Black-Owned Food Establishments You’ll Love in Houston!

The Heights Blog wanted to take this space and leverage it to encourage our community to support local — and today we are highlighting black-owned businesses. It’s a small gesture and use of our space here, but we think it’s an important one. Celebrate and support your local small businesses! Here are a few of our favorites.

The Creek Group

The Creek Group Hospitality Concepts is owned by Gary Mosley, a businessman who strives to bring his vision of relaxation to Houston. In addition to the three Heights-area Creek restaurants (Onion Creek, Canyon Creek, and Cedar Creek), the group includes Cactus Cove in Timbergrove, and Piggy’s Kitchen & Bar in River Oaks. The Creek Group establishments are known for oversized patios, daily specials, great selection of craft beers, and delicious burgers. We’ve never had a bad meal at any of the Creek establishments, and have spent many a lazy Saturday enjoying their frozen Blue Moon Mimosas.

Frenchy’s Chicken

Founded by New Orleans native Percy “Frenchy” Creuzot in 1969, Frenchy’s now has nine locations throughout Houston serving delicious fried chicken with just the right amount of spice, alongside po boy sandwiches, fried fish and shrimp, and Creole sides like collard greens, gumbo, and jambalaya. Even Houston-native Beyoncé is rumored to be a big fan of Frenchy’s, and you can’t argue with Queen Bey.

The Breakfast Klub

A Houston institution since 2001, you just haven’t lived until you’ve had the chicken & waffles that have earned The Breakfast Klub honors from Good Morning America, USA Today, Esquire, Forbes, Zagat, and CitySearch, just to name a few, as one of the best breakfast spots in the country. Sure, the lines can get insane, but it’s part of the experience. Come first thing after opening to get a spot faster. There are lots of other menu items in addition to the famous catfish and grits and wings and waffles that started it all.

Jersey Bagels

Jersey Bagels operated as a home-based business and farmer’s market favorite for a few years before opening their very own brick-and-mortar location last fall, selling scratch-made legit east-coat bagels. Ok, so, it’s a bit of a hike to get to the shop in Cypress, but we promise the bagels are 100% the real deal and worth the drive. You won’t find a better bagel in Houston, and owners Cory and Jaclyn Yates couldn’t be nicer. In addition to plain bagels, the menu includes bagel sandwiches and coffee. It’s not uncommon for us to wax poetic about carbs, but these babies really are a thing of beauty.

Turkey Leg Hut

It’s a one-of-a-kind concept that you really have to see to believe. Turkey Let Hut serves up over-the-top loaded turkey legs stuffed with a variety of fillings from dirty rice to shrimp alfredo to crawfish mac & cheese. These things are ENORMOUS and fall-off-the-bone delicious. The menu is currently limited in scope during the coronavirus pandemic, but there are still lots of tasty options. Turkey Leg Hut started as a Houston Rodeo sensation in 2016 and quickly gained cult status. Turkey Leg Hut is located on Almeda Road in the Third Ward, where owner Lynn Price was born and raised.

Southern Q

While the barbecue is clearly the star of the show, Southern Q has been doing a brisk(et) business lately selling bottled sauces and spice rubs, complete with online ordering and nationwide shipping, just in case you’re moving away from BBQ country and want to stay stocked up on a taste of Texas. Southern Q started as a food truck and catering company in 2014 and now has a dine-in location on Richey Road. Owners Steve and Sherice Garner opened the trailer after years of encouragement that Steve’s BBQ skills were not just worthy of weekend cookouts, but professional-grade.