With its beautiful beaches and wide range of activities, Virginia Beach is one of the most popular destinations on the East Coast. An estimated 3 million people travel to Virginia Beach for the chance to spend time along the ocean, the boardwalk, attractions, entertainment, and food.
From soul food, juices, and desserts to vegan cuisine, Virginia Beach and its surrounding area offer a variety of Black-owned restaurants. During your next visit, here’s a list of some of the best Black-owned restaurants to support in the area.
Alkalicious Cold Pressed Juice Bar
Start your morning at Alkalicious Cold Pressed Juice Bar in Chesapeake. The juice bar offers a selection of healthy drinks and dishes, including smoothies, protein shakes, smoothie bowls, vegan grilled sandwiches, hot soups, and more.
The restaurant’s mission is to help people enjoy plant-based exploration and reach their personal goals, all while creating an alkaline balance for optimal health, fitness, healthy weight, and wellness.
Organic local produce is sourced as available. The owners offer many GMO-free, gluten-free, soy-free, lactose-free, and dairy-free options.
- Location: Chesapeake
- Owners: Lisa Bey and her husband, Justin
- Type of Cuisine: Vegan
- Menu Spotlight: Black Bean Burger, Chickpea Soup, Pita with Hummus, Portobello Gyro, Chocolate Protein Shake, and Chocolate Cookies
- Before you go: Online orders are accepted
Chef Skip 757
Christopher Skipper, also known as Chef Skip 757, owns Chef Skip 757. What started as a food truck in Virginia Beach has turned into a successful brick-and-mortar business in both Virginia Beach and Portsmouth.
Chef Skip 757 is your go-to seafood restaurant, serving delicious crabcakes, fried seafood, po’boys, and more.
- Locations: Virginia Beach, Portsmouth
- Owner: Christopher Skipper
- Cuisine: American
- Menu spotlight: Steak Philly, Chicken Philly, Wings, Crab Cake, Shrimp, and Fish Basket
- Before you go: Doesn’t accept reservations
Croaker’s Spot
Croaker’s Spot is most notable for its seafood. It has three locations throughout Virginia, including in Richmond and Petersburg. The restaurant has a long history that spans decades. It began in Harlem, New York, as an after-hours spot to serve the starving artists’ community during the Harlem Renaissance. It became a restaurant around 135th St. and Lenox Ave. that served large portions of food from the South since Mr. Croaker grew up in Richmond.
The restaurant eventually made it back to Mr. Croaker’s home in the South, where it serves Southern hospitality and good food. The menu includes fried oysters, twin crab cake medallions, butterfly shrimp, and clam chowder.
- Location: Richmond, St. Petersburg
- Owners: Sherita McGowan, Leroy Royal
- Type of Cuisine: Southern, Comfort Food
- Menu Spotlight: Shrimp and Grits, Salmon Patties, Fried Seafood Platter, Cornbread, Fried Fish, Candied Yams
- Before you go: Online orders are accepted. Sunday brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cobalt Grille
Alvin Williams has owned and operated Cobalt Grille since its conception in October 2000. Born and raised in Leeds, England, by Jamaican parents, he’s always had a passion for fine cuisine.
After finishing Culinary School, he worked in some of the finest establishments in London, including the Mayfair Hotel, The Savoy Group, and a long stint at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. Later, he moved to the United States to fulfill his childhood dream of owning his own restaurant.
Williams is known for discussing the advantages of using fresh ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. Cobalt Grille is committed to using the freshest ingredients and supports local farmers.
- Location: Virginia Beach
- Owners: Alvin Williams, Gary D. Black (Managing Partner)
- Cuisine: American
- Menu Spotlight: Closed on Sundays; reservations are accepted in advance
- Before you go: Fried Green Tomatoes, Petite Filet Mignon, Shrimp and Scallop Risotto
Desmond’s Island Soul Grill
Desmond’s Island Soul Grill offers a Guyanese-influenced, Caribbean-inspired menu. The food is now vegan and even caught the eye of everyone’s favorite auntie, Tabitha Brown.
The food at Desmond’s Island Soul Grill is made-to-order. It features various fusion options from the South American country inspired by the food, including empanadas, rice and peas, and roti and curry dishes.
- Location: Virginia Beach
- Owner: Shavonne Alexander
- Cuisine: Vegan Guyanese
- Menu Spotlight: Mac n Cheese, Arepa with Jackfruit and Plantains, Pumpkin Curry, Rice and Peas, Lentil Burger, Roti.
- Before you go: The restaurant accepts reservations
Martin’s Soul Food
Timothy Martin sold cars for 20 years. As a car salesman, Martin began cooking tasty home-cooked meals for his co-workers using family recipes, which prompted him to open his own restaurant. In 2008, Martin and his brother opened Martin’s Kitchen, which would go on to be Martin’s Soul Food and Catering. In 2010, Cynthia Terry, Co-Founder, joined the company in partnership.
You can also catch them rolling around in a food truck. Curry chicken, wing baskets, crab cakes, and fish sandwiches are all on the menu.
- Location: Norfolk, Virginia Beach
- Owners: Timothy Martin, Cynthia Terry
- Type of Cuisine: Southern, Comfort Food
- Menu Spotlight: Smothered Pork Chops, Fried Turkey Chops, Peach Cobbler.
- Before you go: The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations
Mango Mangeaux
Lakesha Brown-Renfro, Nzinga Teule-Hekima, and Tanecia Willis are the co-founders of Simply Panache, a national planning firm that specializes in personalized parties and professional events. While hosting events, the trio created a mango preserve that clients loved so much that they asked the women to manufacture it.
They used their earnings to launch Mango Mangeaux — A Simply Panache Bistro. Located in Hampton, it’s a top-rated fusion restaurant that features three cuisines: French, Creole, and NeoSoul.
On the breakfast menu, you will find Mango French Toast and Chicken Fried Chicken French Toast. The lunch and dinner menus include gumbo, a Creole Cobb with Mango Balsamic Vinaigrette, and shrimp and grits.
- Location: Hampton
- Owners: Lakesha Brown-Renfro, Nzinga Teule-Hekima, and Tanecia Willis
- Type of Cuisine: Southern
- Menu Spotlight: Cajun Pasta, Magnolia Shrimp and Grits, and Chicken Fried Chicken Benedict
- Before you go: The restaurant accepts reservations
Philly Cold Cuts
Philly Cold Cuts is a family-owned business that has been in the community for more than 40 years. It was voted home of the “Best Philly Cheesesteak in Hampton Roads” by The Virginian-Pilot.
What’s excellent about Philly Cold Cuts is that each sandwich is made with care and love that you can taste in each bite. Aside from the Philly Cheesesteak, Philly Cold Cuts also offers a delicious Italian hoagie, double cheeseburgers, meatball subs, wings, and more.
- Location: Hampton
- Owners: Family-owned. Fuller brothers.
- Type of Cuisine: American
- Menu Spotlight: Philly Cheesesteak, Italian Hoagie
- Before you go: The restaurant accepts reservations
Scratch Bakery
Owner Lashonda Sanford will tell you she wasn’t born a baker, but her youngest daughter’s second birthday is the origin story of what inspired Scratch Bakery. Her birthday cake supplier was closed, so she decided to cook her own from scratch, and it was a tradition that lasted.
Since her family passion project, she has turned Scratch Bakery into a successful business, opening three locations over five years and a mobile cupcake truck for Hampton Roads events.
Located in Newport News and Hampton, Scratch Bakery specializes in wedding cakes, birthday cakes, graduation cakes, baby shower cakes, cookies, and more. On any given day, the bakery offers between 18 and 20 cupcake flavors per day.
- Location: Newport News
- Owner: Lashonda Sanford
- Type of Cuisine: Bakery
- Menu Spotlight: Peach Cobbler, Lemon Blueberry Gooey Bar, Coffee Cake, Homemade Poptarts
- Before you go: Guests can order desserts and lunch items like pot pies online
Virginia is located on the Atlantic Coast, which divides the country into northern and southern regions. As a result, Black-owned restaurants blend flavors from both regions, offering the comforts of Southern home cooking and the iconic sandwiches and cheesesteaks from places up north.
