Black History Month brings awareness not just to the Black activists and leaders who have had an impact on the country, but to the individuals and organizations in our local communities as well. It may just be one month long, but supporting Black-owned initiatives must be something we do year-round in order to make a difference.
One of the overlooked spheres of Black influence is in the food industry, so I set out to find the Black-owned eateries in Eugene. From superb soul food to traditional African food and more, here are the businesses you can support.
Since 2013, Equiano has been selling specialty coffee that’s roasted in Eugene. Their coffee beans are single-variety and sustainably sourced from small farms in Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam and beyond. Okon Udosenata, owner and coffee roaster, has won numerous awards for his coffee roasting. The location also has a tasting room for patrons to try different roasts, but due to COVID-19 restrictions this space remains closed. You can buy coffee grounds online and in-person.
Tony’s has been serving Texas-style barbeque in Eugene since 1997 and continues to serve the classics. The restaurant has won dozens of awards for their amazing signature dishes. From beef brisket, tri-tip and pulled pork to BBQ chicken meals or sandwiches, there’s something hearty on the menu for any meat eater. If you’re just looking for their signature sauce, you can purchase a one-gallon jug of it.
As the only Jamaican food offered in Eugene, Irie’s flavorful dishes are something you shouldn’t skip. They are family owned and operated, and you can find their food at the Saturday Market, their cart on 13th Avenue or you can order catering. Their foods are flavorful and a great value with large and filling servings. One of their standout offerings are their fried plantains, which are sweet and melt perfectly in your mouth.
Eugene’s first Ethiopian and Eritrean food truck is Makeda’s Cuisine, a humble cart that opened up in October. Paolos and Eden Kid, the food truck’s owners, wanted to introduce the community to Ethiopian and Eritrean food. Ethiopian and Eritrean food are basically the same, since both countries use the same ingredients and culinary techniques. If you’ve tried Addis Eithiopian, you’ll definitely enjoy the slight differences that Makeda’s offers — plus, Makeda’s serves sambusas: crispy, triangular shaped, fried pastry pockets filled with savory filling.
Noisette Pastry Kitchen is a classic stop for anyone with a hankering for bread or pastries for breakfast. Known for their breakfast pastries, they usually sell out of them before noon. Noisette sources many of their ingredients locally and serves and sells Equiano coffee as well. From bread and traditional European pastries to custom order cakes, Noisette has something sweet (or savory!) for any and everyone.
Situated in the BeerGarden, Once Famous Grill has been run by Keith Lewis, former Ducks football and NFL player, since 2016. Serving food with “a southern flair,” staples of the food truck include deep fried seafood and sandwiches. From classics like surf & turf, deep fried shrimp and catfish, to foot-long philly cheesesteak, cheeseburgers and more, you’ll definitely be hooked on the high quality and large proportions of every order.
This soul fusion food truck opened in mid-August, serving both classic soul food with — you guessed it — a twist. The eatery has a rotating selection of barbeque sandwiches and traditional soul food including mac & cheese, candy yams and cornbread. They have “Soul Sundays” every weekend when they serve Soul Plates, with patrons choosing one protein and two sides.
For right now, some other eateries have chosen to remain closed because of the pandemic. These include the Taco Intrusion food truck, One Bad Dawg food truck and Straight Outta Soul Food, which is in the process of renovating its brick and mortar. One Bad Dawg is hoping to reopen in the spring if conditions have improved, while Taco Intrusion and Straight Outta Soul remain closed indefinitely.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on March 28 to reflect Paolos and Eden Kid’s view that Ethiopian and Eritrean food are very similar, since both countries use the same ingredients and culinary techniques.
Tony Brown speaks about the realities of remaining open during the pandemic: “I just thank God for good health.” Brown has owned and operated Tony’s BBQ for over 20 years. Tony’s BBQ is open for business and enforcing safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant can be found on Highway 99 in Eugene, Ore., Feb. 24, 2021. (Madi Mather/Emerald)
