Simone GrantLet’s just say the best food spots hit different when they don’t have a huge social media presence. These eateries spend their time making sure their food is, in Gen Z parlance, bussin — they would rather have their customers leave satisfied than with an aesthetic picture for the Gram. Through word of mouth, their lines are always around the corner. In the beautiful city of Los Angeles, these are the Black-owned hidden gem restaurants you should know about.
1. Worldwide Tacos
(Simone Grant)
This legendary taco spot is famous for having a very diverse menu of some of LA’s best tacos. You may have seen this Leimert Park-adjacent neighborhood restaurant on season three, episode four of the hit TV series, Insecure, when Issa Rae’s character Issa Dee drops her long-awaited taco when she runs into her future love interest Nathan. Nathan offers to buy her another one but is told the wait time will be “at least an hour.” Issa tells him it’s worth it — and she’s definitely not lying. While the wait times can be long, the food definitely makes up for it. This neighborhood staple was founded in 2002 by co-owners Frederick Sennie and Jay Sin and offers a variety of taco flavors with traditional meat options and vegan selections. From BBQ to curry to raspberry chipotle, Worldwide Tacos is a flavor seeker’s dream.
worldwidetacos.com
2419 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Leimert Park, CA 90008
2. Fresh and Meaty Burgers
(Simone Grant)
Founded by Mr. Hood, this burger spot surely lives up to its name. These fresh and made-to-order burgers are known for their bold flavors and thick patties — they are not stingy when it comes to their patty sizes. As a family-owned and operated business, all of Mr. Hood’s children are involved in some capacity, whether they are the co-owners making sure things run smoothly or associates supporting and assisting with everyday operations. If you are feeling really hungry, I recommend the King Burger or Meaty Burger Special. You can get these hefty burgers with or without cheese, and with your choice of a beef or turkey patty. Their tacos and chili cheese fries are neighborhood favorites, and they have an extensive menu offering chili fritos, vegan burgers, the Chicken Breast Special, and more. If you have room for dessert, check out their homemade shakes and ice cream. Trust us, you won’t leave hungry after Fresh and Meaty.
freshnmeatyburgersla.com
Address: 3016 W Florence Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043
3. Mama’s Chicken and Market
(Simone Grant)
Mama’s Chicken and Market has solidified itself as a staple in the Los Angeles community for over 50 years. This family-owned restaurant was founded in 1964 by Elbert Hall Jr. as a small hamburger stand, with space for just one employee. Thanks to the partnership between Hall and Karen Whitman, this Crenshaw District gem has stayed proudly serving its community. With the tagline, “You know it’s good ‘cause mama made it!” you already know that the food will be made with love, heart, and soul. The lengthy menu includes both breakfast and dinner specials. Some of their popular menu items include the Chicken Sausage Links (which one Yelp customer called “the best chicken sausage for miles”), the Turkey Sausage Link, and the Turkey Sausage Burger. We can’t ignore that “Market” is included in the name. That’s right — not only do they have the best chicken sausage in Los Angeles, but they are also a mini market. It’s a two-in-one stop as soon as you walk through the door.
mamaschicken.name
2510 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043
4. Fred’s DownHome Burgers
(Simone Grant)
Located right next door to Mama’s Chicken (like literally in the next parking lot) is the long-standing walk-up eatery Fred’s DownHome Burgers If you are looking for good food that tastes like it was made in your own home, then this hidden gem is a must-try. Their famous “Fred’s Specials” lets you choose between beef, turkey, pastrami, chicken, or sausage burgers, or taco options, along with their crispy fries and a drink. Plus, their menu is stacked with burritos, wings, chili cheese fries, dogs, fritos, fresh homestyle fries, desserts (cake, peach cobbler, and banana pudding), and more.
2524 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043
5. Rusty Pot Cafe
(Simone Grant)
Located in the heart of Inglewood is the Southern-inspired American food restaurant Rusty Pot Cafe. This laid-back and welcoming space was founded by owner and head cook Linda Credit and serves delicious breakfast and lunch options. They’ve been part of the Inglewood community for over 10 years and have been serving locals quality dishes with great customer service. Some of their popular dishes include breakfast omelettes, fried catfish, The Overload Breakfast Sandwich, and their customer favorite Famous Fried Chicken and Waffles. Dine in to enjoy your food in a family-friendly atmosphere, and take-out is available for those on the go.
rustypotcafe.com
324 S Market St, Inglewood, CA 90301
6. Big Daddy’s Kick’n Chicken
(Simone Grant)
Located off of La Brea and Nutwood in Inglewood is the family-owned and operated Big Daddy’s Kick’n Chicken, known for their charbroiled and generously sized chicken. “If it ain’t kickin it’s just plain ol chicken!” is their motto, and they surely stand by it with their reputation for serving very flavorful and juicy chicken. They offer the Chicken Dinner, which comes with a choice of two sides (collard greens, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, red beans and rice, or yams) and a corn bread, or Half a Chicken, which comes a la carte.
big-daddys-kickin-chicken.myshopify.com
214 E Nutwood St, Inglewood, CA 90301
7. Ms. Ruby’s Bakery
(Simone Grant)
Don’t let the “Bakery” in the name of this Inglewood family-owned eatery fool you — they sell food as well, and it’s amazing. As someone who has been coming to this spot since I was little, Ms. Ruby’s feels like family, and she treats you as such. Just last week, I stopped by to grab a piece of her infamous red velvet cake. She was only taking cash at the time because she wasn’t quite familiar with the card reader and was waiting for one of the cooks to finish in the kitchen, so she offered to let me have the cake free of charge, saying, “I trust you’ll be back.” Of course, I waited, but this goes to show just how community-oriented Ms. Ruby is. Other baked goods include pecan pie, sweet potato pie, lemon pound cake, coconut cake, pineapple coconut, and more. This cooked-to-order spot is filled with comfort food with a homemade touch, and their turkey burger and tacos are local favorites.
404 E Manchester Blvd #1320, Inglewood, CA 90301
8. Wings & Pot
(Simone Grant)
If you are a lover of finger-licking good chicken wings, this spot on Manchester and Haas Ave. will have you coming back for more. Wings & Pot has a very diverse selection of combos and flavors tailored to your taste. The wings are extra crispy and seasoned to perfection. Let’s not forget the fries, which are perfectly salted and served fresh and hot. Customers can even customize their own loaded potato or fries. Wing flavors include Hannie’s Hot, Willie Wild Mild, Barbara Ann BBQ, Gramp’s Garlic Parm, and more.
wings-pot.foodjoyy.com
2108 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047