our house-made pound cake, glazed and golden, baked fresh the old-fashioned way. Nikki's Place has always been about connection as much as cooking. Local families and first-time visitors alike leave feeling like part of our extended family. Beyond the dining room, we bring that same warmth to catering, serving weddings, corporate gatherings, and celebrations of every size, always listening closely and delivering with care. We open early and cook through the day, welcoming you Wednesday through Monday for breakfast, lunch, and a real Southern meal (we rest on Tuesdays). Whether you are a regular pulling up a familiar chair or a newcomer curious about honest soul food, choosing Nikki's Place means choosing warmth, tradition, and a plate that feeds both body and soul. Come hungry, and leave feeling right at home.

Black-ownedLGBTQ-ownedWomen-owned

Restaurants & Food

Nobody's Darling

Chicago, IL

Be nobody's darling. We took our name from Alice Walker's poem, an anthem for the world's outcasts and free spirits, and built a cocktail bar in Andersonville where everybody who has ever felt like nobody's darling finally belongs. We are Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle, two Black, queer women who wanted a room that felt like us: a little Sunday-morning Nina Simone, a little classy and sexy, and always warm enough to linger in. Tucked on the corner of Balmoral and Ravenswood, our space glows red and gold beneath orbiting chandeliers, with a striking silhouette watching over the back bar. Pull up a stool at the long counter and let our bartenders take it from there. The cocktails are the heart of the house, stirred and shaken with intention, and whenever we can we pour spirits made by Black- and queer-owned distillers, because who makes the bottle matters as much as what is inside it. This is a neighborhood joint first. Come for a quiet weeknight nightcap, a first date that runs long, or a Saturday that turns into a whole night with friends. Some evenings the room hums low and easy; others it fills with laughter, music, and the clink of coupes being carried down the bar. Either way, you will find the same thing: honest drinks, no pretense, and a crowd as beautifully mixed as the menu. We opened in 2021 with a simple idea, that a bar can be a home for people too often left out of the party, and the city seemed to agree. A James Beard Award nod followed, along with a steady stream of regulars who became family. But the accolades were never the point. The point is the person walking in alone who leaves knowing a bartender's name, the couple who claim a corner as their own, the strangers who become friends over a shared last round. So consider this your invitation. Whoever you are, however you love, whatever you carried in with you, there is a seat here with your name on it. Be bold. Be free. Be nobody's darling but your own.

LGBTQ-ownedImmigrant-ownedWomen-ownedOpen to All

Restaurants & Food

Non-profit

Open Hearth Cafe

Seattle, WA

Open Hearth Cafe is a woman- and LGBTQ-owned neighborhood cafe in Seattle's Capitol Hill. We serve locally roasted coffee, scratch-made pastries, and an all-day menu built around seasonal, local ingredients. Beyond the counter, the cafe doubles as a community space: free meeting hours for local nonprofits, a monthly makers' market, and a quiet sensory-friendly corner. Everyone is welcome at our table.

Restaurants & Food

Phoenix Coquí

Phoenix, AZ

Bienvenidos to Phoenix Coqui, where every plate carries a piece of Puerto Rico. We are a proud family-owned kitchen, started by Alexis and Juan, who grew up in Toa Alta and carried their island recipes all the way to the Arizona desert. What began in a home kitchen back in 2013 grew into a food truck in 2017, and in February 2022 we finally planted roots with our own brick-and-mortar home on North 15th Avenue. Every step of that journey has been about one thing: sharing real Puerto Rican food with warm service that feels like family. When you walk through our doors, we want you to taste the island the way we do. Our mofongo is the heart of the menu, that unmistakable garlicky mash of green plantains, piled high and served your way, from shrimp to our slow-roasted pernil. We fry our empanadillas until they are golden, layer our pastelon into a sweet-and-savory comfort you will not forget, and simmer our pollo a la criolla in the kind of sofrito that only comes from generations of practice. For a sweet finish, our quesitos bring that flaky, creamy bite that reminds so many of our guests of home. Everything we serve comes from family recipes, made from scratch with the same care our abuelas taught us. We did not learn this cooking from a book. We learned it in real kitchens, surrounded by loud music, good company, and the smell of adobo in the air. That spirit is what we try to bottle up and pour into every order, whether you are dining in, grabbing takeout on your lunch break, or letting us cater your next celebration. We are more than a restaurant. We are a little corner of Puerto Rico in the middle of Phoenix, and being recognized by Phoenix Magazine as a favorite Puerto Rican spot only makes us want to cook harder for you. Stop by, say wepa, and let us feed you like one of our own. Whether it is your first taste of the island or a bite that brings you back to childhood, we cannot wait to welcome you to the table. Parking is in the rear, and a warm plate is always waiting.

LGBTQ-ownedLatino-owned

Restaurants & Food

Pigeon Bagels

Pittsburgh, PA

At Pigeon Bagels, we make the kind of bagel worth waking up early for. Every morning in our Squirrel Hill shop at 5613 Hobart Street, we hand-roll our dough, boil it, and bake it the old-fashioned way that gives each bagel its dense, chewy interior and glossy crust. There are no shortcuts here, just time, attention, and a whole lot of dough. Our story started in 2017, when founder Gab Taube began selling bagels at farmers markets and through wholesale accounts around Pittsburgh. She and her crew baked through the night in a borrowed pizzeria kitchen, building a cult following one dozen at a time. Fittingly, Taube is German for pigeon, the humble, hardworking city bird we are proud to be named after. In the summer of 2019, we finally found a roost of our own and opened the doors to our Squirrel Hill storefront. We are a proudly woman-owned bakery, and our shop is certified kosher dairy by the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh. Landing in Squirrel Hill felt like coming home: Gab's grandparents settled in the neighborhood decades ago, and her dad grew up on these very streets. There may be no better bagel neighborhood in Pittsburgh, and we are honored to be part of it. Come in and you will find a spread of bagels, from the classics to the ones we cannot stop experimenting with, plus schmears, whitefish, and other fixings to build your perfect order. We bake fresh pastries too, and pour good coffee to go with them. Everything is made in small batches, so when we sell out, we sell out, which is our favorite problem to have. We are open Wednesday through Monday, 7:30 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon, and closed on Tuesdays to rest up and prep. Orders are take-out, and you can pre-order online or grab what looks good in the case. Whether you are a regular who knows exactly what you want or a first-timer wondering what the fuss is about, we will have a warm bagel waiting. Pull up a spot in line, say hello, and let us feed you. We think you will understand why Pittsburgh keeps coming back to the pigeon.

LGBTQ-ownedWomen-owned

Restaurants & Food

Queer/Bar

Seattle, WA

Welcome to Queer/Bar, the beating heart of nightlife in Seattle's Capitol Hill Queer Arts District. We sit at 1518 11th Ave, right between Pike and Pine, where our doors open Wednesday through Sunday and stay open late. This is a bar built by and for our community, a place where you can show up exactly as you are and find a crowd that has been waiting for you. We have grown into the defacto drag bar of Capitol Hill, and we wear that title with pride. Drag lives here multiple nights every week. Our signature show, Mx., takes the stage every Friday and Saturday with a rotating cast of Seattle's most beloved local queens, often sharing the spotlight with touring performers from RuPaul's Drag Race. When the lights hit and the music drops, the whole room becomes one loud, glittering celebration. But Queer/Bar is more than one show. Across the week you will find karaoke that turns strangers into a chorus, burlesque that keeps things sultry, bingo that gets competitive, and DJ sets that carry you straight through to last call. During Pride, the energy spills out onto the sidewalk and the whole neighborhood feels it. There is always a reason to come back. We pour a full bar with cocktails, beer, and everything in between, and we take reservations if you want to lock in your spot for a big night. We are a 21 and up venue, so bring your ID. Our main floor and restrooms are fully accessible, with gender-neutral facilities, because everyone deserves a comfortable seat at the party. Whether you are a Capitol Hill regular, a first-timer nervous about walking into your first queer space, or a visitor looking for where the community gathers, you belong at Queer/Bar. Come for the drag, stay for the people, and leave already planning your next visit. Pull up a stool, order something strong, and let us remind you why this corner of Seattle has been a home for the LGBTQ+ community for years. The stage is warm and the welcome is warmer.

Restaurants & Food

R House Wynwood

Miami, FL

Welcome to R House, where Wynwood's art-soaked energy, bold food, and fearless drag come together under one roof. Since 2012, we've been a proudly LGBTQ+-owned gathering place, a restaurant and art gallery where everyone is family the moment they walk through the door. Our walls double as a rotating gallery of local and emerging artists, so every meal here is served surrounded by the color and creativity that make Wynwood one of the most exciting neighborhoods in Miami. We're best known for our famous Drag Brunch, held Saturdays and Sundays with seatings at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Picture family-style plates, bottomless mimosas, sangria, and mojitos, and a cast of fierce, unforgettable performers who turn brunch into a full-blown celebration. It's high-energy, it's heartfelt, and it has become a Miami rite of passage. When the sun goes down, the space transforms again for dinner shows and late-night entertainment that keep the party going into the night. The food holds its own alongside the show. Our kitchen turns out crave-worthy burgers, steaks, shareable plates, and craft cocktails designed for a table full of friends. Whether you're here for a boozy weekend brunch, a lively dinner, or a night of live performance, the vibe is always warm, inclusive, and a little bit wild. More than a restaurant, R House is a community landmark. We've spent more than a decade championing self-expression, love, and the freedom to be exactly who you are. Drag isn't a gimmick here, it's part of our DNA, and our stage has helped launch and celebrate some of the region's most beloved performers. Guests 18 and over are welcome during live entertainment, and reservations are strongly encouraged for brunch because seats go fast. Come hungry, come open, come ready to cheer. At R House, art, food, and drag share the same spotlight, and there's always a seat at the table for you in the heart of Wynwood.

Family-ownedLGBTQ-owned

Restaurants & Food

Roots Southern Table

Dallas, TX

At Roots Southern Table, we set a table where Southern food is honored, elevated, and shared the way it was always meant to be. Founded by chef Tiffany Derry, a Black woman chef whose cooking is grounded in family, memory, and the deep traditions of the American South, our Farmers Branch dining room is our love letter to the region that raised us. Every plate begins with the flavors we grew up on and carries them somewhere new. Our cooking is Southern at its core and refined in its execution. We take the dishes that fill Southern kitchens with warmth and give them the care, technique, and ingredients they deserve. Our Duck Fat Fried Chicken has become a signature for a reason, crisp and golden and unforgettable. Alongside it you might find Fried Shrimp and Grits, Black Eyed Pea Hummus, warm Drop Biscuits, and a Peaches and Cream that tastes like summer in the South. Nothing here is fussy for its own sake. Every choice is made to make the food taste more like itself. The name Roots is a promise. It speaks to the ancestry and history woven through Southern cooking, the hands and stories that carried these recipes forward, and the sense of place that makes a meal feel like home. Chef Derry built this restaurant to celebrate that lineage openly and proudly, giving Southern cuisine a seat at the fine dining table without ever losing the soul that makes it special. Step inside and you will feel it in the hospitality first. We want you to settle in, linger over a thoughtfully made cocktail, and let dinner unfold at its own pace. Our beverage program and curated wine selection are built to complement the food and the mood, whether you are marking a milestone or simply gathering the people you love. We are open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner, welcoming guests from across Dallas and beyond to the corner of Bee Street in Farmers Branch. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to taste the South the way we know it. At Roots Southern Table, you are not just a guest at dinner. You are family at the table.

Black-ownedWomen-owned

Restaurants & Food

Se7en Bites

Orlando, FL

Welcome to Se7en Bites, where Southern comfort is a way of life and everything starts from scratch. Tucked into the heart of Orlando's Milk District on North Primrose Drive, our bakeshop and brunch kitchen is the place folks come when they want food that tastes like home, only a little more indulgent. Chef and owner Trina Gregory-Propst built this place around the idea that good food should feel like a hug, so we pile our plates high with the nostalgic dishes we grew up loving and give every one of them a modern twist. Mornings here mean biscuits the size of your fist, buttery and layered, split open for our signature breakfast sandwiches and smothered in sausage gravy. We do brunch the way it was meant to be done, unhurried and generous, with fried chicken, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, and eggs done right. And then there are the pies. Oh, the pies. Our cases stay full of towering meringues, fruit pies, cream pies, and the kind of cakes that make a birthday worth celebrating. If it can be baked, chances are we are baking it fresh and baking it with love. We are proudly LGBTQ+ and woman-owned, and that spirit of welcome sits at the center of everything we do. Every guest who walks through our door is family, whether it is your first visit or your fiftieth. We believe a bakery should be a gathering place, a spot where neighbors linger over coffee, strangers become friends, and nobody leaves hungry or unseen. Se7en Bites grew from a small dream into a beloved Orlando institution, earning recognition along the way, but the heart of it has never changed. We still make everything by hand, still greet regulars by name, and still believe that a slice of pie can turn a bad day around. Come hungry, bring your people, and settle in. Whether you are here for a leisurely weekend brunch, a box of pastries to go, or a whole pie for the table, we will treat you like kin and send you home full. That is the Se7en Bites way, and it always will be.

Women-ownedLGBTQ-owned

Restaurants & Food

Slim + Husky's Pizza

Nashville, TN

Slim + Husky's is Nashville's homegrown pizza beeria, born on Buchanan Street in the heart of North Nashville and built on the idea that great food and a great neighborhood grow together. Founded in 2017 by three Tennessee State University friends and Nashville natives, Clint Gray, Emanuel Reed, and Derrick Moore, the beeria turned a long-overlooked corner of the 37208 into a destination, opening as one of the first new businesses to reinvest in the area and put jobs, art, and energy back on the block. This is a Black-owned spot with a point of view. The vibe is pure hip-hop, from the playlist to the artwork to the mural-covered walls, and the whole place moves with the same creative confidence that shaped the founders growing up in Music City. Step inside the flagship and you feel it right away: exposed brick, high ceilings, a bustling build line, and a crowd that ranges from students to families to folks who drove across town for a pie. The pizza is the reason people keep coming back. Everything is artisan and made to order, starting with dough crafted in-house and stretched into Slim + Husky's signature oblong pies. You can build your own or reach for one of the house creations, each with a name that carries as much personality as the toppings, then watch it fire fast and come out bubbling with fresh cheese, quality proteins, and vegetables piled edge to edge. Cinnamon rolls (the Sweet Slim Roll) and craft brews round out the experience, because a beeria is about the whole hang, not just the slice. What started as one shop has grown into a nationally recognized brand, with features across food media and a reputation that reaches far beyond Tennessee. Through it all, the founders have stayed rooted in the community that raised them, using the business as a platform for employment, mentorship, and music- and art-based initiatives that give back to North Nashville. The main Buchanan Street location is open daily for dine-in, takeout, and online orders, staying open late on Friday and Saturday nights. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to taste why Slim + Husky's became one of the most beloved pizza stories to ever come out of Nashville.

Restaurants & Food

Slutty Vegan

Atlanta, GA

Slutty Vegan is the plant-based burger phenomenon that turned Atlanta into a vegan destination, and it all started with a food truck, a big personality, and an even bigger appetite. Founded by Pinky Cole, a Black woman entrepreneur who has become one of the most recognizable names in the food world, Slutty Vegan proves that eating vegan does not mean giving up on flavor, indulgence, or fun. The main Atlanta location sits at 476 Edgewood Ave SE in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward, where lines out the door have become part of the experience. The menu is unapologetically playful. Signature burgers like the One Night Stand, the Fussy Hussy, and the Sloppy Toppy stack plant-based patties with vegan cheese, caramelized onions, and the now-famous Slut Sauce, all tucked between soft, toasted buns. Add a side of Hooker Fries and you understand why people drive across state lines for a bite. Every order is made to feel like a celebration, and the cheeky names are just the beginning of the personality baked into this place. What makes Slutty Vegan more than a great burger is the woman behind it. Pinky Cole built the brand from the ground up, growing it from a single food truck into a multi-location movement with a loyal following and national recognition. She has been open about her journey, her setbacks, and her mission to bring healthier food to communities that are too often overlooked. That sense of purpose shows up in everything from the energy of the staff to the community events the brand supports through the Pinky Cole Foundation. Walking into the Edgewood location, you feel the vibe immediately. It is loud, joyful, and welcoming, with music, bold branding, and a crew that treats every guest like a regular. Whether you are a lifelong vegan, a curious first-timer, or a meat eater who just wants a genuinely great burger, Slutty Vegan meets you where you are and sends you home full. This is comfort food with attitude, built by an entrepreneur who bet on herself and won, and it has earned its place as one of Atlanta's must-visit spots.

Black-ownedWomen-owned

Restaurants & Food

The Breakfast Klub

Houston, TX

Welcome to the breakfast klub, Houston's home for the best breakfast in the city. Since founder Marcus Davis opened our doors in Midtown in September 2001, we have been serving up great home-style breakfast with the kind of superior service and genuine hospitality that turns first-time visitors into family. We are a proud Black-owned Houston institution, and everything we do starts with the community that raised us. Marcus built this place on a simple idea: give people soulful, savory food made the way it ought to be made, and treat every guest like they belong here. More than two decades later, that idea still defines every plate that leaves our kitchen. You already know what we are famous for. Our Wings & Waffles is the dish that put us on the map, golden wings alongside a light, crisp waffle that keeps folks coming back and keeps the line moving out the door. Right next to it on the wall of legends is our Katfish & Grits, seasoned and fried the way the South intended, served over creamy grits that taste like Sunday morning. Whatever you order, it comes with our signature seasoning, the soulful and savory blend that carries a little bit of Houston in every bite. We serve breakfast and lunch, so there is no wrong time to pull up a chair. Breakfast runs all through the morning, and lunch is ready when the midday crowd rolls in. Come by yourself, bring the whole family, or let us cater your next event. We also offer to-go orders, gift kards, and family meal packages so you can take a little of the klub home with you. Over the years the breakfast klub has grown into more than a restaurant. We have become a top Houston tourist stop and a hometown favorite, a place where visitors, regulars, neighbors, and celebrities all share the same tables. That is exactly how Marcus wanted it. When you walk through our doors at 3711 Travis Street, you are not just a customer. You are part of the klub. Come hungry, leave full, and bring somebody with you next time.