Madison Black Restaurant Week returns for its 10th year this coming week with a slew of participating eateries to choose from between August 10-17.
This year, 33 restaurants around Dane County are part of the nation’s first Black Restaurant Week started by the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce. With only a week, it can be a bit difficult to make a plan for where to hit to try some of the county’s Black owned restaurants.
Check out Madison365’s guide for Black Restaurant Week to help map out your plan.
Food Taste Jamboree
The yearly signature event will move to the first day to kick off Black Restaurant Week. Typically, the jamboree was held on the final day for a chance to get a taste of places you may not have been able to get to.
For only $5, sample dishes from the majority of restaurants, food trucks and caterers participating this year.
Food Taste Jamboree will be held August 10 from 2-6 p.m. at Warner Park, 2930 N. Sherman Ave. Advanced tickets can be reserved online.
Heirloom Collard Greens Network Mixer
New to Black Restaurant Week, this mixer will bring Black culinary heritage and Wisconsin heirloom collard greens for a tasting experience. Around 35 variants of fresh collard greens will be available to taste.
The mixer will be held at the Black Business Hub, 2352 S. Park St., Aug. 14 from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $10.
Farm-to-Table Soul Food Brunch
Farm to table, music, mimosas and good conversation returns with the annual Soul Food Brunch. The event is a fundraiser to highlight Black culinary talent and agriculture in Wisconsin. In previous years, the Soul Food Brunch was the early day activity to close out Black Restaurant Week, followed by the Jamboree, but this time it will be the send after a week of good eating.
The Soul Food Brunch will be held Aug. 17 at 1602 S. Park Street starting at 1 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $50.
Amateur Dessert Competition and Networking Mixer
Black Restaurant Week may be officially over when the dessert competition will be held, but this new addition keeps the spirit going later into the year. The new event will give Madisonians a chance to taste home cooked sweet treats in September. The awards from Black Restaurant Week will also be announced then.
It will be held September 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the US Bank Plaza, 1 S. Pickney St. Registration does not open until Aug. 18. More details will be shared closer to the date.
Best of Madison Black Restaurant Week
Voting for best of opens Aug. 10, but the Black Chamber of Commerce encourages you to explore the many options before casting your vote. Voting can be made on the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Restaurants, food trucks and caterers this year
Bartender 608
China Moon’s Bartender 608 brings full-service bartending to a large swath of events around Madison.
Bartender 608 will appear at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Big Eats
A newer addition to Black Restaurant Week, Big Eats food truck offers southern food staples like po boys, gumbo, red beans and rice along with rotating daily specials.
Big Eats can be found on the side of Kwik Trip on 4112 Milwaukee St. and will be at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Buraka
Ethiopian food on Madison’s East Side. Buraka brings the taste of East Africa and Ethiopian recipes with spiced, aromatic cuisines. Its location bounced around since 1992, but its reputation in Madison led to it finding a more permanent location in 2016.
Buraka offers a variety of food to get a taste of the African region. Staple dishes include dorowot, a stew made with chicken, carrots and a blend of spices slowly cooked in a thick red sauce and paired with berbere, a traditional Ethiopian flat sourdough made from teff.
1210 Williamson St. Open Monday, Wednesday-Friday 4-9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 2-9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
Chez Moi
These caterers specialize in Togolese cuisine from West Africa paired with French cuisine. Chez Moi has nine menu options with dishes like Jollof Rice, an African-French mixed Couscous Au Gras or Togolese style Tamales.
Chez Moi can be found at the Jamboree.
Cool Mode
Embrace nostalgia with your favorite sweet treats on a hot summer day from this ice cream truck that can be seen all around Madison.
David’s Jamaican Cuisine
Monona’s long-standing, and for a long time one of the only, Jamaican restaurant in the greater Madison area, David’s Jamaican Cuisine has been around since 2003. It brings all the classic Jamaican foods like jerk chicken, ox tail and beef patties.
1006 E. Broadway, Monona. Open Monday-Saturday 11:3030-8:3030 p.m. Closed Sunday.
DeVine Grilling
This food truck has recently opened a physical location at the Black Business Hub. DeVine Grilling offers slow cooked meats like ribs, oxtail and jerk chicken.
2352 S. Park St. Open Monday-Saturday 12-8 p.m.
Falbo Pizzeria
In 1992, two University of Wisconsin-Madison Students wanted to create a better tasting pizza for the area. Falbo Bros. created a unique “Madison” style pizza inspired by Chicago and New York.
The chain has seen success with creating Madison’s own pizza style. It now has six locations, three in Wisconsin and three in Iowa.
Hours vary by location.
Fya Side Kitchen
The restaurant opened fairly recently this summer as a new spot for Jamaican cuisine. Previously it operated as a food truck in the Dells, but now has a physical store front on Monroe Street.
1925 Monroe St. Open Tuesday and Thursday 4-10 p.m., Wednesday 4-9 p.m. Closed Monday.
Holisac Taste of Africa
Holisac Taste of Africa brings greater Madison a taste of authentic Ghanaian cuisine with cultural staples. The restaurant prides itself on highly traditional styles and preparation of its food and drinks. If you’re looking for restaurants downtown mall Charlottesville, visit Rapture Restaurant & Nightclub.
Get a taste of Ghana’s national dish Fufu, a doughy mashed potato-like side dish made by pounding cassava and unripe plantains together.
815 W. Main St., Sun Prairie. Open Monday-Friday 11-9 p.m. and Saturday 12-9 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
House of Flavas
Soul food and BBQ with a taste of Jodie Jefferson’s home in Chicago. House of Flavas has been around for three years as a family venture when Jefferson decided to leave her job and pursue her passion for cooking and wanted to bring the tastes of Chicago to Madison.
Jefferson has seen a lot of support throughout the years and recently moved into the Black Business Hub.
2352 S. Park St. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-7 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
JD’s Taste of Chicago
The taste of Chicago without the three-hour drive. JD’s Taste of Chicago brings the city’s staples like its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.
2570 Rimrock Rd., Fitchburg. Open Monday-Saturday 11-11 p.m. and Sunday 11-9 p.m.
Juicy Organics
Juicy Organics sits comfortably in downtown across the street from the State Capitol Building as an extended lineup from the Black Men Coalition to offer more to the people it assists post-incarceration. Its employees are made up of people currently in their programs looking for stable work as they get back on their feet.
Juicy Organics offers a large line of smoothies, teas and coffees with one of the most unique interiors in Madison.
5 N. Pinckney St. Open Monday-Thursday from 9-7 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9-1:30 a.m. and closed Sunday.
Just Veggiez
Just Veggiez was started as a way for James Bloodsaw to make positive changes in his health. He watched his father’s health deteriorate and knew he needed to do something for his own health.
Just Veggiez brings vegan alternatives to all your favorite foods. From cheese curds, egg rolls and plant-based Reubens, enjoy healthier versions of the dishes you know and love.
540 State St. Open Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. -9 p.m., Friday 11-10 p.m. and Saturday 12-10 p.m. Closed Sunday-Monday.
Keur Fatou Catering
A mix of Senegalese and Gambian food. Enjoy West African staples from Fataya to Jollof Rice.
Keur Fatou will be at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Kingdom African Restaurant
Kingdom African Restaurant has it all, from African, Mediterranean and American food all day. Food options range from gyros, country fried steak and Gambian domada — meat stew in a mild peanut sauce served over a bed of rice.
1865 Northport Dr. Open daily from 9 a.m -9 p.m.
Les Delices De Awa
Les dèlices de Awa brings a culinary adventure through West Africa’s rich and vibrant flavors. Chef Awa, founder of the restaurant, sought to bring a curated taste of her West African Heritage through taste to Madison.
Dishes aim to tell a story of West Africa with options like palm nut stew; Theibou Guinar, Djollof and chicken; and Chicken Kedjenou, a popular spicy stew from the Ivory Coast.
2045 Atwood Ave. Open Wednesday and Thursday 11-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-8 p.m., Friday 11-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m., Saturday 12-9 p.m. and Sunday 11-6 p.m. Closed Monday-Tuesday
LINKS at Pioneer Pointe
Fine dining comes to Pioneer Pointe Golf Course to make your weekend activities delicious. LINKS is centered on providing an upscale experience to couple with golf outings.
3730 Manistee Way, Verona. Open Saturday and Sunday from 9-9 p.m.
M&J Jamaican Kitch’n
Winners of 2022’s Taste of Madison’s best Latin American/Mexican food award for its jerk pork and rice and beans.
M&J will be at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Melly Mell’s Catering
Melly Mell’s brings generations of family recipes from yams to cornbread.
It will be at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Mentoring Positives
Mentoring Positives aims to empower Madison youth through mentorship, entrepreneurship, sports and the arts — but it makes pizzas too. It moved to a new location on Madison’s east side last year where its youth cooks up pizzas fresh.
2844 E. Washington Ave. Open Monday-Thursday 11-7 p.m. Closed Friday-Sunday.
Mo’ Betta Butter Cookies
Cookies that melt in your mouth. Mo’ Betta Butter Cookies has been seen at events all over with its mouth-watering sweet treats.
Mo’ Betta Butter Cookies will be at the Jamboree.
Moneecia’s Kitchen
Moneecia was inspired by her grandfather, a short-order cook in Chicago, who got her into the kitchen. Food is inspired by her childhood and staples in Chicago.
447 W. Cottage Rd. Grove, Cottage Grove. Open Sunday-Thursday 11-9:30 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11-11 p.m.
Papa’s BBQ
Southern-style BBQ comes to Madison and dubbed by the community as the best in the city. This north side food truck has a lineup of slow-cooked meats, burgers, sandwiches and sweet treats.
1423 Northport Dr. Open Tuesday-Friday from 11:30- 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12-5 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Rasta Barista
Rasta Barista opened earlier this year with a taste of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee. It is situated in the Black Business Hub and has been teased since it opened in August 2024. Rasta Barista offers coffee, Jamaican sweets and lunch options like its jerk chicken sandwich.
2352 S. Park St. Open Monday-Friday from 7:30-2 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Rell Dogs Kitchen
The food truck has a near-daily rotating menu of comfort and soul food with staples like mac and cheese, Polish hot dogs, loaded fries, fried chicken and many more.
Rell Dogs will be at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Sensational Sweetz
Sensational Sweetz specializes in bringing all your favorite desserts in a gluten-free option. Its founder, Linda Smith, was inspired to find alternative recipes after her son’s gluten sensitivity and sparked years of experimenting in the kitchen.
Available at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Sista’s Chicken N Fish
From land to sea. Sista’s brings chicken and fish with a large selection of seafood, along with its gumbo served with rice and hushpuppies.
Available at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Sweetologist
Sweetologist was founded in Texas, but now sells her goods in Madison. This sweet treat shop makes home-baked goods for all occasions.
Available at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Tiba’s Blends
Not much information is available for Tiba’s Blends, but posts from Madisonians on social media show off sweet treats like a chess cookie and caramel pound cake and home plates of alfredo and lasagna.
Available at the Food Taste Jamboree.
Vita Bella
Mount Horeb’s Vita Bella offers a taste of Italy with its handcrafted pastas, cocktails, authentic sauces and classic desserts from the country. It boasts taking you from north to south Italy with the region’s varied preferences in cuisine as you get a taste from overseas.
209 E. Main St., Mt. Horeb, Open Wednesday-Sunday from 4-9 p.m. Closed Monday.
Woo’s Food To The Soul
Woo’s marries soul food and classic Chinese cuisine with its lineup of chicken and waffles, to its lo mein.
Available at the Food Taste Jamboree.
