San Antonio Black-owned restaurants and businesses you can support right now

Tank's Pizza
902 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 320-9224, tankspizzamenu.com
With an emphasis on freshly-made dough, Tank’s Pizza just gets it right. The credit goes to chef and owner Mike Brown, who makes the dough himself, as well as the sauces and sausage. Though it offers the coziness of a neighborhood pizzeria, Tank’s is worth a visit for the dough of course, as well as the house-made herb-infused olive oil and fresh ingredients.

225° Urban Smoke
1015 Rittiman Road #113, (210) 444-9956, 225urbansmoketx.com
Serving up smoked meats, Cajun treats and southern favorites, 225° Urban Smoke offers more than just barbecue. They’re a chef-driven one stop flavor shop and the pride in their craft comes through in each bite. Don’t forget the NOLA-style beignets for dessert.

The Jerk Shack
10234 TX-151, (210) 776-7780, thejerkshacksatx.com
Chef Nicola Blaque’s West Side Jamaican hotspot is a consistent mention in restaurant roundups for its wild flavors, hefty portions and good eating.The jerk chicken is obviously a big seller, but they also offer jerk ribs, plantains and mac and cheese. Just keep in mind, you might want to get there early, because they often sell out!

Organically Bath & Beauty
Multiple Locations, organicallybathbeauty.co
Based in San Antonio, Texas, and founded by Kela Nabors, Organically Bath & Beauty offers organic beauty products such as bath bombs, soap bars, moisturizers and much more to nurture and repair all facets of the body. The family-owned business was sparked by Nabors’s own interest in making natural products to treat her daughter’s eczema. Now, the skin care line is available at North Star Mall, at their brick and mortar location off Wurzbach Rd. and online via Organically’s website as well as Target.com.

Weathered Souls Brewing Co.
606 Embassy Oaks - Suite 500, (210) 274-6824, weatheredsouls.beer
A 2023 James Beard Foundation nominee, Weathered Souls Brewing made a name for itself back in 2020 with its Black is Beautiful social justice campaign. You can still get the signature brew at the northeast SA taproom, but we’d encourage you to try any of its other many brews while you’re there.

Southern Roots Vegan Bakery
6208 S. Flores St., (210) 279-9414, southernrootsvegan.com
Marcus and Cara Pitts, were on a mission to provide healthier meals for Cara's grandmother Mary Lee when they started Southern Roots Vegan Bakery (SRVB). Southern Roots offers an extensive menu of vegan and gluten-free donuts, cookies and brownies and vegan cinnamon rolls that are to die for. Furthermore, they accept and ship orders nationwide, so you can impress your out-of-towner friends with delicious vegan treats!

Freight Fried Chicken
312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, instagram.com/freightchicken
In addition to her flagship The Jerk Shack, Chef Nicola Blaque brought her new fried chicken concept to the Pearl’s Bottling Department food hall in early 2024. Freight Fried Chicken draws inspiration from Black women known as Waiter Carriers who sold food to rail passengers traveling through Gordonsville, Virginia, in the years following the Civil War. The new joint serves chicken fried in a dry batter similar to the one used by the Waiter Carriers.

San Antonio Ballet School
2106 NW Military Hwy., (210) 802-7931, sanantonioballetschool.com
The San Antonio Ballet School is a realized dream of lifetime dancer Danielle Steans. SABS offers ballet classes and workshops for all experience levels, and manages a nonprofit youth ballet designed to “cultivate the art of dance among future generations.”

Smashin Crab
Multiple Locations, smashincrab.com
Get your seafood fix at one of Smashin Crab’s several locations. Whether you’re in the mood for boiled seafood, po’ boys or cajun fries, the Smashin Crab has got you covered.

Mrs. Kitchen Soul Food Restaurant
5237 Walzem Road, Windcrest, (210) 549-4392, mrskitchensoulfoodrestaurant.com
Mrs. Kitchen may evoke the imagery of a kind old woman cooking up a feast, but the East Side gem is actually owned by Chef Garlan L. McPherson. Heading the restaurant and bakery, McPherson gained his love for cooking from his grandmother as well as by watching other family members in the kitchen. This eatery started in a cottage near downtown, but now slings heaping portions of fried chicken, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf and collard greens in a location on Walzem Road.

Asukar Specialty Cakes
700 N. St. Mary's St., (210) 764-9614, myasukar.com
Asukar is the place for extravagant custom-made cakes. From wedding cakes to birthday cakes to even corporate gifting, Asukar will bake and design a cake with details specific to your needs. Diners in Fair Oaks Ranch can now visit Asukar's cafe for sandwiches, snacks and sweets.

Sweet Yams
218 N Cherry St, (210) 229-9267, facebook.com/SweetYamsOrganic
Sweet Yams serves takes on Southern favorites like vegan chili and Southern greens, as well as organic juices and sweet potato cupcakes for dessert. All menu items are gluten-free and several are vegan-friendly.

A New Day Pediatric Psychology PLLC
16607 Blanco Rd., Suite 1107, (210) 816-4149, anewdaysa.com
President and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology PLLC, Dr. Ann Louise Lockhart, practiced in military clinics and hospitals for over a decade before starting her San Antonio practice in 2016. A New Day offers therapy, psychological testing, in-home behavior consultation and parent coaching sessions.

Tony G‘s Soul Food
Multiple Locations, tonygssoulfood.com
It’s hard to find a Sunday brunch that beats authentic Southern comfort food accompanied by live jazz music. Tony G’s is a crowd favorite for a reason. After all, you can’t go wrong with a place that makes peach cobbler from scratch daily.

Jamaica Jamaica Cuisine
2026 Austin Highway, (210) 590-0515, jamaicajamaicacuisine.com
Owners Dee and Angelo Gordon grew up living a Jamaican lifestyle and graciously wanted to share that experience with their adopted hometown, the Alamo City. Offering authentic fare, Jamaica Jamaica lets you enjoy bites like jerk chicken while appreciating the culture. Go for a traditional plate like the oxtail or go for something with a San Antonio twist. Fiery jerk tacos, anyone?

In the Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery
1917 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 600-4141, facebook.com/EOTBGallery
Located in Government Hill, In the Eye of the Beholder aims to champion Black artists. The gallery showcases the work of The Art of Four, an initiative founded by Eye of the Beholder owner and curator Maria M. Williams, which began with four members and has now grown to 15 artists.

Harmon’s BBQ
102 S Main St, Cibolo, (210) 658-8889, harmonsbbq.com
The BBQ may be smoked slowly, but you’ll have a hard time not eating it fast. Harmon's serves up flavorful ‘que by the plate, combo, sandwich and more. They offer up all the essential meats and fixin’s you need for a real Texan style meal.

Carmel Soap Company
carmelsoap.com
The Carmel Soap Company has been providing plant-based, vegan-friendly, additive-free skin and hair products since 2016. With no artificial colors or scents, their artisan soaps, lotions and scrubs are good and good for you. Although its storefront closed during the pandemic, you can still order products online or check their website to see when they’ll appear at events in and around town.

The Big Bib BBQ
Multiple Locations, thebigbib.com
Serving up meat by the pound and flavor by the mile, The Big Bib's blend of herbs, spices and smoking woods make sure every bite is just as good as the last.

Heavy Metal Fitness
2313 N.W. Military Hwy. St. 111, (210) 257 0504, heavymetalfit.com
This northside gym offers personal and small group training, strength training, powerlifting and programming led by a team of seasoned, experienced coaches to provide optimal training for their clients.