Mama Dip’s and beyond: Black-owned restaurants in Chapel Hill & Orange County

This Black History Month, we want to highlight our area’s local Black-owned restaurants — many of which have longtime roots in our region.

Last February, our food and business reporters compiled a comprehensive database with hundreds of Black-owned businesses across the Triangle. In the past year, we’ve heard from readers and business owners with additions, helping this database become a living resource for our residents and visitors to consult to help them “buy Black.”

To find this database, visit bit.ly/BlackBusinessNC.

One of the most important Black-owned restaurants in the Triangle is Mama Dip’s Kitchen in Chapel Hill. Learn more about Mama Dip’s, and then check out the list of other Black-owned restaurants in Chapel Hill and Orange County. If you know of restaurants we missed, email us at ask@newsobserver.com.

Mama Dip and her Chapel Hill legacy

Mama Dip Kitchen’s has been a cornerstone restaurant in Chapel Hill for decades, a crown jewel with legendary status alongside Sutton’s and the Carolina Coffee Shop. It’s been written about in The New York Times, honored by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and awarded with many state and local honors in its nearly 50 years in operation.

Mildred “Mama Dip” Council opened the restaurant in 1976. When she died at 89 in May 2018, her community mourned her passing and celebrated her legacy, revering her as a pioneer with long-lasting impact. Her family — including five daughters, three sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren, plus nieces and nephews — now own and operate the restaurant and business.

More than 20 years ago, Council helped start the Community Dinner in Chapel Hill, a large annual gathering bringing together people from all incomes, racial backgrounds and abilities to share a meal. The first Community Dinner was organized to celebrate Black History Month, and she later pushed for the dinner to celebrate Orange County’s cultural diversity. The 23rd annual Community Dinner will take place in April this year, allowing Mama Dip’s local legacy to persevere.

Chapel Hill Black-owned restaurants

Blend of Soul Juice

• 919-338-6281

• blendofsoul.com

Cosmic Cantina

• 128 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill

• cosmiccantina.com

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles

• 147 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

• 919-240-4228

• dameschickenwaffles.com

Mama Dip’s Kitchen

• 408 W Rosemary St., Chapel Hill

• 919-942-5837

• mamadips.com

Tonya’s Cookies

• 405 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill

• 919-423-3392

• tonyascookies.com

Vegan Flava Café

• 306 W Franklin St. Suite G, Chapel Hill

• 919-960-1832

• veganflavacafe.com

Walt’s Grill

• 111 S Merritt Mill Rd., Chapel Hill

• 919-933-1744

• Search for “Walt’s Grill” on facebook.com

Carrboro Black-owned restaurants

401 Main

• 401 E. Main St., Carrboro

• 919-390-3598

• 401main.com

Country Junction Restaurant

• 404 W. Weaver St., Carrboro

• 919-929-2462

• Search “Country Junction Restaurant” on facebook.com

Hillsborough Black-owned restaurants

Big Bob’s City Grill

• 584 Cornelius St., Hillsborough

• 919-732-2953

Mighty Mike’s Rolling Bistro & Grill

• Food Truck in Hillsborough

• 919-426-6750

• Search “Mighty Mike’s” on streetfoodfinder.com

This story was originally published February 13, 2023 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Mama Dip’s and beyond: Black-owned restaurants in Chapel Hill & Orange County."

Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

The News & Observer

919-419-6630

Kimberly Tutuska (she/her) is the editor of North Carolina’s service journalism team.